Ironies of life

CHAPTER 1: My nightmare

"Tell me that this is not happening again," Naoki unintentionally murmured aloud. Loin looked in the same direction before nodding with a frown.

"Why does he always do this? This isn't a coincidence. I think he hates me. He must!"
Loin shrugged and tried to reassure his best friend.

"You know what? It'd be better to forget about her. Soon we are going to University, and no one will bother you or purposely flirt with the girls you love there."

Naoki sighed. Maybe his best friend was right. But he still couldn't take his eyes off the new couple. That guy, Dante Hartell, had been tormenting him since they were little. Naoki has only fallen in love with three girls in his life, and every three times he found out he was in love, the girl he loved was suddenly dating Dante, only a couple of weeks after he discovers his feelings. Dating Dante always meant the girl's life was demolished.

Dante wasn't really a bad influence. He always dressed in style, he knew how to behave and act maturely in front of the adults. He looked like a good person. Unfortunately, he was the opposite of his appearance. Everyone knew that he was a hypocrite. However, Naoki recognized in his mind that Dante was (at least) a born athlete. He could play any sport recommended to him. That was why he was always the center of attention for most girls.

The only problem was that Dante had only dated the girls Naoki had loved, which was way too strange to be a coincidence, especially afterwards. All three girls changed to the point where Naoki didn't love them anymore. Everyone he touched ended up infected. Dante even tried to keep Loin away from him. He told him lies and false accusations during weeks the last year. It almost worked at one point. Naoki forgave his best friend of course. He forgave him of everything that happened because he knew how persuasive and convincing Dante could be.

After everything that had happened, Naoki couldn't stop wondering why.

'Why does Dante hate me so much?'

'Why does he try to steal everyone I love from me?'

'What have I done to him?'

Naoki and Loin were now observing Dante with his new girlfriend, which also happened to be Naoki's third love, Gala. They were sitting on the other side of the cafeteria for lunch. Gala was obviously flirting with Dante, trailing her hand down his back and smiling at him, overjoyed at being his girlfriend. That wasn't the worst part, though. The worst thing, the part that hurt the most was Dante's expression. That freckle filled face of his was pulled into his usual, serious face. As if he were bored. It was as if he felt nothing towards Gala, which Naoki figured was the complete truth. Dante always got what he wanted, even if he only wanted it to prevent Naoki from having it.

'I hate you, Dante Hartell,' thought Naoki, staring across the cafeteria with barely contained fury. At that moment, Dante looked up and made eye contact with Naoki. His enemy smiled and pulled his new girlfriend closer to him.