Red Love

Chapter 59

Dina's POV

"What's up?" Antonio ask as he crosses his arms. His brown eyes shine with something that looks like eagerness and a hint of love. I push the thought away, and blame my feelings for what I saw.

I pinch my lips in a tight line and give Antonio a pointed look. "We're friends, right?" I ask. Whatever light was in Antonio's eyes suddenly disappears.

"Oh, um...yeah, totally. W-why?" He stumbles clumsily and quietly through the sentence.

"I just wanted to be sure we're on good terms. For Lucy's and Francine's sake." I explain.

"Yeah, we are...uh...we're cool." He mumbles quietly, and I swear I can hear a bit of heartbreak behind his words.

"Good." I nod, turning to head back into the reception.

I end up stopping right before I enter the ballroom, falling against the wall as I watch Lucy sweep Luna into her arms and twirl her in a small circle. Luna quickly wraps her arms tightly around Lucy's neck, and her small head goes to rest on Lucy's shoulder. I give a quiet sigh, happy for my friend.

"She looks so happy." Antonio says from behind me, I can feel the heat from his body seep through my skin.

"She deserves to be happy." I respond. I keep my eyes glued to Lucy's swaying frame.

A moment of thick, uncomfortable silence is present before another word is spoken. "You deserve to be happy, too." Antonio whispers, reaching for my hand.

I turn to face him as he grasp my hand tightly and brings me back out into the hall. We stare deep into each other's eyes, his clouded with emotion and fear. I have a feeling I know what's about to happen, and in the end, I think someone is going to get hurt.

"Dina, look, I-I'm sorry." My lips pinch together, and I'm filled with a mix of some foreign emotion. "I'm sorry I wasted your time, I'm sorry I hurt you, and I'm sorry it took me so long to say this."

"It's fine." I say, my words a bit sharp. I go to turn around, ready to forget this interaction every happened and go on celebrating my friend. I'm stopped as a light tug forces me to stare Antonio in the eye again.

"But the thing I'm most sorry for is that it took me so long to realize that," He takes a nervous breath and ducks his head, "I do like you, and I do want to be with you."

My heart stops for a moment, and my mouth falls open, but I'm at a lose for words. This is all I've wanted for months now, yet I feel as though in some way I'm still not getting it.

"When I asked out Francine, I did it because I was hurt. I knew there was no chance of Lucy and I being a thing, and I thought that if I asked out a girl who had tried to make advances towards me, I would be happy. But then, the whole drama between you and I unfolded, and I realized that it was you I wanted to be with. Dina, the days after I asked out your sister, hurt me more than anything I have ever experienced. Seeing your face everyday, filled me with nothing but guilt. When you looked at me, your eyes were no loner bright and lively but instead were dark and clouded. I didn't realize how much I loved seeing you blush or hearing you giggle until it didn't happen anymore. I'll confess, I hated myself for how much pain I caused you. I used to make you so happy. I've tried multiple times to tell you this but overtime I either chickened out or you shot me down, which is what I deserved. You don't have to forgive me and you definitely don't have go out with me but if you really want to be friends, then I'm willing to accept that. Just know that I'm sorry and I do care about you." Antonio releases my hand and steps away, his shoulders slumped and his face hidden.

I place a hand on my heart, slight tears pooling around my eyes. I want to believe every word that Antonio says, but something in me is keeping me from it. I want nothing more than to pull Antonio close to me and tell him that I still like him and that I would love to be his, but part of me doesn't want that. Part of me doesn't know what it wants.