Note: I have changed David's name from Marco to Devis and Roger's name from Mario to Richard.
People were having conversations in a sweet, delicate, and hushed tone. Even we, teenagers, were speaking in lower voices for obvious reasons. Suddenly, it was silent, pindrop silent, and I was shocked. Is it even possible? Granted, it wasn't a high-beat party that was usually thrown, but it was a fundraising business party organized by a top politician.
Only the sound of a soft, low melody was coming from the background, and everything else went silent. I grabbed Devis and spoke. "Why the hell is it silent all of a sudden?" Devis was also equally confused and tried to find a reason by looking everywhere. Finally, he spoke. "There, that's the reason." He was pointing toward the entrance.
There stood a guy, wearing a frown, who wanted to be anywhere but here. I chuckled while watching his face. Once again, I spoke to Devis. "Who is he?" Devis chuckled at that. "Your future competitor, Morris's one and only son, Dante Morris." Morris's son didn't make any appearance till now; probably it's his first time, so he was panicking and masking with a frown. My dad's rival and the number one competitor. So, he is Dante Morris.
His dad dragged him toward the group that he was conversing with and started the introduction. The party's feel was getting back to his rhythm. Everyone continued from where they left off, occasionally stealing a glance at Bradly's son, where mine was glued, observing every one of his acts.
Bradly was glaring, nudging his son, while the introduction was happening, and his son would pick up his father's unspoken words and try to act accordingly. Even handshaking was hard for him.
He definitely piqued my interest.
"What's his age?" Once again, I forwarded my question to Davis. "Probably 12 or 13, I don't know exactly, but somewhere between that."
My eyes were wide at that. I turned toward Bradly's son with astonishment. My eyes swept over him from head to toe. The kid is almost my height, just an inch or two less than mine, and he is just 12. There were some muscles, but is it even possible at this age? My eyes cringed when I observed what I was carrying. The most amazing part was his eyes. It was brown, light brown, shining like a beast's eyes, most predatory. The tuxedo fit perfectly with the tone of his skin, which was white, not too white, and it enhanced his features. Everything is just perfect about the kid except his damn age.
"He is just a kid." That came in a low voice, still in damn shock. Davis rolled his eyes. "According to you, what the hell are we?" I scorned at that; is it not obvious? "We are 16+, so we are bloody teens." He scoffed at that. "God, we just entered 16; you celebrated a few days before." I knitted my eyebrow at that. The same, right? "Whatever, but he is a damn kid, and look at him." Davis was confused. "Don't you think he looks striking?" I further explained to clear his confusion.
Davis went silent, studying me with a look. "That's new." "What's new?" I probed. "You're praising someone who isn't a girl or a woman." I was confused at that. "What's wrong with that?" He shook his head at that. "You never did that before." "Maybe because I never felt anyone as striking as him, and he is just 12." I huffed when once again my eyes swept over Brandly's son. "Wow, I am wounded deeply." Davis's hands went on his chest in exaggeration, for which, in return, I chuckled. "Your eyes should be glued on your crush, or else people start making assumptions about your preference." I almost spilled the wine that he handed me before. "What's wrong with praising irrespective of gender? If he or she is handsome or beautiful, they deserve some praise." Davis sighed at that. "I am not saying it's wrong, but it's new." I scoffed at that. "I guess I haven't found anyone worthy of my praise till now." His hand was once again going near his chest, which I swept aside. "Get over it. Being gay, you compliment girls all the time, especially Isabella." He smirks at that. "Good point, we can do that, but you can't. Speaking of Isabella, did you find her? Your eyes should be glued to her. Don't change the damn track." I snorted and was annoyed at the mention of her name. "She is playing hard to get. I don't know whether she is really interested in me or not." "Beautiful girls always play that card. Hold on, champ; she will be yours in time." I wish that were true. Maybe someday she will be mine if I keep trying.
Davis hugged me and side-patted my back. I smiled at that; he always knows when to comfort, shut his mouth at the right time, and leave me alone when I need space. "I will get wine, ok?" I nodded my head at that. When he left, I thought my eyes would be searching for Isabella, but strangely, they fell on Brandly's son, who was on the verge of snapping at everyone. It's been only 15 minutes, and he is almost done.
I don't even know how I am reading him like he is an open book.
He took a few steps backwards from the crowd, which was enough to caution that he needed damn space to breathe. Brandly's son removed the hand key from his pocket and started to wipe his hands in front of the group of prominent members. The group was taken aback, and my eyes went wide at his audacity. Bradly glared at his son harshly, and promptly, his son turned around and continued to wipe.
I couldn't control myself anymore; I burst into laughter, which gained the attention of half of the crowd, including my parents, sisters, and also Bradly's son. I gulped when his eyes met mine. I froze on the spot, not even able to avert my eyes. I didn't want any beef with my future competitor, and I didn't know how to defuse the tension in the air. Davis was back with the drinks, and I thanked him internally by sighing in relief.
I was done for the day, but I couldn't move from the damn place. The crowd, handshakes, and their fake smiles started to irk me. They have the bloody audacity to look down at me, siding with me, beaming like a kid. If only they knew what I was capable of! I couldn't show or do anything; my hands were tied by my dad, but for sure, in the future, I will show these assholes what a damn kid can do.
Basically, I hate physical interaction, and handshaking with too many people was too much for me to handle. My hands started itching. I wanted to wash my hands, but instead, for the time being, I thought of wiping them. What the hell is wrong with that? My dad has a problem with everything that I do.
I am really worried about my sex life. Till now, I have made out with a handful, like three, no, two girls, that's it. That too, when I was on drugs, some shit made me needy, and I couldn't control it. Only one time, with a boy. That bastard took advantage when I was high, but I didn't let him go too far. I know that asshole is some politician's son, and I swear if I met him again, I would choke him, myself, with my bare hand.
My dad's glare made me turn around. I wasn't done wiping, so I continued when I heard the laughter. My eyes met the source, who was exact opposite of me. His laughter died, but not his eye contact; he held my gaze without blinking. Some guy appeared, so he got a chance to avert his eyes.
I studied the guy. He was tall, but his weight is crowding his height. He is chubby, too chubby for my liking. I didn't want to dream of a day when I turned into something like that. How the hell is he carrying the weight everywhere? He looks good with the fat factory that he was carrying and also with the brown skin tone, but he can be handsome if he does something about it. The guy looks too naive, not like any other guy that I met in the circle. What held my attention about him was his blue eyes. Those eyes felt too familiar. I studied the guy for a few more minutes, especially the eyes.
My dad's words started buzzing in my mind, reminding me of the goal of the day. If I get a pass from here, a friend it is then.
I strode toward the guy with confident, steady, and calculated steps. Half of the crowd was watching every damn thing. I wish these people wouldn't check my sanity with their interest in me. I was in front of him in a blink, and the guy took a step back when he saw me. I smirk at that.
The guy's hand was on his chest, soothing, and with a forced smile, he spoke. "You scared me." Nothing new that I am hearing. Once he regained his perfect balance, he was in front of me with a smile. I already like this guy for some reason. Chubby or lean, who bloody cares?
"Dante Morris." I outstretched my hand, and he was once again taken aback. He cleared his throat for a few seconds and spoke. "Rowan Desmond."
Oh, Ricardo's son, this is a blessing in disguise. I love my dad's reaction to my newfound friendship. We stayed silent.
Damn, Morris's son's voice is also damn mature enough. How the hell is it even possible? I whined. At that age, I hardly stopped peeing in my bed, and this kid amazes me in everything. Well, I am jealous.
"Needed a break, I guess." I arched an eyebrow at that; in return, he chuckled. "I was watching you from the second you entered. You wanted to be anywhere but here." Wow, he is blunt without knowing. I nodded at that. "Hates crowds." He continued guessing, and I huffed in return. "Probably suffocation too." He kind of declared that, and I don't think my input was necessary. "I was there once in the same situation; don't worry, you will get used to it in no time." I slowly nodded at that, not really believing his words. I don't think I will anytime soon.
Once again, silence surrounded us. I don't think I need to talk with this guy and strain my voice. He is acing in one way conversation.
"These people may look intimidating, test you by playing sick games, annoy you by poking too much but don't get frightened." I started laughing at that. He is treating me like a kid, probably due to my age. "Although you look anything but frightened." He added awkwardly, and I just continued to smile.
"You know, at my first business party, I almost peed with fear." That pushed me to laugh even louder. I never laughed this much in my 12 years of existence. He started rubbing his neck, once again feeling awkward.
The guy with Rowan was watching our exchange without uttering a word and was also amused for some reason. "Probably I should stop talking, rather than embarrassing myself more." I shook my head at that with a smile. I was genuinely surprised by everything that was happening. "Yeah, probably you should." His friend input his opinion, murmuring something under his breath.
"Thanks for the pep talk; you really made my day." The least I could do, and the smile I received in return was priceless.
"Dante, what the hell are you doing here? Why do you always want to get on my nerves? I told you to make a friend, not with my enemy's son, just to piss me off." My dad turned toward Rowan and spoke. "Son, you are good and everything; I really don't have anything against you, but I hate your father from the bottom of my heart. We are cutthroat competitors, and it will be going to be that way in the future. This son is just getting me back because I just asked him to make some damn friends. This is not going to work; ignore and forget everything, ok?" He stopped when someone approached my dad to shake hands, and he was off.
I faced Rowan, who was in a dilemma or might be shocked. Clueless about whatever happened, trying to find out something beyond the words. I grabbed my cell, for the first time without any force, and stretched it in front of Rowan. He was dumbfounded for a moment, and slowly he took my cell. There was no passcode; he easily unlocked the cell and added his number. "Shall I make a call to my cell?" I nodded my head. After that, he handed back my cell, and my dad returned.
"Dante, what are you still doing over here? Come on." Bradly urged Dante to follow him, and I was in a daze from everything that happened. I almost thought Dante would follow his dad like a good son, but his steps were toward the exit.
Bradly was searching for his son, who was already at the door. His glare turned harsher; he so wanted to yell and drag him back, but he couldn't, obviously, because of where he was. I don't know how to react to the overall scenario, whether to chuckle, be happy or be confused.
"What a duo." Devis at last opened his mouth, and I just nodded my head at the comment.