Exclusively Yours – Episode 50

                              

#UNEDITED

Riccardo’s POV

I woke up with a splitting headache. A groan instantly slipped out of my parted lips as I tried to get up. 

“You know you’re jerk by scaring me half to deàth?” Olivia’s voice brushed slightly against my ears and I turned my head to face her. 

She was standing up, hands folded on her chest and face scrunched up with vexation. I gulped down and attempted to get up again. 

“You should eat.” She said again after I’ve successfully gotten up and sat down. “Luckily, I found some unexpired pain reliever drugs and sachets of noodles. I prepared it for you; so, eat and take the drugs.” 

My head is pounding and I think I would faint again. A rather stúpid idea dropped in my head and I immediately did it. Shaking my head as if to shake off the migraine, I sighed at the failure. 

“Will you eat with me?” 

“No.” 

“Then, I’m not eating.” 

Stubborn. 

“Riccardo.” 

“Olivia, if you are not eating with me, then I’m not eating also. Simple and short.” 

I haven’t eaten in two days and I still don’t feel like doing so, but my insides are currently being eaten and toyed with by worms. So, it is imperative that I eat, but I’m not doing so without my wife. 

“You are going to pass out on me again, if you don’t eat.” She argued. “You have a fever.”

“Eat with me then.” I tried again. 

“No, I don’t want to eat with you. I don’t even want to be this close to you, Riccardo.” 

It took a lot of struggle, time and energy to remember everything that happened that night and even investigating the issue myself, and she still doesn’t believe me? 

I sluggishly stood up from the sofa, a palm on my forehead like it would save my head from falling any minute now. 

“Yeah, I know what you want to say.” Olivia interjected, effectively cutting me shut. “But even if you weren’t responsible for my parents’ deàth, I still can’t get over the fact that you raise your hand on me just because I mentioned Asia.” 

And she hît me where it húrts the most. 

That night, I was at the brink of cuttiñg my hand off because I couldn’t fathom why on Earth I even did that in the first place. I couldn’t though because my hands are my career, literally and figuratively. 

But Olivia calling Asia’s name every single time isn’t right on its path. I’ve known Asia Hamilton my whole life and I can’t let anything or anyone soil that, not even Olivia. 

“That’s because you keep mentioning her every dàmn time we have a fight and I don’t like that one bit.” I snapped. 

“Of course, you don’t like that. I mean, how would you? You are so stuck in this freakíng illusion she has created and you refused to leave it.” Olivia equally snapped. 

Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I exhaled deeply, trying my best not to raise my voice on her. “Baby, I don’t know how many times you want me to say this, but I don’t love Asia like that. She doesn’t love me either and even if she did, I don’t care because I am married.” I inched closer to her and she let her take her hands in mine. “I’m married to you. And I love you so, so, so much.” 

“Fine.” She muttered, pouting adorably. I pinched her cheeks and she jerked my hands away. “I’m not a kid, don’t do that.” 

“But you’re so cute.” 

“I am not cute.” She lied. 

“Look at the mirror and say that again.” 

Olivia rolled her eyes as a hiss escaped her mouth. “Eat, Riccardo.” 

“Eat with me.” 

She looked like she was contemplating on it before resigning and sitting down beside me. “Alright, but on one condition.” 

“Which is?” 

“Tell me about what happened to you. Why was a fourteen years old boy driving a car in the middle of the night?” 

As the words left her mouth, I felt my heart rate decrease tremendously and my palms started getting sweaty even though my whole body was chilly cold. 

The night was an unfortunate one even worst than the others. So, so unfortunate that I nearly diéd, if not because of Olivia’s parents. 

“What happened, Riccardo?” Olivia asked, her hand resting on my shoulder. “Sorry for intruding, I just want to know that you’re fine. It’s totally okay if you don’t want to tell me, I don’t mind.” 

“No, it is not that. I do want to tell you, but I can’t form the words.” I almost choked on my own saliva as I replied. “It is also kinda stúpid.” 

“Well, you can take your time.”

I shook my head, refusing to waste any more time on telling Olivia. Not paying attention to the impending tears I know will flow, I explained. “My mum retired from dancing ballet a couple of years after I was born. I noticed something was up with her, but didn’t know what exactly. She slowly lost her smile and the life that was always in her eyes. She wasn’t happy and that affected my Dad too. They fought a lot and I only started noticing it when I was seven. My mom later became depressed and insomniac, Dad too also seemed tired of her then. I had an horrible nightmare about my family separating because of my parents’ divorce and when I woke up, it wasn’t real yet. Nicole didn’t even know about what was going on.” I paused upon remembering what happened earlier with Nicole and me. My throat restricted and my lungs refused to breathe in the appropriate amount of oxygen. “She was always stuck in her room, or listening to music on her headphones. I was the one who always hear them arguing from my room and it made me insomniac too. One night, I heard Mum say that she wants a divorce and Dad instantly agreed to it. That was the night I couldn’t take it anymore, I just wanted to sleep peacefully even if it’s for one night. So, I took my Dad’s car and drove off.” 

“It isn’t stúpid. Why would you think so?” Olivia cooed, her eyes on me, making me kind of nervous. 

“Many people would think that it wasn’t enough reason to run away…” 

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Who cares what people think? They should go to héll for all I care…I don’t even care.” A hum drawled out of her mouth and I waited for what she wanted to say. “No child deserves to stay or live in an unhappy home. So, you running away is totally understandable and acceptable. You’re a human and were a kid, but you endured the fights and arguments and not seeing your own mother lose her smile for years; you didn’t deserve that.” 

“Well, they are fine now.” 

“That isn’t what I’m talking about.” She said. “Are you fine?” 

“If I’m with you, then yes, I’m very fine.” 

Olivia beamed. “Good because you’re stuck with you for life.” 

“Ugh, such tortúre.” I teasingly groaned before pulling her into a hug. Resting my head on her shoulder, I whispered. “I missed you.” 

“I missed you too.”

TBC 📖✍️