Destined Hearts Ch. 09

Andrea was seated quietly and so was Bruce beside him whose gaze was Antonio. He could tell his boyfriend was not okay and it affected him so much. The previous day, Antonio had even refused to talk to him. He was really scared because he didn't want to lose Antonio for anything in this world. Antonio was really slipping away from him and he was gonna do everything to get him back. He hated Praveen and he was gonna deal with him for everything that he had done.

"Alright," Granny sighed, taking the remote from the table. "Since everyone is busy having their breakfast, it's better to listen to some morning news."

She turned on the big Television on the wall and started watching.

"And now to Entertainment..." The beautiful lady dressed in white said on TV. "There's a magazine that has caught the attention of everyone out there and this particular magazine might just be the hottest magazine of the year." She said with a chuckle. "People everywhere are going crazy and not just in our country but most of the countries."

Suddenly, a picture of the magazine appeared on the screen, catching everyone's attention. It was the picture of Praveen and Santiago in a hot photo shoot, one where Santiago had his hands on Praveen's waist while Praveen slightly looked behind with a brilliant, seductive smile.

"This magazine has people asking and it's not just about the romance but the model in the magazine." She continued, now replaced by Praveen's picture alone. He was looking so hot that the look from the lady herself made everyone think she was flirting with the picture. "Who is he? Where is he from? How come no one has ever seen him before and yet some people are calling him the hottest male model to have ever appeared on the cover of the magazine?"

Where Bruce was seated, he felt his heart rip in his chest. He stopped eating and held the folk harder as if he wanted it to snap. He could feel it starting to hurt his hand but he kept on applying pressure. He didn't care.

"Everyone probably has a crush on him. The owner of the firm who took the photo by his side has refused to give information. Who knows..." She shrugged, opening her arms wider. "...just maybe we might find out about who this boy is. And for you fans out there... this picture... will be appearing on several billboards later today so better watch out. We are really doing everything to find out who this boy is. Maybe Mr. Santiago..." She chuckled happily. "...just maybe he is not telling us because that's the love of his life. Who knows, maybe we might be hearing wedding bells soon."

That was the breaking point for Antonio. He had been seated quietly without saying anything until the stupid lady said those words to him. His anger was now boiling over. He took a deep breath, furiously placed the cup on the table, making a terrible noise. Then he furiously got up and stormed out of the dining room, surprising everyone in there.

"Antonio!" Emma called, getting up from the chair. "Baby, what's wrong?"

But he was already gone and even if he heard her, he wouldn't have stopped. He felt as if someone had done something terrible to him, something that concerned his heart. His heart was pounding deep in his chest, adrenaline taking control of his body.

"What's going on?" Eduardo asked, getting up from the chair. "He said he was alright, right? I will go and check up on him."

He started going away but...

"No!" Emilia shook her head. "Don't go there."

"But mother," He stuttered, pointing towards the door. "...my brother is mad about something. I need to go and..."

"Praveen will go and find out."

The moment Praveen heard his name, he felt his heart miss a beat. He abruptly moved his face to Emilia, his mouth gaping at her. He couldn't believe she had just said that to him. He knew that Antonio was the last person he wanted to speak with or see at that particular time.

"Me? Mother, I..."

"Of course, he's your husband, dear." She smiled, squeezing his hand. "He's not feeling well and it's up to you to make him feel better. He's your husband and you should be responsible for making him feel better."

"She's right." Granny agreed. "Go dear and find out what's wrong with him."

Praveen looked at both granny and Emilia, taking a deep sigh. He felt fear starting to get to him. His breaths were starting to change and adrenaline started preying on him.

"Yes!" He nodded, slowly getting up from the chair.

When he got up, he saw Andrea and Bruce giving him cold looks but he didn't care. He had promised granny and Emilia that he was gonna talk to him. He walked out of the dining room and went upstairs.

He didn't take long before he reached the door to Antonio and his room. He felt his nerves getting to him. But he held the knob and opened the door only to find Antonio throwing some papers on the bed. He stood still in the door what, watching what was going on. He had never seen him act like that.

With a confident breath, he closed the door and slowly started walking towards his husband.

Antonio on the other hand was so mad that he couldn't hide it anymore. He had never felt as much anger as he felt at that particular time. Not even when he had been forced into marriage did he feel the way he was feeling at that time. Damn! He didn't even know it was possible to be that angry. He didn't like the way he was feeling.

"Antonio!" He heard Praveen's voice and he simply lost it.

"What?" He said as he threw a document furiously on the bed, suddenly turning to face the boy. His eyes were red and it scared Praveen. "What the fuck do you want? Shouldn't you be watching the news about Santiago or something?"

To say Praveen was surprised would be an understatement. Shock was more like it. Antonio was speaking so coldly to him when he didn't do anything.

"Well, granny and mother are worried and they..."

"I am fine!" He snarled, chuckling bitterly to himself. "I am absolutely fine."

"Well, you're not and everyone else is worried. Please..."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Antonio yelled, his voice filling the entire room. "What the fuck is wrong with your brains? I told you I am fine so why should you keep on asking me stupid questions?"

"I was..."

"You're my problem in this house." He stamped his foot on the ground, scaring Praveen who took a step back. "Ever since you came here, you've been giving me problems. Is it not enough that I have to tolerate seeing your stupid self in this house? Do you always have to find ways to ruin my mood every day?"

Praveen was still confused. The frown on his head kept on kept on getting bigger and bigger. He had no idea what Antonio was mad at him for. He hadn't done anything.

"But..."

"Are you not ashamed of yourself, Praveen?" Antonio snapped, shaking his head in anger. His breaths were harsh and scary. "Look at yourself and tell me. You have a fucking wedding ring on your fucking wedding finger." He yelled at the top of his voice. He didn't care who heard. "You even have a fucking wedding chain around your chain. You are fucking married and yet..." He chuckled bitterly, pointing angrily at the boy. "...you are not even ashamed to take a photo shoot with another man. Did you even think about what would happen if..."

"Excuse me?" Praveen frowned, his mouth shaking me. "Are you blaming for this? I thought you didn't care about who I had a photo shoot with and besides, I already explained the situation to you and you..."

"What the fuck!" Antonio angrily gripped the papers on the bed, angrily throwing them to the floor. Praveen's eyes widened as he realized just how angry Antonio was. "What the fuck are you talking about? You and I were supposed to have a photo shoot together that day. It was supposed to be you and I but I should have realized what you were up to."

"Antonio..."

"Shut up!" He carped, pointing his shaky finger at Praveen. "How could I have been so stupid?" He chuckled. "You are out to ruin me. That day..." He hit his head furiously. "...that day you were reluctant to have a photo shoot and you... you clearly told me that you would have a photo shoot with someone else rather than me. This was an entire plan to make me look bad in front of the family."

"What?" Praveen shuddered, taking a step behind. "I already told you that I got locked up in a room by..."

"Isn't it enough that I have to put up with you?" He seethed, clenching his fists. He had no idea why he was just so angry. "You are fucking married and yet you were acting like a whore with another man. That's what everyone is seeing, everyone else but you. But let me make you understand this." He warned the boy that looked like he saw a ghost.

"Antonio, please, try to calm down. It's not a big deal. After all, you yourself had a hot photo shoot with Bruce and you enjoyed it too. Why should it be..."

Before Praveen could even finish his sentence, Antonio gripped his arms harder, painfully and slammed him to a wall, pinning him there. Praveen winced as pain slipped through his entire system. He took a deep harsh breath, his heart racing beyond miles. Tears formed in his eyes as he looked at the man that held him painfully.

"Listen to me and listen very well..." Antonio warned, adding pressure to the boy's arms. "...you are married to me and I will never watch you embarrass me out there. You wanted this marriage, didn't you?"

Praveen was trying to let himself loose but all did was inflict more pain on himself. He winced as he felt his arms burning painfully. "Please, you are hurting... me, Antonio." He pleaded, his voice barely above a whisper. "Please, I... I..."

"And what did you think?" He chuckled bitterly, enjoying the look of pain on the boy's face. "Just because you and I are in this for obvious reasons that I am gonna allow you make a fool out of me or this family? You chose to get married to me and you are a married man, you idiot. You should act like one instead of acting like a whore on the cover of the magazine."

Praveen moved his eyes away as a tear went down his cheek. "Please..."

"You talk about values. What happened to those stupid values that you talk about?" He growled, getting closer to the boy's face. "Did you suddenly lose them, your mother's teachings?"

"I didn't mean to take that shoot." Praveen said in a voice of pain. He felt as if his veins were bursting in his arms. "I... I was..."

"You were what? You wanted to compete with me and Bruce?" He answered acidly, breathing on the boy's face. It felt so hot that Praveen felt more pain. "What he and I share is unique and I had every right to do it but you..." He laughed in his face. "...you don't have such freedom because you lost it the day that you decided to enter my life and this very house so you better think twice before you even do anything stupid otherwise, you'll be very sorry. Right now, you are carrying my name and as long as you have that name, you belong to me." He pointed at himself. "I own you, Praveen."

More tears went down Praveen's face.

"I am your husband and I was supposed to appear in that photo." He snapped angrily, gripping his arms harder. "It shouldn't have been that bastard. You better be careful. Do you hear that?"

"But..."

"Do you hear that?"

"Ouch!" He cried, nodding his head. "Yes! I will. Just please, let me go. You're hurting me."

Antonio pulled the boy closer to himself with one hand, looking into his face. He didn't like what he was doing but jealous had gotten to him so much that he couldn't get to control himself. He felt he owned Praveen and nothing was gonna change that.

"You are mine!"

He furiously let go of Praveen, leaving him falling to the floor with a thud. He looked at the boy one last time and stormed out of the room, shutting the door with a bang. Praveen remained on the floor, wincing and rubbing on his arms.

He slowly raised his sleeves and saw the red marks Antonio had left on his arms. He slowly rubbed his face as he continued rubbing his arms. They hurt like hell and he felt really weak. He had no idea why Antonio had acted like that with him, something that he had never done before. He was acting like, like a jealous husband. But why, he thought as he remained on the floor, looking at the mess Antonio had left in the room.

What was he gonna do?

***

"I think that would be a great idea." Andrea smiled brightly, looking at her mother with a smile. "Antonio's new music will be released very soon. I think a great concert after that would be a great idea." She stared at her friend then. "What do you think?"

"I think it is a great idea." Bruce just wanted what was best for his boyfriend. "I am pretty sure he'll be happy too."

"Then it's settled." Emma clapped, breathing in deeply. "We'll be attending our Antonio's concert after so long. I can't wait."

"And it will be his first after his marriage." Granny pointed out, smiling at everyone. "There is..."

Before she could even finish her sentence, she got the greatest shock of the morning when she looked towards the stairs. It was Antonio and he was coming down, looking a mess. His shirt was almost wrinkled... it was halfway buttoned up and he was removing the neck tie. To her surprise, he angrily removed it and threw it hard on the floor, whispering something that she couldn't hear. His hair was a big mess and so was his face.

He furiously came down the stairs and started heading towards the door, now getting the attention of everyone. They were so shocked that they all just stood and watched the venting man.

"Antonio, what's wrong?" Emilia asked. But all he did was ignore her. "Baby, what's going on?"

But he didn't even bother to look at her. He just stormed out of the house and drove off. Everybody else was just standing there looking lost and puzzled. All of them had noticed that something had changed with Antonio ever since the magazine had gotten out.

"What's wrong with my son?" Emilia asked as she rubbed her forehead, taking a deep breath. "I can't even understand him."

"I think I might know the reason, mother." A voice suddenly spoke, getting the attention of everyone.

They all looked in the direction of the voice and saw Celine standing there, rubbing her hands together. "Well, I didn't need to hear their conversation but..." She paused and remained quiet.

"Celine?" Granny walked to her, standing right in front of her. She was worried because the look on Celine's face was not promising of any good news. "Tell me, what's going on? Why do you look as if you just saw a ghost?"

"Because... because..." She stuttered, gulping. "...I..."

"Will you please say it?" Emilia said angrily. "Can you tell us what happened?"

"Well, mother, I was passing by their room when I heard Antonio's voice. It seemed he was... he was..." He paused and took a deep breath. "...he was really angry at Praveen."

"What?" Granny gasped, feeling a sharp pound in her chest. "He was angry at Praveen? Why?"

"I don't know but I think this has to do something with the magazine that Praveen took with Santiago." She said abruptly, looking at everyone. "I think he is jealous because he was shouting at Praveen in the room."

Andrea and Bruce looked at each other in shock, wondering what Celine was talking about.

"That's impossible." Andrea chuckled in shock, shaking her head. "I think you've got this entire thing wrong? You must have heard something else. Antonio, jealous?" She laughed, gesturing to everyone. "Does she even know what she's talking about?"

"I am serious!" Celine slightly raised her voice, watching as the smile on Andrea's face disappeared. "He was shouting and telling Praveen that he shouldn't have taken that picture when he very well knew that they were married. I swear. You can ask Praveen if you want."

Where Bruce was standing, he felt fear take control of him. He wanted to believe that what she was saying was impossible. He really wanted to believe that because Antonio loved him so much. There was no way he'd be jealous when they'd taken a hot photo together. He felt as if his heart was about to stop beating.

"Oh my God," Emilia gasped, covering her mouth. "Why would Antonio do that? I thought he understood what was happening? I just hope..." She moved and looked at granny with a worried look on her face. "...he hasn't done anything to Praveen?"

Granny was extremely worried. She hadn't expected her grandson to act like that with Praveen. "I hope so too. Why would he act like that when their marriage is new? What was he thinking? That boy isn't used to him and he's already making things worse."

Emma's mouth fell open as she shook her head, wondering what they were all talking about. "Are you being serious, right now, mother?" She chuckled bitterly, shaking her head. "You can't even consider your grandson's feelings and you are now considering someone else's feelings?"

Granny furiously moved her face, staring angrily at her daughter. "Well, I don't care about his feelings. Praveen is the son in law of this house and as such, he deserves more respect from everyone including Antonio. He too took a photo with Bruce..." He pointed at Bruce, making him feel uncomfortable. "...but Praveen didn't even complain although they shouldn't have taken that picture in the first place. So why should it be a problem to him? He's got a lot of explaining to do."

She hissed and looked at Emilia who was still worried. "Please, go and check up on him and make sure he's okay."

Emilia nodded. "Yes!"

She took a deep breath and started rushing towards the stairs, her heart racing. She was really hoping that Praveen was alright. She really prayed deep in her heart that Antonio hadn't done anything to hurt him otherwise she was gonna forget that he was her son.

She started heading up the stairs but only took one step before she noticed Praveen coming down the stairs with his face down. She stopped and just stared at him from head to toe, examining to see that her son hadn't hurt him. She felt at peace, breathing in deeply when she saw that he was alright.

Meanwhile, Praveen's mind was in the room where he had just left. He had arranged the papers that Antonio had thrown, washed his face and attended to his bruises before making sure that he was heading down the stairs. He just prayed that none of the family members had heard the entire commotion that had happened in the room.

"Praveen!"

Praveen froze when he heard a sweet voice calling him from down. He quickly raised his face to find his mother in law looking up at him without any smile on her face. Just her look made him feel really cold and scared. Could she have known, he thought as he brightened up his face and smiled?

"Mother?" He started coming down the stairs. Each step he took closer to her made him really nervous.

"Are you alright?" She asked with concern in her voice.

"Err... yes." He lied.

He reached her and she held his hands, leading him to the living room where everyone looked at him as if he had just grown another head. He moved his eyes, looking at everyone. Bruce just rolled his eyes and folded his arms on his chest.

"Son? Why did Antonio come down looking like that? Are you alright?" Granny asked, holding his hands sweetly in hers. "Please, tell me you're alright?"

"Granny... I..." He paused and nodded. "I am alright. Well," He was thinking of a lie because he didn't want them to be sad. "He... he just had a lot of things to do at work and the reason why he looked upset is because they were messing up with his head. I am sure that he will be alright."

He kept a bright smile although deep down inside, his heart was telling him that he had done something really terrible by lying. But he had to do it.

"Are you sure?" Granny raised her eyebrow, seeing through him. She could tell he was lying. "Is that the reason he stormed out of here looking like he hasn't slept in days? Did he hurt you or something?"