Episode 16

Carlo held his cheek, right where Adrien's thin but powerful hand had struck him. He wasn't going to deny it, he was completely taken aback by Gautier's charity. Although he knew how violent he could get, he had to admit that he had underestimated his feelings. He never imagined that the day would come when Adrien would hit him, and that was further proof of how much that boy had changed.

But in reality, it wasn't the fact that he had been hit that disconcerted him so much, and although it hurt, what moved him most was seeing Adrien's face. Hatred, sadness, resentment, anger and countless feelings mixed in one person. However, there was not a trace of happiness there. He could have sworn that, at another time, Adrien would have smiled at him and returned the caresses with pleasure, but the Adrien in front of him seemed to want to cry with rage.

"Adrien, I..."

Carlo took a step forward and tried to explain the situation, however, a strong kick to his stomach forced him back and, after staggering a little, he fell to the grass.

"Son of a bitch, what do you think you're doing?" Cedric's furious voice made Carlo's anger grow. That wretch was just a damn nuisance between him and Adrien, he didn't have to interfere, it wasn't his place.

"Stay out of it!" he yelled as he stood up and caught his breath.

"Stay out of it? Adrien is the most important person to me and you destroyed him, so stay away from him or I'll break your face, you fucking moron." he warned sternly.

"Don't threaten me, you little American shit!" Carlo stepped forward, undeterred. Cedric's presence really bothered him.

The eyes of both shone with rage as if they were lifelong enemies. The tension in the air was palpable and the fine line of patience was about to break if either one got any closer, however, Adrien stood between them.

"Enough," he said in a firm voice as he shifted his eyes from one to the other. "Carlo, stop this, okay? We're at a charity gala and someone could walk in at any moment."

"Then tell your little friend to get lost and not interfere between us!"

"Cedric, come on, I don't want you to get hurt," Adrien said as he grabbed his wrist and took him with him. "By the way, Carlo, you and I have nothing left to talk about, so, as you requested, I'll stay away and I expect you to do the same."

The tone was serious and with a tinge of annoyance. Carlo saw Adrien walk away with that person in hand, and his anger only increased.

...----------------...

Carlo arrived home, untied his bow tie, and tossed it aside in frustration. He took off his jacket and sent it flying too, letting out a heavy sigh as he collapsed onto the plush mattress. With his forearm over his forehead, he let all the air out of his lungs, feeling the built-up tension dissipate little by little. The feeling of suffocation vanished, but the anguish and remorse remained.

What he had done was clearly wrong, it was an attitude he had never had before and never thought he would have, at least not towards Adrien Gautier.

He rolled over on the bed and looked at the photograph that rested on the nightstand. The dim light from the wall lamp illuminated the room, highlighting the image from three years ago when they both attended a beach event. He remembered that day clearly, after fulfilling their responsibilities, Adrien had suggested taking a walk along the seashore.

The memory of the photograph came flooding back, that afternoon they were standing side by side, their shoulders bumping intentionally. It was all for Adrien. Adrien had also wanted, subtly, to intertwine their hands, seeking a closeness that Carlo rejected, preferring to keep them behind his back, ignoring Adrien's look of sadness.

But Adrien forgot his snubs too quickly. The next second, he was already smiling and running around Carlo with contagious joy.

"Come on, wipe that serious face off and put on a smile," Adrien would say as he continued running, enjoying the sunset.

But the mental image vanished when Adrien tripped and fell in the sand, complaining of pain in his foot. Carlo hurried to his side, worried, forgetting any previous distance.

"Look who rushed to get here!" Adrien said with coquettishness and a bit of mockery. "Admit it, you're dying without me, Carlo."

"I'm just doing my job of taking care of you, I promised your grandfather," Carlo muttered, examining Adrien's injured foot. "Don't get any wrong ideas," he added, looking up at him.

Adrien tried a happy smile, but his annoyance and disappointment were evident.

"Come on, I'll take you back to the hotel and we'll take care of your injury," he crouched down, waiting for Adrien to climb on his back. The wound was visible, probably caused by a conch shell in the sand.

Adrien got on his back and hugged him with his legs, getting very close to his face.

"Let's take a picture to commemorate this day," Adrien said enthusiastically.

"No, you know I don't like photos," Carlo replied, trying to keep his emotional distance.

"And you know I don't care," Adrien pulled his cell phone from his shorts pocket, "wait, wait, get comfortable."

Carlo couldn't help but smile slightly at Adrien's stubbornness. Although the situation between them was complicated, those moments of complicity and closeness still held a special place in his heart.

"Fine, just one photo," Carlo finally relented, resigning himself to Adrien's insistence.

Adrien settled on his back more comfortably, their bodies so close that Carlo could feel the heat emanating from him. A familiar and bittersweet feeling invaded his thoughts as Adrien looked for the perfect angle with his cell phone.

"Ready!" Adrien exclaimed excitedly after capturing the moment. "This will look great in our scrapbook."

Carlo nodded with a mixture of nostalgia and affection. For a moment, he wished he could go back in time and change things, prevent the distance and tensions from coming between them.

The image of the beach on Adrien's cell phone faded as Carlo found himself back in his room, alone and with a lump in his throat. The reality was harsh and the feeling of having lost something valuable overwhelmed him.

With a resigned sigh, he decided to put away the photograph and get out of bed. He knew he couldn't get stuck in the past, he had to face the mistakes he had made and find a way to make things right, even if the path seemed uncertain and difficult.

As he headed to the bathroom to take a shower and clear his head, a silent determination formed in his mind. He couldn't let his pride and bad decisions ruin what really mattered in his life.

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