Chapter 72

Orlando's POV

Who would have thought that one day I'll be standing at this point in my life where rue is the only feeling that I have for now. Since the day I was born my life have been pretty good. I won't say that I haven't been in that span of my life where I haven't seen bad days. I have had my fair share of it but even during those times I had someone with me who made me smile. She was with me, Hazel, a girl that loved looking at stars. I met her in the orphanage when I tragically lost my parents. That was a dark part in my life and only she was the light that gave me a way to my lost self. I was hard one to crack but she did it. Spending time under the blanket of blinking star was my favorite thing to do.

However, now I feel witless to just think about my own life and problems. How couldn't I see the signs of the abuse. How couldn't I see that she have been suffering for so long, how could I be so blind that I couldn't see those scars behind her smile that she use to give me every time she saw me. how? Later when I was adopted I did as my parents told me and agreed to lied to the only person who matters more than anything in my life? I shouldn't have listened to them. I should have used my brain and looked for her instead of being a craven but my fear of losing her overpowered my wishes. when I found out the family I am associated with is involved with mafia and especially after the accident I was involved with, I couldn't bear to put her in danger. Though I was right at that time but later, I should have searched for her. Why did I got so involved in my life and people in it that I stopped the thought of even having a contact with her. I know I'm at blame for this. It brakes my heart when I recall the incident that took place few days ago. Hearing her made me realize how stupid I have been all this time to think she have been well.

I don't  know how to approach her now. I'm spooked to see her now. I've seen her reaction that day and I'm shitting myself now to even think about how she'll react again. I desperately wants to talk to her, ask her why she didn't tell me all those things before when we were in the orphanage? Why she kept bearing it for so long? Was she scared that no one would believe her? does that mean during that time none of her wound got treated the whole time she was suffering. All these thoughts and questions were eating me up and the worst part is that I cannot find answer to any of these questions until I ask Hazel but how will I be able to do it; I haven't seen her in three days. She is not ready to look at my face. Will I loose her this time forever?........

No....... I can't let this happen. I have to do something about it. I need to talk to her somehow. Even if she beat me to pup I'll bear it but right now I need to see her. I need to apologize to her and I will not stop till she forgives me. With that thought in mind I got out of my room and start looking for her everywhere. I asked few of the helpers around as well but none of them seems to know where she could have been. I was walking towards Nonno's room to check if she was there and she was also not here but nonno was in his room talking to someone on the phone with quite a serious experience that you could resemble it with doctor who is telling his patient some bad new which turn the patients world upside down. His gaze shifted towards my side when I opened the door to his room. when he saw me he smiled and gestured me to enter the room. Following him, I entered the room and sat on the sofa next to him. I waited for his to end his conversation with person on the other side of the phone. Once he was done with it he smiled and asked

"How can I help you my child?" at his question I froze for few seconds to come up with an answer but seems like my brain has stopped working. He must have seen my state of dilemma that he smiled and said

"Hazel is gone out for some horse ridding."

"What!!" Horse riding, since when did she learned it? Is she good at it? Now I'm very keen to know about it and moreover I would love to watch her riding the horse. Nonno smiled while looking at me.

"You can surely watch her but none of us have seen her till now doing it to be honest."

"Really!! but why? Isn't she living here from very long time?"

"Yes, she have been but she usually go very early in the morning and none of us is either awake or usually doing our own things, so yeah we haven't got a chance yet. But if you want you can go and watch her she must be making her way back soon towards the back gardens now." he said looking at his watch. I nodded my head and thanked him and made my way out of his but before I could reach the handle of the door nonno spoke.

"She still miss you and don't take her words to your heart. She is just hurt and all she need right now is your apology. She come around soon just give her some time."

"I understand nonno and thank you for everything."

"Now go and start counting your bad days." That made me laugh, surely I'm going to have pretty bad days.

As I made my way to the back gardens and saw few of the workers doing their jobs. I went near stable's and roam around for few moments. As I wait for Hazel here, I'm getting more and more nervous. How am I gonna start a conversation with her? Will she reply me or no? This anxiety for not knowing how she will react will she'll see me, was eating me alive. However, whatever happens I will not give up. Just as I turn around I watch a figure coming towards the stables on a horse. My heartbeat that was fast before, now, seeing her coming towards this side, is making it run like a damn cheetah. I took few deep breaths to calm down but seems like nothing is working right now. I blew out a shaky breath one last time and moved forward; here goes nothing. She came near the stable and hopped off from the horse and started patting his neck. Seems like she haven't noticed me yet but I stayed quite for a while and kept looking at her.

She looks better now as compared to the other day. I was scared to death that day when I saw her lying there in her own blood. I die before I see her in that condition next time. It's time that I redress my wrongs and make everything as it use to be. With a new shinning courage in heart in moved few step towards Hazel and cleared my throat to gain her attention. She looked back and froze on her spot as if she wasn't expecting me here. I smiled a little and said, " Hey Hazel, how are you?" She didn't spoke anything but kept looking at me for seconds so I spoke again, "you looking good now, I'm glad to see to back in your color." and she again didn't replied. I kept looking at her and waited that may be now she will reply but seems like today is not going to happen that but I will not back down too.

She huffed out a breath and took her horse back in the stable inside it's cabin and closed the door. She didn't looked at me once and kept moving outside towards the back door of the house and I followed  her like a lost puppy. I was so eager to talk to her that I myself didn't know what was about to come from my mouth. "You look good riding the horse. When did you started? I also like your hair color too, have you changed it? I remember it use to be more on shade of black than brown but it looks good though, it suits you." As I kept babbling we walked into the house and she headed into the direction of dining area. Everyone was in the room and when they saw us they stock-still and that was making me nervous now. She was about to sit on her seat but I decided to say the most cretinous thing I could ever think of. "Aren't you going to wash your hands Hazel?" and the look she gave me was enough to tell me that only a desne person like me can say that. Everyone was looking at me like I've grown two heads. In next moment  everything happen so fast that I'm still not able grasp how it happened all I know is that I'm standing on my spot drenched in water like a mop and Hazel have an empty jug in her hand.

"And I don't like your stupid face." say the irritated voice of Hazel. To say I was shocked would be understatement. Everyone in the room was as flabbergasted as I was but suddenly a voice of laughter was resonated in the room and the culprit was none other than my Nonno. He was enjoying the show a lot and we all were looking at him dumbfoundedly. He saw our reaction and said, "What? it serves him right. Who told him to put oil on the burning flame?" Hearing his reply Nanna gave him a dead glare to which he replied, "I didn't  said anything wrong mia cara moglie. You can ask Hazel, am I saying anything wrong cara?" She just shook her head with a small smile on her lips. She took her cup of coffee and walked towards the other side of the house I was still glued to my spot shaking. Good way to start my morning.... yeah........ I don't know what to expect next time as it was juice this time. Please God help me.