POV: Valentino (Val)

I don't know when exactly I fell in love with Alex but I do know why. It all started when I was younger, I didn't have the best home life. My father was strict and overbearing and I had little to no freedom. I struggled to reach his idiotically high expectations. He wanted me to be the perfect child and I complied for as long as I could.

My father lifted my chin and a disgusted look overwhelmed his face.

"I don't care what your mother says, I should make you wear colored contacts in public," he said with a scowl on his face.

He then sent me to my room so he could be alone with his thoughts. I ran upstairs and locked myself in my room. Step by step I slowly entered the room that I haunted with my presence. Passing the large pile of new toys and books sat a mirror. The little light that entered the room bounced off the reflective surface. As I step closer, I see myself in the reflection. As I gaze into the mirror, all I can see is one amber eye and one green. A tear rolled down my face before I stopped myself. I can't show a single negative emotion, I must be perfect.

I fall to my knees holding in tears. I will never be good enough for him. Slowly regaining myself, I stand up and head towards a bookshelf that I often visit. From the depth of the shelf, I pulled out a large worn-out book that looked as if it was falling apart. The title that is nearly ripped off read "Advanced Computer Sciences and Engineering". Almost dropping the book many times I head to my special reading chair and bury myself in the stuffies which surround it. I was forced to memorize this book by heart so I would be worthy of inheriting the industry that my father built from the ground up. I loathed this book with all my being. Slowly I open the book revealing a carving in the book that hid another book. My mother used to read this book to me every night before my father started taking over my life. It was about a shape-shifting alien who traveled around the universe with his best friend. I miss those days when I would look forward to bedtime just to listen to my mom read this book. However my father insisted I be enrolled in high-level education from a young age.

The more I think of how I have no freedom even at the age of seven, the more tears start rolling down my face without me noticing. I buried my face in the book that had comforted me for many years. But in an instant, my life was changed for the better

"Valentino come, I have someone for you to meet." my mom called from the door of my room.

I wipe the tears from my face and head over to my mom. I kept my head down so it wouldn't show that I had been crying.

"Valentino, I want you to meet Alex," she said.

"Hi, my name is Valentino" I quickly reply.

After the words left my mouth I turned around and returned to my chair. I continued reading my book when I felt someone pass by me. I look up and see a boy roughly around my age but still slightly younger. He heads to a corner and sits down burring his head in a cute and fluffy teddy bear with a big blue bow. I start to hear quiet sobbing coming from that corner. I turn my full attention to him and notice something peculiar. It took me a while to fully realize but then it hit me like a train. His physical features were an illusion. It was hard to tell but for a split second, I think the illusion gave out. From a specific angle and the squinting of my eyes, I could make out bandages that covered his head. (look at this little Sherlock) This puzzled me, for once I wasn't able to make a logical sense of something.

I stand up from my seat and head over to him. I sat down next to him and felt a glowing aura radiating from him. My mind blanked and I uttered the most random phrase.

"Why are your eyes raining?" I said.

"What? Do you mean crying?" he replied in between sobs.

"Yeah, why are your eyes raining?" I repeated.

He explained to me that he was sad after something that happened. I felt a strong sense of remorse. I didn't want him to feel sad like this.

"You don't have to be sad because I'm here and I'm your friend, I'll make sure you're never sad again," I said.

Ever since then Alex and I have been the closest of friends. Slowly but surely I started feeling something more for Alex. Whenever I looked at Alex I felt something I had never felt before. He gives me feelings of butterflies in my stomach. I feel nothing but joy when I'm near him, and I would never want anything bad to ever happen to him for as long as I live. I am a bit ashamed of this but I tried to repress these feelings by dating almost every single girl in my grade. But no matter how hard I tried I only thought of Alex. I always knew that what I saw wasn't his real face but I still knew that I loved him. Not for his looks even tho that is a plus, but for him as a person. I will always love him and I hope someday he can feel the same for me. 

I return to the limo and signal to the driver to leave. I say goodbye to Miss Cruz from the window and I head home.

"Alex, I will love you to the end of time. In this life and the next."