You don't love someone for their looks, or for their clothes, or for their fancy cars but because they sing a song only you can hear.

~Oscar Wilde.

......

Akira

Before I know it we are already at the front door of the building where art exhibition is held. Paul opens door for us. Romero gets out first and helps me follow his step. I do that while taking care to not mess with my dress. I observe the scene before me with awe. It is one of ancient looking building with modern elegant. It kind of feels like a magnetic spot.

Romero grabs my waist in possessive manner as he leads me toward the entrance. The heads of ladies turn automatically to Romero and they give him once over. I can't help but feel a thrill of satisfaction that he is my date. I try to not smile in smugness that is rolling inside me.

That's right ladies, you can stare all you want but I'm the one he is going home with.

I look around to find some familiar face and my eyes catches Mr. Vidal's hazel one. He smiles and says something to his companion before making his way toward us.

Romero stiffens and his hand tightens around me. "Motherfucker." He grumbles not so quietly.

Giving him a side glance, I scold, "Behave." When he narrows his eyes, I add in softer tone, "Please?"

And he better listen to me and keep all his macho tactics under control.

"Ah Miss. Ray, glad to see you."

"Good evening, professor." I greet him.

I don't miss the way his eyes go over my body. Neither does Romero for he growls lowly bringing Mr. Vidal's eye to him. Though I don't think he meant any harm by it if not merely surprised at how different I look tonight.

He chuckles, "Sebastian is fine, Miss. Ray. We are not in class."

Romero clips in coolly, "Class or not, it is not Professional to call their professor by name."

Seeing Romero's growing agitation, I speak up, "Rom, my professor Mr. Vidal. Professor, my boyfriend Romero King."

Mr. Vidal regards Romero, "Rom-"

Romero all but snaps, "I prefer King." No greetings or any pleasantry in his tone.

Mr. Vidal takes his time to nod, "King. Heard lot about you through Dante."

There is brief surprise in Romero's face but he covers it with passive mask, "You know Dante?"

"Yes. He is in board member."

"Of course he is." Mutters Romero darkly, not liking what he just heard.

Mr. Vidal shifts his gaze to me, "Anyway Miss. Ray why don't you go by your painting. Many people has asked me about the painter."

They did? I am surprised, really. I didn't think anyone would pay any attention to my work.

Still pride and happiness fills my nerve at the thought someone showing interest in my painting.

I give him my full smile for the wonderful news he gave me and I can tell Romero doesn't like it, not a bit. "Thank you professor and I am going now. Please excuse us."

I pull Romero with me and pace for section of selected students paintings. On our way I see lots of paintings, all are extraordinary. There are many people inside this room all dressed in designer clothes and for once I don't feel like underdressed in a room filled with bunch of riches.

"Ira!"

We halt as I recognize Dev's voice and whirl around. He approaches us with his beautiful looking girlfriend. He looks handsome, not Romero type but his own type, in black tuxedo. A grin placed on his lips that falters slightly under Romero's glare.

"Hey Dev. Jasmine, how are you?" Jasmine, whose eyes are stuck to Romero in a very obvious appraisal.

Hearing her name, she jerks her head to me. A blush appears on her cheeks at getting caught checking out my boyfriend. I don't mind though. Okay so maybe I don't mind much. I have to get used to the effects he has on opposite sex. It will take time or perhaps I would never get used to it but I can't do a damn thing about it. I can't even wish for him to turn less attractive. I love him very much for just way he is.

"I'm good, thanks and congratulation for this night." She speaks through her embarrassment.

"Thank you. This is my boyfriend King. And Rom, she is Dev's girlfriend, Jasmine." This time I choose King instead of Romero, knowing he doesn't want anyone else to call him Romero.

Her blush deepens under Romero's passive stare. She mutters a small, "Hi."

My boyfriend just nods at her and turns his eyes to Dev. A devilish smirk that I'm not certain if I like, forms on his lip, "Art fuc-"

Jerk!

He would never listen, would he?

I give him a solid jab that stops him but does nothing to his smirk. He amends, "Davis."

I know it was intentional slip from his part. Romero has some untold grudge against Dev, though later has not done anything other than being my friend. Which clearly seems like a crime in his dictionary.

Dev looks suspicious at Romero's earlier words but decides to not pay enough mind and greets my boyfriend, "King."

I intervene hurriedly before Romero could make a crude remark, "Where is your painting?"

He points at the painting behind him. It is his, I remember. "There."

"Glad you find your already. I'm going to find mine."

"It's the second last one by that side. I saw it earlier." He informs with the notion of his hand.

"Okay thanks. I will see you both later."

"See you." He murmurs in a hesitant voice, looking wary of Romero and the later just glares hard.

Once we are out of their hearing range. I fume silently at Romero. Slipping out of his arm I start walking ahead of him.

"Ray." I ignore his call and keep moving.

He catches up with me within second and grips my arm, "Don't walk away from me." His voice deadly low.

"Don't tell me what to do." I snap tugging my arm discreetly not wanting to cause any scene.

"Then stop being childish."

I scoff, what a hypocrite. "I'm being childish? You are the one who is acting like a child, not me. I told you to behave. Hell I begged you to but no, you never listen, do you? What's your problem with Dev?"

"He took you away from me once and I hate him for that." His grey eyes narrow in hatred. I don't like witnessing this look from him. It's disturbing.

I frown at first then I remember what is he talking about. I recall walking away from him with Davis. Though Dev was not at fault there.

Oh Rom

"He didn't take me. I asked him to." I tell him through my memory.

He glowers, "Same thing."

"No. It is not the same thing. And for your information you stood me up first, you forced me leave you." I didn't mean to say it, to bring past back but it just came out. I could not help it.

He closes his eye in resignation and takes a deep breath before opening them back back. They are filled with regret. "I'm sorry."

Some of my anger resolves, "It's not me you should be apologising. It's Dev-"

He cuts me off in hard voice. "I am not apologizing to anyone who is not you. Even if he was not at fault, I would still hate him."

"Why?" I whisper in barely small voice but he hears me.

"Because he gets your attention and smile, Ray. I'm going to hate anyone or anything who has privilege of them. It's mine and I don't share. I can't help it. Nor I'm going to apologize for it." His stare is so intense that I have to look away to maintain my posture.

I somehow, deep down knew it. He doesn't like any male near me. His fierce possessiveness doesn't scare me off instead it unreveals me, barring me raw and vulnerable. His emotions effect mine in a way I can't explain. They have so hard control over mine.

"Let's go to my painting." I murmur in small voice.

He doesn't complain and follows me.