2 ~ Aurora

"You're seriously going to make me wear makeup?" I asked my mother that evening, shocked and amazed at how serious things were getting.

"Yes. I'm just going to touch up your face a little bit." 

"Mother,"

"Shhh. You have to look your best and give a good first impression." She shushed me.

"But-" I wanted to insist.

"Hush young lady, you know I'm right."

I clamped my mouth shut and let her do what she wanted. There was no point in arguing with her anyway.

When she was done, she marveled at the work of her hands. And even I was impressed at what she had done. I looked really good. The mild makeup enhanced my looks so well and brought out the greenness of my orbs.

I stayed up in my room, looking out from my window that faced the entrance of our estate. I was waiting to see for myself when our guests would arrive. I wanted to know the kind of car they drove as well as catch a glimpse of the man I was to marry before officially meeting him.

I sat there and waited, calming my nerves with a bowl of chips, forgetting about the dinner that was about to be had. 

Unfortunately I missed out on getting a glimpse of him because River texted me just before they drove into the premises. I got so caught up in the juiciness of the conversation, I almost forgot about what was at hand.

"Oh well," I shrugged off the disappointment and waited to be called down for dinner.

The knock I was waiting for came through and I immediately adjusted my dress and fluffed my waves before opening the door with a swift smile. 

"Beautiful." She complimented me. My mother did not do this often so it warmed me that she did.

"Thank you." 

"Now smile and don't speak too much, unless you're asked something, okay?" 

"Yes mother." I nodded. 

"Let's go," she spun around and led the way down the stairs to our dining room.

I heard the clatter of fine crockery and cutlery and knew dinner had been served.

I got in and was met with familiar faces except one. I quickly said hello and then my father eagerly introduced the unfamiliar one.

"My dear, this is Leonardo Adams, the only son of my dear friend Rowan Adams." 

I waved shyly. 

When my eyes met Leo's for the first time, I was immediately enthralled by his looks. I had not taken a proper look when I waved the first time. He was what a lot of people would think was the perfect man. No wonder women worshipped him like a god, he actually looked like one. I almost asked him how it felt to be God's favorite.

"Hi." I said as I sat next to him at the dinner table that evening.

He ignored me. I told myself he didn't hear me and I was probably just overthinking it. That was a lie but I chose to just be delusional.  

"Aurora just finished from a fashion school." My father said out of the blue in the middle of dinner, obviously trying to impress his guests especially my supposed husband to be.

"Interesting. So she's a seamstress." Leo's mother piped up, hardly any expression on her caked up face. I grimaced at her condescending tone but did well to hide my expression so I would not be deemed as disrespectful.

"A designer in the making." My mother corrected her and I thanked her in my heart for defending me. Just then, I realized that these two would have a hard time getting along. It was the norm with high society women - faking smiles and throwing mean jabs at each other in subtle and not so subtle ways. I dreaded being one of such women and unfortunately my fate was beginning to look like theirs.

"I think we should give them a chance to get to know each other." Leo's father said as the awkward silence had lasted for a long time. Leo had not said a word to me, he had hardly spared me a glance nor even looked up from his plate as everything went on. I found his ability to sit still without uttering a word admirable for some reason. Maybe he was so used to so much drama, he was now immune to it, I thought. 

We walked to my favorite part of the house - the garden. I led the way to it awkwardly watching my steps in the dramatic dress my mother made me wear for dinner. It was a moonless night but the place was brightly illuminated by the security lights.

"You're not going to say anything to me?" I asked him after the silence had stretched for an uncomfortable period of time when we made it to my usual spot where I usually sat to think.

"There's nothing to say." He shrugged, not sparing me a glance.

"I-"

He huffed, interrupting me, "Listen Aria-"

"Aurora. My name is Aurora." I corrected him without hesitating. My name was precious to me, I did not want anyone ruining it. 

He was however unapologetic. "Yeah that. Listen, I really do not want any of this. I do not subscribe to being with a total stranger."

"Strangers get to know each other over time but yeah, you're right. We should tell this to our parents." I answered, somewhat glad that we were on the same page and it would make things easier for us.

He was tongue tied at that point. Oh he was as scared as I was? So what was all that macho talk about? I scoffed inwardly.

He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, tousling it up but still looking good regardless. He looked at me and I looked away, busying myself with staring at the hibiscuses like they were they weren't there everyday when I woke up.

"This is not going to work. I don't think I can love you." He said in the most nonchalant way as he gave me a disinterested once-over. 

He did not know it but his simple, carefree statement did something terrible to my mind. It took a very tiny piece of my heart away but the fact that an injury was small did not make it not hurt. I soon got to realize that was just the littlest bit of hurt I was to experience.

"Have a good night Leo." I said, turned and walked away. This was the end of the conversation for me. There was no getting to know each other, just a man who was plainly rejecting me before getting to know me. I blamed it on my looks. I was not pretty enough to be his bride. I was probably not even his type.

~~