A FEW YEARS AGO Because it was raining. Because she needed space. Because she thought that's what happened next, or she thought it was high time she did things as others did. Whatever reason she gave to herself, nothing kept her at ease. "Stop fidgeting, Ayla. I won't eat you." He took her hand in his hands and walked to the bedroom. As always, his flat was a complete mess, a clean mess, she would add, because things were out of order but never dirty. To go inside his apartment along with Mason is one thing and to go along with Jay is another. She still had no idea how she put herself in that position- following a man to his after kissing for god knows how many minutes. His bedroom was an exception. There's no spot in there. The king-sized bed, the grey curtains, the walk-in closet, and a mini couch. It looked like it was never touched. Then she realized that he never really use his bedroom. He always works in the second bedroom which he made into a mini-of
PRESENT DAY AYLA My phone rang for the third time and I silenced it by clicking on the volume button. "So nothing happened that night?" I asked Yeona, trying to sound so casual as if it doesn't affect me. "You never lied to me because you were really bad at lying and pretending just like how you are trying to act normal now with everything I said. By the way, that was the only night when nothing happened. Ever since then, you guys were head over heels for each other. Come here," She whispered while leaning towards the table. The restaurant was not much crowded. But she called me as if we were discussing the nation's security. I leaned forward to hear her out. She covered her mouth as she whispered, "There were days when you were not able to walk properly." We may not be discussing the nation's secret. I didn't know that we can be discussing things that oddly seemed dirty. I never once had passionate sex as far as I remember. Hearing her say t
AYLA PRESENT DAY Everything happened in a blink of an eye. What's taking time is processing it. Yeona is with the cops explaining to them everything that has happened. I was too terrified to speak a word. Maybe terrified is not the exact word. I am shocked. Why would any want to kill me? How come I had become responsible for another person's death whom I didn't remember? Jayden walked in with a glass of water in his hand. "Drink," he ordered. That's what he has been doing since he came to my rescue. He was furious, and I am not in the situation to comprehend to whom this rage is directed and why. I raised my head to look at him, and another tear slipped my eye when I noticed the scar he got on his palm because of me. He still had the cloth I tied to stop the bleeding before. Once again, the moment of horror played in my mind. A man I had never seen before tried to attack me in my own house, and somehow Jayden came to rescue me. Not even once did he hesitate before he put my
She was busy checking her phone. Never did she immerse herself in mobile to the point where she ignored all the vehicles. It's a kind of freedom and a feeling of security she has been experiencing lately, as Jayden is always with her. "Did Nasa release something?" He asked her, trying to grab the phone. She took two steps back without raising her head. "Will you at least look at me? I have traveled miles to meet you." He said only to receive nothing in turn. He rolled his eyes, "Don't tell me that you got a new boyfriend." No response. "Come here," He said, trying to take her into his arms. He knew she couldn't resist his touch. She took two other steps back onto the road. He immediately dragged her by her waist and switched their sides so that his back is towards the road and she didn't even realize that he did that to prevent a bike from hitting her. Her eyes are still on her phone. His hands are on his hips, eyes demanding a look wit
Ayla Present Day It has been two days since the incident. It has been more than thirty-six hours since I fall asleep. I am practically living on caffeine. I see Max, trying to choke me whenever I close my eyes or I would see Jayden and those goddamn memories. I don't know which one is more pathetic. Tomorrow, I have an appointment with Kemal, my therapist. He has been helping me deal with things ever since my accident. I am scared of being alone at home. Every time I go out, I get a feeling that someone's following me. But at the office, it was different. These are Jayden's territories. No Max can get inside easily. We always have tight security. I am on our bosses' floor, waiting for Steph to complete her work so that we can go home. She insisted that she stay with me. I feel that a day with Steph could do some good. My phone beeped as I was lost in my thoughts, looking out of the window at all the city lights. "You forgot your ointment." The mes
AYLA PRESENT DAY I have always been so proud of myself whenever I look at my house. It wasn't that big, but it wasn't small either. I spent my mom's insurance money, my small savings, and the cheque my father gave me after graduation on this lease. Why the hell does this seem so little now? It has been five minutes since Steph left, since the moment she looked at Jayden and smirked since Jayden slammed the door in her face and he turned towards me. That's all he did. We were staring at each other till now. I tried to look everywhere but him. I heard him exhale deeply, and he sat on my couch, pulling his hair over his head. "You don't remember me?" He questioned. I shook my head slowly. He shook his head in disbelief. "According to you, when was the first time you heard about me?" He questioned. "When you attended our college for a....." He cursed under his breath. "So for you, the first time we met was when you spill that coffee on my shirt?"
A FEW YEARS AGO NOTTINGHAM "Why are you here? Didn't you have an appointment with some company's CEO? You had a presentation. What are you doing here? You don't have to come. Jay...," Nothing she said traveled through his ears. His eyes were fixed on the scar she got on her forehead. "It's nothing," she whispered when he moved the few strands of her hair back. "Where else?" He asked sternly. She threw him a scowl even though her eyes were glossy and she was hurting. "Nowhere," She replied. "You should go," She said again, gently pushing him with her hand. He caught her hand to inspect the wounds. He finally released a breath when he found none. "Don't do that." He ordered. "Don't push me away no matter what." She dropped her head, fidgeting with her fingers. "That's not what I am doing." She murmured. "I don't want you to worry. The purpose of your meeting is too big to stop for trivial things like this."
A FEW YEARS AGO NOTTINGHAM It was 11 PM when she heard the knock on her window. She was so sure she heard that wrong. But the knock came again. She wore her sweater and her night dress and slowly walked towards the window. "Who is there?" She shouted. The first thought is to call her dad. But it hurts her pride to do that. If she had a serial killer behind that closed window, her father would still blame her. She knew that for sure. The knock came again, making her whole body rigid. "Just open the damn door, Surgeon. It's freezing outside." Came a sharp sound from the other end. Her body reacted to the sound even before she could process it. She quickly opened her windows and let the hanging Jayden climb inside. "What are you doing here?" She asked, running back to double-check the door lock. "Wow..there's a lot of pink here." He commented, scanning through her room. She rested her hands on her hips, giving h
AYLA | NOW My hands are clammy. I stared at the road ahead, sitting in Jayden’s fancy car. The speed hit over 70, and when the hood of the car opened without me asking for it, I released a breath of relief. I closed my eyes, my face towards the sky, and the wind swayed my hair. It’s going to be a mess, I’m sure. But I enjoyed this moment. The wind, the freedom, the thud in my chest, the moment of no thoughts, the clarity in my bones, I love everything about this moment. Did I ever think that I would have someone to depend on completely? That’s exactly what I am doing. I am trusting him with my heart, and my body. I am going to take the leap of faith in him, in us, and I hope fate plays in our favour. We entered into a sumptuous upscale street with many apartments and villas here and there. Either side of the road is lined up with maple trees. I bet it looks more beautiful in the daytime. Jayden stopped the car in front of a tower. Of course, it’s a skyscraper, or how else w
AYLA | NOW I hugged my diary and wiped my tears. I had something I thought I'd never have: a father figure, a brother, and a man, my man who loved me unconditionally and who protected me."Nothing you do will make him leave you." Henry told her. And somehow I did something that made him leave. But he came back for me. He said that he came back for me six months after he left, which is exactly two months after I woke up, and he saw me in Blake's arms. That must have hurt. He felt betrayed. I think I can finally see his pain. He was ready to give Ayla a chance even though he believed that his father died because of her. His love is incomparable. How did I get that lucky? How did it all go down? For now, I closed the dairy. My body and mind were desperate to see him, see the guy who gave me the world, and nothing about him changed now, even though I didn't remember him. I squealed in joy as I got ready for the office, putting some extra effort into my hair and make-up. I chose a two-p
AYLA | THEN He is crazy. She is going to kill him for sure. He even locked her in the car, went to the department store and bought condoms. Not just one but ten. She will kick him on the bed and lock him in the washroom. Then she will sleep while he begs her to open the door. "I swear, Jayden. If you don't take me home today, I might kill you accidentally." "I am taking you, home." He said so casually without giving a second thought about what his words were doing to her, they were giving her hope which she didn't want. "I am not ready for this." She yelled. "You're more than ready." She was. She is. She knows it. She also knows how addictive his touch can be, how blissful his kisses can be and how peaceful she'll be with him. She will be addicted to happiness. That's what her relationship is with him, pure happiness. That's what makes it more precious and fragile. It can be broken. A month away from turning eighteen Ayla already knows that she wants forever w
AYLA It became hard to breathe. It has been two weeks. Two weeks since the break up. Two weeks since she talked to him, since she received a text from and heard about him. She is the one who left. She is the one who ended. He made that so clear. But it hurts. A part of her wondered if he missed her. A part of her wondered why he didn't call her. Did he move on? Of course, he would. He is Jayden Knight. He can have anyone. He said they were a mistake. Of course, he wouldn't regret this. Ayla on the other hand, felt suffocated. She stared at her phone, waiting for his call, even though she knew she wouldn't change her mind if he did and read their old conversations. When will this year be over? When will she find a new city? There are too many memories everywhere. She didn't realise it till now. But Jayden showed her every place in the city, and kissed her in every corner. Her heart swelled at the thought. How long will it take for the pain to go away? She forgot how she used t
JAYDEN | THEN Something changed between them. Ayla became distant again. Ever since she cried in his arms, she started to avoid him. She cried in front of him before without feeling insecure or inferior. It took a lot of time for her to open up. Now, she went back to being reserved again. Jayden was left with a nibbling feeling inside. Something was off. Something was off between them. She kissed him back when he kissed her. It wasn't just the same passion. She said I love you too, when he said, I love you. It wasn't just the same intensity. She didn't pick up the phone after the third ring or the fourth like she usually does. She barely replied to his messages. Her windows weren't opened anymore. Jayden stood, outside her house, staring at her dark room, not knowing where it all went wrong. He called her. It was 11 PM. She has been staying late for a year now. Sometimes they talked until 3 AM. She was online. But his messages were left unread. He lost it then. Gritting h
AYLA Blake joined me for the morning run today. "So?" He asked, panting. "You are going on a date with your boss. You are one lucky girl." I laughed at his words. "I feel like I am a character in a novel." "I hope it's a novel full of smut." I punched him in the stomach. He acted like he couldn't breathe and did a fake cry, holding his stomach. If I didn't know him better, I would have trusted he was really in pain. "I haven't forgiven you yet," I yelled at him and ran faster. He joined me soon. "I am really happy for you." He says. "Need help with what are you going to wear?" I shook my head, "It's weird to take your help for a date with Jayden. Given, you are enemies and all." "When can we move past that?" He asked me with a hope. "When I know the full story." "He became yours. Do you still need to know the full story?" I nod my head. "It is my story. I had to know." "Good to know that you are accepting your past while moving forward in presen
AYLA PRESENT | By this time in my life, I knew so many things about Jayden. They are more than I thought I would. Right now, he is angry. It is pure rage mixed with something else that became hard to comprehend for me. Is it hurt, pain or just love? "No, I left you at your father's mercy." His words came out as a whisper with a heavy tone as though it was hurting him to talk with me. "I don't understand," I told him, confused. I came to Steph's cabin hoping to see him. A million thoughts ran in my head about how I would greet him after the kiss. I tried hard not to blush because he would grin like a devil. But never did I imagine, it would be like this. "Of course, because you don't remember." That's all it took for him to break me, a simple and stupid accusation. He was walking out without even looking back after throwing those few sharp words at me, and I started to realise the effect he had on me. I thought he was
AYLA A FEW YEARS AGO Her bedside clock read 11:45 PM. Her mom would never let her use her phone at that time. After sitting in the same position for an hour and a half, she got up slowly. A few times, Evelyn knocked at her door. But she ignored it. The knock came again, making her sigh. After all, it's not Evelyn's fault. She held an ice pack in her hand when Ayla opened the door. "I am sorry for what happened." She told her, handing over the ice pack. "You did nothing," Ayla said, taking the ice pack. "Thank you." She said in her hoarse tone. Then, Evelyn did the most unexpected thing. She took a strand of hair to the back of her ear in a motherly way. "You're a good girl, Ayla. I know that. Eda has raised you well. It's just your dad hated her. And he hates the knights. We had a long rivalry with them, and it made him furious. Otherwise, your dad wouldn't have. .." "He has never been my dad, Evelyn. Do not try to justify what he did. He slapped me because
Her house was situated at the end of the street. She could see the beautiful gardens perched on the lawn of each mansion she has passed by. 'I could do it,' she thought. Just another minute and she will be inside her room, and he can't hurt her, or at least she thought he couldn't. His truck is still after her, following her into the house. Jack just came out of the house looking at her suspiciously. His gaze shifted to Nathaniel who shortly followed her. Nathaniel is taller than Jack but not as tall as Jayden. He has a muscled body and if something happens, Ayla was sure that would happen, she can't outdo him. He looked dangerous, and he got big hands. Something about that terrified her evenmore. She saw him leaning towards Jack and whispering something, and Jack looked at her with spite in his eyes a second later. * An eerie silence settled over the dinner table. Something is off or it's her fear of Na