12

Aaron Samuel

Sitting in the garden to. calm myself down before leaving then, I heard her soft delicate concerned voice. "Hey!" 

I look up and there she stood. "Hey!" I replied.

"Erm... Aaron, can we talk?." She asked in a careful tone. 

"Tiana, if you're here to also lecture me concerning what just happened in there then, I'm not in for it. I would like to be left alone, please."  

"That sounds rude, Aaron. Come on, I just want to help." She smiled and took a seat beside me.  

"So, how do you feel now?"

I pass a glare at her and hissed. "Don't push me tonight, Tia. I'm not in the mood for this. Of course, you of all people know I'm not in a good mood right now." I said with my eyes rolled at her.

"Now I know the reason why mom wants you to get married. You can't even stop swearing, Aaron!" She hissed as she scold me whilst I glared at her in return.

"Just leave me the fuck alone, Tia."

"You're still swearing!!"

"Christiana!!! "

"Okay, fine, grumpy. I'm sorry. Can we at least talk? Please." She beseeches in a calm voice.

"I told you, I do not want to talk about it." Of course, I know what she's definitely going to say and I'm not in for that.

"Come on, Aaron. Please don't do this. You very well know, all these are for your betterment" She beseech me again and portrayed a puppy face.   Looking at her innocent face and rolling my eyes instead, before I could say a word, she continued again.  "Okay, I'm sorry for what happened in there, I know all this is happening because of me."

There we go again. She won't stop blaming herself for other people's mistakes. She considered her friends and family first before herself. 

"Why are you blaming yourself? This is not your fault and you know that. "

"It's my fault, Aaron. If I had not told Mom to compel you to have dinner with us tonight maybe, all these wouldn't have happened. I'm truly sorry. "

" Stop apologizing. I said it's not your fault." O hissed.

"On second thought, I feel, there's nothing wrong with in what mom had said earlier." She again said in a careful tone.

"What?!!!"

" Can you allow me to finish what I'm about to say first? Aaron, you're their first child and you don't expect them to keep watching you like this. I think, they already set high expectations from you but, it's the other way round."

"So, you're supporting them now?!! I warned you, if you're here to lecture me, it's better you leave because I won't listen to you. I can't believe you're supporting them! Tell your boyfriend then to also take over everything! You two can also get married since everyone badly wants marriage to take place in this house! I just need some fresh air, alone. I need to leave" I flared out of anger and made an attempt to leave but she hurriedly stopped me.

"NO! Please!!! Erm... I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Aaron. It's not what you think. Regardless of my position in this house, you've always treated me like a kid sister to you but seems, that's not the case. I believe, I held lots of hope that aren't supposed to.   I regard you as an elder brother and I hope, you would listen to me just this once then, make a decision afterward."

"What's it you so badly wanted to talk about?."

"Okay, let's visualize that you're already married and had a complete family-"

" And now, what stunt are you striving at?" I pare her off.

"Please, don't impede me. Allow me to end my talk first."

" Fine!" 

I just can't discern what's that outstanding aspect about this girl. I behold her as my weakness. I've known her for an extremely long time. This year, complete it as 17 years of knowing her. But just a year back, Nathan and she discovered their love for each other, and here we are, both madly in love with each other. But, there's this communion feeling I've got towards her probably because she's Charlotte's look alike. My late kid sister.

Charlotte was my everything, I loved her so much, she was my strength and weakness. I could do anything just to protect and make her happy but unfortunately, she died. She got pneumonia and it was so bad.. so bad that she end up giving up. I was so weak and devastated. I stopped talking to my family and everyone around me. My parents had to change my environment and send me to my grandparent's place in California just to help me forget about everything and, I came across the cute little, troubled replica of Charlotte... Christiana. She was sweet and so innocent like my sister. I began to procure closer to her and regaled her in the same way I did to Charlotte. 7 years later, I turned 18 but her parents relocate to New York. That was the last time I set my eyes on her not until Nathan reached out to me someday and told me he has found the girl his heart truly want.

With a curious mind, I asked who it was and prevailed to be her. 

"Hey! Are you sure you're paying attention to all I've been saying?." Her voice brought me out of my thought.

"Erm, what were you saying?."

"Maybe, I shouldn't pester you with my talk. Judging from the way you look, I believe, you need some alone moment" She intend to leave but I was fast in gripping her wrist and made her seat.

"You can proceed with what you're saying, I want to listen." I said in a serious tone but she pout rather.

"Tia! Can you just tell me what's on your mind, jeez!!!" I swiveled my eyes again, annoyingly.

After saying all she wanted to, I stared at her stunned.

"Now you know, you're only smart in business and that is it! Indifferent from this, you're the dumbest man I've ever met in my entire life. I'm a psychologist, Aaron! And that's why I'm this good." She said arrogantly.

" Oh! That's true. That skipped my mind."

" And, that's why I said you're the dumbest guy."

" I'm not dumb, Tia. You're speaking with one of the richest and most successful men in the whole world. You can't categorize me under that... You know that" I said in a cocky tone and she tsk before rolling her eyes.  

"Now I know the reason why Sophia couldn't see the best side of you. I guess, she is right when she said you're a fool."

What?!! 

Fool?! 

Is she fucking shitting me right now?!

" What?!!"

"I think, she made a mistake. She would have amplified that to her post too."

"Tiana, don't get on my nerves. I can't believe you're supporting that girl. You've known me for almost your entire life but, you're supporting that crazy girl?" I asked.

" Whatever! Just make sure you talk to Mom and sort things out with her. She's hurt, and you know that. There's nothing wrong with what she said... She only cares about you because you're her son."

" Yeah, yeah. I will talk to her but not today." I said.

" Why? Why not now?."

" Tia, I'm not ready for any of her tantrums tonight. Once I go in there, you and I both know the outcome of it and I'm not ready for another drama."

" Okay then... I believe I can't force you to do what you're not comfortable with." She said, sadly.

I know what she's trying to do. Emotionally blackmailing me. Well, that's not going to work on me this time around.

"I need to leave now" I announced.

" Okay, and thank you for giving me Sophia's contact, I thought you wouldn't."

" And why won't I? What benefit will that crazy woman's number do to me... And, you're my favorite little pumpkin so, I will have to fulfill my promise. I told you, I will give it to you." I said.

I pick up my suit which I had placed on the chair beside me turned to look at her only to find her staring at me. I know that look. She's a mischievous girl and if she keeps giving such a look then, she's planning on something. 

"Don't say a word. I swear, I won't forgive you if you dare say a word. You know me, Tia. Don't dare play shit with me." I warned her in a very cold tone.

She burst into laughter. " What are you saying? I haven't said a word 

" That's because I know how your mind works. I know there's something crazy running through your mind right now and I'm sure, it's not something good." I said and stood on my feet, ready to leave.

" Wait!!" She stopped me and now held a serious look on her face.

"Erm... About you getting married." She started, nervously.

"I told you, I will think about it. Now, can I leave?."

" Erm... I was thinking, I mean, what do you think about Sophia?."

" What?!!!"

" Erm... I mean, she's a nice girl and, I've known her for a very long time. She will be perfect to make a good wife and I'm positive Mom will like her too. She has a sweet personality also and even-"

" Stop!!! Just stop it! Stop it, Tiana! What the fuck are you saying?!" I questioned her in a very pissed tone.

Now, I'm twice mad at her than how I was with mom earlier.