CHAPTER 7 MOVE ON,ARIA.

 Mom drove me home and surprisingly, I wasn't expecting to meet my dad because he's a busy person, but there he was sitting on the couch watching whatever that pleased him.

“You never told me I was going to meet dad,” I whispered to my mom.

“I know” She laughed.

“ It was a surprise. He has plenty of things to say to you” My mom added. 

My dad's face beamed with a small smile when he saw me. My dad hasn't changed much, just the little wrinkles on his face here and there and the gray hair. 

I dropped the luggage right there and breathed a sigh of relief. My mom quickly summoned one of the maids to help drag the luggage to my old room. I haven't been in this house in the past two years plus.

“Heyy” I said coldly as I took a seat.

“Welcome home, my pixie, "My dad with a grin.

“Don't call me that. I'm twenty-five now!” I frowned, feeling disgusted already. The name pixie originally generated from Tinkerbell. It was my favorite show while growing up, so my dad used to watch it with me. At first, it started off as Pixie Aria, then finally My pixie. My dad raised his hands in surrender, then I got up, excused myself and went into my room.

I breathed in and out when I landed on the bed. They were little cobwebs hanging on the wall, the room looked untouched ever since I left. I looked around the room, there was a wallpaper of Sia hanging there. I smiled as I recalled when I used to be crazy over her, but now I don't even listen to music no more. I still haven't forgiven my dad, and his presence alone irritates me. On the other hand, I was worried about Chris. I was missing him already, I miss the way he kisses made me feel, I miss being cared about, but also, I can't be over the fact that he cheated on me. I couldn't get myself to even rewatch the video afterward.

My door creaked open, bringing me to reality. It was one of the maids. She's worked with us since I was a kid, she represented the big sister image that I never had.

“What the hell? Are you crying?” She said, concerned as she sat beside me. 

“Am I?” I asked as I cleaned my eyes with the back of my palms. I didn't even realize I was shading tears.

“ I heard about everything and I know it must be hard for you. You're so strong, I hope you heal” I nodded slowly, blinking my eyes to prevent the tears that were already falling.

“Thank you” I muttered as I blinked again.

“I've always hated that man, erhm..” She tapped me, she was trying to recall his name.

“Chris” I responded.

“Yes, Chris. He's too full of himself. This is why I don't even do pretty boys” Anna said, making a disgusted face. I didn't say a word. I just smiled weakly. 

“I really missed you, you know that” I said with a wide arms, she coiled into it.

“Mee too. This house hasn't been the same since you left” Anna whispered as she gripped me tighter.

Together, we cleaned the room. I stumbled across a high school journal, each page I flipped irked me, I couldn't believe I literally wrote those. In the pages I wrote about my crushes, my mean teachers, my school bully and some random things. 

“You know, I heard Chris moved out. He's putting the house up for sale” My mom said during dinner.

“Ohh” my dad responded. I felt the huge to call him right away or at least check up on him. I just needed to hear his voice presently. 

“Aria” My dad called my name.

“Yeah?” I responded by looking at my meal.

“Can you ever forgive your old man? I'm sorry for putting you through all this stress” He got a glass of water and gulped everything down.

“Please?” My mom added. I sighed. 

“Okay, daddy. I forgive you. I mean, what can I do? You're still my dad” I replied as my mom's face replaced with a broad smile.

“I love you, Pixie” My dad hasn't gotten over that name. 

“You know what, mom?” I said, playing with my fork and trying to think at the same time.

“Yes, honey” My mom responded.

“I'm cancelling the flight. I've thought about it for some hours now, and I'm calling it off” I spoke calmly as I lifted my face finally, then I turned to my dad and informed me I'll be willing to join his company.

“By the way, your secretary's office is still and always available” He grinned happily

 I shook my head and laughed.

“I'll give the order to set everything for you” I nodded in approval.

I went to bed feeling tired as hell. Tomorrow was a big day for me and I needed to be prepared both mentally and physically. My thoughts drifted back to Chris. I wondered if he was doing okay without me, or maybe he's doing just fine, or perhaps he is still with that Jessica girl.

I woke up the next day feeling energetic as I could be. My dad had already left home alongside my mom. 

I arrived at my dad's company an hour thirty minutes after. My dad introduced to his workers. I already knew a few of them because I used to visit at that time, and then I was shown my office. 

After work, I called Anna to know if she was busy and luckily for me, she wasn't. She stood aside the road waiting for me, then I drove us to get a drink or two.

“I miss this” Anna chuckled as she sipped from her glass.

“Mee too” I laughed.

“Remember when we got so drunk years ago that I was too tipsy that you dragged my ass back home!” The music was too loud that we were literally screaming.

“Yessss. You actually threw up on me, but it was memorial, I had to clean us up and the next day, you swore that never happened” I said, bursting into laughter. She joined me. I was having a great time already, I have never had this much fun in a long while. 

“Cheers to single life” Anna lifted her glass for a toast, then I lifted mine too as we toasted. 

My eyes travelled around the party and finally rested on this one man who was staring deeply at me. I whispered to Anna about the man, and then she suggested we go to him. I declined to go with her, but she dragged me.

“Heyyyy” She greeted. She was already tipsy.

“I'm sorry, my friend's drunk!” I laughed awkwardly as I tried to get Anna back on her feet.

“It's okay” he laughed.

“I've been noticing you since you came to the club” He said, smiling, then he proceeded to help Anna to a nearby seat. 

“By the way, I'm Jerome” he stroked out his hand for a handshake as I shook them.

“Jerome Mark?” I asked, staring at him. He looked familiar, really familiar.

“Yes, and you are?” He asked curiously.

“Aria. You remember Aria from high school?” I asked as I stroked a few strands of my hair behind my ear.

“Oh yes. Aria! Oh my goodness!” He said.

Jerome hasn't changed much since high school, he was my very good friend back in school. 

“Where have you been? After high school, you just disappeared like that. I reached out to your mom a year ago, and she told me you got married” He got a seat for the both of us.

“ It was an arranged marriage, but now I'm divorced” I smiled weakly.

We gisted a lot as we tried to catch up, then we exchanged contacts. It was getting late, we promised to check up on each other then he helped me get Anna into the car as I drove off. 

I got Anna to her room and sneaked upstairs. I laid on my bed, contemplating if I should reach out to Chris or just forget about it. I stretched my hand as I got my phone, then I called Chris's number. It was switched off. I was confused too, as if he actually moved on or the phone was just low. The next morning, I called him again, but it was switched off still then later at the office, I called him again, but it was still switched then it dawned to me that he probably moved on with his life.