"But sir," it was Elanne speaking and Aria's ears stood, geniuely interested what she was about to say. "I don't think I'm a good fit for this role. Queensley here has offered, it won't be bad for you to consider her.""Yeah I know but I chose you which isn't bad as well or isn't it?""No," every other person except Robert, Aria and Elanne chorused. Aria's eyes darted towards Queensley. She had that bright smile on her face as she urged Elanne to take the role. Still standing, she shook her head, dissatisfied. Knowing Elanne, Aria knew she wasn't going to give up just yet."But wouldn't it be nice to work with your friend? It's what most people wish for in situations like this." Peter, the head of the tech department shrugged. Aria wondered it wasn't noticeable that they weren't close friends anymore."Exactly, it's actually not a bad idea." Queensley interjected and Elanne rolled her eyes."Sir I don't think I'm the perfect fit to plan and organise an event like this, I wouldn't want
On Aria's way to the Ladies, she saw Elanne walking over there too in an unhurried gait probably to fix her braids. Aria hastened her footsteps so she could catch up with her."Hey," she blurted out when she had caught up with her. Her heart palpitating because Elanne's eyes were cold and held no atom of friendliness."Hey." Elanne said and opened the door. They both walked in. Elanne stood in front of the mirror, repacking her braids as Aria had guessed.Aria rehearsed what she was going to tell her before she cleared her throat and spoke."so Elanne, about the task we've been paired to-"Elanne paused her activity, interrupting Aria's speech. "Look I don know what you and your boyfriend are up to but I'm certainly not in for all these. Could you kindly tell him I have no idea about handling something like this and he should pair you with someone else?"Aria swallowed a gulp. "He's not my boyfriend and he's your boss at work and he has the right to delegate any duty to you."Elanne sc
Aria slowly walked out of the bathroom, her legs weakened at the realization she had just come up with it. Pain slashed through her as she made her way back to the staff quarters. Aria glanced at her wristwatch, it was just few minutes before 4pm when she and Elanne were supposed to plan for the open day. Her stomach twisted at the thought that Queensley might be there. She didn't even know how she felt about Queensley, she knew that she didn't hate her but she just didn't like how she had taken space in Elanne's life. She could chalk up her slight discomfort in her presence to that and Anna had encouraged her that she wasn't a bad person for feeling like that. Any other person would have the same reaction towards Queensley because of the circumstances surrounding everything.Aria tried her best to draw her mind towards the task at hand, editing the final report and sending it back to Robert. The words on her screen scattered in front of her as she tried to mentally place them by the s
Aria still couldn't find it possible to erase the thoughts of Elanne finally leaving her from her mind. Each time she'd try to scrub the thought off, but it would come back ten times worse, each thought worse than the former. She reclined on the sofa when her phone lit up with a text from Robert. She angrily shook her head, not wanting to read the text from him. As far as she was concerned, he had a hand in this. Why did he pair with her, Elanne, when he already knew the friendship wouldn't work and that someone had already taken her space? Did he do that to set her up or to make her pain more intense? Did he do that so she could see how ruined the friendship was already, so she could move on with her life? She scratched her head; she knew it wasn't his fault, and he was just trying to make her happy. But she freaking wanted her friend back! And not getting what she wanted, she was getting more angrier and miserable, and she needed someone to pass it on! With all of these, Aria's ne
Aria made her way into the kitchen, preparing pasta, steak and lobster. It was her favourite and Robert loved it as well. In her books, Pasta was one of the best dish and it's such a delight to prepare and feed it to anyone. When she was done, she placed her hands on her hips, thinking about what other desert she could prepare to top it up. And finally she settled for cake. Aria still had some of the ingredients, little of them from the last one Anna bought. Anna loved baking, they had both learnt it from their mother. She loved baking and each time she did, the would hang out, teasing her and picking up her strategies. So when she became bedridden, sometimes Aria and Anna would bake, because it reminded them of their mother and her warmth and everything she was and was not. Aria thought about telling Anna what she up to and she placed a call to her. Anna picked up at the second ring."Hey ma'am," Anna said into the phone, "How are you doing?""Fine," Aria slurred, balancing the phone
Aria sat on the sofa, legs crossed as she waited for Robert. Soon he called her that he was almost at her house. The sense of the anticipation was now replaced with anxiety, as her heart started to beat fast and her mind conjured scenarios of how everything could go bad. She willed them to go away and dragged her mind back into the present focusing on it and nothing else. Just then Robert walked in. Aria's head jerked towards the direction and she took in his outfit, it was just casual shorts and polo. She loved how his hard body was visible despite how loose the polo. She was used to seeing him in formal outfits such that he looked different in casual outfits now. Asides that, his handsomeness struck her such that her mouth was agape. Aria stood up, tucking a stray strand behind her ears and smoothening the non existent rough edges of her maxi gown."Hey princess," he greeted her, outstretching his arms in which she took and stilled herself into his warm embrace. She loved how small
"Easy," Robert said and pouring contents of the juice into her glass and giving it to her.She drank from it. "I'm okay now."Robert observed her for while before he spoke. "So I asked when you were moving over to my house since Anna isn't around.""I don't know yet but I will." Aria replied.Robert's eyes lit with excitement. "Tell me when you're ready.""But do I have-" Aria started but smiled—"Nothing.""What do you mean nothing? Go on with what you were about to say, will you?""Nothing it's really fine." She waved a dissimive flick of her wrist with a praticed smile on her face."You were asking if you have to, isn't it?" Robert asked, reaching out for her palm and squeezing it. "Look Aria you don't have to if you're super uncomfortable with the idea. Even though I'd want you to be closer to me but what you want really matter and I wouldn't want to force you into doing anything you're not happy with."Robert's calm words felt reassuring. There were no hint of pressure, just all-r
"Oh why did he have to come now?" Aria huffed, putting her lips in between her teeth."I should just go get it." Robert stuttered as he stood up and walked towards the door. Aria looked away, pushing her gown that had rode higher downwards, still reeling from the feel of his fingers on her. She wished the pizza didn't arrive at this moment, it could have come earlier or later. Whatever, but not now. "I was right," Robert announced, excitement lining his voice as he closed the door. "It's the pizza delivery guy. I'm sure you'd love this one.""I'm sure." Aria replied passively, touching her laps, hoping to replicate the feeling that Robert's fingers coursed through her.Robert settled the pizza on the table, taking his seat. He looked at her. Suddenly feeling shy, Aria looked away.Robert adjusted his chair and his body to face her direction now. Then held her hands. Aria's first thought was to withdraw but she didn't heed to it for the fear that Robert might think he had done someth
Aria tried to memorize all she had learnt for her final exams while she texted Robert who was keen on distracting her. She had herself to blame though, she was the one who kept on texting him like she wouldn't see him later when he came home.A: Can you let me study?R: Can you let yourself study? You keep responding to my text when you know you shouldn't.A: that's because I can't help it and I always want to talk to you.R: That sounds cute but I'm going to have to stop responding to you. Meaning I'm not going to reply to your texts if you send another one after this.Robert kept his word. The next messages she said afterwards to him were left unanswered as she brought her mind back to her books so she could study. When she finished studying, she texted him back that she was done and she was heading to the shelter where she now volunteered. The shelter was a safe place for people who suffered abusive relationships and grief who needed other people who could understand them. It also
Aria had been looking forward to this dinner just like her husband. She noticed how happier her husband seemed after his meeting with Harry. Robert didn't give her the details, he just told her they got to discuss at length and they were now on good terms. Aria asked Anna if she wanted to come alone with them but she refused, saying she wanted to watch cartoons at home. Aria sighed and nodded.Now she and Robert were prepared for the dinner. Robert was dressed casually but since hadn't gone out in a while, she took this as an opportunity to scan through her outfits and combine them aesthetically. She finally settled for a short chiffon, a piece of jewelry and silver heels."Now look at how I look like your bodyguard standing beside you," Robert joked while he held her waist from the side and kissed her hair. "You look beautiful my queen." He complimented."So do you so, my love." She blushed. His muscular arm was evident under the shirt he wore and his biceps rippled. Aria imagined ta
Harry couldn't bear the guilt of what he did and he kept thinking about whether to tell Robert about it or not. They've been getting along just fine and they've recently been texting online and it's been amazing. They mostly spoke about their father's health, work and just random stuff. It felt like they were in a talking stage, they were starting to know each other very well, something they would have done years ago, but it took this long to achieve which wasn't really bad. Lauren and her husband loved this new change and they supported it more by inviting Aria and Robert for dinner. They conveyed the information through Harry and Robert loved the idea and agreed to show up with his wife.Harry's mind kept bugging him, he couldn't act all friendly with Robert when in the past he had previously tried to sabotage his career. Now they were getting along, he didn't want anything to come between this new found friendship. He was going to tell Robert about all of it, he'd soon go back to s
Anna was getting better and she no longer cried about the death. She was starting to carry on without her life. She now ate, watched cartoons and giggled about funny things like she used to do before she heard about the news. Aria loved the change, it brought a smile to her lips that her sister had successfully escaped the confinement of grief.Aria felt like her life was worth more and she hadn't explored as she should have. She was too carried away with external factors and had forgotten to be the main character of her life. This was what her mother would have wanted for her, now that she was gone, she had the strong urge to pick up her life. Not that she hadn't been living before but he was ready to live as her capacity would allow. She wanted to go to therapy and then go back to school. Therapy first, because she wanted to unpack all that happened to her in the past month, heal and understand better in what direction her life should take. Aria realized she wasn't really okay and s
Harry had already resigned to his fate as soon as his mother told him about everything. He knew that one day, this would happen, now in the moment, he felt nothing at all. He just keenly watched the scene unfold. The only thing that troubled him was that the internal turmoil his mother felt was visible and he felt sorry for her."I said go on," his father said, growing impatient.Matteo stared at Lauren, hoping she would change her mind but he just looked scared without saying a word."Say whatever you have to say, you heard my dad." Harry added, looking at Matteo with disdain. The reaction Matteo got was different from what he expected. He smiled nervously, staring at all of them. Harry knew he was finding it difficult to comprehend with the way no one seemed to be grovelling at his feet not to spill like he expected. His face hardened again, "So your wife here lied to you.""About what?" His father instinctively touched Lauren and his eyes darted between her and Matteo."About a lo
As Robert drove them home, he felt a sense of relief that his father didn't have to stay at the hospital for more than a day. Robert hated the hospital, not in the strong sense of aversion kind of way, but he felt like the hospital wasn't really a place a sick person needed to be. He couldn't place a finger on why he thought that but he didn't think a sick person deserved to hear about more people dying and inhaling the weird antiseptic that dominated the air. And most people he knew who stayed in the hospital for months due to one illness or the other didn't make it alive, for example his mom and Aria's mom. So for that reason he was happy that his father didn't have to stay there longer than the day he was brought in.His father coughed and he briefly glanced back. Lauren was sitting next to him, holding his hands which moved to rub his arm.Harry who was near Robert stretched the water he held to his father. "I hope you're okay." He asked.His father nodded and for the rest of thei
"Dad!" Robert kept screaming as his father held his neck almost like he was getting constricted.He continued coughing as Robert tried to offer him the water. His hands become shaky as he contemplated running out to tell Lauren about what was happening to her husband. He blinked his eyes as he watched his father fight for air and then he sprang out of the room to inform Lauren."Lauren, the ambulance! Dad is dying," he said breathlessly. Her eyes widened in horror as she placed a call to the ambulance with shaky hands. "My husband -"Robert zone out, his mind conjuring the worst scenarios. Soon the ambulance arrived and lauren and Bryan accompanied his father while he was wheeled away. He grabbed his carkeys as he made his way to enter his when he saw Harry scratching his hair as walked closer to him."Can i go come along?" Robert watched him stutter before he nodded."Thank you," he said shyly before they both entered the car. They drove in silence before Robert's curiosity got the
Robert told him he couldn't continue thinking about his father without making the necessary move therefore he had to go to his house and have the conversation. He didn't even know he loved his father this much. The past months without hearing his voice made him feel like something was missing and he was tired of feeling that way. It was kind of feeling he had to end because it ruined him. Yeah, he didn't care nor think about the consequences or aftermath of the action he was going to take as he drove down there. He had told Bryan to inform him if Dad was at home and the little boy did it as soon as he could because he wanted his big family back. When Bryan told him he was now on talking terms with his mother, Lauren, a big smile spread across his face and he remembered how he wasn't talking to his own father and he knew he had to fix that as well.Robert got to the house bracing himself for the conversation they were going to have.He saw Lauren sitting in the sitting room like the pre
Anna has been moody since Aria told her about her mother's death. She had to tell her though, she couldn't stall it any longer. She wasn't crying anymore but she barely spoke nor showed excitement about anything as she would have before. Anna took that as a sign, she was grieving silently, which was okay. She had to express herself in whichever way she deem fit. As much as she wished Anna didn't have to feel this way, it was necessary and had to happen. Aria glanced across where Anna was lying on the sofa, covering herself with a duvet as her eyes darted between the TV where her favourite cartoon was flickering and her phone in her hands."You sure you're not hungry?" Aria asked again for the third time.She raised her gaze and shook her head."Why? Food is important." Aria asked, worried. "At this point, I'll have to force you to eat something even if you claim not to be hungry."Anna adjusted her lying posture to a sitting one, putting her foot on the floor. "Trust me, I'll eat when