"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's eyes widened. What she had seen surprised her. The sender of the messages was Becky. Why was Becky still texting Robert? He told her he had stopped talking to her, but it didn't seem like it from the message she had sent. If they had truly cut all ties, then what gave her the boldness to tell me such? It wasn't adding up. There was this bidding urge to pick up the phone, go through their previous texts, and confirm for herself. Her heart had started beating fast, sweat was slipping through her fingers, and her heart was shaky. As she picked up the phone, it nearly slipped through her grasp, but she caught it and tapped on the message, eager to get hurt. "What are you doing with my phone?" Robert's voice reached her, brows raised.He wasn't eager to get his phone from her; he was just taken aback by the fact that her eyes were peering into his phone in her hands. Aria stilled; she slowly raised her gaze to face him, her vision blurry with tears, and she stretched his phone to
For the longest time, Elanne had been taking so long to respond to Aria's messages you could imagine how surprised Aria was when Elanne responded to her status. She had posted a funny video and Elanne responded with a laughing emoji, telling her about how funny the video was and in her words, "It was cracking her up." Aria felt a sweet sensation in her body that her friend was finally warming up to her but she decided to put it aside. Maybe she was overthinking. Maybe Elanne had responded on impulse and it wasn't as serious as Aria thought it was. It may not necessarily be a hint at reconciliation and with that thought in mind, Aria's heart sank to her belly as she clenched her first. She decided not to respond to the message to prevent feeding her delusions. She simply reacted after all, Elanne had made it clear that she didn't want to be friends with her anymore so she shouldn't have a problem with her not directly responding to her messages. A reaction would be fine. And she did th
A: Or I could simply barge into your office.R: Much allowed. I hate to say this but I'm gonna have to discipline myself right now... I'm not going to respond to any of your messages again. Please.A: That's okay. Gotta focus too.R: I love you.Aria blinked her eyes at the message. It felt good to read this but she would have loved to hear it from his mouth. She wasn't sure if she was in love with him yet or maybe she wasn't sure if she wanted to admit that yet because saying the L word was very serious to her and she wasn't going to say that anymore who would break her heart afterwards. Although Robert wasn't just anyone but the word felt too serious to her to say at this point so she ignored the message. If he asked her she was going to say that she ignored the message so he could focus on his work. It was almost time for her and Elanne to meet for their open day planning. Work would close soon and people had already started assembling their stuff together in order to sign out and
Aria was having lunch as she texted Robert and giggled softly. Robert would entertain her all day if she chatted with him and she genuinely loved the fact that she had Robert to text every minute of her day and he would respond whenever he could. She still hadn't told him about her conversation with Elanne because even Aria herself had still not be able to make sense of everything. Just when she was given on trying to make things work, Elanne popped up, trying to talk to her. Everything had happened so quickly yesterday with the way she tried to make amends but Aria still felt like there was something missing there with the way she apologized to her. Aria thought it could have been better and more concrete. Did Elanne expect her to just hug her and smile at her, telling her everything was fine when she wasn't offering any valid explanation? No, things were definitely not going to work that way with her. Elanne had to apologize to her properly and then they could discuss about everythi
Harry strolled on the street, plunging himself in deep thoughts as the cold air blew past his face. He was wearing a hoodie but not for the thought that Get-High who he once owed could catch him. It was liberating to be free from that sort of burden, even though the freedom had caused a gaping hole in his account. He also had to control the destructive urge of wanting to take drugs all the time if not, it would cost him a price that he would pay all his life. For the longest time now, Get-high hadn't called him and he assumed that whatever he did by not paying up on time had ruined their friendship so he didn't really care nor try to rekindle the bond. He had fucked up and he needed to cut his friend some slack for anyway he chose to react. Harry could have even done worse if the roles were switched because of all the things he joked about, money wasn't among and that was the truth.His phone buzzed with a message notification and it was from the spy. She was still on her way to disco
They spoke for a while before he got off the call with him. When he did, his legs weak, he couldn't even walk properly as she struggled to wrap his head around what he had heard. Why would his mother meet Matteo without telling anyone when he knew how angry and abusive he could get without even feeling remorseful. Why would she genuinely set herself up like that? Matteo was harmful. As much he was concerned about why she had to lie. He feared for her safety. And his itched to call Get-high and ask him for more details but it would not make sense for him to do so because he had lied about being aware and he wouldn't want yo ask a series of questions that he would be unable to answer. That would give him away. He hated when people figured out what he was trying to hide.He took the route back home as he poundered on different scenarios that would make her go back home and not tell anyone. If at all she didn't want to tell her husband about it, she could have at least told him because
The next morning, Harry helped Bryan get dressed for school, the excited glint in Bryan's eyes urging him to go on, and he knew Bryan would request to be driven by him before he did. When they came downstairs, they saw their father seated on the dinning chair, laptop in front of him as he typed away. Bryan rushed towards him, his backpack and curls bouncing and wrapped his small arms which could never cover their father's frame."Morning Dad," he chirped, his father regarding him just briefly, before looking over to Harry who scratched his deadlocks and looked away, uncomfortable under his gaze."You seem excited," his father noted and wrapped his arms around him, before ruffling the curls on his hair. "Mind sharing the good news?" He leaned, whispering in a conspirational tone."Harry's taking me to school today!"His father looked over to Harry. "Nice nice. Harry, have you spoken to your mother lately? You know she's been away for a quite a while. It will be nice to show her that we
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