"What would you like to eat?" Sebastian asked as he and Aurora walked out of the museum together."Whatever you eat," she replied, adding a wink after.She stared at him as he drove, admiring his handsome features. She couldn't see his eyes because they were fixed on the road ahead but she could already imagine them gleaming with happiness and twinkling with mischief. The ticking of his jaw had her know that he was uncomfortable with her stares."Do I make you uncomfortable, Bastian?" She asked, shifting closer.His jaw ticked once more."You make me nervous," he answered.She grinned."Why?"He glanced at her."You know why.""Did you date any girl while you were away?" "No.""Why? You didn't find any attractive?""I found a few attractive, actually," he said, glancing at her again, "but not enough to keep me awake at night."She blushed."I guess we both make each other nervous," she muttered, looking away."Did you date anyone?"She scoffed, "like you don''t know my entire activit
"Sir?" Sebastian's hand halted midway to the door. A male hotel staff was staring at him, obviously displeased. "I'm sorry, sir but you're disturbing the peace of our guests." He looked at Aurora's door then stepped back. "I'm sorry," he said, "but it's urgent." "You can try calling whoever it is. You do own a smartphone, don't you?" He caught the sarcasm. "I'm sorry, I'll leave now," he said and went back to his room. He called several times but she never picked up. She didn't even cut the call, she simply let it ring out loud. He called Zik next. "Watsup, coz?" Zik's cheery voice came through. "Zik, can you please call Rora? I just told her about her brother's death and she won't speak to me again. Please." "You should have expected that. Give her some time, she'll come around. I'll still call her anyway." "Thanks, I owe you," he said with a relieved sigh. "You owe me heavily already, I own you." "Shut up." He cut the call and waited. Zik called back five minutes late
"Good morning, Mr Mark.""Morning, Rora. What happened with you yesterday? You left all of a sudden.""It's the day before yesterday," she corrected kindly, taking a seat at her desk, "I just finished explaining myself to my superior. My father died."Mark's curious face morphed into one of extreme sadness."That's sad. I'm so sorry," he spoke after some seconds of silence.She nodded, "it's fine. It's been a while anyway. I just got to know.""I have two kids and I can't imagine leaving them forever… wait, you just got to know?""Yeah. Apparently, my mother didn't think I deserved to attend his funeral," she answered, giving him a fake smile."Oh, I'm so sorry," Mark shook his head, still trying to understand her words, "that's… well, she's your mother and… well, I'm so sorry. You must feel terrible."She laughed, "I sure do."She began to sort out files on her desk and students assignment."You are not close with your mother, I guess?" Mark asked, probably to keep her occupied."Nope
Aurora froze, her sobs going down her throat. His lips didn't move against hers, they simply stayed on there, caging hers. All was still as the seconds ticked by then she jumped away, her nostrils flaring. "How dare you?" She growled, fuming. "Don't think anything into it," he said casually, "that was the only way to get you to come back to your senses. I am fine now, you can leave." He gestured to the door. She stormed out. Barging into her room, she paused at the doorway. She was supposed to be the angry one, why did it seem like he couldn't wait to get rid of her? Why did he send her out in such a cold manner? "And who kisses you to shut you up?" She fumed, folding her arms. Try as she might, she couldn't stop feeling like something was wrong. Was he really dying? Was he okay? What happened back at his study? Didn't he like her any longer? She frowned, sitting on her bed. Even Zik had not reached out to her. Surely, Sebastian must have told him what happened. "Urrrgh," she fro
"Hey," He greeted once he opened the door, "I was just about to give you a call." "Right," she nodded, stepping into his home. A delicious smell wafted into her nostrils. "Are you..." she began and he interrupted. "I made some pancakes," he said, seeming a bit shy, "I woke up quite late and I only just got around to cleaning up. Do you want some?" She thought about her food sitting in her pots. "Sure," she beamed. "Syrup?" He offered, handing her a plate as they sat together on a long sofa. She shook her head. Biting into one chocolate chip goodness, she barely stifled a moan. Sebastian watched as Aurora gobbled up his pancakes, her eyes wide with delight. He stifled a chuckle, pleased. "I didn't know my cooking could make you relax so well," he commented when she had ravished all the pancakes in her plate, "I should cook more." Aurora blinked then blushed for shame. "You cook well," she complimented, setting down the plate on a side stool. She looked down at her hands and gl
"How in heaven's name is this possible?" Aurora stared at the papers in her hands with disbelief written all over her face. Sebastian was calm, sitting next to her while Zik sat opposite them, in shock. "I thought your families were enemies," he blurted out, "and this feud has been going on way before you were born. How did..." "Maybe he abused her," Sebastian spoke, sitting up. Aurora frowned at him. "Don't say such about your father," she rebuked and he shrugged. "Could be what happened." "What if the feud was just a facade?" She opined, "what if your father and my mother were having an affair? That's the only explanation I can think of for this. If your father abused my mother, she would have said something." "Perhaps that's why she hates me so much," Sebastian added, "they had a son together and my father made him die." Aurora looked at the wall clock. Past 5 pm. "She cheated," she said with a sigh, "she cheated on dad with his worst enemy." The doorbell rang the second
Aurora sat on her bed. Sebastian's words still disturbed her but she had some things to get done. "Aurora." Her mother's disinterested voice came over the line. "Evening, mum," she greeted, lifting her legs onto the bed. "Are you in your right senses now?" "I miss Ezekiel," she said instead of answering, "he was a cute little child, my little brother and I loved him so much." She took in a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. "He was my son too. It's not nice for you to keep remembering the past. It's all gone. Focus on the here and now." "The past is just as important as the present if it has not been fully understood. Mum, I know we haven't been on the best terms but can you promise to at least be truthful to me?" "What's wrong?" "I need an answer," she sighed, biting her lip. "Of course, of course. Is something wrong?" "Are the Grazias and Deusdedits really enemies?" She dropped the bombshell. "Why..." Cecilia started then scoffed, "of course. Long before I got marri
Sebastian stared at the DNA reports in his hand. It was real, it was all true and this made the brother Aurora hated him for, his brother. Ezekiel Elliott Grazia was also his brother and maybe, just maybe, he had been killed by his own father. He sighed, placing the papers in his drawer. He ventured into the shower and emerged minutes later, ready for bed. Shot. The little boy had been shot and allowed to bleed to death. He didn't think the gory image could ever get out of his head. The brother he never knew. * Sunday morning, Aurora rang Sebastian's doorbell. It took him a while to answer. He looked like he just got out of bed. "I go for the morning Mass every Sunday," she said quickly, seeing his confused face, "since you are here, I thought I might invite you." He looked her up and down. "You are all set, I'm not," he pointed out the obvious, rubbing his sleepy eyes. "You have thirty minutes. I thought of that so I came earlier," she answered, smiling widely. He stared at