Darling of the Wild

Awkward Atmosphere

The wind blows which caused some leaves to fall out from the trees that is giving the shade to the bench that I’ve been sitting with Aiden. I gently remove the leaf that fell on my lap and threw it on the ground.

I was sitting here awkwardly with Aiden, who’s silent for a long time now and didn’t utter a word except to the question he asked about sitting with me. Despite the awkwardness, I felt okay. It may sound ironic but that’s what I really felt.

I stared at the green soccer field in front of us which shimmers in heat. The everlasting clear blue sky with white clouds drifting through is very picturesque. It’s a beautiful sight but it hurt my eyes, so I closed my eyes for a second to ease it.

“You okay?” I opened my eyes and turned my head towards Aiden when he spoke.

“Hmm. Yeah!” then I gave her smile. I can’t handle looking at his serious looking gray eyes, so I turned my head towards the field again.

“Lunch time?” he asked once again using his deep voice. I can’t deny the fact that his voice is really attractive and matches the intimidating aura he is giving off.

I nodded, “Yeah. You?”’ I tried to look at him but I quickly diverted my eyes and I felt some weird feeling in my stomach up to my chest when I saw him, seriously looking at me.

“Same” he simply answered. I don’t know what to say so I just nodded as a response.

The sound of the students talking in the distance, the soft blows of wind, and the chirping birds are the only noise that can be heard. We didn’t talk for a few minutes but I don’t hate it. It is awkward but not to the point I wanted to live.

To be honest, I actually feel at ease that he found me. That he is here. I felt that if ever Hugo and Dashiell followed me, they won’t be able to harm me since Aiden is here.

“Maia” he called my name to get my attention. I didn’t bother glancing at him, I just asked ‘yes?’

“I don’t want to sound nosy, but can I know what really happened yesterday?” I quickly turned my head at him and stared at him. My heart started to beat a little faster, my mind got a lot of questions again like ‘do I need to tell him?’, ‘why is he asking me?’ and many more. The weird feeling in my whole being got doubled and it mixed with the new sense of discomfort.

Aiden might notice the change in my mood and can easily read my body movement, so he sat straight and put down the brown paper bag he was holding, “Hey. If you’re uncomfortable, you don’t need to answer that. I’m so sorry for asking.” He added.

I looked down and let out a sigh, “I, uh, can’t tell it. Sorry”

He moved a little sideways and tried to look at my face that is bowed down, I can feel a strong sense of restraint and control from him, “That’s fine, Maia. I’m really sorry for ruining your mood.”

I eyed him and smiled, “No, you didn’t ruin it. I’m fine. I’m just not comfortable on talking about that” then I put few strands of my hair behind my ear.

He didn’t answer and the awkwardness I was feeling a while ago got doubled. I tried looking around to divert my attention when Aiden placed something on my lap.

It was the brown paper bag that he was holding a while ago. I glanced at it first then I looked at Aiden, “What is this?”

I peeked inside and saw gummy bears, chips, and chocolates insides. They are all from my favorite brands, so I got extremely happy, “OMG! Is this for me?”

Aiden stared at me first before nodding.

I excitedly clapped my hands, “Really? These are my favorites!”

“Yeah! You looked really sad yesterday and thought that it might be good to give you something” he explained.

“You don’t have to. But I appreciate it!” I answered and picked up the pack of gummy bears. I opened it and ate one.

“Did it make you smile?” he asked.

“Duh. Obviously” I chuckled then I offered it to him, “You want one?”

He quickly shook his head, “No, thanks! I hate sweets.”

“Huh? What do you like then?” I asked him after I ate another gummy bear. I am actually hungry because it is lunch time.

“Spicy and sour foods”

“Oh! We’re the opposite. I can’t eat spicy foods” I blurted out nonchalantly while staring at the fields.

“Why? Is it too much for you?” he asked. That awkwardness a while ago between us are now slowly vanishing because we have something to talk about.

“Kinda. My stomach hurts whenever I eat something spicy and sometimes, I even vomit.”

He nodded. Then I asked him the question similar to the question he asked, “Why do you hate sweets?”

“I just don’t like it. I can eat some but not too much. Too much sweets makes me vomit as well.”

“How about dark chocolates?” I am almost finish eating one pack of gummy bears on our small talk.

He stopped for a second and think then he nodded, “Yeah. That one I can handle but not too often.”

I nodded and stared at him. He is looking at the field, so I had the guts to look at him for a long time. Aiden is really handsome that’s why most of my classmate got a crush on him. As for me, I haven’t really decided. I don’t really know him before. I just realized today that he is indeed good looking. His sharp jaws, pointed nose and thin lips go well together. His thick brows highlighted the pair of his gray orbs. Aiden hair are neatly fixed. He smells so good too.

My brothers are all good looking, even Morgan, so I am not that kind of girls who is easily attracted to handsome boys. I am not saying that I am attracted on Aiden but his intimidating aura is something and adds up on his good physical features.

I quickly diverted my eyes when he turned his head towards me. Please! Did he noticed that I was checking him out? So embarrassing. I hope he won’t ask about it.

“Why are you alone here, by the way?” strong sense of relief is what I felt when that was what he said.

“Oh! My brothers are still in their class” I answered. The whole school knows that I am always with my brothers. Like, when you see me, it is sure that they are around or behind me. Same goes to them. So, maybe, Aiden got curious on why I was alone.

“How about your friends? The two girls?” he added.

“Philomena and Chantal? They needed to go and do something first. We will meet at the cafeteria actually to eat lunch together.” but Hugo and Dashiell are there, so I went here. I wanted to add that, but I stopped myself.

“You haven’t eaten lunch?” Aiden asked me like it was a mortal sin that I haven’t eaten lunch.

I nodded like it was nothing, “Yeah! I was waiting for my friends”

“Then why did you eat the gummy bears?” he asked while frowning.

“Uhm, because you gave it to me?” I answered in an unsure tone.

“But I didn’t know you haven’t had your lunch” he defended, sounding stressed out. Wait, I don’t get it. Why is Aiden acting weird?

“You didn’t asked. And why are you acting like I did something bad?”

He took a deep breathe and composed himself. He stood up and I looked up to him, “I’ll walk you to the cafeteria. Let’s go!”

I looked at him confused, “But I am not hungry anymore. Why do I still need to go to the cafeteria?”

He gently held my hand to pull me up, “That’s why you shouldn’t eat sweets before lunch. It would make you full. But you still need to eat lunch. Skipping meals are bad, Maia.”

I stood beside him and realized something, “Why do you act like my brothers?”

“Because we all wanted what’s best for you!” he told me.

I grabbed the paper bag, but Aiden gets it from my hand, “Let me carry this. I’ll give this to you after you eat a proper lunch.” Then he started walking.

Why is he acting like this all of a sudden? He acted really stressed and concerned when he realized and knew that I haven’t eaten lunch yet.

I followed him and his legs are longer than mine, so I needed to double my pace to keep up with him. When he noticed it, he walked slowly and we both made our way to the cafeteria.

While walking, some students are staring at us. Maybe because of Aiden. He is really the type of guys who steals attention. I just ignored it and continued. However my phone rang, so I stopped to pick my phone from my bag. Aiden stopped too and stood in front of me, waiting.

It was Chantal. I quickly answered it,

“Hello?”

“Where are you sitting? Philomena and I are here at the cafeteria already” she asked me.

I looked at Aiden who is just watching me, now that we are both standing, our height difference are clearly big but I just shrugged that thought off and answered my friend, “I’m on my way”

“What? I thought you’re here?”

“Well, I’m not” I answered and was about to start walking again but stopped again when I saw Marcus and Lewis standing in front of us and glaring at Aiden.

I didn’t understand what Chantal is saying when Marcus pulled me towards him and away from Aiden.

“Why are you together?” Lewis asked me.

“Didn’t I told you to stay away from my sister? Do you really want to get a punch that will surely leave a bruise?” Marcus told Aiden in an annoyed way.

I was about to say something to explain, but Aiden just gave me the paper bag of snacks from him then said, “See you around, Maia” and he turned his back to walk away.