The Black Diamond

Chapter 5

Confronting Johanne didn't go well as Aerine planned during his last stay on the manor because first, Johanne was strictly ordered by the Don not to speak to Aerine if it doesn't require his job as his escort and lastly, he was sent back home earlier than he expected. After that night with his grandfather, Don Armando hired body guards for him and he didn't complaint about it because he doesn't have the power to go against him. His mother wasn't surprise when he came back home with his newly hired body guards. Claude, his father, was a little surprised when he saw them and joked about giving Aerine more body guards if they're not enough which made Aerine disappointed. For once, he needed his parents to be reasonable with the Don and give him a little freedom.

When he talked about what happened that night, Claude only smiled at him to console and let him know that he understands his son very well from what he's coming from. The confusion embarks to his head and he dropped his hope in asking his father. His last resort supposedly is his mother but he was debating whether to asks her directly or not.

Sunday afternoon is always their family day although it rarely happens. The day progresses slowly. Aerine subtly wishes that his mother will be honest with him. But the thing is, Lady Ruby Rose is like his father.

The three of them went out to spend the rest of the day together before Monday comes. Claude picked where they will be having their dinner and while waiting for the time, he and Aerine accompanied Ruby Rose for her shopping. His mother only shops not only for herself but for the three of them and she only have the time of doing it when the three of them are all available. They are inside in one of the shops at the mall and Ruby Rose is busy checking for some clothes while Claude and Aerine are looking for something that interest them.

"Aerine?" Claude called.

Aerine pauses on what he's doing. "Yes, Papa?"

"Your Abuelo means no harm in doing what he's doing right now. He just wants you to be safe."

"Mr. Navarro is your employee and he hasn't done anything to you except helping you out with the business." Aerine reasoned, looking directly at his father. In his father's face was written the surprise. "I should've not said that, Papa."

Instead of being completely surprised to his one and only son, Claude smiles at him brightly. "Your reason is acceptable, precious. And I am more capable of handling your grandfather than you."

"I love him and I love you, too, Papa. I don't want any of you to get disappointed on me."

"Trust me, precious, you will not and if you ever feels like you are, I will love you no matter what. You're my only baby—big adult baby!" Claude said honestly with a joke sliding at the end of his statement earning him a genuine smile from Aerine. "Now that's what I only needed from my love." He added before pulling Aerine into a hug. "I only wanted you to be happy."

It is the best picture Ruby Rose had ever taken in her memories as watching the two men of his life embracing each other in the middle of crowd. She was once an aspiring writer, fell in love with a businessman and with her manipulative father, writing was deleted in her path. She chose to be a wife and mother but Don Armando had her sat on his throne. That brings her to her current position in the society now. Carrying Aerine for nine months and delivering him to their world was the greatest achievement she had ever done in her entire life. Growing up under her father's perspective, she understood everything he'd done for them when Aerine was growing up. Ruby Rose engaged to a different approach in guiding Aerine as a mother. She let his son decides for himself and supports him in every reasonable way she can.

Instead of getting their way, Ruby Rose casually leaves her spot and continues to look for some dress. She is not complex in choosing dresses, as long as it feels comfortable then she will be definitely okay with it. So far, she picked three shirts for Aerine, two long sleeves and pairs of black pants for Claude and she has two casual clothes. She was standing in the cashier 16 when someone from behind called out her name. "Ruby?"

Ruby Rose turns around and was greeted by a smile from Carlotta. "Lotty! Oh my sweet Jesus! I didn't know you're here!" She greeted back before hugging the other lady. After pulling away, Ruby Rose sees another person from Carlotta's back that resembles her friend's eyes and looks familiar but she couldn't figure it out. "How are you? Thank goodness you saw me."

"Absolutely. I'm just doing great with my roses at home. I saw you when I was heading to pay, too, and greet you. Are you alone?"

"Claude and Aerine are with me somewhere."

As if something cold hits him, Leo was taken back with what the lady in front of them told his mother. Could it be that Aerine? "Dark eyes." He whispered and thankfully the two ladies in front of him are busy chatting that both of them didn't hear what he blurted out. The queue isn't long but enough to Leo to have a little tour inside the store. Before he left, he was introduced to Ruby Rose.

"You must've forgotten my son." Carlotta says while pulling Leo beside her. "This is him now. Leo, this is Ruby Rose Braddock or Mrs. Braddock to you and an old friend of mine." Leo abruptly bows down as a respect to the lady in front of him and greeted her.

"He's as handsome just like his father and of course he got your eyes, Lotty." Ruby complimented, flashing a smile towards Leo. "Oh, yes! It's the first time we've met again, Lotty. Would you like to join us for an early dinner? I would love it if you don't say no today."

Before Carlotta answers her, her phone rang and excused herself. Ruby casually nods at her and headed towards the cashier leaving Leo behind as he waits for his mother. After taking the call, Carlotta rushes to pay the stuff she picked and engages to another chat with Ruby. Leo decided to excuse his self and have a stroll around the store. He was instructed to pay attention to his phone as he will be called when the said dinner is up.

•

Claude and Aerine had been waiting for ages inside the most prestige restaurant in the mall and both of them are hungry. Claude was told by Ruby to head first and move their tables to a bigger than four because they will be accompanied by her friend and her family of three. He was clueless of who she invited with but was excited about it. On the other hand, Aerine is busy with his phone texting Nathaniel. Mostly, the other guy is asking how was his stay at the manor and interrogating him who Marco is to which Aerine simply answers he doesn't fully know. He was about to put back his phone on his pocket when it notifies him again but refuses to loom at it. Instead, he sighs and put on the table then puts on silent mode.

"Is that Nathan or Kyle?" Claude asks watching Aerine.

Aerine smiles at him. "Nathaniel, Papa." He only got a nod from his father.

"Your Mama is taking too long. I am starving." Claude complains jokingly causing Aerine to chuckle a little. "Oh right. I saw a baby grand piano earlier," Claude added as he tries to look for the said thing, "Over there." He pointed at the nearly hidden baby grand piano over Aerine's shoulder. It is a white baby grand piano. When Aerine landed his sight on the piano, he felt excited and happy. "Want to play for me, please?"

"I am not prepared but I'll give it a try, Papa."

"That's my precious!"

Being said, Aerine headed to baby grand piano quickly like a kid who just seen the zoo for the first time. It was the cleanest white baby grand piano he'd seen compare to what he have in his music room which is black. When he started to write and read, Aerine grew interest in music especially with piano. He listened to his grandmother play the piano multiple times until the talent grew on him and became unstoppable. Aerine takes his seat, takes a deep breathe, exhales and caresses carefully the white keys on the instrument in front of him, once he felt the comfort of moment, he took flight.

He started at slow pace, pressing each keys delicately trying to gather all the courage he have to let go of his thoughts through the black and white keys of the piano. His right hand was doing the smoothest and easiest parts of the song then his left suddenly took over. The pure subtle epitome of notes that are being release from the instrument that compliments perfectly the well composed piece capture all the people inside the busy restaurant.

The pianist in the center of the show was dead physically but the piece he's playing was lively—so much alive that one of the women across the room was shaking and trembling in great happiness with sorrow. She was at her fifties and knows very well her genres. Claude was astonished and a little scared from the moment Aerine's eyes darkened as he presses the keys on the piano. He will complain after that he wasn't good enough and needs more practice to perfect the perfect piece but Claude knows very well—Aerine is beyond great.

Leonard Navarro.

Through the crowd of bewildered people, Leo was stunned. His mother and Ruby were walking ahead of him and doesn't have any idea of what they were talking about. After entering the grand restaurant, Leo tried to amuse his self by looking around at the fancy designs surrounding him. At the end of the mini hallway is the view of the baby grand piano. He saw it first but ignored it quickly when he was about to exit the said hallway. People started to swarm around him when they heard the piano started to produce weird sounds—Leo's description of music. It was hard for him to follow the two ladies in front of him and get through the crowd. He started to curse under his breathes and was annoyed to whoever that person causing this massive block ahead of him.

Out of curiosity, Leo shifted his body facing the piano's direction—trusting his guts, and that is when his world stops moving around, again. Aerine playing elegantly on the piano and by judging of how he is well composed, Leo can tell that he is into the music. The first time he thinks music as a music and not some weird sound. The atmosphere lingering around Aerine has to do with the piece he's been playing because little did he know, people around him are held captive of his enchantment. It was one of those magical experiences that one individual had have in their life and so is the young Navarro.

A tickle onto his heart made Leo confirms his growing emotions towards the younger boy. He is watching intently at Aerine's side, that is the only sight visible to him, while wishing him to look at his way and stares again into his dark eyes. Aerine's focus is in to the music and he doesn't care about what's happening around him.

"Darling, what took you so long?" Claude asks immediately once Ruby came to his view. He didn't bother himself to stand from his seat to welcome his wife but he does it when another lady greeted him. "Oh. You must be Mrs. Navarro? I can't quite remember the faces of people I've met so please pardon me."

"Mr. Braddock, please, that is absolutely fine. It's Carlotta."

"Ah, yes. Beautiful name for a beautiful lady."

"I am nothing compared to your wife."

"Oh come on. Drop it, Claude." Ruby cuts off while taking her seat next to Claude, leaving the empty seat next to her for Aerine. Speaking of which, Aerine is nowhere to be found and Ruby knows where his son is.

"The pianist in this place is a genius." Carlotta praises as her eyes pools with happiness just by listening to the music playing in the entire place from the instrument she is not fully familiar with. With her words, Claude and Ruby looked at each other and signaled a smiled.

That's my precious. Ruby thoughts inside her head. She is one big proud mother and thanks to Aerine. If one thing Ruby would brag about to people aside from her status is Aerine. Her perfect masterpiece.

"Are you alone? Where's Franco?" Claude interrupts Carlotta's daydreaming.

"He went to visit his mother on the countryside but I am with our son." Upon realizing that Leo is nowhere to her sight, she felt a little nervous because he was following them a while ago and now he is gone. "Excuse me, I think he got lost and I need to—" Her sentence was cut off by her own eyes when Leo's figure draws her attention next to the white instrument. As if she had never her son into a trance of amusement, Carlotta is in absolute surprise and shock. There is her son, her cold hearted son, staring deeply to the person who is playing the piano. Watching him far away, Carlotta witnesses her son in a new persona—in love.

"Oh yes! Where he could've been?" Ruby anxiously asks but stops when she saw Carlotta smiling to herself. "Lotty? Are you alright?"

The glimmer in her eyes stays when Carlotta looks back to her friend sitting across her. "I think he's been enchanted with the music playing here and the person playing it." I wish I could thank that person for teaching my son how to feel something magical. She added in her mind.

Only Ruby nods at her knowing that she will be surprised when that person takes his seat next to her. It never crosses her mind that one day, Aerine will be approached by a person who would make him feel special and loved. For them, Ruby and Claude, Aerine is still their little kid although he is already an adult. But what if that day comes earlier than they were expecting, will the both of them prepared enough to fully support their son? Will Ruby be able to handle the fact that Aerine will be owned by someone besides her?

"Well, youngsters tend to get fascinated easily with new things they'd never seen or felt before, don't you agree?"

Carlotta flashes her biggest smile since that morning and simply nods, "I couldn't agree more with that." After giving her response, she notices that their son 'Aerine' is nowhere. At first, it didn't click in her mind when she heard the name Aerine but her memory replayed the day she met the most beautiful boy who got lost in their neighborhood. When she settled her mind off of her son, she asks where their son is.

"Aerine will be here shortly." Claude simply replied before sipping his cold water that was served before the two ladies came in. Carlotta only nods at him then continues to listen to the music which is at the last part of the piece.

I love you by Riopy will always be Aerine's one of his favorites pieces alongside with Beethoven, Mozart, Liszt, Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Yiruma whom he recently discovered then started listening to his pieces. Half of his favorites are actually his grandmother's favorites when she was still alive and can play the piano. With the upcoming school event, Aerine wanted to audition to their school play as the pianist. The audition will be held next week and that is why he is doing his best to find time in practicing his piece.

Natalia Esguerra, his aunt, is the director and the school's theatre and drama professor. Although they are related, Natalia puts a boundary between them when it comes to her profession. To be fairly judged, Natalia and her students will be judging his entries and the others without seeing them while they are auditioning so that they will have no idea who's playing which piece.

After hitting the last notes and keys on the piano, Aerine exhales like he had not done it for the entire song. The applause of the crowd grows confidence inside of him but not letting it get up to his head. As what his grandmother always tells him, be humble and appreciate every little things without asking in return. When its time for him to get up and thank the audience, Leo immediately drifted off to the crowd not wanting Aerine to see him because if he wouldn't stop himself, he'll forget how Marco is drawn to Aerine and that will make a big turn of events if he falls for him, too. But of all the things he wanted to just cast away, falling for Aerine is inevitable.

Frighten that his confidence will vanish, Aerine gave the audience a quick thank you and excuses himself from them towards to where his parents are waiting for him. Nearing their spot, Aerine can clearly sees that his parents are not alone but with another lady that seems familiar to him. Is that Mrs. Navarro? He asks no one but himself. When he got to their table, it is indeed Mrs. Navarro—the lady of rose bushes and her simplistic look of elegance. She and his mother were into conversation when sat down and greeted her politely.

Carlotta's surprise when the beautiful boy who got lost in their neighborhood shows up taking the vacant seat next to Ruby. "Oh my. We've met again." She said excitedly.

"Yes, ma'am." Aerine agreed shyly. It was that time again when his confidence slowly sinking then his shyness welling up. He couldn't stop but blush as the lady stares at him with her eyes and lips smiling together.

"Ruby, you got a beauty, Imma say." Corlotta complimented.

Instead, Claude butts in proudly. "She's lucky of me." Being said, Calude earned a nudge from Ruby causing him a small laugh. On the other hand, Aerine's face is furiously red now as the three adults continue to talk about him. Looking at Carlotta, Aerine tries to put the small pieces of puzzle in his head like the eyes, smile and glow on her face. It really reminds him of that someone he can't point out who. He's being skeptical of his thoughts that he drifted off from reality and daydreamed again.

Brown checkered longsleeves caught Aerine's attention—it is neatly ironed and well suited to the person wearing it. Two buttons from the top were loose showing some of his bare skin and Aerine couldn't stop himself at glancing until to his neck, up to the lips. His nose is also an eye catch but Aerine's eyes glanced beyond that part of his face to his eyes.

"Leo." He whispered. Their eyes are staring at each other, speaking to their own language and having the moment of their time.

"Leo, greet Mr. and Mrs. Braddock," Carlotta ordered to Leo who just showed up. Leo shifted his eyes and attention from Aerine to greet the couple, giving them a nod and muttered a quick thank you for inviting them. His politeness towards Aerine's parents surprised Aerine. As he assumes, Leo is the type of person that will force to do something just to please either his parents or other people or his own self for a good show.

But he assumed wrongly. Leo's politeness is genuine and that tickle in his heart is making him excited rather than guilty for assuming him 'badly'.

Carlotta, with her eyes glued to Aerine, grows her smile before introducing the boy who's been staring at his son with admiration the entire time. "And this is their lovely son, Aerine Jade." She added, giving emphasis to the word 'lovely'.

Leo's body didn't sync with what his mind is telling him. It is the pull towards Aerine that's strong. He's like a moth drawn to an everlasting burning light—too dangerous to get close and have to restrain himself away yet the enticing feeling, that feeling of touching him is inevitable and the unstoppable beating in his heart is so loud he could almost hear it through the noise of the busy world.

Reaching Leo's hand for the first time, although they've already touched each other before, Aerine is debating whether to acknowledge it or not in a discreet way, not wanting the three elders to see him tremble under his toes. But he took it.

Both of them felt an electrifying tingle ran through their skins and their time stop tickling. For the second time around, they are in their own world, just the two of them. Pairs of eyes that calling each other's name and telling we meet again. As the sweet sensation consumes them, Leo gathered all his courage and softens his heart before spekaing to Aerine.

"Pleasure to meet you, Aerine." Dark eyes.

As he thought that his blush has gone, hearing his name from the man he started to fall with, it made his way back to Aerine's face. He can feel the heat inside of him and for a moment, the stares the elders giving them are not helping to soothe the situation but worsen it. "Hi. It's nice to meet you, too."

"Well, actually it's supposed to be again but those instances weren't formal." Leo stated as matter of fact as he thinks of the older events they've met and he couldn't help it but let a small laugh escapes his mouth until a clearing of throat stopped him. Mr. Braddock's stern face was the first thing greeted his sight and felt intimidated by how the older man looks at him. Confusion struck him like a lightning and keeps staring back at him for no reason.

"Young man, you're holding my precious' hand for too long. Might keep yours now." Claude warns.

As fast as a lightning, Leo withdraws his hand back to himself and apologizes to him. Despite of the stern face and warning he gave, Claude laughs together with the ladies in the same table to his reaction.

"Papa! You're embarrassing me in front of the guests!" Aerine silently protested causing the three elders to laugh louder. He covers his reddening face with his hands then peeks between his fingers to Leo who is looking confused at all before telling him, "He's just making fun with you. And me." After telling Leo, he goes back hiding which Leo found cute and adorable.

Looking at Aerine, his reddening face is visible that his pale hands fail to cover fully. This is the kind of sight he swears he will not get tired of staring at. And for that moment, the moment he held his hand, Leo forgot his plans of not getting close to Aerine and leave him to his cousin. Tables have turned and he for sure that will try to see himself with Aerine in the future.

Once the laughter evaporated in the table, the elders started to order and continue their usual conversations like business, hobbies and other stuff that is not interesting to both Aerine and Leo. While the two of them keep quiet the whole time as they wait for their meals, their shared moments, without both of them knowing, keeps on repeating in each other's mind.

Every now and then, Leo steals quick glances to Aerine as he quietly eats his meal. He would be lying if he wouldn't admit that Aerine is really beautiful for his nature as a boy. His sexuality will be the least of Leo's concern if he will have Aerine for himself, nothing and no one, he means Marco, will stop him from having Aerine.