The Black Diamond

Chapter 6

"Call your Mama once you get there, precious, okay? We don't want her to be worried much." Claude told Aerine just to remind him of what he needed to do when he arrived safely at his cousin's house. Normally, Claude and Ruby drive Aerine to Kyle's house whenever their son requested to be with his cousins before school days but today was rather exceptional because after the dinner and their last  quick shopping, Leo mentioned of heading towards to Kyle's to work for their homeworks and other school stuff that convinced Claude to propose an idea to drive Aerine with him since his son mentioned earlier at noon after arriving to their house that he will be heading to his cousins.

Although Ruby was adamant of that idea, she later was pursued by his husband to let Leo take their son. She was reasoning that his father would be mad if he found out that Aerine was taken by a Navarro while abandoning Aerine's bodyguard. Luckily that time, Aerine's bodyguard were left at their house due to Ruby's orders. Aerine doesn't want to be the attention if those men came with them and escort him all around, that's too weird for him or as he thought it would be. A part of Ruby's mind couldn't grasp what Claude wants for doing what he thought but she clearly saw how Leo affects Aerine. It was a scary scene for her but it was a bliss for Aerine.

Before Aerine give his response to his father, Leo's car showed up in front of the entrance of the building. He got off of it before jogging to his mother and gives her a quick kiss on both of her cheeks. She reminded him to be careful and pay attention to the road. Carlotta seemed confident to Leo's skill of driving although he doesn't take the wheels that much.

"Jade, precious, please call me once you've arrived there, okay?" Ruby said embracing her son. "I've called Kyle already and he assured me that you'll be safe."

Aerine pulls away from his mother before giving her a smile and nod. "Ma, don't worry too much. I'll be calling you back." He said as Leo stands next to him.

"You ready?"

Aerine nods to him. "I am. Thank you."

"Son, I'm giving you the responsibility of taking care my precious Jade. If something happens, I'll hunt you." Claude warns to Leo, giving him a pat on his shoulder.

"Both of you, drive safely and take care. Okay?" Ruby added. Through her lashes, Aerine can definitely see the tears trying to pool on his mother's eyes.

"I will take care of your son, Mr. and Mrs. Braddock. I assure you that."

Only gentle nods are their reply to Leo, the man who they trusted their son to before the two of them headed to the waiting car. As an act of being a gentleman, Leo opens the door for Aerine which he was thankful for. He didn't expect that this kind of gesture from someone else, besides from his chauffeurs and bodyguards, is delightful but with Leo, it was sweet. Of course, Aerine have to assume it in that way because he knows that he likes him yet he fairly knows the person.

As they drive along the busy highway, Aerine keeps silent the whole time not knowing what to say or ask to the person sitting and driving quietly beside him. The outside was dark when they hit the road and only the lights coming in through the windshield and side windows from cars and streetlights are the only source of light inside the car. It was hard for any of them to see who's looking the other one but definitely it was Aerine the whole time. Leo was focused on driving without leaving his sight from the road. As when he thought that the silence will ride with them, Aerine closes his eyes and tries to nap as exhaustion starts to consume him slowly.

Saturday night was tiring for him and he didn't get enough much sleep that he wanted then this day came rushing in. Tomorrow will be an another exhaustion for him so he wanted to sleep early and rest for how many hours he could get.

"So, uhm..." Leo awkwardly speaks which Aerine surprises thinking that Leo wouldn't speak to him. "It's actually our third time meeting huh?" Through the flashing lights casting on his face, Leo's smile is visible and looks handsome driving.

Funny thought is that this is their first time entertaining each other formally. "It is." With the fact that the first time they met, Aerine couldn't stop himself from smiling, looking away from Leo's peripheral.

"Don't look away when you smile. You look cute with it." Leo complimented not knowing how did he manage to say it out loud. Aerine was wishing the day ends quickly when he felt embarrassed by his parents and then hearing these words coming out from Leo was stopping it. Fantasies and daydreams of him and Leo being together are what he needs to feel happy deep inside. "I didn't mean to say that... not in a weird way to make you feel uncomfortable or freak out... Kyle said you're that shy type kid, you know." He explained further, diverting Aerine's attention away from the compliment he'd blurted out.

Just like how Leo wishes, Aerine was captivated of how he say things about him. "Yes that's true. I'm stuck inside of my comfort zone, you know. I've live my whole life being surrounded with my parents and my cousins especially Kyle. I've never been into being the center of attention."

"But you were amazing earlier on the thingy that you're playing."

Thingy? "Oh the piano." Aerine said, leaving a small laugh.

"Hey don't laugh at me. I'm not good with those. I guess just excise me for being unfamiliar of classy things."

"That wasn't classy. It's just normal to me." Aerine told him truthfully.

"Yeah I guess."

Only a nod was Aerine's response to Leo as they continue their drive. Aerine felt insecure over the words he'said to Leo and that is making him uncomfortable with himself. But as his mind subsides from weird thoughts, Leo just wanted to prolong their conversation and make it more interesting than earlier. He needs to know him more because the more he learns from him, the more he fell for Aerine.

But fate is cruel and steals every moment from them. Instead of prolonging the conversation, Leo's phone rang that was connected to the car and so it was on speakers. "I'm on my way, Kyle, and I am driving." He greeted without even saying a proper hello.

"Just checking if you are. You're carrying our precious, dude."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, dude. I'm not a reckless driver."

"Reminders, Doc." Leo couldn't help of rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

"Shut up. How much you've done?"

There was a brief silence on Kyle's side and that gave Leo a moment to steal a quick glance to Aerine's side. He was staring out of the window, hands grasping on the seat belt pinned over his body and a little smile drawn onto his lips. Retrieving his sight from the beauty next to him, Leo focused on the road once again.

"Yeah. Almost half of it. I'll leave the rest to you once I'm done with my part."

"Sure. I've prepared enough for my part." Honestly speaking, after heading back home that Sunday morning, Leo started to do some research for his papers and got lucky to write enough to fill his part on the project they're working with. He knows that working with Kyle will profit and save him some time.

"By the way, grab some food or snack for Aerine, please. Dad forgot to buy him his stuff. Most of the groceries I have here is seafood."

"No problem, dude. We'll stop at the convenience store near your place."

"Thank you so much, dude. Gonna hung up now." With that, the call ended.

"So, you're allergic with seafood?"

Aerine raises his brows trying to sink in Leo's question. "Y-yeah. It was

anaphylaxis." Anaphylaxis — a life-threatening whole-body allergic reaction that can impair your breathing, cause a dramatic drop in your blood pressure and affect your heart rate. Anaphylaxis can come on within minutes of exposure to the trigger food. "I've had it since I was a kid and it was the reason why Kyle took medicine as his course."

The surprise on Leo's face wasn't visible inside the car neither to Aerine's sight but it was there. All he knew was Kyle wanted to be a doctor because he doesn't want to be a businessman or take over his grandfather's empire as he is the first born in the family and the legitimate heir. What a smartass. You love your cousin too much.

For the real time, Leo was speechless so Aerine continues as if it was his first time talking about it which is true. "Nathaniel once forgot that I have it when he gave me a nugget which turned out to be a fish. Lucky for me I only bitten a little and had to throw up. He's still guilty about it until now and that's why he only eats seafood whenever I'm not around."

Like he was there on the incident, Leo felt scared for a moment knowing that Aerine could've died even though the other boy already told him that it was only a mild attack. This kind of feeling when the person you are starting to like was once on the edge of death was terrifying. "You're lucky. You still need to be more careful and watchful of the food you take before eating them." I don't want you to get hurt or the worse. Leo wanted to add but he's had enough to say.

"I do."

"You should." Tell me you want me to take care of you, please?

"So why did you take medicine as your course?"

Why did I take it? Before giving his answer to the question, Leo clears his throat. "Well, I just wanted to cure people and my grandmother's wish is to see me in a hospital gown as a doctor." But now, I think I want to find cure for you.

"Oh. Just the usual answer." Aerine smiles.

Leo couldn't help it but he let a small laugh as his agreement to Aerine's statement. "Yeah. You're right." Dark eyes. Aerine joins him to his laughter and they shared it. "What about you?"

"I want to take over what Kyle and Nathaniel threw. I want my Papa's business and my abuelo's empire." Aerine answered truthfully. He may be shy and the quiet type of person, Don Armando's blood is still running through his veins. Ambitious yet humble. Aerine wants the power, the money and the glory although he believes in hardships that he will take to build his own stepping stones to his goal.

Hearing him say those words, Leo was surprised and felt proud of how bold he can be if wanted to although he doesn't know him that much, with his gestures and physical appearance, Aerine is the shy type person that he wasn't expecting to be a bold one. Well, actually he doesn't know what his standards to the person he wants to be with. Now that Aerine came along, he knows what he wants and he draws a smile on his face. That kind of smile made Aerine blushes under the night sky through the busy road inside the car together with Leo.

Once again, silence overcame them and they stayed like that until their car stopped in front of the convenience store they are meant to stop by. Aerine didn't wait for Leo to opens his door instead he exited the car once Leo was out and meets him halfway. Inside the store are some teenagers around Aerine's age and some are younger. The bright neon lights flashing the name of the store, The Mart, captures Aerine sight and awes on how it was so cute watching it. Leo wanted to stay to his feet and just stare at Aerine as he truly captures his heart and continue to surprise him with his every little moves but time is ticking and the paper works are in due.

One thing he wishes to do is travel back in time when they first met and muster all the courage in the world to say those etching words he was trying to wash away for all this time—Please be mine, before someone else would do that for him and take Aerine away from him.

Marco.

Leo headed into the store, convincing his self that one of these days, courage will slap him and wraps around him to start his way towards Aerine. His biggest advantage, as he thought, against Marco is that Aerine and Leo are in the same school ground and have a connection between them which is Kyle. He started to come up with plan, a perfect plan, to get Aerine.

Starting with Kyle. They're best friends and like brothers. Leo is confident that Kyle will support him and allow him to court Aerine if that's what Kyle wants. Be a man and push his self the best he can.

Grow an attraction from Aerine. Looks will help him. His a good looking man, he believes.

Build a strong foundation. Friendship? That's the best kind of relationship to start with.

The parents. Mr. Braddock grew a fond of him so that will not be a problem. Mrs. Braddock? Aerine is her precious gem and she will surely a kind of obstacle and a block but be a man.

And lastly Aerine.

His plans and goals are all in good shape and needs to execute, eliminated the best possible what ifs yet to come along the way but was unsure of how to deal his first heartbreak if his plans will go down the sink. Unlike Leo, Aerine, for a while, forgot about what his grandfather warned him and told him about being with a Navarro. It was all vivid in his mind why but at some point, he's looking at Leo like he's not a Navarro. He is the Leo that he wants to be with.

Aerine headed straight to where the potato chips and chocolates are and started to pick a good amount of each food before grabbing some real meal which consists of chicken, some pork bellies, vegetables, beef and some fruits. From far away, Leo is very secretive of looking out for Aerine and what he has been picking after entering the store. To be honest, it isn't your normal and usual convenience store because it has more to offer than other convenience stores out there.

He must be crazy thinking and imagining ahead of time, Leo as the typical husband who waits for his wife, Aerine, to do the groceries. Inside his head are crazy things that he doesn't know of it will come true in the near future or not. Although the odds may or may not against them, he needs to pursue it—him to fulfill this daydream he had been going on.

After convincing his self that he grabbed all the necessities he needs, Aerine then headed to the cashier pushing the cart heavily. The struggle was pasted on his face and kinda embarrassing. Turning around the corner, the first thing he saw was the cashier smiling while talking to someone and that someone is Leo. They look like in a deep conversation, getting comfortable with each other and that made Aerine felt jealous? He doesn't know yet how to fully react with the scene he's seeing so he makes his way towards the cashier and ignoring Leo's surprise.

"Need a hand?" Leo asks as he watches Aerine unloads the cart with the stuff he grabbed. Aerine continues to unload his cart without responding to Leo. Leo was confused and doesn't know what to do. He felt hurt inside but his pride took over and acts like nothing is happening.

Man up, Leo. "Aerine? I'm going to pay these." He tried.

"Please use my card." Aerine commanded to the cashier with his fake smile as he places his credit card on the table between them. The cashier nods in response without smiling at him or any expression in particular but scared of how Aerine approached him.

The intensity of Aerine's dark eyes are beyond terrifying. It's how he pulls you into an abyss of liveliness when they are shining with joy but when he's mad or angry with something, that abyss will turn into a complete void of terror. His pair of eyes will eat you alive and there is nothing you can do to get out of it. It's like a curse of beauty.

Leo, on the other hand, can feel the intensity between the two. He wants to come in between them and stop the rising heat about to explode yet he did nothing. He's the first person to notice the changes in Aerine's eyes, it became darker and terrifying.

Never ever provoke Dark eyes in the future. He takes note.