The First Outing
425 Words
It had only been three days since Aria moved into Aiden’s house, yet everything still felt… wrong. The walls were too quiet. The air too still. She lived there, but she didn’t belong.
Aiden wasn’t rude. He was distant — polite, cold, untouchable. He spoke to her the way one might speak to a guest who overstayed their welcome.
That morning, Aria came into the living room to find Aiden standing by the door, dressed in dark jeans and a crisp white shirt, keys in hand.
> “Get ready,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “I want to take you somewhere.”
She blinked. “Where?”
> “Just… get dressed. It’s not formal.”
That was the most he’d said to her all week. Confused but curious, she changed quickly and followed him to the car. The drive was quiet — just the soft hum of tires and the occasional gust of wind.
They reached a quiet park on the edge of the city. It was serene, almost dreamlike. Families picnicked under shady trees. Children ran around laughing. Couples strolled, fingers entwined.
> “I used to come here,” Aiden said after a long silence. His voice was softer now, laced with memory. “Before everything got complicated.”
It was the first time Aria heard emotion in his voice. Not anger. Not irritation. Something... deeper.
> “Did you come here alone?” she asked.
Aiden glanced at her. “Sometimes.”
> “And the other times?” she pushed gently.
He didn’t answer right away. “With someone I thought I’d spend my life with.”
His honesty hit harder than any lie ever could. Aria looked away, heart tightening.
They sat down on a bench under a willow tree. The silence returned, but it wasn’t as heavy this time. More... thoughtful.
She turned to him, her voice barely above a whisper.
> “Do you regret marrying me?”
Aiden looked at her, really looked at her for the first time in days. His mouth opened slightly — as if to answer — but his phone rang. He checked the screen, frowned, and stood up.
> “I have to take this. Wait here.”
And just like that, he was gone, walking off with the phone to his ear.
Aria sat still, blinking back something that felt dangerously close to tears.
She didn’t know what stung more — that he walked away... or that he never said no.
✨ Written by MD NURUL ✨
- Writer
