His oppression

What Makes an Aria

Chapter Nine: WHAT MAKES AN ARIA?

“Do you want to try and eat?”

That question alone was stupid but there really was no harm done if he’ll try to eat. Radcliff did insist that since we had ample funds from selling his ring, we can waste a few on food. I had to counter all his arguments but in the end, he won and I’m just mad that he did. The growl and grumble of my stomach didn’t help me with that at all. Here’s the thing with me, I will eat as much as I can and not regret spending my money on food at least once a week. That had been my way of saving money since I was eighteen-- when I stepped out of the world and decided to depend on myself.

But there really would be a  time that I get hungry. Most often, I just don’t think much about it. It works.

“I had attempted to take a meal before, but it didn't work.”

“How did you even try?”

“I can move some things, but most of the time my hand just goes through.”

Confused and puzzled were all I was at the time being. I’m just not so sure what to believe at this point. He was just a spirit roaming around? How come he can’t move other things? What things can he move? What things can he not move? Is he even telling the truth?

There are just so many questions and I’m guessing Mr. Old Dude over here doesn’t know the answers too. Things aren’t adding up for me but I think it has to do with the fact that I really have no clue on what’s going on. Perhaps, we should pay a visit to a paranormal expert and have them observe the happenings. Their conclusion could be added so I can keep a grounded stance on the circumstances. With my thoughts, I could be flying over the point and I wouldn’t even know. I’m not knowledgeable when it comes to this kind of thing.

My eyes quietly surveyed his actions whilst he was looking at me too. We had a small staring contest going on and it seemed neither of us was losing the fight and coming back down. It was amusing, to say the least, and I’m quite entertained. 

"What is that stare for, Aria?" he asked, a small smile was playing on his lips.

"Still wondering to myself how I can keep up with this joke." I blurted out, shrugging my shoulders off. "Just tell me more about yourself."

"How about this time you tell me about yourself too? So I'm not clueless about who you are and what the story behind your name is." he proposed, leaning back against his seat but his eyes remained at me.

There was a slight drawback on myself when I heard that. I was well off with listening to other people’s sob stories but I’m not one to open up about myself. What makes him think I was in his favour? Does he think we’ve formed some sort of friendship over the days that we were constantly together?

Now that’s something I wouldn’t expect or even crossed my mind.

“I’ll have to pass on that one. Not much of a teller, I’m really good with listening though. You’ll find that I don’t listen when I don’t remember much details about what you told me.”

“Why don’t you?”

“Why don’t I?”

“Why don’t you tell me about yourself?” he just asked, a confused look written all over his face.

“Because…” I sighed dramatically before taking a bite of the food in front of me. “There’s really nothing interesting I could tell about myself. Not like other people whom I’ve listened to with real genuine and interesting stories to tell.”

“I think you’re a fascinating subject to decipher,” he commented. “You’ve really nailed down the mysterious aura. There’s not one thing I know about you, conceivably just your name and where you live… where you work, things like that. I want to delve into what really makes an Aria, Aria.”

I laughed sarcastically at that, forcing myself not to get insulted. Should I even be insulted in the first place, I don’t even know. But what thing I do know was that I didn’t like what I’ve heard from him. Before I could speak back to him, I shoved food into my mouth. It was deliberate of course, I would do anything to stall myself from talking.

“But if you don’t want to, then that is perfectly acceptable too.” he just told me with a warm smile on his face. As if that smile was to comfort me. “Should I  acquaint you more with my story?”

“I’d be more pleased if you do the talking,” I told him, getting a hold of another bite.

“Do you have brothers or sisters?” he suddenly asked out of the blue.

My eyebrows furrowed at that. “A brother and we shouldn’t be talking about him. No, we must not talk about him. He’s dead to me.”

“Oh you’re brother has passed away?”

“No!” I quickly replied with another exhale. “I didn’t grow up with him so we’re not really close, He really did give off the impression that he was proud of the actions he’s done his entire life. It’s shameful.”

“What is?”

“That he did those things!” I raised my voice as my frustration grew. “I’m not going to forgive him, ever.”

“Have you talked to him on why he had done such terrible things you claim?” he asked, pushing the glass of juice towards my direction. “He may have his reasons.”

“Reasons my arse! He was laughing uncontrollably when I came to talk to him. He had gone insane, I tell you! I couldn’t even talk to him properly, he was always lost in thought or he’d give me an answer that was far from the matter. And I hate that about him.”

I took the juice and drank a portion of it-- what I mean by portion, almost drank the whole thing. And I didn’t mean to put the glass down so loudly that it was overheard by the tables but I did and it was kind of embarrassing.

I’ve nearly forgotten that people can’t see Radcliff so if they really were to see me right now, they must think I’m some kind of crazy person who talks to the air like they have a friend.

I sank to my seat, arms crossed against my chest. When I talk about my brother, I just get really aggregated that I can’t control my emotions anymore. It was a bad thing to hold something against him but if I don’t have some kind of closure or anything in the same manner, I’m going to talk s**t about him however I want.

“He still may have his reasons and you could put that into consideration.” he insisted. “People do decisions they regret--”

“That’s the thing! He doesn’t regret any of his decisions and now he’s on the run. Police are probably trailing behind him.”

“What did he even do to get authorities involved?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” I shrugged, fully knowing why his head was wanted. “He may have his reasons but he’s still stupid. And my parents still want to give him money? Are they on the brink of losing their insanity too? Have they never learned their lesson?”

He looked at me and before I could even react, his hand was already on top of my head. I felt things I never have been able to and that was it-- I wanted to melt right there and then. I knew I needed some kind of comfort since my grandparents passed on and this is the closest I can get that had actually worked for once.

“See, this is why you need to tell someone about yourself. Even to a mere stranger. Strangers may help more than the people closest to you.” he told me, moving his hand on my head like he was somewhat petting me like a dog. “You don’t bottle up feelings and grudges because they can make you a hateful person.”

“I’m not hateful!” I reacted too quickly, slapping his hand off with a frown on my face.

“But it appears that your heart confines so much hate. You’re so closed off from the world and that could possibly be a cause that you’re unhappy.”

“Can you stop meddling with my personal life?” this time I was pissed. “You don’t know anything--”

“Does anyone even know why, Aria?”

I’m not even going to lie but that definitely made me stop and contemplate for a bit. He’s got a fair point honestly but what really boiled my blood is that he felt like he really knows why I’ve gotten to this point in my life. Like he was some genius that figured that out by just assessing my actions and how I speak to him or anyone in particular. No one really knows and I tend to keep it that way for as long as I can feasible. Because I hate how people are so quick to get into my business without me opening the doors for them or even giving them permission to talk like that.

“You dare barge into my life, thinking you had the right to judge the choices I made and make and will make--”

“I’m not affected by your words.” he cut me off and I swear his gaze can cut right through me. “You’re someone broken and this is your way of pushing people away.”

That did not make me happy in the least. I was about to counter his argument but he put his hand over my head again but this time, his touch was a little more gentle. He made me look up to him.

“I believe fate brought us to meet each other’s path for a reason.” he spoke with such a soothing tone. “Even if I had to wait for you a few centuries later.”

“Do you hear yourself, Radcliff? That’s the most corniest thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life.” a laugh was strained out of me. “Fate has nothing to do with this. If it did something, it brought me more unfortunes.”

“You deem me as an unfortunate circumstance in your life?” he asked, the corners of his mouth turned down to a frown.

“Of course I do! You’re nothing but a bothersome to me but what can I do? I have to help you or you’re never going to go away.”

Now he’s the silent one. It’s funny, isn’t it? He just told me he wasn’t affected by my words but I can get ruder when I really want to and that’s just me being blunt. What if I give him real talking?

Before I could tell him off, he laughed. Which was really unexpected for me. The last thing I expected him to do was to laugh and that just happened. Maybe he was the mysterious one between us.

“That was endearing my dear Aria.” he uttered, putting his hand on my cheek before patting it softly. “I guess that really makes you you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, fairly losing control of my bodily functions due to how close our proximity was. “You’re weird!”

“Am I?”

Just when I couldn’t breathe anymore, his face had gotten closer so I slapped his cheek away by how uncomfortable I was- that meant I really slapped him hard. Physical contact makes my skin crawl.

He just laughed again.