The Drowned

" 7 "

Since that night, when Nathan ordered Aran not to move, and since that day, both of them have not spoken to each other. Nathan is busy with his father’s work due to his injury, and Aran stays in his room. Each one of them eats his food alone. Nathan does not want to sit with his mother because he is still angry with her and does not want to see Aran because he asked him not to approach him.

Vero heads the table, his wife is to his left, his right side is empty, Aran’s chair is empty, and the twins are sitting with their heads bowed, as is their mother. No one of them ate. Firo sighed and looked at his wife while saying

(It's the third week. Today is the second Monday. Aran and Nathan are alone and not meeting with us for lunch, my dear. What's wrong with Nathan and what's wrong with Aran? Can someone explain to me what's wrong with them?)

Joshua raised his head to speak, but Jonathan held his hand under the table, so Joshua lowered his head again and remained silent. Their mother spoke for them.

(I'm the reason, my dear)

Firo spoke angrily

(What did you do to them?)

Aranda told him everything. Liliana's betrayals of Nathan, her slap by Laran, and even her treatment of the twins. Vero was angry, but he took his time and asked her to prepare a good dinner. Then he asked her to try to convince Aran to come down, and he would talk to Nathan so he could join the dinner, and then he solved the matter his way.

They did not eat their food and got up to work. Vero went to his son's office and sat down to help him, then went out for a few minutes talking on the phone, and when he finished, he returned to help Nathan. The twins sat with Aran and were laughing out loud. At dinner, the twins went down to eat, hoping that their father's plan would succeed and things would return to normal.

The twins were surprised to see Nathan sitting at the dining table. They were happy and sat next to their brother, waiting for the servants to bring dinner. Their mother went upstairs and knocked on the door, and Aran let her in. She did not know how to speak, but in the end she spoke

(Can we talk son?)

Aran answered her

( Of course, why not )

I sat on the bed and talked

(Come here beside me)

He approached and touched the bed with his hand, then sat next to her and she patted his cheek in a whisper

(For a long time, we haven't sat together and eaten together. How about you come down to have dinner with us?)

Aran lowered his head and smiled

(I am not a member of the family, ma’am. Miss Liliana did not lie. I am a nobody, and a nobody should know his place.)

She spoke as she got up

(It seems that you will not listen to me, even though Firo sent me)

Aran got up in fear and asked

(Is it really Mr. Firo who sent you, ma'am?)

She turned around, furrowing her eyebrows

(Don't tell me you're afraid of him?)

Aran did not answer her and bowed his head. The servants put the food on the table and the twins turned their heads to see Aran, who came down with their mother and held her hand. He arrived near the table and from his smell he knew he was there. He felt very happy that Nathan was close to him.

Nathan was staring at him, as Aran was sitting next to Nathan's mother. The meal started in silence, like every time, but Firo was accustomed to the conversation and discussions of the Waran twins. After the soup, the servants brought the main course, which was Nathan's favorite dish. Steak with asparagus sticks and mashed potatoes. Nathan talked to Joshua

(Joshua, hand me a plate of aran)

Joshua got up, took Aran's plate, and gave it to Nathan, who cut the steak to make it easier for Aran to eat. Joshua put it back in front of him so that Aran could grab the fork and start eating his food. He liked the taste very much. Nathan warns everyone against cooking salmon or any dish that contains salmon caviar or any of the contents of salmon.

Firo was smiling because his son treated Aran in a completely different way than he treated Liliana. He took a deep breath, then looked at his wife, put the knife and fork on the plate, grabbed the cup of water and drank from it, then returned it, clasped the fingers of his hands together under his jaw, and spoke, addressing his eldest son.

(Nathan, the partnership contract between me and your uncle will end soon. What is your final decision regarding your marriage to Liliana?)

Aran and Nathan both stopped eating and Nathan stared at Aran and then spoke as he finished his food

(Why did you ask about this matter at mealtime, Dad?)

His father answered

(Because I want an answer so that I can end the matter with your uncle. Now, what is your answer?)

Nathan got up, talked to his father, then left

(I already gave my answer to my mother. Thank you for the food. It was delicious.)

He left the room silently and everyone stopped eating. Vero looked at his wife and spoke

(Take the children and leave, I want to talk to Aran alone)

She quickly got up and the twins followed her and left, so Vero was left alone with Aran. Aran was nervous and afraid, but he remained in his place while listening to Vero's talk

(You know why I'm keeping you here, right?)

Aran spoke

(I'm sorry sir, I don't know what you want to talk to me about)

Firo looked at him and then spoke

(There is no need to be afraid of me. Aran, I know everything that happens inside the house. Everything, meaning everything. I know the feelings of my children well and I know what they feel and what lies inside the feelings of each one of them. That is why I kept you here to ask you. What are your feelings towards my eldest son, Nathan?)

Aran was silent and did not speak for a few minutes while he was thinking, but he quickly spoke

(I consider him my big brother...)

Vero shouted at him

(And you lie too. I told you, tell the truth, tell your feelings, not lie)

He remained silent, and at the sound of his voice, Nathan left his office and headed towards the dining table. He saw Aran bowing his head and his hand tightening on his clothes under the table, so he misunderstood the matter. He thought that his father was yelling at Aran because of the Qibla matter that had spread among the servants like wildfire

(What's wrong, Dad? Why are you screaming?)

Vero shouted at his son

(Shut up and go back to your office. Aran, answer my question.)

Aran did not say anything, but he heard Nathan's steps returning, so he opened his mouth to speak, saying:

(I'll tell the truth, but promise me you won't tell Nathan)

Firo replied impatiently

( I promise you )

Aran finally spoke what he was holding down without fear, as if he felt that he would not stay here long

(I have feelings for your son, sir. But I swear I did not know that he would get married. I admit that I went too far that night and I swore that I would not repeat it)

Silence came after that. After midnight, Nathan went up to his room to sleep, but he was surprised that Aran left his room door open, so he entered quietly. He saw Aran sitting on the floor with his eyes closed. His fingers intertwined together and both hands formed a fist in front of his mouth as he spoke in a whisper

(Grandma, your grandson Aran misses you. Today is the twenty-fifth day after your death. Your grandson is lost and needs your guidance. Grandma, why didn’t you take me with you? I know this is impossible, but don’t worry, Aran will be fine.)

He opened his eyes and relaxed his grip as he whispered

( P'Nathan)

Nathan was cross-legged on the ground in front of Aran, staring at him, then answered him

(Yes, that's me)

Aran smiled and spoke

(Sixteen days later we're talking again)

Nathan spoke as he got up

(You like counting the days)

He was walking towards the door to leave, but Aran's words stopped him

(I'm counting the days until I plant her memories inside my mind because I won't stay here for long)

Nathan approached him as he saw him get up to sit on the bed

(Why do you think you're leaving? Did I give you permission to do so?)

Aran froze in his place, he felt Nathan close to him, and he even felt him sigh, with his hand under his jaw, raising his head towards him, whispering.

(Answer me, Aran, did I let you leave?)

Aran answered

( no, but .... )

Nathan cut off Aran's words with his mouth as he licked his lips and sucked them between his lips. He felt Aran's grip on his wrist, but he did not let go of his jaw. He had been longing to kiss Aran since the last time Aran kissed him, and today he had the opportunity. He pulled away after feeling that Aran's breath had been taken away by his kiss.

He moved away from him gently and let him catch his breath, but he was surprised by the tears that slid down his cheeks and his sobs and sniffles. He sat cross-legged, holding his hands and asking him anxiously, staring with his closed eyes and eyelashes wet from his tears.

(What's wrong, Aran? Why are you crying?)

Aran replied, withdrawing his hands

(I told you not to come close to me. You have a fiancée, and if she sees us kissing, she will feel sad.)

He grabbed Aran's hand and pulled it forcefully. Aran refused to release his hand and was pulling it away from Nathan's hand. Force him to open his hand and touch the place on his finger where the engagement ring is usually placed. He noticed his silence and distraction as he touched both hands, then spoke

(Where... where did you put your engagement ring?)

Aran listened to Nathan's speech as he raised his head after he felt Nathan getting up and standing and pulling him to stand.

(I got rid of it. I don't need it anymore)

Aran asked him as he walked with him to the side of the bed

(Why? Miss Liliana will be sad and angry)

Aran sat down and heard his steps leaving, then he heard the sound of the door closing. He lowered his head and sighed, but he heard Nathan’s steps coming back towards him, and he heard him throw something, and he heard him open his belt as he spoke.

(To hell with her sadness and anger)

Aran spoke as he felt Nathan's weight on the bed next to him

(But, P'Nathan...)

He was interrupted by Nathan pulling him to lie down

(No, but, it is enough that she went too far and raised her hand on you)

Aran's hands stopped Nathan from pulling him and he felt his bare arms but he tried not to notice and spoke

(But she's right, Nathan. I went too far with whoever belonged to her.)

Nathan was immersed in the color of Aran's blue eyes and had a beautiful smile on his face. He placed his hands on both of Aran's cheeks and spoke while feeling Aran's hands on his.

(I don't belong to anyone, I'm Nathan. Just Nathan. Okay, Aran?)

Aran shook his head and pulled with him after he felt him pulling him into his embrace and pulling the cover over them to sleep and heard him whispering as he hugged him.

(I haven't slept well for several days)

Aran whispered to him as he pressed his face into the crook of his neck, where the source of the perfume that Aran loved came from

(Sweet dreams)

Nathan replied in his secret

(You are my sweet dreams)

In the morning, Joshua opened the door while talking

(Aran, wake up. We have fifteen minutes to eat, You lazy pers...)

Joshua swallowed the rest of his words as he stared at Aran and how he was hiding in Nathan's embrace and how he was burying his face in the crook of Nathan's neck. Jonathan entered intending to scream, but Joshua silenced him, covering his twin brother's mouth with his hand and whispering

(Shhh, they're asleep)

Jonathan stared with wide eyes and open mouth at his big brother and Aran as he fell into a deep sleep. They pulled up, closed the door, and went downstairs, whispering and laughing, and their mother stopped them and spoke

(Where are you going? And why are you smiling like that as if you found the key to heaven?)

Joshua answered

(Your eldest son left his engagement ring with my father last night so that he could hand it over to my uncle, announcing the cancellation of the engagement. Jonathan and I discovered that he slept last night in Aran’s room, and haha, Aran was cuddling up in his arms.)

They left their mother and left laughing. Nathan woke up to the sound of his phone, so he pulled it out and answered sleepily

(Yes, what's up Casper? Now? Why? Okay. When I wake up. Good night. What do you mean it's already past morning? What?????)

He quickly got up causing Aran to wake up. Nathan spoke to Casper while looking at Aran

(Okay, I'll take a shower and come to you)

He hung up the call without even listening to Casper's response. He approached Aran and slowly lifted him up and supported him while saying

(I woke you up, I'm sorry)

Aran smiled and answered

(Never mind. I have become like a sloth who sleeps all the time.)

Nathan got up and left Aran in bed thinking to himself. He got up after a while and headed towards Nathan's room. He wanted to ask him about their relationship and the reason for them kissing each other. He entered his room slowly, speaking his name

( P'Nathan)

Nathan called out to him

(Come here, I'm near the mirror. Follow my voice)

Aran reached him, stood in front of him and spoke

(I wanted to ask you about something....)

Nathan interrupted his conversation, took his hand, placed it on his shirt collar, and spoke

(We'll talk later. I'm in a hurry. Adjust the collar of my shirt while I put on my watch and gloves.)

Aran was standing on his tiptoes and straightening the collar of Nathan's shirt when Nathan's arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him to his chest, kissing the bottom of his ear between his jaw and neck while whispering.

(Well done my beauty, I'll go now. Don't let the twins fool you. Be a little strict with them)

Aran felt embarrassed because he was so close to Nathan and because his chest was on Nathan's chest, but he laughed and talked

(You are the one who should leave the twins alone. They are nice, but you are very strict as an older brother.)

Nathan smiled and leaned down, letting his hair fall over his shoulder as he kissed Aran's temple. He gathered his hair back and braided it as he listened to Aran talk

(One day you'll let me touch this hair of yours)

Nathan walked as he spoke

(When I get back, I'll let you play with my hair)

Then he left it and went out, but he quickly returned and took out another bracelet identical to his bracelet from the drawer and put it on Aran and spoke while holding Aran’s hand.

(Aran, there is something drawn on the bracelet. If you want anything or if anything happens to you, just touch it, okay?)

Aran answered

(Okay )

Nathan kissed Aran's forehead, then went out to the garage and drove his car towards Casper's house. He stopped in front of the house and walked down. The guards paid him respect, so he passed them and entered, coinciding with Casper's exit from inside the house while addressing his mother.

(No, my mother, I said no. Come on, my mother is the tenth girl I have rejected.)

His mother spoke

(But my son, I want you to get married. Your friend will get married, but you will not.)

Nathan spoke

(Excuse me, aunt, but I broke off the engagement last night)

Casper's mother spoke

(f**k you both, you're both idiots)

She left them and went in, muttering and complaining, and Casper and Nathan left for the library. Casper wanted some books from the library, and he was also eager to see Arthur and disturb him a little. They arrived and went down to talk and Casper described his new experience to Nathan, so that Nathan could spoil his happiness

(The one that exploded in your face)

Casper spoke with a little annoyance

(Shut up Nathan)

He passed him and opened the door and entered, his smile disappearing as he saw Arthur with short hair. Arthur cut his long hair. Short hair suits him, but Casper loved him with long hair. Arthur looked at him and passed him, talking to one of the readers, and Casper continued his walk with Nathan towards the technology bookshelf.

They then went out and gave the books to Arthur, and Arthur smiled at Nathan when he told him that his short hair suits him. Casper did not speak and left quietly, but he quickly returned and entered, noticing a few people and Arthur alone. He approached him and stood in front of him. Arthur raised his head at him and smiled. The height difference between them is very clear, Casper is taller than Arthur. Arthur spoke

(Oh, it looks like someone is angry. What do you think, Mr. Casper? Is my haircut nice?)

Arthur was smiling provocatively when he saw Casper's annoyance, but his smile disappeared when he saw that Casper was no longer angry, he smiled maliciously, then he spoke as he moved forward from Arthur, and Arthur moved back.

(It seems that you do not know me well, Arthur. I am Casper, Arthur. Casper, who knows where you live, your university, your specialty, and even your family. Be careful of me, Arthur.)

Casper lied about knowing Arthur's family. He only knew that his name was Arthur Roost. Arthur fell to the ground and felt afraid, so Casper was the first person to threaten him. Arthur was secretly cursing himself

(Damn you, Arthur. You spent your whole life without any problems if you didn't just ignore him. Now he threatens you, and after a few days he kidnaps you and maybe... cuts your neck.)

Casper knelt down and spoke

(You look much prettier when you're scared, haha)

Casper got up laughing and left Arthur and left and spent the whole way laughing. Then he noticed the nervousness of Nathan, who was staring at his bracelet that was lighting up. Then he stopped for a moment and called the twins, but they did not answer him.

Nathan and Casper returned home in a hurry, and when he got out of the car and walked inside, he stopped in the courtyard of the house and stared at the twins and their mother, then he saw Liliana standing far away and smiling, so he turned to the twins while speaking.

(Jonathan, Joshua, where's Aran?)

The twins' faces turned pale and they spoke

(Did you not have it with you?)

He shouted at them

(What do you mean? How can he be with me when I was with Casper?)

A terrible silence fell over the family members before Liliana approached and spoke

(But one of your guards said you wanted to see him. I was talking to Aran when he came in and said you wanted Aran)

Nathan left them and walked towards his office, followed by Casper and the twins, then followed by Liliana. The twins closed the door in her face and locked it, so she remained standing, remembering the call that took place at her house before she came to Nathan’s house.

[Seize the opportunity. Let your spies tell you all the moves. Just try to go out with him to the park while Nathan is out of the house, and the rest will end as you planned for him.]

She moved, walking, and talking in secret

(You won't find him Nathan, he has returned to his family)

Liliana is stupid. She does not know Nathan, his brothers, or even his friend Casper. He entered the office. Casper spoke after he was pressing the buttons on the control panel of Nathan's computer, then he walked away and clicked the last button.

(The security system has been activated and anything captured or recorded inside your office has been jammed. Now, command me, how can I help you?)

Nathan took his bracelet off his hand and gave it to Casper speaking

(Find me the location of the other bracelet, Casper. Now find it. If it takes longer, Aran might be harmed.)

Casper took the bracelets and took out the tablet from among the books he was carrying, a digital tablet, and placed it on the table and connected it to the computer screen, so that a list of information appeared on the screen. The brothers furrowed their eyebrows as they watched Casper, who placed the bracelet on the board, and many encrypted words and numbers appeared.

Casper was pressing the buttons quickly, then he pressed two buttons and walked away, staring at the screen that showed an information panel and then locations to finally determine the location of the two bracelets. Casper pointed to one of the two locations and said.

(We're here, so Aran is there)

Joshua asked

(Where specifically?)

Nathan answered as he got up and took his bracelet

(West bank of the river, outskirts of the forest)

The house was quiet before Lillian saw both Nathan and Casper leaving the office. This was their agreement to scatter Liliana so that she would not tell the enemy about Nathan’s arrival. After she was safe, they left without her noticing, but luck was not on their side.

Arthur came home early and he was afraid and looked right and left, then he went up the stairs because he hates the elevator and went in and closed the door and went in and looked around then took off his bag, coat and shoes and lay down in his bed sighing and pulled out his phone reading a message from one of the students in his class saying

(The professor will not attend this week. All of your projects have been postponed until next week)

Arthur felt comfortable, pulled the covers and went to sleep. Nathan arrived with his brothers, his friend, and a number of guards, but all they killed were a few guards. The last guard came out, raising his hand and speaking

(Please don't shoot, I have a family)

Nathan sighed, lowered his weapon, and shouted to Casper, who advanced toward the guard. Nathan left them and entered followed by Joshua. Nathan was eating from the inside because of his anxiety. All along the way, his fences were lighting up, and this meant to him that Aran was still asking for help, but when he stopped, he felt that something had happened to Aran.

Nathan was searching every room in the house, and Jonathan was searching with him. Nathan finally found Aran in one of the rooms, but he froze in place, staring at him. When Jonathan saw his older brother standing, he ran towards him, hoping that Aran was inside, but he was afraid and stopped because of Nathan's screams.

(Jonathan stops, don't get too close)

Jonathan spoke fearfully and felt a pain in his chest

(Why, my brother? Say he is fine, brother. Say that Aran is fine)

The answer that Jonathan got from his big brother was a shake of his head meaning yes, then he left his brother outside and entered while taking off his coat.

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I hope you like this chapter. see you soon . Bye Bye.