Chapter Nine: A Beautiful Torment
984 Words
AARON’S POV
“I am fine. I was just beginning to get emotional thinking about leaving home.”
A big fat ass lie but I will buy it.
“When did you start believing in love at first sight?”
“When I first saw Xavier?” she is giving me this looks that screams ‘Isn’t it obvious that Xavier, the love of my life is the sole reason why I believe in love at first sight?’
“What was it about him?”
“His eyes, his blue eyes, they are the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.”
“And I was thinking I have the most beautiful eyes you’ve ever seen.”
“His comes second to yours; don’t worry.” Now she is looking at me with that soft gaze she usually has when the air around us is getting steamy, and for the life of me, I am still unable to decipher what this gaze means.
“You don’t share a close relationship with him.” I am not asking her, I am telling her.
It is clear to anyone who has eyes that this relationship has nothing lovey-dovey about it, which is unusual for couples.
I can bet my lifesavings that they don’t even share the chemistry Lily and I share.
She was about to respond when Brie stormed into her room without a knock. She gives us a weird look, looking at our intertwined hands first, then our faces and then back to our hands again.
Lily wanted to let go of my hand but I don’t let her, I hold on to them tightly.
“It is common courtesy to knock on the door Brie.” I tell her.
She is still looking at us like she is in a daze of some sort before she clears her throat.
“Um Lily, Caroline just called mom to let her know that she is on her way with the wedding gowns. Mummy said to tell you to be ready so you don’t waste her time like you usually do.”
She turns around and leaves immediately without waiting for Lily’s response, loudly banging the door shut.
“That was absolutely rude and disrespectful if you ask me.”
“Don’t mind Brie. That is how she’s been since the engagement bla bla. It is nothing really.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize I said that out loud. It was just a thought in my head.”
“My questions haven’t finished yet.” I say almost immediately just so I don’t give her any room to change the topic at hand.
“Just trust me and don’t ask any question.”
“Alright then, just listen to me. I have a lot to say.”
All of a sudden the confidence I walked into this room with flew out through the window.
Our intertwined hands begin to feel sweaty so I let go of her hands and rub my palms on my trousers, looking at everywhere and everything but her.
I am not sure what she is doing, what she is looking at, and even what she is thinking. It is unlike me to not have my feelings and thoughts in check.
I absolutely hate this feeling. It feels really weird.
A couple of minutes pass by before I finally am able to summon the courage to talk to her.
I look up to see her staring down the streets as always, a nostalgic look on her face as she mimics the song that is currently playing. I don’t even know what song it is, and I am not interested in knowing.
I clear my throat which gets her attention back on me, “Lily look, I have a lot of things to say regarding you, your fiancé, and about us too.”
“You know you don’t have to look so serious right? You are getting me scared.”
I manage to give her a small smile, “It is serious actually. It is something I have been meaning to tell you ages ago but never found the perfect moment to. So I apologise in advance because my words are most likely going to hurt, I don’t intend to sugar-coat.”
She doesn’t say a word. She just nods, causing a loose strand of her hair to fall across her face again. I am so tempted to tuck it behind her ear, but I resist the urge.
“I don’t believe in your love with Xavier. From all that I have gathered, I believe you are either forced to get married to him or you have been looking for a means to leave Russia, or your home. I am not entirely against the latter, to be very honest. I don’t like you in this home. It kills your beautiful spirit.”
“Aaron I” I place a finger on her mouth to shush her, I don’t want any interruptions till I am done talking.
“Please let me finish talking.” She only nods at me so I take it as my cue to go on.
“I don’t know much about Xavier. Even though you said both fathers are long lost childhood friends, I still think things are a bit rushed. It’d certainly be better if you get to know him and his family better. There is just something about him and his family that sets me off.”
She is still looking at me but this time with full concentration. She is absorbing every word I am saying with keen attention.
To brace myself for the big reveal, my biggest secret yet. A secret that hiding it from her has been a pleasure but also a beautiful torment, I hold her hand.
I am going to tell her about the feelings I have been harbouring for her for over 10 years.
- Writer
