|| Javier ||
“Aurora!” I called.
I knock on her door but she didn’t answer. I give the door a little push and it open, my eyes scan around the room, but I didn’t find her.
I enter and stand in front of her bed, my hands in my waist as I wonder where she is.
Ok, let me tell you guys what brought me to her room.
I thought about what Max told me, and I realize I kinda love Aurora. So I have made up my mind to ask her out today and tell her how I feel, then we’ll see where it will take us.
“Aurora, are you in here?”
Still no response.
Maybe she’s attending to Ian, I will come back later.
I turn to leave, but something laying on the door of her bed catches my attention. I pick it up and realize it’s a piece of paper.
I intended to keep it back, but a word caught my eye. “Ian’s mansion”
I open the paper and read each word with my eyes widened in shock.
*I have always known you are alive
But I thought you lost your memory as you change your name
I must say you are smart and bold enough to come into the General’s mansion with a fake identity
I won’t take any action for now but I’d advise you stop looking for me and carry on with your life*
What?!
Did this note land here by mistake?
No,,,, that’s not right, it seems like Aurora has seen it.
But if this note was written to her, what could be her motive,,, why would she risk her life coming into the General’s mansion with a fake identity?
I fold the paper and tuck it in my pants pocket,,, I can’t let anyone see if for now,,, at least until I talk to Aurora about it.
*
I’m almost close to my room, when Dylan, my assistant, rush towards me.
“Sir, your mother is back”
“Where is she?”
“In the dinning room,,, seems like she’s about to have breakfast”
I sigh.
“Ok, let’s go there!”
*
“Mom!” I called my Mom.
She raises her head and sees me, she quickly got off her chair and rush to embrace me.
“Ou, my baby boy! You’ve grown up so quickly!”
I roll my eyes and break free from her death grip.
“Mom, I’m no longer a baby, I’m a full grown man”
She pulls me down by my ear.
“Ow! Ow!” I wince.
“No matter how tall and huge you are, you are still my baby, am I clear?”
“Yes, ma’am,,,, c-can you Please let go of my ear now?”
She smiles and releases my ear.
“Come on” she leads me to a seat and sat me down.
She stares at me for a few minutes, her smile grows with each passing second.
“How is the world? I believe you’ve done enough traveling and you have decided to stay for good this time”
She shakes her.
“The world is fine,,,, but I’m not done travelling yet,,, there are so many beautiful things that I want to see”
“Why? We miss you,,, don’t you miss us?”
I wish.
“I miss you guys, way more than you miss me”
“Then stay!”
“I can’t honey” she looked around. “This place has too many bad memories for me, I don’t think I can stand it”
“Mom,,,,, ”
“I still feel guilty, Javier. I feel like everything that happened back then is my fault” she said in a broken voice.
I feel her pain,,, watching your best friend die in front of you without doing anything to help is traumatizing!
“Phoebe’s parents wouldn’t have died had I arrived early,,, I know your brother still blame me for it, he’s still holding a grudge.
But what he doesn’t understand is, I didn’t lose only my friend that day,,, I lost my husband too!” She dabs her eyes with her handkerchief.
I feel sorry for her.
“Mom, let’s not talk about that now,,, today that you are here with us, let’s enjoy a quiet breakfast” I suggest, I hate talking about sad events.
She laughs briefly.
“You are right. But let’s wait for your brother”
“Oh? Have you seen him?”
“Yeah,, he’ll be here soon with his girlfriend”
I frown.
“Girlfriend?!” I asked just to be sure my ear caught the right word.
“Yes”
I burst into fits of laughter.
“Mom, that joke is really funny!”
But my laughter died down when I notice she isn’t laughing along.
“You are serious?”
She nods.
“Yes, they will be here soon”
“Ian? Girlfriend? Ok, I really need to see this,,,, it sounds so unbelievable”
*
*
|| Aurora ||
I twirl in front of my mirror and smile in satisfaction.
To play the part, I must be the part. I make sure I’m not overdressed, but what I have on is decent.
“It’s show time!” I wink at the other me inside the mirror.
Right on cue, I heard a knock on my door. I rush to the door and flung it open, a perfect smile on my face.
I close my eyes and flip my hair.
“General, how do I look?!” I asked.
But the General didn’t reply me, so I open my eyes and,,,,,,,,,, oh my God!
I’m speechless!
Am I dreaming or is there really a demigod standing in front of me?
He has the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks, his tousled jet black hair is thick and lustrous.
His eyes are a mesmerising shades of grey, accompanied with his dark eyebrows which sloped downwards in a serious expression.
He has prominent cheekbones and a well-defined chin and nose. His perfect pale lips ripe for kissing, in fact I can already hear them calling my name.
He wore a black t-shirt, his muscles ripped across every part of his body.
He is obviously a seasoned warrior!
A finger snapped in my face and I jerked out of my daze, I blinked rapidly.
“W-who are you?!” I asked.
He didn’t say anything, he’s just staring at me, a frown on his perfect face.
“Ah,,,, are you looking for someone?”
His frown deepens.
Why does his expression reminds me of someone,,,,, the General.
I laughed briefly at the thought,,,, why did I even compare the General’s hideous face with this fine piece of art.
“Ok, I know you are beautiful,,, no handsome and smoking hot,,,”
Wait why did I say that, I mentally slapped myself.
“But this is a lady’s room, so if you don’t mind,,,,, stepping aside”
I shut my door and made to walk away but he holds my right arm.
I frown.
“What are you doing?!”
Just then, I see Brandon rushing towards us.
“General, your mother is getting angry” he reports.
I point my finger at the man holding me,,,, maybe I heard wrong.
“W-what did you just call him?” I asked to be sure.
“General!” Brandon replies.
“H-he is the General?!”
“Yes!”
My mouth hang up and I step away from him.
He’s nothing like I imagine,,, his face is not hideous at all, and he look so young.
Why do I find it hard to believe that he’s the General?
“I don’t believe you,,, this is not Ian, go and call Ian for me”
“Why? Did I disappoint you with my appearance?” He speaks.
Ok, now I believe he’s really the General.
I’m shocked,,, how can someone be this handsome,, I must say Javier is no where near his brother in terms of handsomeness.
“Are you ready? Let’s go!”
I scoffs.
“That is no way to talk to your girlfriend!” I told him.
“I’ll talk to you anyhow I like”
“Humph! As if I care, you are the one putting on a show for your mother!”
“Talk to me in that tone again and you will regret it!”
I tiptoe and pinch his cheeks.
“You are a handsome, young man, stop being so uptight,,,, stop behaving like an old man”
He pushes my hands away.
“Don’t touch my face! Let’s go!”
“Whatever!” I take his hand and place it on the small of my back.
“What are you doing?!”
“This will help convince your mom, let’s go”
“No!”
He removes his hand from my back and interwine his fingers with mine.
“Let’s go!” He said.
We walk through the hallway, when we are almost there, I take a peek at him.
He’s so stiff and too serious.
“Smile!” I told him.
He glares at me but manage to put on a forced smile,,,,, more like a grimace though.
*
*
|| Javier ||
“So, Javier, is there any woman in your life?” Mom asked me.
I smile at her question,,, my mind goes back to Aurora.
“Yes, Mom” I nod.
“Who is she? tell me,,, is she a model? You know I love models”
I laughed briefly.
“She is not a model, she’s a doctor”
“Do I know her? What’s her name?”
“I don’t think you know her and her name is Au,,,,,”
“Mom!” Ian’s voice cuts me off.
My head snap to his direction and the smile on my face falters.
Why did Ian take off his mask?
Why is he holding Aurora’s hand?
I stand up.
“Bro, why are you holding Aurora’s hand?” I asked in a calm voice.
He pulls her even closer.
“Because she is my girlfriend, of course I’d hold her”
Is Aurora the girlfriend mom was talking about?
I turn to Mom.
“That’s his girlfriend!” Mom said.
I feel a pain in my chest, the room suddenly became too small and I can hardly breathe.
Deja vu! It feels like deja vu!
It’s happening all over again,,, first it was phoebe, now it’s Aurora.
Phoebe choosed him, and now Aurora is still choosing him?
“Mom, bro, you guys should carry on, I suddenly feel sick”
“Oh no! What’s wrong Javier?” Mom asked.
“I’m fine, Mom, I just need some fresh air. I’ll go for a walk”
I walk out before any of them can say anything.