“So this is like where you guys hang out?” she asked him while looking around the small green-filled garden he brought her to and also taking a bite from the apple she grabbed from the basket.
He looked at her with a small frown etched on his face as she ate some part of the apple then put the rest on a plate when she was done eating it at different sides.
Her brown eyes met with his hazel ones and she widened hers as she was not expecting him to be watching her even though he does that knowingly and unknowingly to her.
They returned back to their normal size and she looked away from him when she felt her cheeks go warm then focused her gaze on the small water fountain that was in front of them.
When they entered inside, they were greeted with the beautiful sight of the water fountain that had some decorations on the brick sides and to the right was a passageway leading somewhere and by the left was a small house thing which she was yet to ask him about since all they talked about for the past minutes were things about themselves.
Plays they went to while growing up, things they did and got in trouble for, and many other things… more like they were getting to know each other and it warms her heart by how curious he was to know certain things about her and she too was curious to know about him too.
She didn’t want to look at him like how the media described him or how some people did describe him… that was one of the reasons she decided to follow through with this marriage… to know who truly he was and what is it that is hidden in there that that media was unable to unravel.
Sofia might be right and she would just have to find out what that is.
This should be the first step to their ‘friendship’ and really hope it stays this way and grows one day to be something more and better for them both.
There wasn’t too much in this ‘Small Paradise’ as she would like to call it and it feels really comfy and there is this kind of peace that she could feel by just staying in here for some minutes.
Now she could understand what he meant when he said he and his brother come here for the peace and quiet.
Be away from the world and all the complications it brings and especially when it is with someone that brings you peace and keeps you sane… every time.
Brings you peace and keeps you sane… brings you peace and keeps you sane…
Those words played in her mind countless times and there was a little etch on her forehead as she looked at him playing with his finger with the same frown he had minutes ago on his face like he was lost in his thoughts.
Did she bring him peace? Was that why he brought her here? This must be a very special place for him and his brother and… for him to bring her here… does it mean… that… does it mean that… she’s special?
Does it mean that? What does it mean? Did she keep him sane? Did she bring him peace? Is she special to him?
These thoughts rounded her mind continuously and she was this close to asking him what it was all about… but did she need a name now or does she wa–
“What happened?” he interrupted her thoughts and she gave him a puzzled look as she drifted out of her thought bubble back to reality and to what he just asked her.
“Huh?” she asked.
“Are you okay?” he asked watching the confused look slowly fade away from her face.
“Uh… yeah, I am fine” she answered with a smile then looked away from him.
That effect again…
“You didn’t finish your apple,” he said to her and she looked down at the apple she abandoned because she couldn’t eat anymore.
“I thought the green apples would be better than the red ones,” she told him and he nod his head then looked at her briefly before looking away too.
“Yes…” he began.
She looked up at him and frowned at what he said. Just as she was about asking what he meant by ‘yes’ he continued.
“This is where I and my brother do hang out” and it registered.
He was answering her earlier question so she nod her head then his eyes looked back at her and met hers.
She offered him a smile which he reciprocated.
“Cool huh?” he asked and she nod her head in agreement then he grinned “Come here” he held his hand out to her.
She stood up from where she was sitting and walked over to sit beside him on the small couch that was close to the passageway.
He draped his arm over her shoulder and brought her closer before half laying on the armrest of the couch so that she too was half laying on his chest with her palm flattened on his chest and his arm still around her frame.
“Okay?” he asked and she responded with a ‘Hmm’.
They stayed like that for a good twenty minutes in quiet, with just an amble sound of some birds chirping from a distance, his fingers caressed her shoulder to her arm then back to her shoulder as he tries to keep his breathing even.
There was no explanation as to why he brought her to this place in the first place or why he wanted her this close and so he could take in her beautiful scent that he had grown accustomed to over the past months that they have been married and to also feel her smooth skin as he brushes his fingers over them.
There was no doubt that she made him feel things and he was scared of what she made him feel, to be honest. No one aside from his parents who he never brought here knows about this place, not even when he was head over heels with Daniella.
He knew how madly in love he was with Daniella but there were still some things he just couldn’t let out to her and thought of when he was ready to say it he would.
Here is Audriana who he sometimes loves to annoy and irritate and just throw in a few insults here and there just so that he can keep denying that he is indeed interested in her or wanting more than this ‘friendship’ he started with her. He brought her here and is willing to tell her things about him, things he just likes to keep silent about.
He never brought Daniella here or told her that much about him, his deep relationship with his brother, and how he was saved countless times by him even though he stupidly gets himself into trouble and many other things.
He has been the rebellious one out of the both of them and was surprised their parents didn’t take rash actions to tame him but left it to Cade since they trusted him and knew he would do the best for his baby brother.
A smile slowly made itself known on his lips as he remembered all their escapades, memories they shared together as siblings, and how close they were before Cade decided to leave and become more distant with them all.
It broke him to see the one he looks up to go without a valid reason or explanation aside from ‘I will be back soon, I just need some time to myself so I can explore other sides of life too’.
He never came back because he is already on the other side of life.
Then Daniella and Pricilla happened… and it all went down the drain and he couldn’t bring himself to handle them all and resulted to misbehave and did somethings he wished he never did but… all of that is in the past and he is looking at the future right this moment and she isn’t even aware.
The future. His future…
He wasn’t going to deny that she does have a way of bringing peace and quiet to his life that was why he would try to be home early so he could sneak a peek at her without allowing her to see him and so she thinks that he was avoiding her.
Coming home from a hectic day at work he would wish she was home in time and would sometimes wonder what she was doing or if she had eaten or if she was tired and honestly want to be nice to her and all but just avoiding all the things he was feeling when around her and when she smiled… it makes him crazy and he would want nothing else than just to be around her.
What he thinks he feels for her scares him and he doesn’t want a repetition of his last relationship. He didn’t want that heartbreak. Daniella was his first love and first girlfriend and she did something that horrible to him so he didn’t want anyone coming into his heart and trashing it as she did.
Loveth is different.
He was aware of that and would ask himself over and over again why he would be nasty towards her and just say something that would irk her or get her worked up and even what happened the last time he said harmful words to her.
How he felt when she was missing and… that was enough to let him know he really cares for her and was probably feeling something else for her… not in a friendship kind of way but something more than that.
… “You like her” …
He could hear Aiden’s voice interrupt his train of thoughts and instead of shaking the thought of him liking her like he use to do, he relaxes and thought about it instead.
He might like her… no doubt. As a person, she is really likable and not just because of her physical appearance but how kind-hearted she is, her genuineness, her sharp mouth he wouldn’t want to admit that he loves, her innocence and everything about her makes him happy.
What happened with his first love was a disaster but it could be different with her if he actually let it happen.
‘She is different’ he told himself and smiled down at her head.
She is Audriana Loveth Lorenzo, she was way different but he still needs to decipher what is so different about her that makes him want more. keeping her close sure has its effect on him and it is a positive effect.
He could feel his heart get warm at how close they were and was hoping she too felt like what he is feeling now.
He wanted to be open to her, if not as a husband but as a friend telling his friend about his darkest and secret, secret that he trust with no one aside from him/her.
That should be a good start to their friendship, right? Confiding in each other.
There isn’t any going back about it, he wanted to share and he was going to share.
… “It isn’t a dream but a reality that you need to live and enjoy, so let all of it go” …
His brother’s voice sounded so loud in his head and he looked down at her golden hair and how calm she seems.
Maybe she was his reality that he needed to hold on to and he need to let go of the past then accept that it had happened already so he can enjoy and live this second chance he was given to the fullest.
Maybe he would feel some sort of relief or lightness in him when he let go of that and allow his mind not to blame himself again when he decides to move on and be free from that past.
If that was the case maybe he was ready to let it all go.