The rain still pouring down heavily, Aiden increased the pace of the bike as he was reaching a vacant tavern he knew. It was difficult to see clearly in the rain so he pulled the bike to the tavern and halted under the shelter.
“Why did you come here?” Tiffany asked amidst the loud clap of thunder.
“What did you say?!” Aiden shouted as he pulled his bike closer away from the rain.
“Forget it,” Tiffany frowned her face and walked toward the door.
“What is she mumbling about?” Aiden shrug his shoulder and walked towards her.
He walked past her, opened the door, and entered, waving his hand at her, indicating that she should enter.
“Why did we come here, and where is this place?” Tiffany queried as she stepped in, looking around the beautiful room despite what the outside looked like.
“It doesn’t look like it will stop raining anytime soon, and this place? It’s for Declan and me,” Aiden answered, looking around the room smiling radiantly.
“You…?” Tiffany furrowed her brow.
This place belonged to him and Declan?
Hehehe, how rich was he?
“Declan and I have been together for 11 years. We are more like brothers, yeah, bro,” Aiden smiled.
“I didn’t ask you,” Tiffany rolled her eyes and removed the hairband that packed her hair in a ponytail, making her long black hair fall over her shoulder.
“I just…” Aiden opened their mouth agape as he turned to look at the lady beside her.
“You…” He began.
“What? Have you never seen a girl with her hair down?” Tiffany rolled her eyes as she ran her hand down her hair, making water drip from it.
“You look so beautiful with your hair down. Flawless and…”
“Hey! Don’t you dare use pick-up lines on me,” Tiffany pointed her index finger at him which made him laugh at the expression she had on her face.
“Yes, ma’am,” Aiden bowed slightly, turned towards the bathroom, and began to unbutton his shirt.
“Mm-mh!” Tiffany choked on nothing as she saw Aiden remove the shirt, revealing his naked back as he turned the knob of one of the three doors in the living room and entered it.
“Shameless!” she scoffed then resumed clearing the water from her hair with her hand.
Her eyes caught the portrait that was hung carefully on the wall and walk slowly towards it, removing her hand away from her hair.
She glanced at the image of the younger Aiden and Declan where the two guys smiled heartily. Aiden was wearing a gym shorts and a T-shirt, on his hand was a paddle while his other hand curled around Declan’s neck.
On the other hand, Declan wore a swimming trunk, on his hand were glasses recommended for swimming, his other hand was wrapped tightly around Aiden’s neck.
Even though it was a picture, Tiffany could feel the love and companionship the two guys shared.
She glanced at the pictures that were arranged on the tables before her. Every single picture only had Aiden and Declan.
Where was Xyler?
She wondered.
However, she could not tear her eyes off the picture of when they were both very young.
Tiffany knew she had met one of the boys in the portrait.
Or, maybe she had never met him.
But still, she felt quite troubled as she gaze at the guy who didn’t even smile at all in the picture.
She hurriedly pull away as she heard the creaking sound of the door which indicated that Aiden was coming out of the room he had entered.
“Were you looking at our pictures?” Tiffany stared at Aiden who had changed into another cloth.
“Uhm, yeah,” Tiffany nodded her head.
“That’s Declan and me,” Aiden stood beside her as he watched the portrait with a smiling face.
Tiffany stared unconsciously at his face and smiled softly as she looked at it.
How could he look so flawless and spotless?
”We took this picture five years ago when Declan came first in the swimming competition and I came first in the racket competition,” Aiden smiled and Tiffany hurriedly look away before he caught her.
“I see you guys have been together for long,” Tiffany nodded her head awkwardly.
“Yes, we’ve been together for 10 years,” Aiden answered as he gaze at her face.
“How about the third guy, I don’t see him in any of the pictures here,” Tiffany scrutinize the pictures.
“Xyler? Don’t even get me started. He joined us three years ago,” Aiden answered in disgust.
“What’s wrong? You look…”
“We are not on good terms, that’s all. Go to the bathroom and freshen up, I have a cloth prepared for you,” Aiden said and looked outside the window.
It doesn’t seem like it was going to stop raining soon.
Well, it’s not like he wants the rain to stop.
Hehe, thanks to the rain, he was spending time with his dream woman.
“But I…”
“It’s my cloth, no worries. Go freshen up else you will catch a cold and I don’t want that,” Aiden pouted and Tiffany creased her brow.
“And why is he nagging me? Is he the boyfriend I didn’t know I had?” Tiffany whispered under her breath but almost audible to Aiden.
“Well, I could be the boyfriend you want, if you…”
“Fûck óff,” Tiffany rolled her eyes and turned away.
Boyfriend?
Oh, please.
~
After a while…
Aiden stared at Tiffany who walked out of the room in the baggy trouser and round neck which suited her body.
Looking at her now, Aiden realized that this girl was Tall, though he was taller.
“You didn’t dry your hair. Your cloth is going to get wet from the water dripping from your hair,” Aiden stood up and walked towards her.
“T… There is nothing I could use,” Tiffany answered as she pulled her hair together and squeezed the water from it.
“Of course, there is something you could use,” Aiden nodded his head and walked past her.
After a few seconds, Aiden walked out of the bathroom with a blue towel and gestured to her to sit on the couch which she did reluctantly.
“What are you trying to do?!” she widened her eyes in anger as she slapped Aiden’s hand that was almost reaching her hair away.
“I… I wanted to help you dry your hair,” Aiden creased his brow in shock.
“I did not send you to do that,” she frowned hard and snatched the towel from him.
“You are a big deal,” Aiden chuckled and then sat gently beside her which made her turn in his direction gently.
“I… Can’t I sit here also?” Aiden pressed his lips together and shook his head, staring directly at her.
“I never said so,” Tiffany tore her gaze away from him.
“Your look says otherwise, though,” Aiden shrugs his shoulder.
“Which school did you attend before you join Western high?” after two minutes of silence, Aiden started casually.
“Why?” Tiffany glanced at him as she removed the towel she had used to wrap her hair.
“It’s fine if you did not want to answer. I just wanted to…”
“I didn’t attend any school,” Tiffany interrupted him.
“M… may I ask why?” Aiden pressed his lips together.
“No. You and I are not close so don’t expect to know these things about me,” Tiffany answered as she looked away.
“Then let’s be close,” Aiden smiled.
“Fûck away,” Tiffany groaned then stood up.
“I think the rain is stopping,” she said, looking outside the window.
“I don’t think so,” Aiden shook his head.
Tiffany turned to look at him and shook her head, “tsk, you are so pathetic,” then she walks to the bathroom to return the towel.
~~
After many minutes had passed, and the rain had stopped falling, Tiffany grabbed her bag and walked towards the door.
“Thanks for the ride and the cloth,” she smiled reluctantly at Aiden who stood from the couch.
“I’ll drop you,” Aiden offered.
“Let’s not start with this,” Tiffany shook her head, turn the knob of the door, and walked out.
“How come she never listen!” Aiden frowned his face, grabbed the keys of his bike, and dashed after her.
“Tiffany!” he grabbed her wrist.
“Let me drop you. It just finished raining and it will be hard to get a cab or bus,” Aiden said with concern, his hand not leaving her wrist.
“Do you always poke your nose in everybody’s business?” Tiffany shook her head and snatched her hand from him.
“And are you always this strong-headed?” Aiden retorted.
“I mean, why are you getting mad over my matter?” Tiffany creased his brow.
“Call it anything, I don’t care. Let me drop you at your destination,” Aiden said.
“I’m not going home, I have to be somewhere else. Do you get it?” Tiffany hit her foot on the ground.
“I’ll drop you wherever you are going,” Aiden answered.
“Ah… God!” Tiffany exclaimed with a frowned face.
“Well, I don’t give up easily,” Aiden smiled.
“I don’t care, so, thanks but no thanks. I can manage on my own,” Tiffany bowed sarcastically.
“Aish!” Aiden ran his hand through his hair, took a step forward and grab her hand then pull her towards him.
“Wha…” Tiffany widened her eyes as their body met together, leaving a little space between their faces.
Oh God, why does her heart decide to play that kind of beat at the moment?
“Looking at you from up close, I bet there is no beauty that matches with yours,” Aiden whispered to her face as he placed his hand slowly on her face and then began to trail her face with his fingertip.
TBC…