“She knows…” She raised her head slowly and smiled widely.
“She knows how much you love her,” she nods her head and then burst into laughter.
“Damn…” Aiden shook his head.
Meanwhile…
Fifteen minutes ago, the guardians’ gathering place.
Tiger spirit, in her human form, sat on the table, whistling, and checking on her fingers.
“Tiger spirit,” Chephirah and Benroy appeared together.
“Oh, you came,” she looked up with a smile.
“Why did you want to see us? The two of us at that?” Benroy queried.
“Wait, are we really on bad terms because of that girl and Akilang?” she frowned as she got down from the table gently.
“You hate her. You want to kîll her,” Chephirah pointed her finger accusingly at the tiger spirit.
“Come on, something bigger could happen soon,” she chuckled.
“What?” Benroy and Chephirah chorused.
“I see you guys can’t still predict Akilang’s move. Well, it’s understandable, you were part of the Guardians that tamed him,” she nodded her head, strolling towards them.
“Will you get to the point already?” Chephirah pressed her lips together.
“How about you see for yourselves?” Tiger spirit shrugged her shoulder and then pointed her hands at the space where they can watch what is happening in the human realm.
The space above them showed the conversation Tiffany was having with the senator.
“So? This was bound to happen, she’s finally meeting her father,” Chephirah shrugs her shoulder.
“Tsk…” Tiger spirit made a sound with her teeth and scratched her forehead.
“You guys are so slow-witted. Look, with the type of person that girl is, does she seem like the person to accept that man so easily? Does it ever occur to you why Akilang has not made any sound in her?” She asked and they only blinked their eyes.
“That is because he is waiting for that perfect time to strike! I can’t believe you guys,” she shook her head.
“Cut the crap, it doesn’t suit you.”
They all turned to look at the space again, “Look at her eyes, does she still seem like your Tiffany?” Tiger spirit tilted her head.
“What do we do?” Chephirah asked, not tearing her eyes off the space.
“If actions are not taken, I swear, that girl could wipe out everyone there and…”
“What do we do?!” Chephirah snapped.
“I don’t know, it’s up to you to stop her. I’ve done my best by informing you. Huh, I can’t believe how much you guys slacked off.”
“Hold on,” Benroy said to Tiger spirit who had already turned her back against them.
“Help us. Help us stop that girl. Help us stop Akilang. You know better that the only guardian Akilang fears are you and Harengon. Please, help us,” Benroy pleaded.
“You ask for too much, don’t you?” Tiger spirit scoffed.
“Tiger spirit. I know how much you want to ruin Tiffany but…”
“Don’t you dare interfere unless you fûcking know about this before. Right now, I wish to strangle everyone here to deãth!”
“Arrgh!” Tiger spirit screamed. “She should have never said that!”
“Please, stop Akilang!” Chephirah rushed closer to the tiger spirit.
“I don’t want to interfere,” the latter shook her head.
“Plea…”
“Aish!” She pulled away from Chephirah, hit her left foot on the ground in anger, and then vanished.
“Let’s go?” Benroy tapped Chephirah and then vanished.
==
Senator’s residence.
“She knows how much you love her,” she nods her head and then burst into laughter.
Tiger spirit appeared right behind Aiden and locked eyes with Tiffany’s.
“Must you always cause trouble, Akilang?” Tiger spirit sighed.
Aiden frowned his face as he watched the laughter on Tiffany’s face fade, he turned to look at what she was looking at but saw nothing.
“You…” Tiffany stuttered.
“I know…” Tiger spirit clapped her hands together and moved away from Aiden, strolling towards Tiffany slowly.
“I don’t like the sight of you also,” she stopped beside Tiffany and placed her hand on her shoulder.
While all of this was happening, the senator and his kids stood still, wondering what was going on with Tiffany and Aiden.
“Babe?” Aiden creased his brow.
“Tsk, everyone is getting worried,” Tiger spirit looked around, and rubbed her palm together, watching the frightening look on Tiffany’s face.
She stopped rubbing her hands together and then blew out the golden flame in Tiffany’s direction which made the lady close her eyes and then fall slowly to the ground which Aiden was quick to catch her.
“Anny!” Aiden screamed as he bent down slowly, holding her tightly.
“What’s wrong?!” Senator Han rushed over and knelt beside them.
*
“Shouldn’t we take her to the hospital?” Senator Han asked for the umpteenth time as he watched Tiffany sleeping on the couch while Aiden held her hand tightly.
“Dad, there’s no need for that,” Aiden inhaled.
“B… But… Why did she faint if she doesn’t need to go to the hospital?”
“Dad, I understand that you’re worried about her, but I think you should give her some time to tell you some things that you need to know about it. Tiffany might not show it, but she’s a very good person, and to even think of what she is going through at the moment ache my heart,” Aiden said and everyone watched in silence.
“She’s going through some stuff which I dare not talk about unless she does. She’s really trying hard to fit in. She might be cold, fierce, name it, but trust me, that’s her only way of showing how hurt she is. She doesn’t like people seeing her in her vulnerable state so she prefers to stay rude and cold all the time. I know this because I witnessed it all before we became close. I hope you will not give up on her. She’s going through so much to have her father give up. Declan, you can actually do better,” Aiden finished talking, tore his eyes off them, and turned to look at Tiffany.
“Goodness,” Senator Han wiped off his tears with the back of his hand.
“Thank you, Aiden, thank you so much for standing by her and understanding her. Thank you…” Senator Han sniffed and Aiden only nodded his head.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” Aiden nods his head and then turn to look back at the Senator.
“Does she have any friends? She looks lonely for some reason.”
“Yes, she does. She have me and Zoey,” Aiden smiled.
While everyone was watching her, Tiffany had a dream…
DREAM…
Tiffany looked around the mountain she was in fear. She had no idea how she got there, and to think that she was the only person on the mountain terrified her.
The huge tree in front of her seems so soothing and intimidating for some reason.
She was still thinking when she heard the sound of leaves rustling and wood breaking, it seemed like something or someone was approaching.
Was it a wild animal?
“Hi, there,” appeared a beautiful lady who looked like she was in her early twenties.
Tiffany vowed within her that the lady approaching was the prettiest lady she had ever seen.
Her while, flowing gown looked so good on her not to talk of the ornaments that were used to design her hair.
But, why does she look familiar?
“I didn’t know you have the side of appreciating things in you,” she smiled as she stopped in front of her.
“Who… Who are…?”
“I am Medusa, the tiger spirit,” she interrupted.
“Tiger…? It is you?!” Tiffany widened her eyes as she remembered the tiger that has been bothering her for a while.
“It’s not you I’ve been bothering, it’s the demon in you. By the way, don’t you find this tree annoyingly soothing?” She grinned as she points at the tree before them.
“Huh,” Tiffany nodded her head.
“It is where Akilang used to dwell, also the place he was trapped before he was released,” she answered.
“Did you bring me here?” Tiffany asked after a few seconds of staring at the tree.
“Yes.”
“See, I’m not the type to give hints, but I’ll do that since Chephirah and Benroy seems quite fond of you. Very soon, Akilang will get unleashed and you won’t be able to stop it. I only managed to stop it because it hasn’t been unleashed finally. Listen, keep your pride or whatever and go to see your boyfriend’s father. That will help you, trust me. You know this saying, know your enemies and you’ll win all battles. You know it, right?”
“Why should I visit Aiden’s father?” Tiffany raised a brow.
“Because it will be very fun when you guys meet,” she smiled mischievously.
“What?”
“Just meet him, hear everything from him, and then learn how to control Akilang when he is finally unleashed. If you kîll any human when Akilang gets released, I will come to take your life,” she said, her smile had turned cold.
“And forgive your father already!” She snapped and then turned to leave.
Tiffany watched the tiger spirit, Medusa walked away stylishly and she swallowed deeply.
She will take her life?
Gosh, that woman is scary even when she smiles.
==
Aiden watched Tiffany shot her eyes open and scrutinized her environment.
“Babe?” He called out.
“Where am I?” Tiffany mumbled as she sat up.
“Oh,” she nods her head as her eyes met with the worried faces of Senator Han, Declan, and Marlie.
“You suddenly passed out, are you okay?” Senator Han asked, picking on his nails nervously.
Tiffany closed her eyes as she remembered what happened earlier, including the dream that she had.
“And forgive your father already!”
Medusa’s voice rang in her ear.
“What is the time?” She tore her eyes off the man who looked so pitiful and then glanced at Aiden.
“Five minutes past six,” Marlie answered hurriedly.
“What?!” Tiffany screamed and snatched her hand off Aiden’s.
“Why didn’t you wake me?! My boss will be so mad!” She stood from the couch and looked around for her bag.
“Hold on, you should rest for a while before leaving, you should consider this your break,” Aiden grabbed her hurriedly.
“I can’t have break just because I want to, I should have informed her, you know that!” Tiffany snapped, pulled away from him, and then rushed towards her bag.
“Dad, we’ll get going,” Aiden smiled awkwardly.
“Y… Yeah, sure,” he stuttered.
Tiffany turned to leave and then halted after she had taken a few steps. She turned around to face her father and then moved closer to him slowly.
“I have not forgiven you, not even a bit, but… Take care of yourself, and let’s meet again,” she took her lower lips in hers, took a step back, and then turned to leave.
“Get home safely,” Senator Han smiled and walked them to the door.
*
“You heard her, right? She said she was going to meet me again. You heard, right?” Senator Han rushed towards the kids.
“Yes, I heard. I’m so glad,” Marlie hugged her dad.
“Same here,” Senator Han grinned and then pulled away.
“Did she hit her head on the ground? At first, she seemed like she going to put the house on hire with her anger, but the moment she fainted and woke up, she became calm,” Declan frowned.
“Hey, you were… Awfully rude!” Marlie yelled.
“How was I rude? You saw how she reacted first. She was rude to dad!” Declan retorted.
“I didn’t complain, punk! Were you expecting her to accept me so soon? I was actually expecting this kind of reaction from her, though, it went quite far than my imagination,” he chuckled softly.
“I know, but I’m glad nevertheless,” Marlie smiled.
“But, what job does she do?”
“Didn’t I tell you? She works as a part-timer at a sandwich bar,” Marlie answered and then watched her father’s countenance fall.
“Dad, don’t worry too much. She needed to do the odd job to survive. Now that she has you, let’s make her the happiest person ever. Let’s treat her to all the good things. What do you think?” She giggled as she locked her hand with her dad’s.
“Sounds perfect.”
“I’ll get going,” Declan mumbled.
“Will you not wait for dinner?” his dad asked.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Bro,” Marlie called out.
“What?”
“Apologize to Tiffany, please. Try to put yourself in her shoe. How would you feel if you get caught in her situation?” Marlie twitched her mouth.
“Whatever,” Declan rolled his eyes and then walked.
“I don’t know what to do about him,” Senator Han shook his head and they both laughed.
“By the way dad, who is older?” Marlie asked as they both walked towards the sofa.
“She’s older by five-month,” Senator Han smiled and caress her hair.
“She will be eighteen in a few days,” he added.
“Really?!” Marlie widened her eyes.
“Yes. She shares the same birthday with Aiden,” he said almost in a whisper.
“Really?!” Marlie screamed and they both laughed again.
The girl looks happier than him.
==
Tiffany and Aiden sat at the space where Aiden took her to when she was down, both watching the stars and moon that shone brightly in the sky, munching on sandwich.
When they arrived at the sandwich bar earlier, Amelia had told her to leave and she understood if she didn’t make it. She even gave them sandwich and coffee to go.
“What happened today…” Tiffany swallowed hard.
“I’m sorry,” she nodded her head.
“Huh, why?” Aiden chuckled.
“I lost my temper, yelled at the Senator, and almost got discovered,” she sulked.
“Hmm,” Aiden sighed.
“I couldn’t help it,” she pouted.
“It’s fine. You can only yell at him because he is your dad,” he nudged her gently and Tiffany shook her head.
“Aiden…”
“I know, I know it is hard for you to acknowledge him. But, don’t make this hard on yourself also. Trust me, I’ve never seen Senator Han so nervous, anxious, and apologetic. He must be feeling so sorry,” Aiden smiled.
“Tsk,” Tiffany made a sound with her teeth.
“Baby, think about it and come to a conclusion. I will not force you to accept him, but I’ll keep imploring you to. You’re my lady and I only seek your happiness.”
“He wasn’t there when I was growing up. It was very hard growing up without him… Or a mother. I wanted to have parents like every other kid. I wished to rush home, knowing that I’ll be meeting my parents. It was so hard growing up. It really was. You have no idea how pained I was to see him living so fine after dumping me. But do you know, I would have been more pissed to see that he was not doing well. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know… ” Tiffany said, tears rolling down her cheek.
“I understand how you’re feeling,” Aiden moved closer and pulled her in a hug.
“Aiden,” Tiffany pulled away and looked into his eyes.
“Yeah?”
“I want to meet your dad.”
“My dad?” Aiden blinked his eyes.
“Yes. I want to get to the root of everything. And I’ll start from your dad,” Tiffany nodded her head.
“Sure. Let’s meet my dad.”
*
TBC…