Western high school.
As soon as Aiden entered the school premises after the morning gathering was over, he rushed up to Tiffany’s classes where he met Declan and Zoey down the hallway that led to her class.
“Bro,” Declan smiled and shook hands with Aiden.
“Zoey, did Tiffany not come to school?” he looked around.
“I was going to ask you. Her number is not going through either,” Zoey sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Declan asked.
“I thought she was going to be in school today, her number is not going through,” he scratched the middle of his brow.
“You guys are still keeping me in the dark,” Zoey mumbled.
“I know about her already, everything that you guys have been hiding,” Declan leaned closer to her with a pouted mouth.
“How? Did she tell you? Aiden, did you tell Declan?” Zoey frowned.
“Her eyes changed in front of everyone, his dad, sister, and my parents,” Aiden exhaled as he dialed Tiffany’s number again.
“Goodness!” Zoey exclaimed and covered her mouth with her palm.
“Then, she told everyone everything about her,” Declan added.
“Do you hàte her because of that? Come to think of it, you guys are not on the same terms, seeing this could only grow your hatred for her,” Zoey said.
“She’s my sister, so I do not hàte her. In fact, I’ve never hated her, I was only angered because she was the only one who wasn’t scared of me. I guess it’s in the blood,” he chuckled.
“Woah, you’re absolutely the last person I expect to accept her,” Zoey shook her head sarcastically.
“I wasn’t going to accept her, but to think of what she’s gonna going through doesn’t sit well with me. She needs so many people in her life at the moment and I decided to be amongst those people,” Declan swept his hair back stylishly.
“I’m so proud of you, baby,” Zoey patted his butt gently and they both laughed.
“Anny?” Aiden widened his eyes as soon as the lady picked up the call.
“Really?” Zoey widened her eyes.
“Babe, what’s wrong with you? Why did you switch your phone off?” Aiden asked.
“It’s probably the network, my phone has been switched on since last night,” she could.
“Are you okay? Why is your voice so low?”
“I’m fine,” Tiffany answered.
“Did you cry?”
“No.”
“Babe, are you okay? You’re not in school also, is your eyes still red?” He asked.
“It returned to normal already, but my eyes are quite swollen so I’m staying indoors today,” she coughed.
“You cried. I’ll come over when I’m done in school, okay?”
“No, don’t come, please. I won’t see anyone today,” she protested.
“Babe,” Aiden sighed.
“Please. I’m still trying to gather my thoughts, okay?”
“Have you eaten?” Aiden asked instead.
“I’ll go out to grab a snack,” she answered.
“Anny…”
“Aiden, I’m fine, okay? I’m hanging up,” she said and then ended the call.
“What’s wrong?” Zoey asked as she watched Aiden’s countenance fall.
“She’s not going to see anyone today,” he answered.
“Why?” Declan creased his brows.
“I don’t know,” Aiden shook his head and then walk away from the couple.
“I’m so worried about her,” Zoey pouted.
“I know, she will be fine,” Declan caresses her hair.
“It’s her birthday tomorrow,” Zoey added.
“Yes, and the school trip is next week,” Declan added to light the lady’s mood.
“I’m so looking forward to it. We’re going to Poconos, I heard it’s a great place,” Zoey smiled.
“Yes, I looked it up before I voted for it,” Declan smiled.
“Huh, I wish Tiffany will be okay by then. I want to have fun with her,” Zoey inhaled.
“She will be.”
“There’s our teacher, I’m a dead meat if he begins lecture without me,” Zoey pulled away from Declan as she sighted the teacher heading towards her class and then dashed after him.
“Silly,” Declan smiled as he watched her.
“But… Is her skirt not too short?” He scratched his forehead with a frown.
=
After school hours.
Aiden drove his bike straight to the sandwich shop to see if his girlfriend was there but was disappointed when he didn’t meet her there.
Guess she really meant it when she said she’s not going to see anyone throughout the day.
As he returned on his bike to go home, his cell phone rang and he picked it up as soon as he saw the caller ID.
“Hey, dad,” he greeted the senator casually.
“Aiden, how are you? How is my daughter? Declan said she didn’t come to school? Is she fine? Did you call her? What did she say?” Senator Han bombarded him with questions and he chuckled.
“Chill, dad. She’s fine, I called her and she said she was fine. She just wanted to be alone for today,” he answered.
“Why? Is something bothering her?” he asked.
“You could say that. But I’m giving her space till tomorrow morning. I have a plan for tomorrow. Are you in?” The corner of his lips raised.
“Of course! If it is about my baby, I am in!”
“Good. I’ll call you again,” he smiled and waited for the old man to end the call which he did after a few seconds.
=
Aiden furrowed his brows as he saw the car parked neatly in front of his house.
There was no doubt about whom he thought it was.
His mum.
He drove his bike inside the compound, after he had packed it, he got down and walked towards the entrance and then eyed the guard that stood by the entrance.
*
“You’ve closed for almost an hour, why are you just returning?” Martha asked as she heard the loud footsteps her son was giving.
“It’s none of your business, what are you doing here?” he glanced in the direction of the single couch his mother day majestically and walked to the refrigerator.
“Since when do I need permission to come to my son’s house?” Martha snorted.
“Oh, I see,” he rolled his eyes and gulped the water down his throat.
“Aiden, it’s your birthday tomorrow, you know that, right?” Martha started while Aiden walked towards the chair opposite his mother.
“I remember, it’s my girlfriend’s birthday also,” he giggled as he settled on the couch.
“I didn’t ask,” Martha gritted her teeth and spared him a cold glance.
“The party is starting by five in the evening, and is expected to end by Eleven PM, so you should be…”
“I understand… But why are you telling me this?” Aiden raised his brows as he tilted the bottled water in his hand.
“Because it is your birthday! You must arrive there by two PM so that the fashion designer can get your clothes ready before the party begins, okay?”
“I know it is my birthday, but I don’t remember telling you I want a party,” he sucked his lower lips stylishly.
“Aiden, the party is needed! I am announcing you as my heir! Why are you being annoying?!” Martha screamed.
“Chill, mummy, chill. I’d advise you to cut off the party. I’m not attending any party, okay?”
“Because of that girl?” Martha snapped her brows together.
“Well,” he shrugged his shoulder.
“You’re going to miss your own birthday party because of that monster?!”
“Mum!” Aiden retorted.
“What?!”
“Tiffany is not a monster. And if at all I have to blame anyone for what is happening, I’d blame you. I accept dad released the demon and he only did that because he was possessed! It was you who pushed that innocent pregnant woman to her death because you were jealous of her. Tiffany is the monster that you made. She is like this because of you and you have no idea how much I’m trying to keep my anger in. So, watch what you say,” Aiden hissed.
“Seriously?” Martha frowned.
“I’m not coming to the party. If there’s anything you should be doing at the moment, it is making up with what you’ve lost with dad for the past eighteen years.”
“I was going to do that after your party!”
“I’m not coming to the party. I’d be extremely busy tomorrow,” he looked away.
“Aiden, you can’t do this,” Martha shook her head.
“Well, I can,” he shrugged his shoulder off.
“Do you even think I’d let you be with that lady?”
“I do not need your blessings.”
“As long as I live, you two can never be together. I’ll do anything to separate you two, even if I have to hurt that monster!” Martha yelled.
“Mum, this is not a movie. Do you think you can do that? Do you know who her dad is?. Her dad is the New York state senator, you wouldn’t want to hurt your career, right?”
“As far as I am concerned, she is an illegitimate daughter that is a threat to her father’s career,” she smirked stood up, grabbed her bag, and then turned to leave.
“How sure are we that I am not an illegitimate child?” Aiden chuckled, which made Martha halt abruptly.
“How dare you question my morals?” She frowned.
“For as far as I am concerned, you cheated on dad with the CEO of TAESAN PHARMACEUTICAL,” he stood up and turned to face his mother who looked like she had just seen a ghost.
“What…”
“I caught you two. Mum, on the matrimonial bed that you share with my dad. I saw you,” he smiled softly, walked to the stairs, and then ascended them slowly.
“Aiden…?” Martha whispered as she watched the back view of her son.
She had no idea the guy caught her in such a compromising state.
Wait, did he move out of the house because of that?
Fûck!
“Aiden,” She covered her mouth with her palm and fell to the ground slowly.
==
Night.
“It won’t be fun calling her over, let’s go to her instead,” Zoey snatched the bottle of juice from Declan with a yawn.
“Exactly, I don’t think she would even come,” Marlie rolled her eyes.
All of them had gathered at Aiden’s house to talk about how they were going to wish her the following day which was their birthday.
Zoey had collected permission from her parents that she was spending the night at her friend’s which she was going to spend with Declan at Aiden’s.
“We’ve been sitting here for almost two hours and you couldn’t come up with a plan. Tsk… You’re so dumb,” Declan shook his head.
“That’s rich coming from someone who hasn’t contributed at all,” Aiden rolled his eyes.
“Aiden, your birthday party is in the evening after school hours, how are you going to do it with what you’re planning now?” Zoey raised a brow.
“I’m not going there,” he looked away.
“You’re not attending your own birthday party?” Marlie turned to look at him.
“You guys should not question me. Let’s come up with a plan to cheer my baby,” Aiden groaned.
“O sole Mio!” Declan sang loudly in an Italian accent.
“What does that mean?” Zoey glanced at him.
“I don’t know but what Aiden said ignited that word in me,” Declan smiled.
“You’re an idiöt,” Zoey hissed.
“Exactly, how exactly are you coping with him?” Marlie frowned.
“I’m trying my best. It’s not easy, but I won’t give up,” Zoey placed her hand on her chest and the girls laughed.
“Declan, have you ordered the pizza? I’m hungry,” Aiden yawned.
“Oh, pizza. I forgot,” he scratched his forehead and grabbed his phone.
“Fûck!” Marlie screamed.
“What?” Declan frowned.
“Shh!” Aiden snapped as soon as his phone rang and he saw the caller ID.
“Who is that?” Declan raised his brow.
“Xyler.”
“Seriously? Put him on loudspeaker!” He dropped his phone and sat upright.
“Hey?” Aiden groaned as he picked up the call.
“Aiden, it’s Xyler.”
“I know, I didn’t delete your number.”
“Hmm, can we meet now, You and Declan?” he asked, Declan nodded his head and mouthed to Aiden to say yes.
“No, I’m busy right now,” Aiden declined and Declan hissed.
“I understand, it’s your birthday tomorrow. Happy birthday in advance.”
“Okay,” Aiden only said.
“I will tell you about Luna and why I’m doing what I’m doing. I’ll tell you guys everything. Let me know when we can meet, okay?”
“Okay,” Aiden answered.
“Thank you,” Xyler said and then ended the call.
“He will really come clean to us?!” Declan widened his eyes.
“Yes, he will,” Aiden nodded his head.
“I guess he’s finishing opening his eyes. I can’t…” Declan was interrupted by the bell which rang.
“Did the Pizza arrive already?” Marlie sprang up and dashed towards the door.
“Which Pizza? I didn’t order it yet,” Declan looked away as he swept his hair to the back stylishly.
*
Marlie returned with a white carton in her hand, walked to the table, and dropped it there.
“What’s this?” Aiden asked as he watched the lady open the carton.
“It’s from my dad. It’s a cake,” she smiled and revealed the white two steps cake, slightly covered in blue ornaments.
“He said that, we should present it to the birthday girl, and that he wouldn’t be present tomorrow because there’s an official meeting with the president,” she grinned as she stared at the cake.
“Did he come here?” Declan looked around.
There was no way his dad would deliver such a message.
“A man brought it, we’re quite familiar with him, I don’t know his name though,” Marlie answered.
“Mr. Ryan?” Declan asked.
“I don’t know, Declan,” Marlie hissed.
“By the way, when is the Pizza arriving?” Marlie frowned.
“Do I know?” Declan looked away.
“I bet he hasn’t ordered it,” Zoey shook her head.
“I was going to order it before Xyler’s call came in,” he rolled his eyes and grabbed his phone.
“Fûck, Declan, I am hungry!” Marlie screamed.
“O sole Mio!” he sand out loudly.
“So useless,” Aiden shook his head and dropped it on the chair’s headrest.
==
Next morning.
Tiffany heard the retreating footsteps by the corridor that led to her house early in the morning just a few minutes after she had returned to her room after she finished taking her bath but only ignored it.
The neighborhood was not for her only after all.
Soon, she began to hear whispers and was quite sure there was more than one person in the corridor outside.
She wore a round neck hurriedly and then glanced at the school uniform that she had laid gently on her mat.
She knew how late she was as it was almost eight in the morning and she was just going to school.
She walked to the uniform, grabbed the skirt in a rather harsh manner, and put it on.
She was about to do the zipper when someone knocked on her door.
She was not expecting anybody and she guessed that it was probably Aiden outside her room.
She drew the zip up and walked to the door slowly after she had rubbed her face against her palm.
She hadn’t seen the guy for a while and now that she think of that, she realized how much she had missed him.
However, as soon as she opened the door, she met with the faces of the people she was least expecting and flinched as they burst out singing.
“Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!” Aiden, Zoey, Marlie, and Declan sang in unison.
“What is this?” Tiffany chuckled as she stared at the bow they placed on their head which made them look funny.
“Happy birthday to us, baby. I wish us long life and prosperity, through thick and thin, forever and for worse, Amen!” Aiden grinned.
“Are you reciting wedding vows already?” Declan chuckled.
“Blow this candles hurriedly, it’s melting already,” Aiden took a step forward and stretched it at Tiffany.
“Why are you guys making me emotional so early in the morning?” Tiffany shook her head and tried to hold the tears that is threatening to fall.
“Hold on, since it’s you two’s birthday. I’ll hold the cake and you will blow the candles together,” Zoey moved forward, and collected the cake from Aiden gently with a smile on her face.
“Are you guys not supposed to be in school?” Tiffany smiled as the drop of tears finally drop from her eyes.
“Stop talking and blow the candles already!” Zoey snapped.
“I’ll be the referee,” Declan offered.
“Of course, you should,” Tiffany smiled amidst the tears.
“One, two…” Declan had just said when Aiden and Tiffany blew the candles together.
“I haven’t even said Three. What nice teamwork you’ve got,” Declan rolled his eyes.
“Aiden,” Tiffany snapped her brows together and rushed to hug him.
“I missed you,” he wrapped her hands around her waist.
“I’m sorry for pushing you guys away the way I did,” she said after she broke the hug.
“It’s totally fine,” Zoey shook her head.
“Aiden,” she pouted and hugged Aiden again.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she groaned.
“Can someone get this cake from my hand? Gosh, it is heavy!” Zoey groaned and Declan rushed to her.
“I’ll take this from you baby.”
“Come to think of it, everyone has a baby,” Marlie frowned.
“Don’t you have any?” Zoey raised her brows.
“She has three boyfriends,” Declan answered instead.
“It’s two now, I broke up with one,” Marlie shrug her shoulder.
“Is it seriously okay to double date? I mean, is it not tiring?” Zoey asked.
“Not at all, it is so fun! Would you like to try?” Marlie grinned.
“How?” Zoey asked.
“I’ll set you up with a guy,” she leaned closer to Zoey and whispered in her ear.
“Babe, move away from Marlie, I don’t trust her,” Declan got in their middle and pushed Marlie away.
“Is the guy cute?” Zoey asked Marlie with a mischievous smile on her face.
“Seriously, babe? ” Declan frowned and Zoey shrug her shoulder.
After watching them for a while, Aiden kissed Tiffany on her lips.
“Aiden, come and carry your cake, I need to leave here with Zoey. Marlie is a bad influence, ” Declan whined.
“Remember that I am your sister,” Marlie frowned.
“I disown you already. you’re trying to set my girlfriend with another guy. You are my enemy, ” Declan hissed and they all laughed, except Tiffany and Aiden who were busy kissing.
*
TBC…