“Hold on, guys. Shall we cut the cake already?” Marlie pulled away from Declan and Zoey and then clapped her hands together.
“I understand you guys missed each other, but shall we cut the cake now? I have to be somewhere also,” she blushed.
“Where are you going?” Declan asked.
“My main boyfriend is returning to college today, so I am escorting him to the airport,” she grinned.
“Your boyfriend is a college student?” Declan raised his brows.
“Yeah. He is in his first year at Oxford University.”
“How old is he?” Declan asked.
“Twenty.”
“And she’s seventeen, is that not child abuse?” Aiden creased his brows.
“Hey!” Marlie screamed.
“What?”
“I’ll be eighteen in a few months and I’ll prove to you that I am an adult by getting a driver’s license first!” She snapped.
“Shut up. You’re still a minor,” Aiden rolled his eyes.
“So? I’m a minor also!” Zoey pointed her finger accusingly at Aiden.
“How old are you?” he asked.
“Seventeen, I’ll be eighteen in a few months too!”
“So, you are also practicing child abuse?” Aiden eyed Declan.
“So we won’t hear a word again because your girlfriend finally becomes an adult today. That’s rich coming from you. For your information, I love my minor girlfriend so much,” he hissed.
“And your minor sister, right?” Marlie smiled and then cupped her cheeks with her palms.
“No, I do not.” He looked away.
“Idiot,” Marlie hissed.
“It’s okay, guys. Let’s cut the cake. It’s nice to start a morning with something sweet,” Zoey winked at Tiffany who only stared at them, with a smile on her face and her arm locked with Aiden’s.
“Wait, where’s the knife?” Declan asked as he scrutinized the cake again.
“I practically reminded you to not forget it,” Aiden frowned.
“Ah…” Declan pressed his lips together.
“He forgot it,” Zoey shook her head.
“Anny, do you have a kitchen knife?” Aiden asked.
“Huh… yes,” she nodded her head and then turned to open the door.
However, as she turned the knob of the door, she remembered what she had used the life for the previous night and sighed.
She didn’t even wash off the blood stain that was there.
Would they not get any ideas?
“I don’t have a knife,” she said as she turned swiftly.
“But you said you have,” Marlie raised her brows.
“I don’t have a single plate in my room, there’s no way I’d keep a knife, right?” She smiled awkwardly.
“Then how would we cut this?” Zoey shook her head.
“I have an idea. Let’s have a party in the night, we’ll have it then,” Marlie suggested.
“I can already imagine it,” Zoey giggled.
“Same here, it’d be fun!” Marlie jumped in excitement.
“I’ll take the cake to the car then, my hand will fall off soon. Girls, let’s go. We’ll wait for you guys by the car,” Declan said and then turned to leave.
“Okay,” Aiden nodded his head and then watched them leave.
“Baby, go and get changed, we’re not going to school today,” he smiled.
“Can you remove this thing from your head already? It makes you look funny,” Tiffany smiled.
“I’ll look funny just for you.”
“Whatever. Would you like to come in?”
“Yeah, sure.” Aiden grinned.
===
Declan drove them all to Aiden’s house in his car, dropped Tiffany and Aiden, and then left with Zoey and Marlie.
“So, today. We’re going to have a lot of fun. So, tell me what you want us to do. I’ll do anything with you,” Aiden smiled, as they strolled inside his compound, hands locked together.
“Really?” Tiffany stopped walking and then turned to look at him.
“Yes,” he smiled and then leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
“Then, there’s a whole lot of things that I want to do. It’s sooo many,” she grinned.
“I’m sure there are a lot of things you want to do,” he nods his head.
“So tell me.”
“I’m trying to pick out a very fun one…” She closed her eyes and Aiden could only stare at her in amusement.
He had really missed this lady.
“I’m waiting,” he smiled.
“Let’s go to an amusement park, no, no, let’s go on a picnic. Wait, let’s go to an arcade bar. How about we go skating? Babe, shall we go to a hunted house? How about…”
“Okay, okay, which one do you want us to do first? You’ve listed up to five places you want to visit,” Aiden cut her short.
“Let’s go on a picnic. I really want to go somewhere with a nice view,” Tiffany giggled and clutch him.
“Just there?”
“So, I’ll be the one to make the snacks we’ll take along. Or, shall we do that together? It’s going to be fun, you and me in the kitchen,” she grinned.
“Okay, let’s do that,” Aiden nods his head.
“Let’s go to an Arcade bar when we return. I heard it’s fun in there. Is that true?”
“Yes. It’s so fun,” Aiden caresses her hair.
“First, let’s go to the grocery store,” Aiden clapped his hands together.
“Yayyy!”
==
The couple spent over two hours at the grocery store. Tiffany practically pointed at everything in the stores while Aiden only laughed and picked the one he thought was okay.
When Tiffany had picked a dog’s food thinking it was cereal, he laughed out so loud which attracted the other people in the store before he told her it was dog’s good, and the lady could only pout and pretended to be angry.
When they returned home, they started the preparation for a last-minute picnic basket.
First, they prepared strawberry lemonade cookies and the two couldn’t help but be silly by rubbing each other faces with milk and egg.
Next, they made a course meal of classic sandwich wrap which Tiffany offered to make since she was so good at it while Aiden went to prepare pasta salad.
Tiffany watched Aiden make deviled eggs and then they both made pineapple juice and every other side handmade juice and meal that they wanted which was very fun for Aiden to cooking alone.
Where did this girl get the idea of doing all of these?
==
The drive to wherever Aiden had instructed the cab driver to take them to was quite long which Tiffany found quite tiring.
“Why did you not learn how to drive a car instead of hiring a cab?” She asked Aiden in the middle of a conversation.
“Nothing, I just think riding a bike is more fun,” he answered.
“Why? Do you think I’d look sexy behind the wheel?” He winked at her.
“No, not at all,” she looked away and Aiden laughed.
=
“Where is this place?” Tiffany asked Aiden as she looked around the space there were.
There were a lot of people hanging around in pairs and they seemed like couples.
Was this place couples hanging space?
“Central Park,” he answered as he tightened his fist on the basket in his left hand.
“Wait, I’ve only heard of this place. I’ve never been here!” Tiffany covered her mouth with her left hand, not letting go of the bag that contain blankets in her other hand.
“I figured out that it’s going to be great here.”
“Really?”
**
“Why is this place empty?” Tiffany asked as she looked around the huge garden that they had just entered.
It was so huge that she couldn’t even see the far end of the garden. There were so many beautiful trees which made the place look more lively and beautiful.
“Is it always empty?” Tiffany asked as she dropped the bag beside the basket Aiden dropped and collapsed on the green grass.
“No,” he answered as he stared at the sky with a smile on his face.
“Did you do this?” Tiffany asked again and settled beside him.
There was no way her boyfriend rented out all of this place in such a short time.
“Come on, babe…” Aiden sat up and then pushed her gently to lay on her back.
“This is from your dad,” he answered and then kissed her lips.
“My…?”
“Dad called when we were at the grocery store and I told him I was going on a picnic with you. He asked where I had in mind and I said here. I guess this is his doing,” he pulled away and shrugged his shoulder.
“So, he sent everyone out?” Tiffany raised her brows and sat up.
“I don’t know how he did it. Didn’t you see the men that led us here?”
“I thought they were working here,” she frowned
“Well, they are still outside. Watching over us. You to be precise.”
“Why is the senator doing that?” Tiffany frowned irritatedly.
“Well, that’s what you get for being the Senator’s daughter. It took Declan and Zoey many years before they were able to convince their dad that they were adults already and didn’t need guards tailing them. They’ve had people watching them even before their dad because a senator,” Aiden stood up and stretched his hand forward.
“Why is he doing that?” Tiffany asked, took his hand, and allowed the guy to pull her up.
“Hmm, most prestigious families do that. Probably because they don’t want their enemies going after their family,” Aiden chuckled, walked towards the bag Tiffany had carried, and opened it.
“You come from a prestigious family also. Why is your mother not putting a tail on you?” Tiffany asked him and watched him remove the big blanket they had taken along.
“Who says my mum doesn’t put a tail on me? Up till last week, she had her men follow me and that’s when she knew I had a girlfriend and looked into you,” he said.
“Woah, rich people are so scary,” Tiffany shook her head, took the tips of the blanket and they both spread it on the green grass under a cherry blossom.
“You think so?” Aiden chuckled.
“Yes. So scary,” Tiffany hissed.
**
“This is nice!” Tiffany exclaimed as stared at the sky with her back laid on the blanket beside Aiden.
They had just finished arranging everything that was in the basket on the blanket and lay side by side, gazing at the sky.
“I feel like nothing is bothering me, staring at the sky, with you by my side,” Aiden grinned.
“I know, right?” Tiffany giggled.
“Yeah.”
“Vanessa… have you ever gone on a picnic with her?” Tiffany asked as she turned to look at Aiden, sleeping on her side.
“You know about her?” Aiden asked slowly and turned to face her.
“Yes. Thinking about it, you’ve never talked about her to me. Do you still like her? Why did you two break up? You’re a great guy, so I guess she caused your break-up, right?”
“You have so many questions, don’t you?” Aiden smiled.
“Of course, I do, and going to ask a lot today,” Tiffany answered.
“I see. We didn’t break up, she left. Of course, I’m a great guy and… I do not like her anymore, it is you that I love,” he placed his hand on her cheek.
“If you two didn’t break up, will you accept her if she comes back,” Tiffany asked.
“I don’t like her anymore and I will not accept her back.”
“What if you still like her?” Tiffany frowned.
“I do not like her.” Aiden shook his head.
“Let’s assume you still like her,” Tiffany hissed.
“I am not assuming anything,” Aiden shook his head.
“You’re so boring. I guess you’re refusing to assume because you will surely accept her back,” Tiffany rolled her eyes and sat up, pouting.
“Okay, let’s assume I still like her,” Aiden exhaled.
This girl was surely going to make a deal out of it if he didn’t let her have her way.
“Woah, you’re even assuming you like her,” Tiffany clapped her hands together.
“You said I should assume,” Aiden widened his eyes.
“Did I?” Tiffany folded her arms across her chest.
“Yes. You did,” Aiden nodded his head.
“Okay, tell me. Will you accept her back?”
“No,” he answered curtly.
“Why?”
“I caught Xyler fûck her. It’s getting complicated though, it seems like Xyler’s brother had sex with her and not Xyler,” he answered.
“What are you saying?” Tiffany frowned.
“Enough of me. Have you ever dated any guy?” Aiden asked Tiffany with a smirk on his face.
“Woah, are you trying to make fun of me?” Tiffany furrowed her brow and Aiden burst into laughter.
“No, it’s just a sincere question,” Aiden said amidst laughter.
“I don’t trust you,” Tiffany hissed and slapped his shoulder.
“I think you should,” he swept his hair backward and swallowed his smile.
“I’ll ask you a question now,” Aiden said, carrying the bowl where they sliced watermelon, cucumber, and pineapple and dropped it in front of him.
“When you were seven years old, what was your dream?” He asked, pickd a slice of the watermelon and ged Tiffany with it.
“My dream was to make the people at the Orphanage home like me,” she smiled as she swallowed the watermelon.
“Did you succeed?”
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t have left the Orphanage if I had succeeded,” she rolled her eyes.
“I guess you’re right,” he nods his head as dropped a slice of watermelon into his mouth.
“Where do you plan to be in six, seven years?” Tiffany asked and picked a slice of pineapple.
“I don’t usually think much about the future but I would just say that returning home after a stressful day at work to meet my beautiful woman,” Aiden grinned.
“How about you?” He asked her.
“Being that beautiful woman you’re going to meet at home,” Tiffany answered and they both burst into laughter.
“What a perfect way of planning for the future, right?” he laughed and the lady nodded her head.
“When do you feel the happiest?” he asked her.
“When I’m with you,” Tiffany answered curtly which made Aiden blush.
“That was very smooth,” he grinned.
“I know,” Tiffany nodded her head and dropped a slice of watermelon into her mouth.
“What was your most embarrassing moment?” he asked her.
“Wait, I thought we were supposed to take turns in asking. This is cheating,” Tiffany frowned.
“Answer this, and I’ll let you ask me twice in a row,” he promised.
“Good. I went to deliver food at a construction site four years ago and I didn’t know my yellow skirt had been smeared with blood. One of the guys made a bad joke by saying it so loud that I am bleeding. Everyone laughed so hard and I wished to enter the ground in front of them. It was very embarrassing. Trust me,” Tiffany hissed.
“Those àsshôles!” Aiden gritted his teeth and Tiffany chuckled.
“Why are you mad about it? It has been so long. I rarely remember it,” she laughed.
“I am annoyed, how could they make you feel so embarrassed,” Aiden grumbled.
“Hey, lover boy. It has been four years.”
“I’m asking now…”
“Why did you start dating me? Wait, how do I put it? Why did you like me to have wanted to date me? For as far as I am concerned, I was bad to you,” Tiffany asked with a smile.
She wanted to hear something sweet from her guy at the moment.
“Yes. You were so bad to me. You were rude, cold, and stubborn. You were that one girl who didn’t give a fûck about anyone or anything. You…”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment?” Tiffany wore an irritated look which made Aiden smile.
“I liked you since the first day that I saw you. That day when you refused to leave the seat specially assigned for the DAX at the cafeteria. I thought you were interesting. Wait, why would you even fight over a seat on your first day in school?” Aiden laughed.
“Hey, why did you also laugh when I was leaving?” Tiffany frowned.
This guy was not giving her the answer that she wanted at all.
Huh, how unromantic.
“You called me a psycho that day, didn’t you?” Aiden pushed the bowl of fruits aside gently and moved closer to her.
“You acted like a psycho. It was annoying to see you laugh after what I did to your friend,” Tiffany stuck her tongue at him.
“I bet you fell in love with me when you saw me,” Aiden grinned.
“No, I thought you were irritating,” Tiffany hissed.
“You’re so mean,” Aiden frowned.
“You love me that way anyway,” Tiffany shrugged her shoulder off.
“Of course… Yes! How do you know? I love you so much,” Aiden leaned forward and kissed her.
“You don’t know? I am a witch,” Tiffany laughed.
“Next question, what are your fears?” She asked after they’d both had a good laugh.
“Hmm, losing you.”
“Huh?” Tiffany raised a brow.
“That is what I am scared of the most, losing you to Akilang. I don’t ever want to lose you either to deãth or to that demon,” he answered.
“Don’t worry. I’ll try my best to never give in to Akilang,” Tiffany answered and they both moved closer to hug each other.
“By the way, I hate hunted house so much. Don’t even think of going there with me,” Aiden pulled away and grabbed a slice of cucumber.
“Wait, what?!” Tiffany burst into laughter.
“Is it funny?” Aiden frowned.
“Yes,” Tiffany laughed.
“Really funny?” Aiden frowned and tickled her.
“No, I’m sorry!” Tiffany screamed amidst laughter.
“Good,” Aiden pulled away.
“Don’t ask me why. I will not tell you,” he added.
“I will, but not now. I have one more question,” Tiffany raised her index finger with a smile.
“Which is?”
“What is your biggest regret?” She asked still smiling.
The smile on Aiden’s face faded slowly and he bore his eyes deeply into his eyes.
“My biggest regret…” he stuttered.
“Come on, tell me,” she nudged him gently.
“It was leaving you alone all by yourself that day…” he drawled.
“Me? When?” Tiffany raised her brow.
“In the mountain…”
“What are… you… no way,” she shook her head.
There was no way Aiden was the boy with her in the mountain.
“I was the boy in the mountain that day with you,” he nods his head.
“What?” Tiffany whispered.
“Hello!” Declan and Zoey ran inside the garden, laughing, almost out of breath.
==
Martha threw her phone angrily at the group of men who stood in front of her.
It was over two in the afternoon and Aiden was nowhere to be found.
“Go to his house or wherever he could be and drag him here. Bring him here at all cost even if you have to abduct him. I don’t care. I don’t care, so bring him here right now!” She screamed and watched the men disperse hurriedly.
How dare Aiden try to humiliate her?
The guests are going to arrive soon and that guy had vanished!
He’s really going to pay big time if things go wrong because of him.
*
TBC…