Aiden sighed, switch on the light, and walked further into the room, Tiffany behind him.
All of a sudden, a glass cup flew in his direction which met his shoulder and shattered before it touched the ground.
“Fûck, what is that?!” Tiffany, unaware of what was happening screamed and rushed towards Aiden who only glanced at the blood stain on his cloth.
“Mum, why are you doing this?” He exhaled as his eyes met with his mum who was walking in his direction.
“Your mum?” Tiffany raised her brows.
Martha stopped in front of him and slapped him hard across his face.
“How dare you do that to me, how dare you?!” She screamed as she hit his face again.
Tiffany clenched her fist tightly. She only wished to teach that woman a lesson by flipping her over but she couldn’t, this was between Aiden and his mother. She needed to respect his mum.
“Did you refuse to show up at your own birthday because of that monster? Do you think you can spend the rest of your life with someone like her? Do you think we’re in a movie where you are the protagonist? Do you think the world would ship you two together? For someone with a mysterious personality like her, do you…”
“Hello, I’m here,” Tiffany waved her hands at Martha with a forced smile on her face.
“I know you are here and I’m only saying this to let you hear,” Martha glared at her.
“Oh,” Tiffany nodded her head.
“Aiden, you…”
“Mum,” he interrupted her.
“Whatever I do with my life is none of your business and because this is not a movie where you can have your way, I refuse to do things your way. Everyone but you could talk about Tiffany. I mean, you of all people should never call her names.”
“What?” Martha furrowed her brows.
“I’d only advise you to spend your time making up with dad again not trying to teach me how to live my life. After what I heard, you think I’d want to come to that party that you set up, shining my teeth in front of the camera as if nothing ever happened? You…” Aiden was cut short by Tiffany who took his hand in hers and fondled it.
“Are you possessed? You don’t sound like yourself. What the hell is going on with you?!” Martha screamed.
“I’ve always been like this, especially since I caught you in a compromising situation. I was just very good at hiding it to make peace reign, but now, you have crossed the line,” he said and brushed past her, pulling Tiffany along.
“I’d appreciate it if you don’t come here again unannounced and I refuse to see you till you feel remorseful about what you did to hurt everybody,” he said and then sat on the couch.
“Are you okay?” Tiffany whispered as she glanced at the bloodstain on his cloth and his face imprinted with his mother’s palm.
“Yes,” he nodded his head.
“I’ll get the first-aid kit,” Tiffany stood up.
“You’ll find it in the kitchen inside the drawer by your left,” he said. Tiffany nodded her head and hurried away.
Martha walked towards him, grabbed her bag that was beside him, and walked away, sparing him a cold stare.
*
“Are you okay?” Tiffany returned with the first aid kit and knelt in front of him.
“Easy, I’m fine,” Aiden smiled as he watched her.
“You are not,” she opened the box and then turned to rip his shirt without battling an eye.
“Babe,” Aiden chuckled.
“Goodness,” Tiffany frowned as she stared at the small cut but the large bruise on his left shoulder.
“It doesn’t hurt too much,” he assured her as he glanced at the bruise.
“How can it not hurt? Should I punch it?!” She snapped.
“No, don’t,” he shook his head.
“I’m sorry,” he added as he watched her take the saline solution and cotton wool.
“For?” She asked, not taking her eyes off what she was doing.
“My mum. She said bad things to you,” he answered.
“It’s fine,” she answered and leaned closer to him.
“Babe,” he called out as she gently wiped his bruise with the cotton wool dipped in saline solution.
“I am fine. I actually did not expect everyone to accept me knowing that I am mysterious,” she said and blew air from her mouth to the bruise.
“So, I’m fine, you do not need to apologize,” Tiffany answered.
“Should I cover it with a band-aid?” She asked and Aiden nodded his head.
“I’m going to visit my dad tomorrow. I haven’t seen him since that day,” he said.
“Yeah, you should,” Tiffany answered as she removed a gauze from the kit.
“Would you like to come with me? My dad wouldn’t treat you bad, I know that.”
“I’m not going. I have to go to the sandwich bar, haven’t been there in a while,” she answered.
“You’re right.”
He didn’t say anything afterward and only watch her cover his wound with gauze.
“Done,” Tiffany said after a few seconds and leaned closer to Aiden.
“Your cheek…” She pouted as she trailed her fingertip down his cheek.
“My mother’s imprint is there?” he teased.
“It is very red too,” Tiffany pouted.
“Does it hurt?” She asked.
“It will hurt less if you peck it,” he smiled.
“Tsk… That’s not going to happen,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“But this will happen,” Aiden said and kissed on the lips.
“You are a pervert,” Tiffany shook her head.
“Only for you baby,” he winked at her, leaned closer, and kissed her again, this time more deeper and passionate.
===
Western high school.
Aiden and Tiffany entered the school premises before the morning gathering began as per what Tiffany wanted.
¶¶
“I can’t believe he didn’t show up at his birthday party because of that girl.”
“Exactly, his mum made a mistake lying that he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.”
“Is it because of that new girl?”
“Unbelievable!”
¶¶
“These people,” Aiden shook his head with a smile on his face.
“I think it’s fun talking about everything that they see,” Tiffany shrugged her shoulder, her arm leaked with Aiden’s.
**
“Tiffy!” Came the voice of Zoey as they entered the corridor that led to Tiffany’s class.
“Zoey!” Tiffany waved her hand at the lady who was already walking toward them.
“Why are you two acting like you haven’t seen each other in a while?” Aiden raised his brows as soon as Zoey arrived.
“Whatever. Do you know why everyone is talking and staring at you?” Zoey asked the two of them and glanced at the eyes that were on them.
“I guess it’s because I didn’t attend my birthday party,” Aiden answered.
“That too. I’ll show you,” Zoey removed her phone from her pocket and browsed through it.
“I think your mum lied to everyone at the party that you collapsed and is at the hospital at the moment, but Declan’s post busted everything,” she said and showed them the picture of them Declan had posted the previous day.
That didn’t annoy him but the caption that was used, “The moment that bîtch joined the school, things happen. Aiden and Declan fought and now, Aiden didn’t show up at his own birthday because of her.”
“So, what is everyone’s business?” Aiden frowned.
“Did you all lose your source of income because I didn’t attend my birthday party?” He said loudly and turned to face the students that were gathered to gossip.
¶Murmurs¶
“Talk to my face and stop being a snitch by talking bad about my girlfriend. I’ll accept everything and not insults directed to my girlfriend, I promise,” he vowed and everyone went silent.
“Let it go,” Tiffany nudged him gently.
“Let’s go,” he took her hand in his and walked away with her, Zoey following them.
¶¶
“Aiden had never talked to us in that manner. It’s all that girl’s fault.”
“She must feel on top of the world right now.”
“I hàte her.”
¶¶
=
Morning gathering…
“I hope we are all prepared for the upcoming school trip?!” The dean shouted and everyone screamed in excitement.
“Let’s all not forget that mid-term test begins a week after we return from the trip.”
**
“We’re going on the school trip, remember?” Zoey asked Tiffany as they both walked side by side to their classroom.
“I’m not going,” Tiffany said curtly.
“You are going and that’s final.”
“I am not. I didn’t even make any preparations. I heard the trip last for a week. There’s no way I won’t work for a week, so…
“You are going. Come on, why are you still trying to make things hard for yourself when you have a father?” Zoey interrupted.
“I’m not depending on him. I’ve been doing fine without him,” she said.
“You are not fine. You’ve not been fine, because I don’t believe you are,” Zoey snorted.
“Whatever. I’m not going,” Tiffany remained adamant.
“You’re going. I am sure you will. Aiden is going. This is a trip grade eight to twelve goes to. The juniors had gone earlier this year so it’s our turn and we are going. You are going. You must go,” Zoey said.
“Whatever.”
“You’re going, right?”
“No!” Tiffany snapped and entered the class.
“That stubborn brat,” Zoey shook her head.
**
LOUNGE…
“What happened this morning? Almost everyone is murmuring about how you yelled at them,” Declan asked after he had settled down with a can of juice in his hand.
“I didn’t yell at anyone. I only talked sense into them,” Aiden said as he went through the pictures he had taken with Tiffany at the picnic the previous day.
“They were all blaming Tiffany because I didn’t show up at the party yesterday. Apparently, they saw your post and it’s all over the school blog,” Aiden rolled his eyes.
“Oops,” Declan nods his head.
“So, you defended her,” Declan smiled.
“Of course!”
“Lover boy. By the way, dad wants me to ask her if she’d be free tonight. He wants her to join the family dinner.”
“You should ask her yourself. I think she’s going to her part-time workplace today though,” he shrugged his shoulder and smiled as he finally set a picture of the two of them as his wallpaper.
“Do you know…” Declan was still saying when the door creaked open Xyler entered slowly.
“Who is there?” Aiden glanced at Declan who stared at whoever just entered and then turned swiftly to see who it was.
“Xyler?” He raised his brows.
“Hi, guys,” he smiled awkwardly as he entered fully.
“Hi,” Declan and Aiden chorused.
“How are you guys? Happy belated birthday, Aiden. Your number wasn’t going through yesterday,” he said as he settled on the couch beside Declan.
“Oh, thank you,” Aiden nodded his head.
“I… want to start by apologizing to Aiden. I am sorry I lied about the voice recording I played to Declan. It was voice pished,” he clasped his hands together.
“It’s okay. It didn’t cause any damage so it’s fine,” Aiden nodded his head.
“Was it you who had sex with Vanessa or your brother?” Aiden asked.
“Skyler. It was his plan, but I made the arrangements on how he got to her,” he answered.
“You…”
“Vanessa is not at fault. I spiked her drink,” Xyler added with a bow.
“What?” Aiden snapped his brows together.
“I added a substance that would make her to be sensitive and hörny. She didn’t mean to. Even with the substance, it took a while before she finally allowed Skyler to go down on her,” he said.
“Goodness!” Aiden exclaimed.
All this while, he had thought Vanessa was a bitch by cheating on him with Xyler.
She was actually a victim!
“Why did you do that? What revenge are you two cooking?” Declan frowned.
Xyler said nothing and only went through his phone, after a few seconds of scrolling, he gave his phone to Declan.
“Do you recognize her?” he asked.
“I don’t,” Declan said after staring at the lady deeply.
“Check it well, I’m sure you’ve crossed paths with her,” Xyler said.
“I haven’t, or have you, Aiden?” he asked and threw the phone to Aiden which the latter caught.
“I haven’t seen her before,” Aiden answered.
“That’s not possible,” Xyler shook his head.
“I have never… Wait, Declan doesn’t she look like the girl we met at the club where we held your birthday about four years ago or so?” Aiden asked and threw the phone back at Declan.
“Which girl?”
“The girl that was being harassed by some guys at the men’s toilet,” Aiden said.
“Christiana?” Declan raised his brows.
“Bingo!” Aiden snapped his fingers.
“How close were you to her to know that her name was Christiana? Everyone practically called her Luna,” Xyler frowned.
“She is Luna?” Aiden and Declan chorused.
“What was your relationship with Luna?” Xyler ignore and asked instead.
“Nothing intimate, we met only twice after we met at the club,” Declan answered.
“What did you guys do? What did you do to her?”
“Wait, can you just say what is wrong instead?” Aiden asked.
“You impregnated my sister and helped her to abort the baby which cost her life!” Xyler yelled and pointed his finger accusingly at Declan.
“M… Me?” Declan stuttered.
“You had sex with Luna on your birthday, and when she came to you that she was pregnant, you refused the baby and told her to abort the baby instead!” he yelled.
“Hold on… What the fûck are you saying?” Aiden frowned his face.
“Do you know that Luna died because you refused the baby and got her drugs to remove the baby?”
“Are you crazy?!” Aiden yelled and stood from the couch.
“Right! I am crazy because I finally reveal the truth about your friend!” He snapped.
“Fûck, you’ve gotten it all wrong!”
“How?!”
“Declan doesn’t fûck girls on his birthdays! Growing up, he believed that having sex on birthdays wasn’t proper. Do you know how he says it? ‘What if I dîe while fûcking a whore? Imagine dying in the same way you were given birth to?” Declan doesn’t have sex with any girl on his birthdays!” Aiden defended.
“How could you have known? What if he had done that after you had left?”
“See, I can say it confidently that it was only yesterday we didn’t party till morning. On our birthdays, we party till daybreak, drinking alcohol and others. We wouldn’t even have time for fucking a whore!” Aiden snapped.
“Well, that could have happened after his birthday,” Xyler shrugged his shoulder.
“No. I know every lady that Declan had fucked and to burst your bubble, it was only one! This impotent hadn’t had sex in three years after he broke up with his girlfriend. He might be stubborn, he might be a bully, or whatever, my guy ain’t a womanizer! It’s a policy that we both grew up with. We don’t fûck ladies we don’t date!” Aiden shouted breathlessly.
“Àsshôlé, you’re making me want to cry,” Declan covered his face with his palm.
“Declan and I saved your sister as she was being sexually harassed by some guys in the men’s restroom. He escorted her out and then watched her leave. Declan didn’t fûck your sister. I wonder where you hear all of this nonsense you are spewing,” Aiden swept his hair backward and collapsed on the chair.
“Then why did she receive a message from you, asking her if she had used the drugs? The number was saved as Declan!”Xyler asked.
“We ran into each other again at some place where we talked and exchanged numbers. One day, she invited me out saying she was depressed and needed to talk to someone. I actually thought I was going to hit on her but the moment she told me she was sixteen turned me off. She was older by one year, and God knows I don’t date older ladies. There, she told me she had been feeling sick for a while. I asked her if she had visited the hospital and she said yes. She said she was prescribed some drugs. I didn’t have anything with your sister. That was the last time I saw her. It was then I messaged her to know if she had used the drugs since she wasn’t picking up my call,” Declan explained.
“That’s… That’s not true,” Xyler shook his head in disbelief.
“Did your sister tell you all of these?” Aiden raised his brows suspiciously.
“Er… No,” he shook his head.
“Your brother told you?” Aiden asked as his lips tugged in a knowing smile.
“Yes.”
“How could he be so detailed if he’s not an accomplice?” Aiden tilted his head.
“He said Luna briefed him a bit about it. Actually, it was me who find her dead, and I saw the message from Declan also. When I rushed her to the hospital, the doctor said she tried to abort the baby in her which caused her death. When Skyler return from where he went to. I told him about what I saw…”
“You told him you saw Declan’s message?” Aiden asked.
“Yes, and he told me Luna had told him that the guy she was seeing was Declan.”
“And you believed that?” Aiden raised a brow.
“Of course. He even went far by going to the club Luna had visited to make more inquiries about Declan.”
“How did Skyler know the club? Did Luna mention it to you?” Aiden asked.
“N… No. She didn’t,” Xyler shook his head slowly.
What was this guy driving at?
“So, you knew Luna went to the club because Skyler told you and you didn’t wonder how he knew?” Aiden chuckled darkly.
“It didn’t occur to me. I… I…”
“So, Skyler told you you wait a few years before you start to avenge Luna’s death?” Aiden asked and Xyler nodded his head.
“Do you know why he said that?” Aiden’s lip tugged into a smile and Xyler shook his head.
“Because he thinks that we’re bad boys who didn’t know the number of ladies they had fucked,” he smiled.
“Aiden…” Xyler shook his head.
“The bible said a man’s enemy will be from his household,” he smiled and shrugged his shoulder.
Declan stared deeply at his close friend.
He made the best decision making this dude his best friend, because, damn! How can he be so smart?
Aiden’s detective instinct would never cease to amaze him.
*
TBC…