A few weeks later.
New year’s Eve.
In a secluded part of the cemetery, in the pouring snow, all dressed in black, white chrysanthemum flower in each hand as they wait each turn to pay respect to the deceased…
“Mummy…” Marlie cried silently as she dropped the flower in front of her smiling mother’s portrait.
The news of Mrs. Han’s death the previous morning come as a shock to the whole family.
Even though the kids knew that their mother had little time left, they still wouldn’t accept she had died.
They were having a family breakfast and everyone including Zoey, Tiffany, and Aiden was present when Lawrence received a call from the hospital.
The man went still for a few minutes after the doctor broke the news to him, leaving the kids confused as to what was happening.
Tiffany exhaled as she dropped the flower in front of the portrait, closed her eyes for a minute, paying her respect, and then glanced at the picture then the date of her death that was engraved boldly on the cremated ground, “30th of December, 2022.”
“I didn’t get to meet you before you leave. I’m sorry,” she whispered and closed her eyes again.
===
Seven months later.
Tiffany sat on the right side of her father, president Han Lawrence on the couch as she watched Declan and Aiden rearrange Declan’s box.
“Are you okay?” her dad whispered, staring at her.
“Yes,” she nods her head and hurriedly wiped the tears that were threatening to fall.
“Are you sure?”
“Dad, let her be. I was this way when Mason was leaving for college,” Marlie who sat by the left-hand side said and Tiffany threw her a cold stare.
“Shut the fûck up,” Tiffany hissed at her.
“Sorry,” Marlie drawled.
The bell rang and Marlie rushed to the door, revealing swollen face of Zoey.
“Jesus! Have you been crying?” She exclaimed as the lady brushed past her.
“Baby,” Declan stood up, walked to her, and pulled her into a hug.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked after they disengaged from the hug.
“I’m okay,” she sniffed.
Meanwhile, Tiffany and Aiden had already engaged in a staring competition.
While Tiffany frowned at him, Aiden only smiled.
He knew more than anyone how his girlfriend was feeling now that he was going to college.
He was her best person and he knew that.
“Okay, can you two stop staring and just go to each other already?” Marlie clapped her hands.
Aiden exhaled, stood from the couch, and then walked to her.
“I’ll be having her for a few minutes, dad,” Aiden smiled, held her hand, and then pulled her up.
“Let’s go.”
**
“You don’t want me to go?” he asked after they had both settled on the bed.
“Why are you asking me that?” She frowned at him.
“Babe, you’ve been moody since morning. You’ve not been saying anything to me.”
“What should I have said?” She scoffed.
“Baby…”
“I’m going to miss you terribly,” she shook her head as a drop of tears fall from her eyes.
“I know, baby. We can always meet every weekend, you know?” he asked and wiped her tears.
“How?” You’re going to another country completely. How do I meet you every week?” She sniffed.
“You can travel by plane. You can come to me, and I can come to you,” he assured her.
“You know yourself that this can’t work out the way you’re saying. How the fûck do you expect me to leave the country every week?”
“Baby, I…”
“Fûck,” she covered her face with her palm and sobbed.
“I love you,” Aiden said.
“I know but when you get to college, everything is gonna change. You find prettier ladies and you all go for them. You’ll totally forget that you have me somewhere.”
“You seriously do think that I’ll cheat on you?” Aiden widened his eyes.
“I don’t know, but…”
“No, but, baby. That’s never going to happen. We’re going to make our relationship work one way or the other. Don’t let the distance scare you. I’ll talk to you every morning, every night. I’ll talk to you at every given chance that I get. I love you and we’re so making this work, okay?”
“Aiden,” Tiffany shook her head.
“Anny, you don’t wanna break up with me, do you?” Aiden creased his brows.
“Fûck that. I’m never letting you go!” She hit his chest with her fist.
“I love you,” Aiden said and leaned forward to kiss her.
“I know,” Tiffany sniffed after the short kiss and covered her face with her hands.
“This is so heartbreaking!” She burst into tears and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I know,” Aiden stroked her back.
===
Three months later.
Imperial College, United kingdom.
“Woah, it’s not easy!” Declan whined as soon as they stepped out of the classroom.
“Tell me more,” Aiden yawned and removed his cell phone from his pocket.
“What do we eat this night?” Declan asked.
“I don’t know,” Aiden answered, browsing through his phone.
“Why do you always have the same answer?”
“Why do you always ask me what we’re eating?” Aiden rolled his eyes and raised his phone.
“Hey…”
“Baby,” he interrupted, staring directly into his phone.
“Aiden!” came the loud voice of Tiffany.
“Where are you?”
“I missed you,” Tiffany answered instead.
“I know, I miss you too,” he chuckled.
“Where are you?” Tiffany asked.
“I’m just leaving the campus. Where are you?”
“I’m home as you can see, Marlie left some few minutes ago. Where’s Declan?”
“Hola!” Declan grinned as soon as he peeped into the phone.
“Hey!” Tiffany screamed.
“What?!”
“You didn’t call!” She pouts.
“Do I have a duty to call you? I only owe my baby that,” Declan hissed.
“Now, it is confirmed that I have the worst brother ever,” Tiffany hissed.
“That hurts, you know?”
“Get the fûck off the screen!”
“Some rude brat you are,” Declan scoffed.
“Why do you two still fight all the time? I don’t understand,” Aiden chuckled softly.
“He’s a pest. You know that more than anyone,” Tiffany hissed.
“Alright. Baby, I’ll talk to you when I get home, okay?”
“Sure, take care,” Tiffany answered and waited for him to end the call.
“I love you,” Aiden smiled.
“I love you,” she replied and ended the call instead.
==
New York.
Sunday, Tiffany’s apartment…
Tiffany sat on the two-sitter chair watching the fifth episode of Vampire academy on the big screen across her when the doorbell rang.
“Is Zoey here? Doesn’t she know the code?” She hissed and stood up grumpily
“Surprise!” her eyes widened in utmost surprise as she stared at the person standing before her.
“Who…?” She drawled.
“Did you forget me so quickly?” Aiden chuckled and pulled her into a hug.
“Fûck, thought I was seeing things already!” She screamed.
“I guess I got you,” he laughed, as they both entered slowly, still hugging each other.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” Tiffany frowned her face after they had disengaged from the hug.
“I wanted to surprise you. We have a three-day break, so I thought of spending it here, with you,” he smiled and leaned closer to kiss her.
“God, I’ve missed you terribly!” Tiffany exclaimed and hugged him again.
“Where’s Declan?” She asked as they both settled on the couch.
“He has gone to Zoey. His surprise is not very surprising because he had to call Zoey to come out of her house,” he winked and Tiffany laughed.
“God, I can’t believe I’m seeing you again,” Tiffany covered her face with her palm.
“It’s only been three months,” Aiden tilts his head closer to her.
“More like three years,” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“Babe, you’ve become more robust, what the hell are you eating?” Aiden creased his brows and pulled her cheek gently.
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“I love it!” He exclaimed.
“By the way, how are the girls over there?” Tiffany stared at him.
“Huh, they’re good,” he nods his head.
“I bet they are pretty,” Tiffany faked a smile.
“No girl is ugly,” Aiden shrugged his shoulder.
“Really?” Tiffany raised a brow.
“Don’t worry, they know I have a girlfriend. I’m not messing with anyone,” he said hurriedly.
“I didn’t ask,” Tiffany frowned.
“The way you stare at me gives me the chills,” Aiden pressed his lips together.
“You… Why did you get more handsome?” Tiffany exhaled and cupped his cheeks in her palm.
“I’ve always been this handsome,” Aiden grinned.
“I don’t think so,” she shook his head.
“Well…”
Tiffany bored her eyes into his for a few seconds, leaned closer, and then kissed him slowly.
Tiffany broke the kiss, and Aiden hurriedly grabbed her waist, pulling her closer, “not so soon,” he claimed her lips, and they both kissed passionately.
===
Three years later.
Airport.
Skyler stood a few inches away from the crowd, holding tightly onto the cardboard to his chest, waiting for whoever was going to walk out of the door across him.
After what seemed like an eternity, she walked out stylishly, holding tightly onto the traveling bag, and removed the sunglasses, looking around.
Skyler raise the cardboard in excitement and grinned.
Their eyes met and she released her hand from the bad and waved her hands at the guy who was beaming with excitement.
Skyler dropped the card, rushed towards her, and pulled her into a hug.
“God, you’re suffocating me,” she coughed.
“I missed you so much… Vanessa,” he smiled as he inhaled the scent of her shampoo.
“I know, just let go,” Vanessa chuckled softly.
Skyler let go of her gently, locked eyes with hers, and they both burst into laughter.
“God, how much you’ve changed!” Vanessa covered her mouth with her palm, still laughing.
“So have you,” Skyler chuckled.
“Come here,” Vanessa waved her hand at him and hugged him again, this time she wrapped her hands tightly around him.
TBC…