"...I remember another one.....hahaha....this one is good....hahaha" Aria tried to talk in between laughter, we've been here for God knows how long and I realize that we were once very close, it's sad that I can't remember a thing,
"if it's that good why are you not sharing....." I said to as I took a sip of my bourbon, uncle Matteo had excused us a long time ago, said he wanted us to catch up, where he went, I don't know
"Okay....haha...we were five and wanted to know what bourbon tasted like badly.....hahaha.....so we sneaked into the cellar, got a glass each but I was so scared to drink it.....haha....you looked at me and downed your glass....hahaha," she said in between laughter, I guess I have always loved drinking then,
"then what happened?" I asked her
"you screamed cause of the way it burned.....mom and dad caught us but you kept lying that you didn't take a sip, even when the glass was in your hands.....when your dad asked you said you saw the holy mother," she said looking me in the eye,
"Wow...." I paused and continued ".....I never knew I was always a rebel" I finished and smiled,
"but now you've changed.....do you don't remember?" she said and the mood died down, I knew she was pained and something in me desperately wants to remember but I just couldn't,
"I'm sorry" I muttered, she looked at me and looked out the window, I swear I saw her tear up, "come on....I have something to show you," she said getting up, we walked out of Rosso, for uncle Matteo had settled the bill,
"where are we going?" I asked as she led me out of Rosso, "you'll see" she said and we got out and crossed the street, we walked down and after five shops, we stopped at a jewelry store, "you want to get jewelry?" I asked her looking confused, looking at me intently she asked, "you don't remember this place?" I looked up and saw it was a jewelry store called "A and mom" I shook my head and muttered "what a strange name"
"it's a strange name you came up with," Aria said and entered the shop, shocked I looked at her and followed her is, was this a joke, why would I come up with a name for someone's shop, as I stepped into the store, my eyes twinkled at the sight that greeted me,
The shop was painted black and white, the counter was brown and from a glance, you could tell that the wood is very expensive, the couches were grey, with pink and blue throw pillows and a chandelier hung on the ceiling, it looked elegant at a glance,
"this shop with a strange name, was what you created with your mom" I didn't know when Aria came behind me, but what she said sent my mind into complete disarray, "it isn't possible" I squeaked, she held my shoulders and whispered in my ear, "it....sure...is" and with that, she sat walked to the counter, where jewelry was put on display those kind of counters were everywhere in the shop, with manikin parts carrying different jewelry,
"Ma...ma...Macy?" I heard a voice mutter and I turned and saw an old lady around forty years, she had the prettiest grey eyes that seemed oddly familiar, she was slim and wore a pencil dress and has brown hair in a ponytail, she wasn't ravishing beautiful but had her charm,
she dropped the tray she held and ran to me, enveloping me in a bear hug, I heard her cry and I felt so pained, what is this? and who is this?
"hmmmn, she isn't Aunt Macy" I heard Aria clear her throat and say, the lady hugging me froze but she snapped out of it and released me, looking at me from head to toe, "you looked like her, same eyes, the same everything," she said and tears still fell off her eyes,
"I'm Adriana," I said to her and she nodded " excuse me," she said before walking out, I looked at Aria who was also staring at me, she sighed "She's called Maya...." she paused before continuing, "....Aunt Maya...my mom, Aunty Macy, and Maya have always been close, they virtually grew up together, this place yourself and your mom made it when you were five and when you guys moved, she has been taking care of this place since, while my mom has been traveling searching for God knows whom," she said and stood up, walking around the store.
I don't know what to say, I have no memories of these people, only my parents but I know they won't lie and something in me was screaming to try to remember,
"When you left, I waited for years but you never called and when your parents called, you wouldn't even be there...I was so mad and I stopped waiting for a best friend who forgot me when I got to high school..." she paused staring at me
"I'm sorry...I am" I told her and tears fell out my eyes, "stop it....just stop saying sorry...I waited, I wrote to you, I sent you gifts every year, for every fucking festivity but you never sent me a hi back" Aria said raising her voice, I looked at her in shock, I could feel her pain,
"you are A?" I asked but I already knew the answer, cause every year till I clocked 16, someone with that alias always sent me gifts, on my birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmas, New year and even sent me a gift when mum passed but I felt it was someone at school,
"at least your brain works...I hate you Adriana" she said, I could see the anger in her eyes, it was unadulterated, "thank you for coming back and tearing open my scab again....I hate you Adriana De'Luca," she said and as she proceeded to walk past me, I held her hands "I'm sorry," I said to her but she shook my hands and walked out,
I feel so terrible right now, I bent down and hugged my knees, why? why was this happening to me, I felt hands wrap around me and the smell of Jasmine hit me again and I realized who had walked in, I burst into tears.