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CHAPTER 10
Among the few people that she knew in her previous life, one of them was Alexander Aiden.
He had travelled just a week before her death for business stuff and hoped that once he could seal the deal in his business it would get him a huge promotion
From there he had hoped to save up for some months and come to ask for her hand in marriage and take her away from the house.
So when he returned about two weeks after her death, he went straight for her house.
DING DONG!
He waited for a few seconds and rang the doorbell again.
What followed next was the annoying voice of a tired lady. "Yes?" And then the door opened.
"Good afternoon, you must be Debbie, right"
"And who might you be?"
"Umm, pardon me. My name is Alexander. I am here to see Aria, Aria Flame, your sister."
0_0
For a brief moment, there was no sound, save for the whistling of the wind and the rallying of leaves as it went.
After what seemed like a long tie, she burst out laughing.
"Haha haha hahhahaa…."
Seeing as this was no funny question nor statement, Alexander was taken aback by her outburst but being the gentleman that he was, he allowed her fun subside before speaking again.
"Umm, please if you do not mind, can you help call her or inform her of my presence?"
"Hmm," she scoffed at him and came out a bit more.
Her eyes narrowed as she accessed him from head to toe and then back up.
"Look Mr Alexander or whatever you are called. Do I look like a maid to you or that I work here?"
"Umm, sorry if my words might have offended you. I never meant any form of disrespect. I do now that you are her sister and..."
"Hold it," she interrupted swiftly. "Mind you, I am her elder step sister. We are not connected in any way."
"She is your step-sister, your father's daughter. You are connected in every way," he corrected her with a warm smile on his face.
"Whatever. All I am trying to say is, Aria doesn't live here anymore."
"Huh? What? Why? Where is she?"
"Sigh! You ask too many questions, young man."
"Wait, I am sorry but please can you give me her new house address? She never told me she moved out of here and I have been trying her line since I returned from my trip and it never connected."
"Exactly my point."
He shook his head at her. "No. You are having me lost. Please be clear to me. Aria moved out?"
"I never said she did."
'But you said she doesn't live here anymore. If not moving out, what else did that mean?"
"I meant…"
"Don't tell me she travelled," he interjected.
Although he did not mean to be rude, his mind was already running a mile a minute in his head. Several thoughts plagued his mind, all except the one true answer that mattered most.
"Are you done squabbling or do you really want to know?"
"No, I… Wait. I mean I want to know. It is just…"
"Goodbye." She tried to slam the door but he reacted fast and placed his foot between the door and its frame.
"Mister, you have overstayed your welcome. Please leave."
"No sorry. Just this last thing. Please tell me, where is she?"
"DEAD."
***
After leaving the Flames Residence, Alexander did not take a taxi or a cab home, rather he walked along the street looking more confused than how he was when he arrived at her home.
By now he had unbuttoned his top three buttons, revealing a part of his chest, with both sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up in an uneven manner while his once thoroughly combed black hair was now in a ruffled mess.
With each step he took in his direction, the sound of his dragged feet made it more unbearable for those passing by.
Regardless of the noise and discomfort to the ears, those passing by did not utter a word as one look at him told a different story.
Frustration!
In no time at all, he came face to face with a signboard and when he looked past his blurred vision, he read aloud.
"Cemetery."
A teardrop escaped his eyelid, and then another, followed by another as his lips parted, his face turning into a grimace and drops of tears staining his shirt.
"Ari…" he clamped his lips shut, tightening his eyes as waves of pain coursed through him.
"Aria…"
Shaking his head, he took another step forward and continued in that direction until he stood by a grave and gazed down on the stone.
"A-Ari-i…aaa F-Flame. August 12, 1998, to May 19 2021."
He tried to hold it in but no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't. Apparently, his feet gave way and he fell to his knees on the ground before her grave.
"My love… Ariii, baby I am back. Please come back to me."
The wind howled in response, hoping to ease his burden but at that point in time, nothing could ease his pain nor his burden.
He had met Aria when they were in the sixth grade. She was a charming little girl who was always picked on by the bullies with her own step-sister being one of them.
On their first meeting, he hated that they treated her like trash, called her names and even wanted to take it far so he stepped in her helped her.
Though he was just a new student, he ignored his welfare for hers and since then the two of them had been close friends and on her eighteenth birthday, he confessed his love to her.
Although she did not say yes right away, that not being that she did not love him but because of her problems and being with her would only bring him bad luck.
When Alexander found out, he convinced her that she was the only one he wanted and loved and she should not be afraid to dream and chase after what she wanted, finally, she agreed.
By then, they were already in their first year in the university and since then, their love grew stronger each day.
"Arrriiiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" He wailed his heart out. She was his life, she was his hope, she was his joy. He had promised her a better life and he chased after it.
Only for him to return and since he could not reach her, chose to surprise her. In the end, he was the one who was in for a shock.
"Arriiiiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"