Ivory looked at her face in the bathroom mirror.
She looked into her eyes which glinted in the reflection of the bathroom light. Her violet irises were striking among all the bathroom interiors, dominated by white. Ivory blinked a few times. She was still half-unconscious when she stepped under the pouring shower.
Bathing with clean and warm water in abundance was scarce for her. Usually, she would take a makeshift bath with no less than one bucket of water. The water was sometimes a little dirty because she had to fight for clean water with other residents. If she was just one minute late to queue for clean water every day, she only got leftover water, making her skin itchy.
However, this time she was blessed with an infinite clean water bath. Ivory wanted to spend all day sitting in the shower with her body covered in rose-scented soap. Her rough, dry skin felt smoother from just one shower in her new bathroom. She was surprised how the different types of water and soap could make her skin feel more supple than before.
Unfortunately, Ivory couldn't stay clean for long. Aaron asked her to get ready as he was about to take her out. She didn't know where he was going. That girl just obeyed the invitation from her partner. She took a deep breath and turned off the shower soaking her body, and grabbed a white towel hanging from the hanger. She wrapped one towel around herself, and the other she rubbed in her wet hair.
Ivory came out of the bathroom and rushed to her wardrobe. She smiled widely to find a pair of cute outfits hanging on the handle of the closet. Above those clothes, there was a light green post with odd handwriting that she had only seen for the first time.
'Put these clothes on, and let's go on a date.'
'AM.'
Aaron Magnifico.
Ivory didn't intend to smile, but her lips moved automatically when she saw her partner's neat handwriting. For some reason, she found Aaron's act of preparing clothes for her was pretty sweet. No one had ever treated her like that before.
She put the post-it in her desk drawer in her room and removed the shirt from the hanger. Her round eyes stared at the outfit in her hands in admiration. A jumpsuit with white and black striped long sleeves had been prepared for her. Her outfit was very on point with light brown high-tops and round eyeglasses. Honestly, this outfit was adorable, and Ivory thinks it fits her perfectly.
"Will I look good in this?" she asked herself.
Not getting an answer from anyone, she finally nodded her head, hurriedly unwrapped her towel, and put on the clothes.
***
"Aaron?"
Ivory muttered, calling for her partner in the basement. After changing clothes and getting ready, she rushed to find Aaron's whereabouts. She couldn't find the man anywhere. Aaron wasn't in his bedroom, living room, kitchen, and countless other rooms. When they asked one of the housekeepers where Aaron was, they said that the house owner was in the basement. Ivory rushed to the basement at that time, as the housekeeper said.
After Ivory's call, it wasn't long before she heard an answer from somewhere not too far from her.
"Come here, Ivory," said Aaron.
Ivory stepped closer to the source of the sound. She was surprised when she found a line of luxury cars lined up in front of her. Various types of cool and shiny cars filled the basement. Ivory's mouth was wide open, and her saliva was almost dripping when she saw the elegant red car right in front of her eyes.
"Wow," she mumbled softly.
She didn't know anything about cars or other sophisticated vehicles. All she had ever ridden was a rusty bus, Roger's car, and Copulation's pick-up car. However, for this one, she was utterly stunned by the charm of the red car body. She thought the car looked very dashing but beautiful at the same time.
"Enjoy the view?"
Ivory jumped and turned to find Aaron smiling lightly at her. She didn't know that Aaron had been in the corner of the room, watching Ivory, who was in awe. The man then walked over to Ivory and covered the girl's eyes with his broad palm.
"Aaron, what are you doing?"
"Countdown from five," Aaron whispered.
"Right now?"
"Uh-huh," the man mumbled in agreement. "Hold up your hands too."
Ivory stretched out her hand, immediately greeted with a light stroke that shook her heart. She still didn't know why Aaron had asked her to close her eyes and raise her hand simultaneously. She knew that Aaron was currently gently touching her soft hand before speaking again in a soft voice.
"Start counting," said the person with the last name Magnifico.
And Ivory complied.
"Five, four, three, two..."
A small cold object was pressed against her palm.
"… one."
And Aaron's hand moved away from Ivory's eyes. At that moment, Ivory opened her eyes. Ivory blinked her eyes a few times.
"Surprise!"
A car key.
A car key decorated with a beautiful red ribbon lay in Ivory's palm. Ivory looked in shock at the small key in her hand. She stared in disbelief at the surprise of her spouse.
"A gift for our first date."
Aaron turned Ivory's still shocked body so that she faced back in front of the red car that had amazed her just a moment ago.
"Right before your eyes."
The beautiful red car that was smooth and flawless was a gift from Aaron to Ivory, whom he had just met. The girl with the last name Kelana was in shock beyond measure. As she recalled, the most luxurious gift she had ever received was a black boot that her sister gave her on his 16th birthday. Even though her sister bought them at the second-hand market, she was really grateful for receiving them.
But this time, a car...
"Oh my, Aaron," Ivory squeaked. "You're kidding, aren't you?"
Aaron laughed cheerfully. He looks exasperated at his partner's reaction. "Absolutely not, Ivory. The car is yours."
Ivory stepped forward and touched the paint on the red car's surface. With just one touch, Ivory jumped in surprise. She had never touched a nice car before. She had dreamed of riding an excellent vehicle at least once. She always thought that just looking at it from a distance could fulfill her desire. But she did not expect her prayer to be answered so quickly.
"Aaron, I can't. It's too much for me."
Ivory turned and handed the key back to the giver. She nodded and looked down. The girl was actually afraid that Aaron would be offended by her refusal.
"I want you to have it, Ivory. This is nothing. It's just a car."
Just a car, he said.
Ivory believes the nominal value of the car will be enough to support her for at least the next 20 years, and Aaron says it was just a car?
"I don't deserve it. I am a nobody. I can't." Ivory backed away and lowered her head even more.
Aaron held Ivory from walking backward again with a squeeze in her upper arms. She looked at the cute girl in front of her, who looked down in disbelief. Patiently, the man touched Ivory's shoulder with a slight squeeze.
"Look at me, Ivory," he said. "Don't lower your head and look at me."
Carefully, Ivory lifted her head, and at once, she was carried away by Aaron's beautiful eyes. Those amber eyes looked clearer than any Ivory had ever seen. Not to mention the curly eyelashes that increasingly create the natural beauty of the man in front of her.
"Get rid of your inferiority. You're my partner. My responsibility. I want you to accept it. No rejection. No arguments. You'll love the car," Aaron insisted, trying to reassure the girl in front of him.
Ivory bit her lower lip. She didn't want to accept the lavish gift because she didn't think she was Aaron's actual partner. It's just a game, right? Only temporary. Why did Aaron have to treat her like this?
"But I'm not—"
"I don't think you're a gold-digger because you accepted my gift. You have to get used to it. This is just the beginning of everything I have prepared for you."
Aaron Magnifico tugged at Ivory's delicate hand again. He put the key down again and closed Ivory's palm until she grasped it. With a genuine smile, Aaron asked the girl.
"Well, can you drive?"