She was so beautiful, with her long loose hair, her sparkling sky-blue eyes and her smooth white skin making her so fucking beautiful. The red lips that crackled calm the heart from anxiety when smiling. Not for a second did the eyes turn away from her. She is gentle speech gave calm, revealing the long-buried roots of bitterness. The heart is increasingly beating fast as the steps are approaching. The embrace of longing has been open to welcome. Until when her steps approached, a charming smile with two sparkling eyes unraveled slowly. Because hugs are not mutual, longing does not meet. The body froze, tongue-tied, while the lips remained silent. The sound of laughter diverted for a moment into confusion. Carefully the body moved, turning its back to find out. In the same second, the heartbeat immediately tightened because of a sense of shock mixed with deep wounds. Those ocean-blue eyes blushed, holding back tears that were about to slide on the surface of the cheeks. Because there, his love has been anchored, choosing to welcome a new love, leaving his love with fragments of wounds.
Traitor. That one word filled Darren's mind after successfully escaping the shadows of the past. He gripped the crystal glass filled with wine to vent emotions, about to crush because of the excruciating pain. There was absolutely no glow of injury in those blue eyes; there was only a grudge that continued to grow as time went on. Cleo's request that he marry Aurora makes the terrible memories that have long been buried in the farthest corner of his heart reappear, presenting a sudden sense of tightness. Darren no longer wants to open the door of his heart that has been tightly closed, no longer wants to fall in love to make himself put aside logic and act implicitly. Darren's heart has been numb, numb to return to enjoy the beauty of love.
Darren sipped his wine, his eyes staring at the digital screen that was showing Cleo was sound asleep. A wry smile appeared on his lips when he remembered his son's recklessness. Only Cleo could bring hisself to his knees, unable to argue even though his mouth itched to spout anger at the man. Darren thinned his lips then. His brain worked to design the things he would give Aurora. Of course, it was out of the woman's mind.
Aurora, take responsibility for this.
***
The night was getting late when Aurora sat down in the living room while pensive. Her mind was still wandering at Shasa's words. Her brain was tired of studying Shasa's last sentence before she fell into a beautiful dream. Aurora sighed deeply, then moved from her seat, then step towards the window. Aurora looked at the outside world that seemed still covered in fog. The rain seemed reluctant to stop. Her mind floated while her gaze was blank. For quite a long time, Aurora flinched without a word, until a voice from behind her back jolted her consciousness instantly.
"What do you do on a morning like this?"
Aurora instantly turned around, throwing a sweet smile at the woman who had stepped up to her.
"No, I just can't close my eyes. That's why I took on another activity?" Aurora replied softly with a stiff smile.
"Other activities?" said Mrs. Amira repeating while throwing a probing look. "By keeping quiet, is that what you mean?"
That stinging question made Aurora stunned for a moment. Her heart had anxiety. Amira's mother was very sharp in judgment, making it difficult for Aurora to say anything else, about to hide the burden of her mind.
"What is mom talking about? I don't understand what you're saying?" she said softly, this time with a stammer.
Amira's mother was silent for a moment, to study Aurora's facial expressions. "What is bothering you? You seem very anxious." Amira grabbed Aurora's fingers, grasping her gently.
"I'm fine, mom. Don't worry about me. I was in a bad mood, but it was all because of the workload. Besides, I've been having trouble sleeping lately. Really, there's nothing to worry about me." Aurora spoke firmly, trying to convince Amira's mother.
Amira narrowed her eyes, looking intently at Aurora. "Well, if you don't want to tell me. I'll wait until you're ready." She then patted Aurora gently on the cheek before stepping into the kitchen.
Aurora reviewed a faint smile, saying nothing. Even when Amira's mother's footsteps were no longer audible, Aurora still flinched, standing with a stiff body.
***
"How is my son?"
Without the need to mince words, Darren immediately threw the question as soon as Evan's doctor did his job. Darren behaved calmly, only his blue eyes narrowed at the other doctor fixedly.
"I haven't sighed yet, but you've touched me with your fireball-like eyes. Your calm expression seemed like water that looked still but washed away, scaring me a little." said doctor Evan in a thick scornful tone.
Darren thinned his lips. "I collect various weapons that can send you to death immediately. You want to try it?"
Doctor Evan whined, his expression turning sour. "Cleo is fine. The fever has gone down. Soon your son will come to his senses. Are you satisfied with my results?" he throws a cynical look.
Darren nodded his head, running his fingers across his jaw as he weighed doctor Evan's answer. "Are you sure my son doesn't need more intensive care?"
Hearing that, the doctor hardened his jaw, feeling offended by Darren's words. "Stop doubting me, Light. You're just good at injuring not to cure. I'm not at all impressed by your compliment."
The attitude of opposition aimed by Evan's doctor made the corners of Darren's lips lift. The guy really hates it if anyone doubts his professionalism as a doctor. He even forgot his formal attitude toward Darren and the boundaries he had been taught.
"You're sucking, eh?" Darren said in a serious tone that made doctor Evan immediately stagger.
"N-no. How dare I be rude to you." doctor Evan replied nervously and bit the tip of his tongue slowly before continuing. "Ah, never mind. Don't look at me like that. You're numbing my heart." he said then glanced timidly at Darren.
Darren did not respond, his eyes more and more sharply staring at doctor Evan. For a long time Darren threw that intimidating look that made the atmosphere of the room so crowded, then Darren tilted his head slightly, turning to Anthonio with the corner of his eye.
"Take him out. The atmosphere in this room will be more crowded if the damn doctor is still here." Darren gave the order.
Hearing that, Anthonio immediately nodded obediently and then stepped forward to approach doctor Evan. "Come on, the exit is there."
Doctor Evan smiled sarcastically. "There's no need to show me the way out. I can still clearly see the door. You and your boss are such a pain in the ass." Doctor Evan paused just to look at Darren and Anthonio. "Hopefully, anyone can tear down a walking iceberg like the two of you. I was really looking forward to that day." he added again then stepped towards the door with an annoyed expression.
Darren shrugged his shoulders, showing indifference. When the room had turned silent, Darren immediately dropped his gaze towards the bed, staring deeply at Cleo. Darren could not resist moving his fingers, gently rubbing Cleo's head before then bending over to award her with a kiss of affection on her forehead.
You're wrong to think I don't love you, Cleo. Because I'm basically the one who's going to die if you're not by my side. I loved you so much that I forgot how to love myself, let alone love others. You're everything to me.
***
"Aurora?"
When she heard her name called, Aurora immediately turned her head to the origin of the sound. Her expression seemed flat when she found Jason's presence in the kitchen, not at all interested in just returning the man's clingy gaze.
Jason frowned, staring puzzled at Aurora's change in attitude. He stepped closer to Aurora.
"What happened to you? Have I done something wrong?" Jason asked urgently, not letting time roll long to dispel his curiosity.
Aurora stopped cleaning the kitchen floor for a moment and stared at Jason.
"What did you say to Shasa?" She said, throwing a probing look.
"What do you mean? What word are you talking about?" Jason replied quickly, returning Aurora's gaze, no less probing.
Aurora smiled faintly. "Do you really not know what I mean or just pretend not to know?" she asked bitterly and then paused for a moment to make sure that Jason listened well to what she said. "Well then, what if I turn it into a question?"
Jason raised his eyebrows. "Explain what you mean."
Aurora was silent for a moment, then gazed at Jason before speaking. "Do you really love me?" she said, which instantly made Jason's body freeze.