Aurélia settled into the sitting room, her eyes fixed on the TV as she half-heartedly watched the morning news. Deep down, she was hoping he'd return, and the silence was starting to feel oppressive. Suddenly, the sound of the door opening broke the stillness, and her heart skipped a beat. She stood up, her eyes locking onto Isaiah as he walked in, carrying two polythene bags filled with an assortment of goodies.
"Morning, beautiful," he said, his smile radiant as he pulled her into a warm hug. But Aurélia's response was lukewarm, her face still bearing the weight of her disappoinment. She pushed him away gently, her voice tinged with hurt. "You left without even telling me," she complained, her eyes searching his face for answers.
Isaiah's expression softened, and he offered a gentle smile. "I didn't want to disturb my beautiful while she was sleeping," he explained, his voice low and soothing. "Come, let's have breakfast," he added, his eyes sparkling with warmth.
As they headed to the kitchen, Aurélia took one of the polythene bags from him, her curiosity piqued. Isaiah unpacked the food, revealing a spread of Aurélia's favorite dishes–vegetables, bread, eggs and chocolate cakes. The aroma wafting from the food was heavenly, and Aurélia's stomach growled in anticipation.
The gesture touched her heart, and she couldn't help but feel a little more affectionate towards Isaiah. Maybe his thoughtfulness would make up for his abrupt departure earlier. As they sat down to eat, Aurélia's eyes met Isaiah's, and she smiled, her heart a little lighter.
"Thanks for giving me a hint, Aurélia," Isaiah said, his hand brushing against hers. Aurélia's face flushed with shyness, and she quickly pulled her hand away. "Who told you I gave you a hint?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. "You can't win me over with flattery."
Isaiah chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Even if I'm not sure I've won, I believe I'm already winning you over. And I'll keep making you believe it more and more."
Aurélia looked away, her hand covering her mouth as she laughed with excitement. Despite her attempts to play it cool, she couldn't deny the thrill of his words.
Just then, the door bellrang, breaking the intimate moment. Aurélia's heart skipped a beat as she exchanged a surprised glance with Isaiah. "Are you expecting someone?" Isaiah asked, his brow furrowed in curiosity. Aurélia shook her head, her mind racing with possiblities. "It might be Lila or your brother Asher," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Without hesitation, Aurélia gestured for Isaiah to hide in the guest room. Isaiah nodded, his eyes locking onto hers before he disappeared from view. Aurélia took a deep breath, smoothing her hair and clothes before making her way to the door. Who could it be, and what did they want?
Aurélia opened the door, and Lila breezed in, her presence filling the room. Aurélia's expression transformed from welcoming to worried, her brow furrowed with questions. "Lila, what brings you here? You didn't even call to say you were coming?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Lila plopped down on the couch, setting her bag beside her with a casual air. "Do I need permission to visit my best friend?" she replied, her tone light-hearted but with a hint of mischief.
Aurélia sat down beside her, her eyes locked onto Lila's. "I know you don't need permission to come and visit me, but a heads-up would have been nice. What's going on?" she pressed, her voice softening.
Lila's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I'm here for the gossip, girl! You texted me on Friday, remember? You even said you have something to tell me." Aurélia's face shifted, her eyes darting away for a fleeting moment.
"It wasn't that important," Aurélia said, trying to downplay it. But Lila wasn't buying it. "You're lying, I can see it in your eyes," Lila said, her voice teasing but also perceptive. "You're terrible at acting, Aurélia, especially when it comes to me. I know you too well."
Aurélia chuckled, a flush rising to her cheeks. "You really do know me that well, huh? And yeah, I'm not exactly a pro at lying. But I think I did okay this time." She smiled, her eyes meeting Lila's, and the two friends shared a knowing glance.
Lila's eyes scanned the room, her gaze landing on the dishes on the dining table. "Don't tell me you had another visitor before me?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity. Aurélia's response was quick, but her words seemed to hide something. "Of course not, who else would come here apart from you and maybe Asher?"
Lila's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Isaiah could come here, you never know. He does like to disturb you, and he might have bullied you to give him food," she said, her tone playful but also perceptive. Aurélia's throat cleared involuntarily, her heart racing slightly as she heard her friend's reply. It was as if Lila had somehow sensed the truth.
Meanwhile, Isaiah sat quietly in the guest room, his ears perked up as he listened to the conversation between Aurélia and Lila. He suddenly remembered that he had left his phone in the living room, and a flicker of concern crossed his face. He strained his ears to catch every word, his mind racing with the possibility of being discovered.
As Lila's words hung in the air, Aurélia's face betrayed a hint of nervousness, while Isaiah held his breath, hoping that his presence remained undetected. The tension was palpable, and the silence that followed seemed to stretch on forever.
Aurélia's laughter was like a velvet-wrapped razor, smooth on the outside but deadly sharp beneath. "Isaiah, huh? Please Lila, he's probably too scared to even knock on the door." She chuckled, the sound sending shivers down the spines of anyone within earshot. Isaiah who was lurking in the guest room, nodded his head in amusement and laughed, but his laughter was audible for anyone to hear.
Lila oblivious to the drama unfolding around her, looked around confused. "Who's laughing? I could have sworn I heard someone." Aurélia's expression turned concern, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, sweetie, I think you might be coming down with something. You've been acting weird all morning. Did you drink a bottle of wine by yourself yesterday?"
Lila's eyes widened in embarrassment. "Uh, maybe a few glasses...Okay, fine, I might have had a bit too much. But I didn't think I'd still be feeling it today!" Aurélia's gaze turned clinical, her eyes scanning Lila's face like a doctor examining a patient.
"Your eyes look like two piss-poor holes in the snow, and your skin is paler than a ghost. You need to go home and sleep for a week."
Lila groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I think you're right. I'm also starting to feel like a zombie. I'll just go home and take a nap. I don't want to scare people with my zombie face." Aurélia's smile was a ray of sunshine, warm and comforting but with a hint of sarcasm. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll just sit here and twiddle my thumbs while you sleep the day away. Remember, you hate being ugly, so you need to go back home and fix yourself."
As Lila bid her farewell, Aurélia walked her out to the car, waving goodbye like a concerned mother sending her child off to bed. Once Lila was gone, Aurélia let out a deep sigh and muttered, "Well, that was fun but also scary. Now I need to head to this stubborn Isaiah."
Aurélia swiftly opened the guest room door, and Isaiah emerged. "It's time for you to leave," she said her voice low and urgent. "Your brother might drop by, and I don't want any trouble." Isaiah's eyes locked onto hers, his gaze intense. "Before I go, I need to tell you something," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "I really like you, Aurélia. I believe that one day, we'll connect on a deeper level." With that, he grabbed his phone and gently brushed his lips against her cheek. "I'll see you soon," he whispered, before heading out of the door.