We'll both go down

Chapter 23

Ariel’s POV

“Harggg” I gasp in fright, my eyes scrutinizing the mess on the floor. Axel steps in fully with a worried look. He seems to have heard the sound and wondered what caused it; not until he caught me standing close to his bed.

He furrowed his brow a bit, walking closer to the splattered glasses. He picked a glass up and stared at it, sighing softly. He dropped it, raising his head to face me. No doubt, I was visibly shaking as my legs wobble fervently. His eyes held fury, as he folds his fist annoyingly.

“What…have you done” He muttered in his scariest voice. I have never heard him speak this way before, and now my mind is blaming me for being too curious. I shouldn’t have come here in the first place, now see where it has landed me.

“I-I am..erm…I’m sorry…I- I actually…” I shuttered, rubbing the nape of my neck, cursing myself silently.

“Did you just break my favourite frame….how dare you” He growled, walking closer towards me. I shifted backward, shaking vividly

“I’m sorry okay….it was a mistake, I didn’t intentionally do it. Why will I wanna break your frame?” I asked, motioning my feet

He stopped to glance at her

“Go and back your bags” he snorted in a cold voice

“B—but why…are you throwing me out?” I inquired sadly

“You heard me”

“Please don’t throw me out..i promise I won’t have anything to do with your things again, but don’t send me away…please” I pleaded. Now I’m beginning to wonder why I have to beg him not to send me back to Aiden, well I actually enjoyed living in Aiden’s place, but now I feel like some part of me will leave if I leave here.

“But I already apologize. Why are you taking it too far? What I broke was just a frame of which you could get another. Stop being hard on me” I pouted, folding my arms. He folded his fist the more, only to release them after, preventing himself from doing the worst.

“Just leave…before I lose it on you”

“Stop being so cold and be like your brother…he is not rude, cold or hard-hearted like you. You just have to stop this behavior of yours and……….”

“Shut up!!!!” he growled, his face red with fury. I knew what was coming wouldn’t be the best so I had to hurry out, banging the door softly. I exhale softly, holding my chest; I haven’t seen him that way before, did I hurt him that much. Oh no, Ariel, what’s wrong with you…what?” I slapped myself on my cheek, feeling guilty already. The thing is, I should have talked to him that way, but why do I suddenly become rude towards him. Why can’t I stop it….” I asked myself as my heartbeat increased rapidly.

~~~~~

<A Slum>

An Unknown Suite

Standing in front of a window is a young lady in her late teen, staring intently at the little children playing a game just close to the house. They might be the neighbours children, she thought. But that wasn’t what interested her; it was the hide and seek game they were playing that caught her attention. She laughed vividly when one of the children hiding in an open place was caught; the others scold the little child for not hiding in a secure place and made her presence visible.

 A nostalgic feeling erupt in her mind as she remembered the days when she was just like them, playing with other children from the slum; who hasn’t tasted wealth in their lifetime. Her life from the start was what people will call innocent, but as time goes on things became weird for her, and that was after she met her mother who neglected her at child birth.

The game continued with her enjoying the show, not until her phone beeped; and a message popped up. She sighed, ignoring the message but a smile appeared on her face as her eyes caught her phone’s wallpaper. The picture has been on her phone for a while now, but each time she looks at it, a sudden rush of butterflies fill her stomach, as her heart wish for the day she will be in his arms, caressing his chest, while he kisses her hair. She was so engross in staring at it, not until she heard her name from her mother.

“Flora? Flora….” Her mother called, stepping into the room. She just finished preparing lunch and was about going to call her from the sitting, but couldn’t find her. She decided to head for the room

“Mum……” Flora muttered, turning to face her

“Are you ok, darling, I have been calling you for a while now” Her mum inquired

“Yeah….i’m fine…was just watching this kids play a funny game…..ermm..are you through with the cooking” She tried to change the subject. Her mum sighed softly, she knew her daughter well, despite the fact that they just met some years ago. Sitting down on the bed close by, she stared intently at her daughter who stared back puzzled

“Mum…what’s wrong” She asked

“Hmm, Flora…I know that I haven’t been a best mum, but I know my daughter to be someone who won’t be like me. You are so sweet and kind when you were little. Fine, I wasn’t there for you, but I watched you from afar. I believe you are still sweet up till now, but Flora..why are you doing this to yourself”

“I don’t get you mum—what do you mean” Flora frown

“You were lost in thought when I came in, and I believe you are thinking about that guy again. How sure are you that he is gonna love you back, have you taken any step yet, or has he even shown interest in you…”

“Mum…..” Flora whined, already getting annoyed

“Baby listen—Axel loves you so much, I know that, right from time. Fine, he might have his own flaws but to be sincere to you, what you did to him wasn’t the right thing to do. That might have broken him so much, why did you cheat on him…why” Her mum scold, softly

“Mum---huhff, as far as I’m concerned, this is my life not yours. And you have done worst than this when you were young. I’m not trying to rub it to your face, but the fact that you left me alone in this miserable world for years, is a point to show how you were.

I shouldn’t have taken you in, accepted you back and even find a safe place for you to hide if I wasn’t compassionate. The sins you have committed in the past are coming back to you in a bad way. Tell me, who is bad between both of us?

You also cheated on dad, didn’t you. I was born out of wedlock, suffered on the street and later find favour in the eyes of God by finding Axel who took me away from here. But the fact that I don’t love him still remains, I can’t force myself to love someone who I don’t love at first sight. So what’s the point? I thought we have talked about this before” She snapped, her mum bowed her head in shame, but raised it up again to look at her.

“Hmm…I thought we have talked about this too, I have seek your forgiveness over the years and I’m ready to be a good mother. I’m really grateful to you for hiding me here, preventing my persecutors from getting a hold of me; I should have been in prison by now, but thanks to you.

 But the fact still remains that I want the best for my daughter. I don’t want you to go astray just like the way I did. I don’t want your latter life to be like mine. I want to do what I couldn’t do over the years that I left you. I love you so much Flora, and I already explained the reason why I left..please don’t paint me as a bad mother, it hurt me so much to hear those words from you” She sobs, Flora sighs.

“Mum…I’m did everything for your own good, not mine, just accept it that way”

“In what way does your breaking up with your boyfriend have to do with me, please tell me. I’m really curious here”

“You don’t have to be, mum…..”

“Hmm….i just thank God that your relationship with him was made known to the world, else it would have been another topic on the lips of people when they hear about the breakup and perhaps what you did.

And this might ruin your career as a Model; most companies won’t want you to be the face of their product being that your tarnished your image. But even with that, some people are still having doubt of both of you; some believe you both are going out, while others are just ignorant.” She held Flora hand, caressing it softly

“Look here dear, I’m not forcing you to date him, you are an adult, you can do what you want. But even if you want to break up with a guy, please do it in a right way. Axel has really helped you so much, since everything happened this way, I think there are better ways to make corrections. So that it won’t affect your future..okay” She smiled, tapping her cheek softly. Flora nodded

“Thanks for the advice mum……ermm..I need to go now”

“Ain’t you gonna take lunch” Her mum inquired

“Nope…my manager sent me a message now inquiring of my where about. I’m having a shoot in a few minute; so I really need to leave” She rushed her words, picking up her jacket

“When are you coming to see me again” Her mum asked, her face filled with sadness

“I might come check up on you tomorrow, might not be opportune to see you this evening though. And I don’t want to be coming here often, I don’t want anyone to know about your presence in this house, that’s why I decided to choose the slum area as your hideout. So if you need anything just text or call me, I will send it immediately…muahh…goodbye mum” She pecked her on her cheek

“Stay well my daughter” Her mum hugged her sideward, which she reciprocated. Getting to the door, she stopped and glance back at her

“I love you mum…and anything I do…I do it to protect you” She muttered, her mum shrug, as she exit the room.

Getting into her car, she placed her head on the wheels, making muffled sounds as rolls of tears drop down her eyes. She sobs loudly knowing full well that all her mum said was true, but she just wanna stay strong whereas she is weak within.

 All she did was for her mum and nothing more. Fine, she doesn’t love Axel, but she doesn’t also wish to hurt him like that, but she had no choice. Her mum shouldn’t find out about this, else she will be forced to do something against her will.

Her phone rings out jerking her off her world of thought, she sniffed in, cleaning her tears off before picking up the call.

“Flora…..where are you…it’s almost time” Her manager’s voice came up

“I’m on my way, expect me in five minute” She muttered, dropping the call before he could say a word. She ignited the car engine and sped off.

*Jenkin’s Mansion*

“So what do you think about this dress” Nina asked Sophia who sat close to Emma on the bed, throwing some nuts into her mouth. She shrugs while Nina sighed frustratingly

“Come on…I’m really looking for a suitable dress and all you keep doing is to shrug, I need your help here being the fashion guru” Nina rolled her eyes

“Whatever, just pick a dress, it will look good on you Nina, trust me” Sophia resorted

“So easy for you to say, well that’s because you are damn pretty, so all dresses look good on you, even if it a rag, you will still look like a goddess in it. Unlike me, who is still struggling to look pretty for the guy I’m crushing on, geez…when will he ever notice me?” She whined. Sophia snickered

“Aiden might never notice you Nina, stop dreaming your ass out. We are talking about Aiden here, I think he is in love with that feeble girl he took in, else why will he bring in a girl to live with him and call her his friend, when he clearly picked her up from some slum” Sophia scoffs

“No it can’t be—I didn’t notice any chemistry between them and she seems so innocent. So I believe that I still have a chance. One day he is gonna notice me, and you know why, because I’m gonna play a female lead in one of his movie.” Nina grinned

“What the F-, why did you do that….like…wait..so are you going into the movie industry for real, or you just wanna act a crazy dark scene with Aiden? What will happen to our band, we will be having a live audition with those newbies soon so what are you gonna tell the board of directors”

“Come on Sophie….I know what I’m doing, it won’t affect any of my schedules with the industry, trust me” Nina assured. She rolled her eyes, and glance at Emma whose attention was focused on her phone, grinning and chuckling a bit. Weird, Sophia thought

“So…who is the lucky guy…” Sophia asked her, while Nina focus her attention back in choosing the dress she wants.

“Ermm….it’s no one” She smirks

“Come on…I know you are chatting with a guy, who is he?” Sophia inquired

“Hey……girl chill…he is someone special…and I love..” A knock came on the door as a young maid with big eyes, brown hair and a little fringe stepped in.

“Good day Ma’am” She greeted

“Someone is here to see you….He is in the living room” She muttered fidgeting with the herm of her dress

“He?...huhnn” Sophia sighed, rolling her eyes

“I’m sure Michael won’t let me breath for a sec” She mumbled, as Emma squinted at her

“Go and bring him in” She ordered the maid, who wasted no time but followed the request

“Michael? Come on girl…what’s up with you and this Michael guy lately” Emma asked with gathered brows. Sophia glare hard at her

“Will you just focus on getting your new crush and leave me to my business” She snapped rubbing her temples frustratingly. Emma shrug, placing her focus back to her phone.

Michael came in, in less than two minute as Sophia made eye contact with the girls. They quickly understood what she meant and decided to leave, but not without greeting Michael, who smiled at them in return.

Sophia stood akimbo, facing him with her arms folded beneath her breast. He smirked vividly, delving his hands into his well ironed designer jeans; moving closer to stand in front of her. He held her jaw, lifting it up a bit to face him, staring at her red soft lips. He made eye contact with her and attempted to crash his lips on hers, but she turned swiftly facing the other side as his lips landed on her cheek; making him groans.

“Hey…come on…” he whispered, trying to hold her arm, but she brushed it off

“When will all this stop Michael…huhnn….i’m tired..go find another girl to make out with” she scoffs loudly, moving away from him. His smiley face sudden hardens with a frown.

“We had a deal Sophia…and you promised me..”

“A round…yea…and we had that already” She cuts in

“But I want more….” He snapped going to face her again, as he held her face towards his. They were just few inches from each other, as their breathe splash across their faces

 “I want more…..that wasn’t enough you know. I love you so much Sophia..trust me…I don’t know why you are going after that idiot guy when you know that I’m here for you. He isn’t even giving you a face, all he thinks about is Flora, but I’m here for you. I can give you what he can’t” he muttered firmly but she pushed him away

“Get out of my room Michael, I’m done with you…..i’m tired of this shit” She snapped

“Huhnn…are you asking me out” He scoffs

“You heard me right…get out before I throw you out by force…I don’t wanna call the guards on you” She yelled.

“Hmm…okay…I will leave” he twisted his neck sideward with a smirk, cracking his knuckles tightly

“But have it in mind that if I go down, then you will go down with me” He threaten, receiving deadly glares from her as he made his way out.