Aurora My Love

At The Family House – The Dinner Table:

It was 7:00 PM and for over nine hours, Kelvin was crying and never had his lunch. Meanwhile, his family was waiting for him. After waiting for him to show up for dinner, and he did not, Charlotte, his mother faced Ramon, Kelvin's eighteen years little brother, and asked, “Why is Kelvin not here?” 

Mr. Ben Wilson, the Chairman of the Wilson Group of Companies, and Kelvin's dad, responded, “I wondered, too. Let us wait for a while. He will join us soon.”

They chatted until 7:25 PM, and the couple was worried, and could not wait anymore. Then, his father called out to Gil Broughton, the Janitor, “Gil.”

“Yes, Mr. Wilson,” he responded and appeared.

“Get Kelvin. Let him know that we are waiting, and he should not keep us waiting for too long.”

“I got it, Mr. Wilson,” Gil accepted, and took a step, but Ramon intercepted him, “Never mind, Mr. Broughton. I will get him.”

Gil stopped suddenly and faced Mr. Wilson for his approval, and the couple looked at Ramon, and approved, “That is good of you, Ramon. Get him quickly.”

“I will, Dad,” Ramon said and got up at once, and Gil returned to his duty post. Nevertheless, Ramon got to Kelvin's apartment and pressed the doorbell, and waited. When he got no response, he repeated and waited again. When Kelvin failed to respond, he turned the doorknob, and walked in, “What!” He cried out.

He was nearly frightened to death when he saw his brother in a worrisome state, and the floor was littered with flowers.

“Big brother. What is the matter with you?” He demanded quickly. Then, Kelvin raised his head, and sobbed, “Little brother, I wish to take my life. Kindly help me by killing me. Aurora is a nightmare. She is a bad dream.”

At that point, Ramon was lost. Then, he took his seat, and asked, “What are you talking about, big brother?”

“I swear with all my life. I will not fall in love with any woman anymore. I will never show kindness or tolerate any woman. They are all the same, and betray under the guise of love.”

“I am not getting you. What is the matter?” Ramon requested, and Kelvin reminisced about the first time he met Aurora.

Three Years Ago

Twenty years Kelvin, a sophomore at Braithwaite University, walked into the campus mall to get some snacks. He saw some students, and gave perfunctory greetings, “Hi, everyone,” and walked to the counters.

“Hi,” the students responded without interest.

Meanwhile, Aurora, an eighteen years freshman, was in the mall, and confused about how to cope with the meager pocket money that her parents made available for her. At that moment, their business had a setback, and they wanted her to learn how to survive in difficult circumstances. She was attracted by Kelvin's voice, and she looked up. Then, she saw a gallant, but handsome and rich-looking young man. Nevertheless, she greeted, “Hi.”

Kelvin looked up, noticed the exceptional voice, and responded, “Hi.”

Subsequently, he continued with his shopping, but Aurora's sweet voice echoed in his head. He ignored it and picked his favorite confectioneries, and left for the payment.  Subsequently, Aurora picked cheap beverages that were not her delight but would last longer, and walked to the cashier. She queued behind four students, and grumbled, “What an inconsiderate father.”

Howbeit, the cashier was attracted to her grumbling, and asked, “Hello. Did you just talk to me?”

“Not in the least. I talked to myself,” she defended.

“Ha ha ha,” the cashier laughed softly, and she felt slighted.

“How is that funny?” The disgruntled, Aurora, asked. To rub it in, the first student in the queue laughed, “Ha ha ha. Freshmen talk to themselves. No doubt.”

“Sophomores don't talk to themselves, right?” The Second Student intercepted. They laughed happily, except Aurora, who was wondering about their reasons for laughing at her simple comment.

Then, the third student added, “It reduces when you are penultimate.”

They laughed more, and other shoppers were attracted.  Aurora caught the joke, and laughed too, “Ha ha ha. I can reduce it in my first year. I promise.”

She realized that they were referring to the stressful life that the new students face when they leave home for the first time.

“Better,” the other shoppers responded. Nevertheless, her queue seemed livelier, and most shoppers queued up, just to catch the fun. Kelvin did the same.

Then, the cashier called out, “Next person.”

The first student responded, “Here we are.”

The cashier spent some time calculating her numerous items and announcing her bill, and she made the payment instantly.

“Have a nice day,” the cashier greeted cheerfully.

“Thank you,” she responded and walked away.

“Next person, please.”

“Here we are,” Aurora responded. She placed her scanty shopping basket on the cashier's desk. The next shoppers in the queue were pleased because she would not keep them waiting like the first student. Meanwhile, she was despondent and wished that she could afford so much. Soon, the cashier was through with her, and announced, “Have a productive day. Next person.”

“Thank you. And you too.”

She concealed her embarrassment and walked out of the mall happily. Then she mumbled, and encouraged herself, “I will talk less to myself, even in my first year.”

Meanwhile, Kelvin had a different perception about her of her humble shopping. “A humble, fine girl,” he murmured and stole a glance at her before he faced the cashier. 

“The next person, please.”

Kelvin dropped his small basket on the desk, and informed, “Yes. I'm here.”

“Okay. Your favorite confectioneries,” the cashier teased.

“Ha ha. You got it.”

Kelvin watched her compute his items, and he saw the total on the screen and made the payment, and the Cashier appreciated, “Thank you for patronizing us. Have a lovely day.”

“Thank you for that. Have a wonderful day, too.”

Two Days Later – At the School Library

Kelvin was a Mechanical Engineering Student, but his favorite book in the library was any book on Strategic War and Conflict Management. Nevertheless, he developed an interest in war when he was fourteen years old.  Notwithstanding, it was strange to the Librarian, Mr. Napoleon, the first day he requested it. He was embarrassed that a student would request a book that he was not aware of, and he ordered it specifically for him.

“Kelvin, your book is here,” Mr. Napoleon informed as usual when he got into the library. Kelvin laughed, and corrected, “Ha. It is the school's book, and not mine.”

“Ha ha ha. No student has ever read it, except you.”

“I see. Kindly keep it safe for me always.”

“Don't worry. It is always safe.”

“Thank you, Mr. Napoleon.”

Subsequently, Aurora walked into the library and headed for the shelves to pick any book on war management, for her assignments, but she found none. She was a Peace and Conflict Management Student. Her assignment was on 'How to Maintain Peace Between two Waring Nations'. Then, she walked to Mr. Napoleon and requested, “Good evening, Sir. I need your assistance.”

“Oh! Young Lady, what assistance do you require?” Mr. Napoleon demanded.

Kelvin felt bad because of her interruption. He could remember that her voice was familiar, but could not recall where he met her. All the same, he collected his book from Mr. Napoleon, and stated, “Excuse me, Sir. I need to get down to business,” and attempted to walk to a reading desk.

“It is okay, Kelvin. See you later,” Mr. Napoleon responded. 

Nevertheless, Aurora was engrossed with her desire to get a book for her assignments and was unable to notice that Kelvin was standing before Mr. Napoleon. However, she was captivated by the familiar deep voice, and was apologetic, “Oh! I apologize for interrupting your conversation.”

“Think nothing about it, young lady. What assistance do you need from me?”