Aria's POV.
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It took Aria exactly three days after the encounter with her mother before she finally summed up courage and spoke with her father over the phone again.Surprisingly enough, her father was rather understanding and patient while she tried to explained her reason for doing what she did without him feeling her reason are completely delusional.He only advised her against the consequence of her actions just in case she hasn't thought of it yet. He even asked that she travel home for a visit because it was obvious she was going through a rough patch in her life and needed her family to be there for her but Aria couldn't have it his way no matter how tempting that sounded like.She wanted to do things for herself this time without anyone advising or telling her what and what not to do. Going home to her family is totally out of the equation even. Going home would be part of the old routine and hell? That has to change as well. She was going to deal with this phase in her life in her own term and there won't be a butting in from anyone else.Even her boss have respected her decision and didnt call to pressurized her into returning to the company.She was replaceable after all._she thought with a careless shrug.**She woke up the next morning to her phone ringing on repeat. And in as much as she would have loved to just ignore the caller and continue sleeping, she still couldn't do it. Not with the rate at which the caller seemed to be hitting the redial button.With her face still buried into her pillow, she began to tap around the surface of her bed in search of the little buzzing noise that she can't seem to get her hands on.She heaved a deep sigh when she was finally in possession of her phone and clicked on the receive button before attaching it to her ear."What time is it at your end because it's still early over here and am trying to catch some sleep before the sun wakes up" Aria had grumbled into the receiver feeling annoyed.The caller said something that got her springing up from bed like she has just been told her roof was on fire.She looked over at her table clock, sighed before slumping back on the bed."No kidding! It's really past 11am and am still in bed?"For the first time in Lizzy's life, her timing wasn't so bad. The last time they spoke over the phone, they had agreed to meet over the week and hang out but turns out Aria has forgotten all about it.Lizzy wanted to make sure she hasnt forgotten or better yet, changed her mind about meeting up.
"Are we still set for later tonight?" Lizzy had asked just to be certain."Yes we are. We meeting at Zicky's bar right?""Yes that's the spot Ari. I will meet you there so don't forget to show up alright?"Aria gave a knowing chuckle."You bet I won't Liz"Lizzy who seemed satisfied with her answer said. "Alright then. See you later_bye""Bye"She hung up and just lay still for a moment wondering if she was really up for tonight or not. She already agreed to be there so there was no point in getting cold feet.After a while, she struggled back on her feet and head for the bathroom to carry out her morning business .Fifteen more minutes, she was dressed in her house clothes and making her way out of her bed and towards the living room to fix things around the house before proceeding to the kitchen for breakfast.By the time she was done with breakfast and laundry, time had already gone by. She didn't even have time to rest as it was already 4pm, leaving her just an hour to get ready and meet up with her best friend.She took a quick shower and stood in front of her wardrobe still wrapped in towel with another around her hair.Aria was having trouble figuring out what to wear as she kept staring at the pile of clothes before her. Not wanting to waste anymore time than she already has, she settled for a black knee length lace gown. She paired it with an equally black heel sandal that was sure to reveal her perfectly long slender legs.She had her hair up in a ponytail as usual.Another fifteen more minutes and Aria was fully dressed in that piece of fabric, hugging her in just the right places.She looked perfectly flawless even without her trying. Aria was a neutral beauty and only a few highlight to the cheek and a little bit of eye shadows had her looking like a runway model with her figure eight assets complimenting her all round.Aria doesn't just look different. She felt absolutely different and merely looking at her, one could see the difference reflecting in her choice of clothes. She wasn't exactly sure at first if she would look half as good in her pick for the night. The thought of falling back to her old routine had kept her from replacing it with her old comfortable clothes and now she is glad she didn't.Staring back at her reflection in the mirror, a little smile crawled up on her cheeks and stunk her eyes. Aria couldn't believe just how stunning she looked with sparkles underlining her big brown eyes._an evident show of the fire burning within her.Aria was staring right back at that part of her that has stayed buried for so long. Every bone and fiber in her body seemed to be daring her to let go of her childhood principle tonight and make the most out of it.She closed her eyes for a brief moment, calming her nerves that were doing an overdrive and when she finally opened them again? She knew she was ready to grow so balls like a thirty year old for once in her life.hundredthdnt want to be overdressed neither does she want the attention of the whole bar to be on her. She was comfortable dressed just like she was.Another minutes or two, she hurried out of her apartment after glancing at her reflection for what seemed like the hundredth time that evening.This night is going to be a long one.Seven years has gone by so quickly_and nothing has changed with the Okoji's as they seemed to be growing side by side and deeper in love with each other with each passing day.Frank was still the perfect husband and father to their daughter. Even his staffs at the office could swear that he was now a better boss than what he used to be. With the new promotional policy that include a fat cheque and family trip to vacation outside the country during the holiday season was enough to make him the best employer of each year.To say everything was moving on well was an understatement. Their lives was close to being perfect.Aria on the other hand would visit her parent occasionally with her daughter so she could get to meet her cousins and grandparent. She decided to quit her job at the publishing firm at some point just so she could focus more on spending as much time with her family as she possibly could while taking up writing as a side hobby.Her litt
Thirty minutes later, Frank walked into the private room where Aria was admitted and placed little Evergreen who was still sleeping in her carrier on the sofa right beside the bed.Feeling overwhelmed and emotional, he plopped down beside her on the bed before caressing the soft skin on her cheek.The heart monitor was beeping as if it was counting her heart beat on a steady repeat. Her oxygen tube was sticking out of her nose uncomfortably. Aria chest was barely rising and falling under the sheet she was nicely tucked into.Aria looked more asleep than in a coma. Her thick mass of brown hair was brushed backward and hidden under a blue hair net to avoid getting in the way.Her skin look really pale without getting much sunlight as she has been kept in that room for way too long now. The white curtains covering the window was half drawn to allow only a bit of air into the room.Frank took hold of her IV free hand in his and gave it a little s
*Frank felt awfully uncomfortable as he sat between his mother and best friend in the nearly filled courtroom with a clenched jaw that clearly expressed his dislike for being there.He rather be home with his daughter or at the hospital with Aria but that moment was because of her and missing out on the final court hearing against her captor was not an option he'd like to consider.To think that Henry was pleading not guilty to all the charges levied against him, causes every blood running through his vein to boil with anger and the hair on the back of his neck to stand on edge.Henry has no single act of remorse in his heart not even after all he has done.Aria was in a pitiful condition because of him and it would be over his dead body to see him walk out of there, a complete free man. He already made sure of that by hiring one of the best attorney he could find.His lawyer, barrister Roland_ has assured him that Henry wasn't gettin
Frank sat with blood shot eyes as he searched Sandra's face for anything that proofs that all she had told him was nothing but pure lies from the pit of hell but the more he looked at her, the more he realized it was nothing but the absolute truth.His hands was balled into a tight fist by his side with muscles trailing the walls of his neck at the shocking revelation.Frank was beyond livid at that point as he was struggling against whatever anger that was coursing through his veins at none other than himself."How?" He growl at her."It's all started when you left for London and your father offered me a job to be his secretary. I thought he did it because of how close we were but sooner than later_I found out his real reason for doing it" she took a pause before she continued. Her eyes barely meeting his due to the shame and guilt that was all too visible to the eyes."I tried everything possible to resist him but not for long because you were go
**It's been two whole month already and Aria still hasn't woken up from her coma. Even though the doctors had assured Frank over a month back, that her chances of waking up was pretty high but even at that, she still hasn't shown any sign of waking up other than the little twitching of her hand that had occurred more than twice during his frequent visit.The doctor had explained it to be her reflexes but Frank would rather not give up on her recovery_reflexes or not. That was the only proof that she was still in there and could also hear him talking to her too.Frank made sure to visit every single day as the hospital was practically his second home at that point. He spend most of his time there beside her bed and making sure she was getting the treatment she needed.He wanted to be right there when she wakes up. The first person she looks at and have her know how much he has missed her and finally be able to see her beam her charming smile at him
Frank had arrived with Aria back at the hospital some minutes later and refused to leave her side even for a second as he was mounted protectively by the door of the theatre.Both his mother and friends stood beside him in silent. No one was willing to say any word out loud as their head was hanging low in silent prayers for everything to turn out well.They had endured so much during this few days and couldn't bear to face any more than they already had been made to go through."She will be alright man" Kelvin had assured him with a gentle tap to his already tense shoulders.Frank only gave a small nod in acknowledgement. Probably too overwhelmed to say anything as he continued to glance ahead.Lizzy stood by the far left beside Frank's mother with tense shoulders. She could barely look Frank in the eyes when she was let in as well. Her guilt was eating away at her grief.Lizzy couldn't believe she had played a part in her friend's misfortu