Chapter 13: Chapter 13

•••

Chapter Thirteen

ALEX

Three weeks passed by quickly and I can't believe it that summer was about to end. It sucks to think that I'm already going to college after two weeks.

Me and Caiden are now officially couples. I really like him when he was being romantic. He was a bitter sweet guy, most of the time he was in his 'mini office' doing his own business.

He's so workaholic. He's focused at it like it was a routine rather than a job he was required to do.

He was busy and I understand it. Most of the time, I was with Lilia in the kitchen. She taught me how to bake and cook Italian food. Every afternoon, me and Cade go around the town riding our bikes. We enjoyed each other’s presence and it help us to relax.As we returned, dinner was prepared and all of us will have our dinner with Lilia and Mike, Caiden's PA. We will help on the dishes and after that watch a movie together.

We sleep together but on our own side of the bed. We are always conscious of our position but as soon as we open our eyes in the morning, we will found ourselves wrapped in each other's arms.

Gucci, Caiden’s Pomeranian, barked and snuggled close to me. I rubbed the space right at the spot beneath his ears and found him leaning closer to the warmth.

"Hey there, sweet cheeks" he wrapped his arms around me and snuggled closer.

"Stop it, you act like Gucci these days," I laugh at that as he chuckled.

"Am I?"

"Yes you are, monkey. "He glared at me and started to poke on my sides. My knees felt like jelly and I can't help it but collapse on the floor. I laugh and snort and that made me blush more.

"Caiden! Stop please. I-ca-can't breathe!" I tried to even out my breath as he carried me into the gazebo

"I'm sorry, I think I over did it, I forgot that you have a heart disease” He lowered his head and I know that he felt guilty.

"Stop it, It's not a big deal to me. Come! Teach me how to swim" I pulled him up and ran unto the shore.

•••

"Hey, I've got a surprise for you"

"Huh?"

"C'mon, I can't wait!" He shrieked with that girly voice and I can't help but giggle.

"Signore, your father had called earlier and he says that he wanted to talk to you as soon as you returned from the beach" Mike says as we approach the door.

"Okay, I'll call him as soon as I got a chance" He smiled and pulled me to our room.

"Caiden, what is-"

"Shh, trust me on this okay"

He tied a blindfold around my eyes and guided me. I can hear him opening the sliding doors and felt the sea breeze hit my nostrils.

"Caiden, c'mon show it now!" I squeezed his hand as he tugged on it.

"Just wait, Okay?" he let go of me and soon I heard a faint sound. That sound became a melody and I was getting curious on where it was coming out. The music continued and I can't help but follow it.

"Caiden?"

'Well you done done me and you bet I felt it.'

The music came closer and I can feel Caiden beside me

'I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted'

'I fell right through the cracks and I'm trying to get back.'

'Before the cool done run out I'll be giving it my bestest'

'Nothing's gonna stop me but divine intervention'

'I reckon it's again my turn, to win some or learn some.'

'I won't hesitate, No more, No more it cannot wait…I'm yours'

The music stopped and I can feel Caiden guiding me to another place. He led me down the stairs and I can feel the wind hitting me. My feet hit the sand and I can hear it squishing under me.

We walked through and I can smell damp leaves and ocean breeze. I can't help it but feel flattered that I get to marry this guy. He's so cheesy and romantic without him knowing it.

Even if he acts like an asshole most of the time and work countless times on his office rather than spending his time with me, I love him! I love him, and I'm sure of it.

I was surprise when the blindfold suddenly loosened and there in front of me was a scene from a fairytale. The meadow was absolutely beautiful! What with those lanterns hanging around me and those fireflies flying in the air. I turned around to see Caiden leaning on a tree.

"Cade this is beautiful! Absolutely stunning" I hugged him to death and I was surprise for his stiffness.

"Cade?" I searched his eyes to see them holding so many emotions.

He stood straight and walk across the meadow. The moonlight shone dimly and I could see the contours of his face getting hard.

"Cade?" I heard him sigh as he turned his back to me.

"We'll be returning to New York tomorrow. Mom had called me earlier and she said that we are going to spend the whole two weeks preparing for college. Everything is settled, you'll be staying in a dorm away from mine. I don't want anyone to know about our relationship besides our family. The engagement party will be held early as soon as winter came. Our wedding is planned and will be held next summer." His expression was cold and distant.

"What! Everything is planned and I don't have a say in this. How-ho" I stomped my foot in frustration and continued "How are we going to continue this if we don’t even have the chance to get along together?" I tried to stop the tears that were coming but I can’t. This is just going too fast.

"Shh, we still have weekends and maybe vacations that we could spend together, right?" He pulled me in his warmth and I was glad to be enveloped in his arms.

"You promised?" I offered my pinky out and I was surprised when he hook his own pinkie with mine..

"I promise" He kissed my cheek and I was surprised when he turned me around and clasped something on my neck.

I looked down to see that it was a star similar to what I have given to Dwayne. 'My star, you will be the one to bring light to my world' .I remembered his words, those words I kept on remembering whenever I glance at his necklace.

Memories of what happen that day made me collapsed in front of Caiden. Why do they have to return now? Why now that I wanted to forget what happen between me and Dwayne? My relationship with Caiden is growing and I don't want to think about all those things I've done with Dwayne.

I look up to see Caiden staring down at me with a genuine smile on his handsome face. I glared down at the ground as I felt guilty of comparing the two of them. Why do they have to be so alike?

"Do you like it?" He tilted my chin and wiped my tears."Why are you crying? Do you not like it? Oh, uh maybe I could look for something new it's just-" I put my finger on his lips to stop him from blabbering.

"Shh, I don't just like it, because I love it!" I smiled and hugged his waist. I hooked my arms on his neck and connected my forehead on his.

"I love you Cade slash devil slash monkey slash Coldfoot"

"I love you too sweet cheeks slash buffalo and, what was that again?"

"Hmmph, forget it. I'm yours too, monkey" I pulled his head and kiss him thoroughly.

•••

We arrive in Manhattan early this morning. Mike was the one who brought us in and I was lonely that Lilia has to stay in Malibu.

We have a brunch with Mr. Carl Cole Ford only because his wife was sick. After that Caiden excuse himself for he had to attend a meeting with his father.

Mr. Cole Ford was the one who stayed with me all throughout this morning. He even brought me into their factory where most of their products are made. We were about to head off and have lunch to one of their restaurants when Caiden arrive.

"Hey!" I kiss his cheek and hugged him closer

"Hey there sweet cheeks" He smiled down at me and I can see his eyes full of tiredness. He also look so distant.

"C'mon we're gonna miss the flight. Bye dad" He smiled grimly at his father and led me to his car

The plane ride was long because I don't have anyone to talk to. Caiden seemed to be quiet all along. He seems to be in his own world. I wonder what he's thinking now. I wanted to start a conversation but I'm afraid that he may snap at me.

We reached Connecticut in no time. Caiden will be studying business in Yale and me, of course I'll take fine arts. I've been wanting to study arts and I won’t regret any second doing what I want.The plane finally landed and Mike took me in my new apartment. Caiden didn't go with me for he needed to do something and I'm pretty hurt when he just stared at me with his eyes that hold many emotions which I couldn't comprehend.

I'm sad for he didn't even kiss me or hug me. He didn't show any affection to me from the moment we landed in New York. Is he back on being a as*hole again?

I can't get him at all and I hate it!

I am now lying down on a bed staring at the walls of my new room, in a dorm, the new place where I'll be staying here in Connecticut. Caiden wasn't with me for he has to attend a meeting with the Strindberg's.

I'm all alone now with no friends with a bunch of girls who could be my enemies, stalkers, whatsoever. I really miss my room back home. The color of my old room back home offers safety and comfort. This place was nothing but a dull cream-colored room with a desk across my bed, a closet and a bathroom.

My phone was beside me and it's a new thing. I've never kept my phone with me all the time but now I'm waiting for a call. He promised me that he'll ring me as soon as his meeting was finish but then my time is running and I can't just sit here waiting.

An idea popped on my head and so I called Mike to send me a blue, purple and pink paint. He asked me why do I need those but I just told him to mind his own business. Snappy? Yes. I don't want anyone to know about my plan.

I push the desk inside the closet, with the pillows and all the necessary things I needed to move. I wrapped the bed in newspapers I bought while waiting for the paint and started my job.

I was happy for the outcome of it. This is my room and so I have a say on what I will do or put at it. The cream colored walls were now decorated with a purple and pink dot's dancing on the pale blue wall.

I felt happy and sad at the same time as I watched those dots floating. Happy because I got to feel free and at home again but it made me sad because of the memories I left at home. A knock interrupted me in my lalaland and I was surprised to see a familiar looking lady in her mid- thirties standing at my door.

"Uhm, may I ask. Who are y-" she smiled at me and caught me into a giant bear hug.

"I'm Lisa, Lilia's younger sister. The Cole Ford's told me that I'll be your personal assistant from now on and so, here I am" She smiled at me as she released me from her hug.

"Personal assistant?"

"Yep and I'll be here for you no matter what"

"As in, you're like my babysitter?"

"You got that right. By the way I love the colors you used to paint your room"

"How did you know that I was the one who paint it?"

"Well, your face says that for there is a paint on your cheek and you smell like it" She smiled at me kiss my cheek and said her goodbye. I stood there astounded on what had happened. I can't seem to wrap my head around it. It's hard to let it all sink.

Last June, I was just a normal senior graduating from ALHS, waiting for my childhood love, Dwayne. Then the revelation about Dwayne's whereabouts and that there's no hope of finding him alive for his body was not yet found in span of four years. And the deal that our parent's made, the deal that made me live with the devil, forever.

I remember that day at the park with Dwayne's look alike, Caiden, which turns out to be my future husband. I became a very feisty, stubborn but sensitive girl at him. With the fact that I was trying to get over at Dwayne, trying to forget him on everything I do with Caiden for he always remind me of him I am confused.

I can't believe that all of these happened in just two months. As I tried to go back to my memories, those seventeen years was less exciting than what happen on my summer vacation of two months.

I didn't know that I was capable of getting out of my shell and to the world. I just realized how boring my life had been for the last four years. Those four years I have hold on to that promise that he'll come back with my necklace, that we're going to be united again, like the moon and the star on the darkest night.

Caiden became my star in disguise. I know we fight; a lot of times I should say but then he pulled me out of the darkness that became my home for four years. He shone like me on Dwayne's world. Whenever I was with this monkey, I forgot that he was the devil who would destroy me after all this.

But I don't care anymore. I don't care what will happen in the future and what happen in the past has passed. The present is here and I will enjoy it while it last.

I guess my simple life will be turned 180 degrees again?

© A.G_2018