Aron's pov
We soon reached our destination and I got out of the car. I helped Aurora who i couldn't take my eyes off, down from the car. Before she could see where we were, i quickly covered her eyes with my hands
"What are you doing?" She chuckled "you're definitely planing on kidnapping me dude"
This lady, i just laughed and got behind her
"It's a surprise remember?"
"Oh yeah" she finally relaxed into me
Her warm body rested on me and I slowly guided her through the grassy front gate. We were in a garden that I remembered when half of my memories came rushing back, i remembered coming here to relax. It was a huge beautiful abandoned garden, the ground was covered with green trimmed grasses that had little white daisies growing out of it and there was a stony pathway leading to a small cave in the garden, there were roses bushes growing on the left corner path of the pathway, pink and yellow tulips were growing next to the rose bushes, followed by beautiful poppies. On the right path were liles, marigolds and so many colourful flowers. In the centre of the garden was a huge African tulip tree, the beautiful orange-red flowers growing on the tree made it look like a beautiful blazing fire in the evening light. There was already a picnic blanket under the beautiful tree.
I gently dropped the food basket still covering Aurora's eyes.
"Are you ready to see your surprise?" I whispered into her ears
I'm getting too close 🥶Â
"Yessss" she bounced excitedly
I've never seen this side of her before
"Alright princess, get ready to be blown away...not by a bomb oh" i laughed
"Just show me" she laughed trying to remove my hands
I slowly removed my hands from her eyes, she slowly opened it and just froze as she looked around the garden stunned
"Are..are we still in Lagos?" She stammered in awe
"No we're in paradise" i smiled
"Omg, this is heaven. I never thought I'd actually make heaven, omg where's God's thrown biko (pleas)" she said scanning the garden
I tried to hold the laughter but I ended up bursting into a loud laughter
"Hahahaha this lady"
"This place is so beautiful, just awesome" she giggled as she went near the flowers and bent to smell them
"Do you like your surprise?" I rubbed my neck nervously
"No" she deadpanned and walked over to me
"Oh..." My face fall
"I LOVE IT!!!" She screamed happily as she hugged me
I froze as her arms squeezed my body, i reluctantly hugged her back feeling warm inside
"Thank you so much Aron" she said softly and let go of me "sorry"
I just watched as a fear teardrops rolled down her cheeks "why are you crying?"
I was really confused
"I..i just..." She tried to hold her tears "i just never thought I'd find peace in this chaos after loosing the one person who made me feel like I mattered"
"It's just too much, thank you so much" she sobbed
I pulled her into another hug and let her cry it out
"You don't have to thank me everytime, you deserve this. You helped a stranger like me, this is little compared to what you've done for me" i whispered
"My boat in the storm" she whispered but I heard her
I smiled and felt suddenly proud. Did she just call me her "boat in the storm"?
"Aurora"
"Mmmm" her voice vibrated in my chest
"You should probably stop hugging me before we both do something we'd regret"
She quickly let go of me and shifted back
"Sorry"
I just nodded
"Well...um I'm hungry" she smiled
"Me too"
We both sat down on the picnic blanket and I brought out the meals i made. As I arranged the plates, glass cups, wine and meals, Aurora just watched the scene curiously. She watched every move i made and I continued taking quick glances at her. There's this thing she does that I found adorable and rare in other women, she was curious and too aware of her environment. She could watch a bird for hours just because she found it interesting, she saw the small details about things like in Gabi's office and she noticed little things about everybody she knew. The first time she took me to her house, i noticed her studying everything about me and i just adored that about her. Call it creepy, i call it cute curiosity
"With the way you're staring at that meat pie, I'd think you were in love with it" i coughed
She just shrugged "sorry i like looking at things"
"Don't apologise, it's cute" i smiled at her
"Really?" She smiled
"Yeah. I do it sometimes" i confessed
"Guess we're kinda alike" she smirked
"Yup, except that I can cook more than you" i smirked
"Watch it tatoo guy, I'll slap all your memories back if you dare insult my five star cooking again" she pouted
"Oh whatever, you call that rubbish jollof rice you cooked on Sunday five star cooking??" I cocked my eyebrow playfully
"Omg" she held her chest playfully "I'm hurt! My village people will avenge you for my honour"
"O di egwu (whatever)" i said and laughed
"You speak Igbo?" She suddenly smiled and leaned closer
"Um yeah" i said surprised that I could even speak her language
"Nice. I'm half Igbo and half Yoruba, my mom's igbo and I learned her language at a young age though my dad disagreed" she said
"Cool. I don't really know where I got my igbo tongue from"
"I'm thinking your mom?"
"Yeah maybe. Let's eat" i said changing the topic
I don't want to remember anything, i want to live in the present with Aurora and nobody else. It feels right this way
You'll remember soon
A tiny voice said, i just waved it off even though I felt like someone was watching me.
We soon started eating, Aurora ate more. Ladies and food, i just watched in amusement as she gumbled down the fried rice and African salad i made. Soon we got down to deserts and drinks, we had champagne and ngwobi.
The night sky was finally out, the stars and full moon shone brightly on the flowers in the garden making them glow. I drank up my wine and after a while to make sure the food had settled down, i lay on my back watching the night sky
"Aron" Aurora said softly
"Yes?" I answered
"Ever wished things were a bit different than they're now?"
I kept quiet for a moment then turned my head to face her.
"Not really, if things were different i wouldn't have met you" i answered
"I see. Do you regret meeting me?"
"Why would you even assume that, of course not. Right now, you're the only thing keeping me steady" i said as I shifted closer to her
"You're being cocky right now" she chuckled nervously
"I'm just being honest"
We both kept as the cricket's sound echoed through the silence. I stared at the fireflies that were now coming out of the small cave. This evening was really beautiful
"What about you, do you wish things were different?" I asked her
"Sometimes I do, i mean i miss my boyfriend and finding out that my own father is a criminal isn't exactly something to be excited about. Everything and everyone is draining me" she sighed
"Even me?" I asked hesitantly
"Yes Aron even you"
I was a bit hurt but I just ignored the bitter feeling swelling up inside me
"How?" I wanted to know
"You refusing to let me in, it's like you don't trust me and honestly it hurts. I barely know anything about you" she said looking at me
"I'm sorry" i said hurtfully
"No it's fine. Maybe this is just my life now, everyone is wearing a mask and i don't really know who to trust anymore" she sighed again
I folded my fist angrily "but back in the car you said you trust me"
"Yes I did, i trust you but it seems like you don't trust me..."
"I do..." I quickly sat up and faced her very well "i really do, I'm just afraid of remembering everything and loosing you. You're the only friend and family i have right now"
She just stared at me, scanning my face before leaning closer
"You're not going to lose me"
"You sure?"
"Very sure, I'll give you all the time you need till you can trust me" she took my hand and my finger brushed against the ring she was wearing
"Tell me more about David" i said admiring the ring
"Um" she looked at the ring "well he was a really good guy, the best thing that ever happened to me. We grew up together since our parents were friends"
"So he was your best friend?" I said as I lay back on the ground and she too joined me
"Yes, we became closer after my mom died from a bomb accident"
"I'm sorry"
Aurora had really gone through alot
"It's fine. David was there for me even when he lost his dad, he never stopped looking after me. After our matriculation in Unilag, he asked me out and from there we become couples" she said as a warm smile creeped up her face like she was reliving the moment
"It was the best times of my life, he was such an angel...too perfect for me. I always thought it was too good to be true...guess I was right" she said sadly "they took him away too just like they did to my mom"
I kept quiet not knowing what else to say. Deep inside i felt a mixture of guilt and jealousy, i wasn't as good as David and I felt like I had something to do with his death
"Have you ever loved?" She suddenly asked interrupting my thoughts
"Um i don't really think i have, maybe I did... I'm not really sure" i said searching my mind
That fair lady that came with the governor called me babe so maybe i loved her? If it were that deep, why couldn't I remember her. Maybe it wasn't really love
"Well if you ever get to love Aron, make sure you don't get hurt like i did" she said sipping her wine 🍷Â
"What if..." I wasn't sure if I should say this
"Mmmm?" She faced me
"What if I fell in love with someone whose heart was already taken?" I asked looking into her eyes
"Well you can always fight for her" she said staring at meÂ
"But her happiness should come first... what about what she wants?" I moved closer to her faceÂ
"What if she doesn't really know what she wants" she leaned closer
"Then I guess I can take a chance, the least she can do is to push me away"
"True"
We were both lying down on the grass, facing eachother. I moved closer and held her face, i expected her to flinch but she didn't. Instead she leaned in and placed her hand on my chest, our face were now really close and we were breathing on eachother
"Aura..." I trailed off licking my lips
"Mmmm?"
Before I could say anything else, she closed the distance between us....