*Kiara*
“Tell me what happened, please?” a tight knot had been twisted in my chest and my heart was not looking calm as it seemed. She nodded her head vigorously then readjusted on her seat, “You see, I felt it would be better not to start from how Granny and I had met, but I figure you need to know it” she said, I only nodded, waiting for her next words, “I was on an errand by my foster mom on that fateful day, I was lost in my thought that I didn't realize I was in the road until Granny's car knocked me down” I watched her mouth as she talks, “But it was a good thing I ran into Granny's car because ever since I knew Granny, I can't thank her enough. Granny took me away from my foster parents, provided me a new life and everything” there was a satisfied smile playing around her lips while talking about this Granny. “However, it didn't occur to me that I would be paying a price for everything that Granny has done for me. Granny fulfilled my dream of going back to school but told me that it wouldn't affect my marriage with her grandson” My brows pressed to a frown, “Oh, her grandson?” I muttered, “Yes Kiara, which is no other person than Alexander” she conceded, and my jaw dropped at once. “I couldn't say no to her, although, I wasn't in a relationship neither was I in love, but I never wished to be in an arranged marriage.” I nodded, who does love to be in an arranged marriage? “Not long after, Granny sent me an invitation to her household. I'd learn that my supposed to be husband had finally found a woman of his preference and would be bringing her home that night” she paused, probably to study my expression, but I didn't give away any mood.
Tears blurred her vision as she continued, “But it was so sad Kiara, even before I could reach Granny's residence, I was informed so soon that Alexander couldn't find his woman,” My eyes gradually filled with tears as well, but I kept them away from falling. “I swear, Kiara, the extent to which Alexander loves you the same amount he loves his Granny” I lowered my head now, allowing the tears to flow from my eyes willingly. “Alexander was hoping every day that you would come back to him very soon, even when everyone had lost their hope about your comeback. Everyone thought that you were dead” I sniffed back my tears, wiping my face and raising my head to face her again. “Some months later, Granny was beginning to get worked up about the whole thing. She was bent on getting her grandson married as soon as possible and that was why she brought me home” she waited, sucking a deep breath, and then began again, “Alexander met me. It was funny when he had thought I was his long-lost Kiara” she said with a laugh in her voice. I also smiled briefly, “To cut the long story short, Kiara, Granny wanted us to get married, especially when she learned that I look like her grandson's lover, thinking It would make things easier but no, the feelings weren't there. Your image is the only one in his eyes and there's no room for anyone else” she let out, unable to wipe her smile from her face, and for a long moment, our gazes locked. “So, Mack suggested we get married, a fake marriage. Making it real in Granny's presence just to make her happy. However, we intended to file for divorce some months later after the marriage” she further explained, my lungs seemed to completely shut down as tears pooled in my eyes. “So, it was a planned marriage?” I choked on my words, my heart hurts a lot. “Yes, Kiara, Alexander loves you so much that I am envious of you” she stood up, whirled around, and slowly reached out her hands and held my shoulders. I shut my eyes, recalling how I'd slapped him and accused him, not allowing him the chance to protest. I burst into another fresh wave of tears, “I'm so sorry,” I covered my face with my hands, feeling so remorseful. “It's okay, Kiara. Please stop crying” she spoke softly, patting my back tenderly. Slowly, I rose to my feet and shot her an adorable smile, “What's your name?” I asked. “Amelia” I nodded then reached out to hold her hands. “I wish we can talk more in the future, hang out with each other, and if truly we are twins, then we should find out about our real mother together” I proclaim, bringing a broad smile to her face. She let go of my hands and came into my embrace suddenly, I smiled, feeling a great joy I've felt in years. As soon as we disengaged from the momentary but intense hug, “Could you please extend my greetings to him?” as I pronounced these words, I lowered my head in embarrassment. “I'm sure he would be so mad at me and wouldn't want to see me” I heard Amelia chuckle and I lifted my head to look at her face with a slight frown, “Why don't you endeavor to meet him first? Who knows? He might not be as angry as you've presumed” she affirmed and warmly suggested, but I could only feel my heart bounce at her opinion. “Do you think he would like to meet me now?” I asked in a low voice, Amelia nodded directly, “Remember he loves you so much” heeding her encouraging words, I felt so pleased and then hugged her once more.
In the noon…
I left my office and was ready to go home but as soon as I got inside the car, I had this weird feeling, that induced me to take off to Aiden's school. “To my son's school, please” I notified the driver, “Yes ma'am” Half an hour later, the car rolled to a stop right in front of Aiden's elementary school. I grabbed my clutch and got off the car without waiting for the driver to come open the door. I had barely taken two steps wholly into the premises when I saw the bus coordinator assembling the kids into the luxurious bus. Identifying Aiden among the rest of the children, I was immediately filled with a sense of relief as I quicken my pace. “Hello. Excuse me” I greeted warmly, the young man turned to me and bowed slightly, “How may I help you, ma'am?” Right after he finished asking his question, “Mommy!” turning my head toward the entrance, he was standing there with a bright smile on his fair face. “I would like to take my child with me,” I spoke softly, and then reached out to carry him in my arms. “Bye”
“Why did you come to my school, mommy?” Aiden inquired, wrapping his little hands around my neck. “Because I missed you so much, sweetheart” I kissed his cheek, bending over, and entered the door which has been opened by the driver. He shut it immediately, veered around, then sat behind the wheel. “I missed you too, mommy” He grinned, kissing my forehead, my hair, and my both cheeks. I chuckled ecstatically, making him sit on my thighs. “Did you enjoy your day at school?” I asked him, tapping him on the nose with my index finger. “Yes mommy, our teacher taught us another rhyme today” I put up my brows incredulously, “Really, baby? Can you recite it?” he wriggled out of my lap at once, the smile playing at his lips only grew wider, and wider, “Twinkle, twinkle little star” he began, with singing in his voice. “How I wonder what you are, up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky” I cracked a grin, watching him with pure adoration. “Twinkle, twinkle…” the car shrieked to an abrupt halt, I rapidly heaved Aiden into my grasp, fighting a sliver of panic, and held my breath for a moment, anticipating something worse. The driver got off the car and came back almost immediately, “I'm so sorry ma'am, but we have a flat tire” swiftly, I heaved my head up to look at him, “What? How's that even possible?” I almost yelled, holding up Aiden to my chest, then ascended the car. I swiveled to the driver's side, and it was true, the tire had blown up. Furthermore, I looked around the environment, it didn't seem conserve to me, let alone to my child. I quickly went back to the car and fetched my phone and unlocked it. Pressing my lips to a tight line in contemplation, of whether to call him or someone else. “Mommy, are we not going home?” I looked down at Aiden in my arms. I opened my mouth to explain the situation to him… Honk! Honk! The loud noise wiped off all the words from my throat, and we all watched as the car pulled out beside my car. Slowly, I watched as the driver got down from the car, and my eyes widened in shock. 'What? Is this an illusion or reality?' Counting his paces step by step, he stopped in front of me, staring down at me intently. “It seemed you're in a bad situation currently” he spoke softly, yet his voice was hoarse. I swallowed hard over the lump of emotion lodging in my throat, hating how badly my body was reacting to his presence. “If you don't mind, I can help you” his mouth twisted in a half-smile, and for some intense moment, our eyes locked. “Daddy?” Aiden suddenly called out in my clasp, jolting the both of us back to reality.