Chapter 2 002

CHAPTER TWO

AURELIA

He must be kidding me.

I threw my shoes at the edge of the door as I flopped on the bed, blinking rapidly. My chest hurt, like it had been pulled out recklessly from the cords holding it. Like I had just been pulled away from my life support. He had been, just a few hours ago, when I'd delicately pulled out a yellow dress and black Mary Jane shoes just to impress him. I'd spent hours trying to pin my hair in different styles before I got into the car and drove out, but still, he hadn't even noticed any of that. Instead, he had just-

The ringing of my phone cut me off. I stared at the single love emoji before picking it, and suddenly, I had the urge to cry.

"Aurelia, are you okay?" Her voice came cheerfully from the other line. Maybe this was why everyone loved her, including me. Even in crazy situations, Mireya remained just like Theron; she wouldn't budge. Neither would she break down.

"Mireya," my voice shook as I turned my head into my pillow, "Theron is breaking off the marriage." The words came out muffled and inaudible.

"Huh, I didn't get that," Mireya said.

I raised my head from the bed. "Theron is breaking up with me, and he wants me to say I did it, so he can get the sympathy of everyone and keep his image clean before them. He doesn't even care about the fact that I'm still trying to get on the good side of mom and dad. If I said I wanted the breakup, wouldn't my life be even more ruined? He doesn't love me a single bit!" I poured the words out in a single breath, and by the time I was done talking, tears had already started running out of my eyes.

"Aurelia, are you crying?" Mireya asked, chuckling slightly.

"No, I'm not." I wiped my snort with the back of my hand. "And this is not funny."

"Who knows? Maybe Theron is just having cold feet. It's finally happening after dating for five years; he's probably scared."

I'd never seen Theron scared of anything, except for spiders. He had a phobia of them, but I didn't even know why. So why exactly would he get scared of walking down the aisle when he commanded board members?

"I know you, Aure. You have been in love with Theron since you were eight. Seventeen years down the line, and that hasn't changed. Are you seriously just going to let him go like that? You have been pursuing him all your life; what's one more race three days to your wedding, hmm?"

She was right. For seventeen years, I'd been consistent with loving Theron. I'd been shamelessly obsessed and chased after him. I knew he ate his steak medium-rare, no sauce, and salted only after cooking. He drank his coffee hot without sugar, ever. And that wasn't because he loved them. Grilled steak is fast and efficient for Theron, and coffee keeps him awake.

I flattened my lips. I didn't want to look like a chaser who had no limits, but Mireya was right. She was always right. A day of Theron's foolishness wouldn't destroy what I had for him for seventeen years.

"Mireya, I'll call you back."

"Don't tell me you are going there right away."

"I am."

I ended the call, wearing my flip-flop as I rushed down the stairs.

"Miss." The attendant lady, Madam Camila, called behind me, making me halt in my tracks.

"The new batch of cakes has been brought in for tasting."

I grabbed the cake from her hands, rushing out the front door. Theron's house was just right across mine, separated only by the tarred road of the estate. When we moved places years ago, Mom and Dad had thought it was a good thing we lived right next to Theron. It was a kind of connection that not anyone would get to live right next to one of the most powerful families in Los Angeles, and we had gotten it by luck.

My fingers paused on the doorbell for a second before I pressed it. A beautiful woman pulled the door open, her smile wide and elegant, Theron's mother.

"Mi querida," she called in Spanish, pulling me into a tight hug, "Come in."

"Mother," I stretched the hand holding the packet of cakes I'd just gotten from Madam Camila towards her, "Here, cakes."

"You are the only one who thinks fondly of me in this place. Theron and his father are the same, always busy with work. I can't wait for you both to get married." She said, pulling me to sit.

I smiled lightly, tilting my head towards the stairs. "Is Theron home yet?"

"Not yet, mi querida. But soon. I think in an hour. Why don't you talk with me as I make some pancakes?"

During the next hour, Mrs Draix and I made pancakes, which I made a mess of. Either the batter was too watery or I'd sprinkled too much salt. I couldn't simply concentrate, not until the front door opened. I rushed out of the kitchen, the rich sound of Mrs Draix's laughter accompanying me out.

Theron stood at the door, staring at me as if he had just seen a ghost. Shocking, right? It was, but I wouldn't believe a word of what he said about the breakup until he repeated it loud and clear.

"What are you doing here?" he raised his brows.

"Aurelia brought us some cakes," Mrs Draix's reply flowed out of the kitchen. Only if she knew it wasn't just about pancakes.

"Do you want to talk here," I summoned courage, "or in your room?"

Theron's eyes shifted towards the kitchen and back at me, "Follow me."

"You both should do nothing until your wedding night. It's just a few days away!"

Neither of us responded, and Theron didn't say a word even as he shut the door behind me. His room was a rich layer of navy blue and black with simple things in it: a wardrobe, a desk with lots of drawers, and a chair. He didn't stay home much, but he always made sure to be available every Friday to Saturday morning. Just like today.

"Are you better now?"

"When have I not been better?" His face creased handsomely as his brows furrowed against each other, filled with quiet discomfort. "Why exactly are you at my house?"

"I wanted to see you. To talk. I didn't think you meant what you said at the-"

His phone rang, interrupting us. Theron pulled it out from his pocket, stared at it, and turned it face down on the desk. And that was when I saw it, the ticket slated for his journey. Toronto, Canada.

"You are really going on a vacation?" I gulped, my eyes moving back to his face. "It wasn't cold feet?"

"Cold feet?" he raised his brows. "Aurelia, don't get me mad. I already informed you of my decision to cancel the wedding, and yet, you had the effrontery to show up here?"

"I just wanted to confirm-"

"There's nothing to confirm," his phone rang again, but he ignored it. "I'm informing my parents tonight, so inform yours too," he said flatly.

"What are you informing me?" The door pulled open as his mother stared between the two of us. "Aurelia, what's going on?"

Tears bit the back of my eyes. I opened my mouth to speak, but a sob threatened to escape instead, so I shut it close. I should never have come here.

Theron's eyes locked with mine. "Aurelia wants a breakup," he announced.

Just like that, the love I had for seventeen years of my life was shattered.