Chapter 4 Dinner with a side dish of tension (2)

Aurora a red head young lady in her early twenties was a bubbly and lively woman. She had always had the ability to cheer up any atmosphere but was failing to do so in the presence of two alpha males who just so happened to be seated on the same couch as her.

On one hand, Ethan her senior from high school and the renowned Royal college of Art University, sat with a relaxed yet put-together air, his dark hair styled effortlessly. He wore a stylish outfit, consisting of a casual white T-shirt tucked into slightly baggy, dark grey suit pants, which broke perfectly above his sleek black shoes. A matching grey suit jacket was folded up to just above his elbows. His piercing black irises sparkled with a hint of amusement as he gazed directly at Aurora, a warm smile she knew all too well playing on his lips.

In contrast, Landon her fiancé and long time friend of both her and Ethan exuded a formal, business-like aura. He sat upright, his eyes fixed on his phone as he scrolled through it, his expression serious blatantly ignoring the only other male in the room seated next to him. His suit was impeccable, the royal blue he always wore with a crisp white shirt and a tie that added a touch of professionalism to his overall demeanor.

Aurora's gaze lingered on them for a few seconds, her mind struggling to process the sudden change in dynamics. She felt a flutter in her chest, a sense of unease that she couldn't explain, because this wasn't the first time it happened. "So this is what it feels like to be surrounded by Greek gods," she gushed internally before clearing her throat in an attempt to compose herself.

As Aurora composed herself, Ethan's gaze never wavered from hers. He seemed to be studying her, his eyes sparkling in the silent room. Landon, on the other hand, remained oblivious to the awkwardness in the air, still engrossed in his phone. Aurora's eyes darted between the two men, her mind completely empty except with thoughts of how well Landon's suit brought out the color of his eyes.

But then her thoughts drifts back to Ethan, wondering what he was thinking, why he was looking at her like he was digging for something beneath the surface. And Landon well when her gaze drifted back to him he was just being his usual, aloof self. She had hoped that with the change in their relationship, things between them would be better, but now it seemed it was too soon to hope for much.

The silence was broken by Ethan's voice, "So, Rory, how's life been treating you?" He asked, his tone light and casual. Aurora's cheeks flushed slightly as she replied, "It's been good, Senior. Just busy with work and... other things." She glanced at Landon, who still hadn't looked up from his phone.

Ethan's eyes followed her gaze, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Ah, I see. Well, I'm sure Landon here is keeping you on your toes." He said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Landon finally looked up, his expression unreadable.

"What's that supposed to mean, Ethan?" He asked, his voice neutral. Ethan chuckled, "Oh, nothing, nothing. Just making conversation." He said, his eyes glinting.

The tension in the room was suddenly palpable, and Aurora felt like she was stuck in the middle of a silent battle between the two men the only difference was they were sitting next to each other instead of her literally being in between them. She decided it would be better to intervene and diffuse the tension.

" Let's focus on dinner, shall we?" She suggested, forcing a bright smile onto her face.

Ethan's gaze lingered on hers for a moment before he nodded. "Sounds good to me," he said, his smile returning. Landon, on the other hand, simply nodded, his expression still unreadable. Satisfied with their response, Aurora happily handed their plates to them before picking up hers.

As they began to eat, the conversation turned to more mundane topics, but the underlying tension did not go unnoticed by the three friends. So, in an attempt to lighten the mood, Ethan leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"So, I've been thinking... who's going to be the best man at your wedding, Landon?" Aurora's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, you already know... which is not surprising. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Senior. I wanted Landon and I to do so together, but we've been busy and could never get to it."

"No worries, it's no big deal," Ethan shrugged it off. Aurora took in a deep breath in relief before continuing excitedly, "I didn't know you were thinking of being the best man, Senior!" Ethan chuckled in response.

"Well, I figure it's only fitting. I've known Landon here for years, and I've had the pleasure of watching you grow up, Rory." Landon's expression remained neutral, but Aurora could sense a hint of unease beneath the surface. His eyes seemed to cloud over for a moment, and his grip on his phone tightened. He began to tap his foot subtly, a habit Aurora knew he exhibited when he was anxious or uncomfortable.

"I think it's a great idea, Senior!" Aurora exclaimed a bit unnaturally than she intended trying to break the tension and cover up for Landon's silence. "You'd make an amazing best man! Handsome and smart... my very own Asian star; everyone would be so jealous!!"

Ethan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Silly girl, I'm a business man not a k-pop idol...thanks for the compliment, though. In return, I'll make sure to give Landon here a sendoff he'll never forget, but he will behave, so you don't have to worry about anything." He finished with a corny double tap on his chest.

Landon's eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. His gaze drifted off, and for a moment, Aurora thought she saw a flicker of pain in his eyes but she quickly dismissed the thought.

Ethan continued, "You know, Landon, you're a lucky man. Aurora here is smart, beautiful, and kind... what more could you ask for?" Aurora's cheeks flushed with pleasure as she tried to rid herself of the negative thoughts that had made their way into her head, but Landon's expression remained stoic.

For a moment, he seemed lost in thought, his eyes clouding over as if memories were flooding back. Aurora knew better than to pry, so she settled for playing with her fingers, her eyes down.

Meanwhile, Landon's thoughts drifted back to a certain someone, someone who had once promised him the world but had ultimately shattered his heart. He remembered the pain, the anger, and the sense of betrayal. Even now, the wound still lingered, making it hard for him to trust anyone, especially women.

He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the present, but the unease lingered. "Aurora's not just any woman," he tried to reassure himself mentally, doing his best to follow the conversation. Aurora, on her part, shot him a smile of encouragement that said she understood his turmoil, and it was okay, but that only made guilt towards her churn in his stomach, threatening to overwhelm him.

"I mean, think about it," Ethan continued, amongst the emotional chaos, leaning forward. "From her family to her looks, everything about her is top-notch. You're a lucky man, Landon."

Landon's eyes seemed to glaze over, and for a moment, he was transported back to the night he had proposed, when his grandfather had asked him if he loved Aurora. "Do you love her?" he had asked, and Landon had replied, shrugging his shoulders, "I care for her enough to know I want to marry her. She is what I need, and that should be enough."

His grandfather, though slightly disappointed with his response, had simply nodded and said, "You made the right choice, Landon. Aurora is someone you can easily learn to love. She's done so much for you, and she deserves that you treat her right. You have no idea how lucky you are, so endeavor to treat her well and with sincerity."

As the memory faded, Landon's eyes flickered to Aurora, who seemed not to mind that he had avoided direct eye contact ever since talk of their engagement began in the room. His thoughts kept hammering him, so he focused on his plate, his jaw clenched in a subtle display of his internal turmoil.

Aurora felt a small, painful twinge in her heart, sensing that everything seemed too much for him. She could understand where he was coming from, for she had watched him crumble for two whole years, so she knew better than anyone just how much it had taken for him to try to let her in.