🌟'"Your worst days are testament to the unwavering strength that resides within you."'🌟

★★★★★

As I thought more about yesterday, I realized how much worse things had actually become.

"You okay?" Em asked, concern evident in her voice.

"I'm fine," I replied with a half-hearted smile, still lost in my thoughts.

"Are you sure?" she asked, before adding excitedly, "I've got these concert passes for this Saturday. Want to come with me?"

I had never been to a concert before. Given the situations with my foster homes and then having to move out, I never had the opportunity.

"What time?" I asked, feeling the weight of my full-time job and unfinished assignments. I just couldn't take the risk.

"We can get there as early as we can," she replied. "Tickets are completely sold out, and I'm certain all the fans will be gathering the moment they let us in."

"Thanks, Em! I really appreciate the invite, but my shift doesn't end until around 8 on weekends. I'm afraid that'll be too late," I explained.

"Uh, no worries. You can still join me there. I'll save some space for you," she said with a playful wink.

We both nodded in agreement, and then she swiftly made her way out the door.

With only a few minutes remaining to get to college, a wave of nausea washed over me. I hadn't managed to get a wink of sleep the entire night, as my mind was plagued by thoughts of what had unfolded the day before.

And, it wasn't because of the nightmare.

After finishing my shift yesterday, it was already approaching midnight. I was ready to head back to my dorm when I heard loud noises emanating from Aidan's house. Shouts and yelling filled the air, and the sound of breaking glass made me nervously peer out of the side window. A woman's high-pitched voice mixed with grunts and a heavy voice echoed through the night. Strangely, I recognised Aidan's voice from a far. This continued on and off for an hour, as I noted from the clock, until finally, I heard the door slam shut.

I peered out again and saw Aidan pacing back and forth on his porch under the dim light. A cigarette dangled between his fingers, and he took multiple drags, exhaling smoke into the dimly lit air. Blood was visible on his knuckles.

Seeing him like this felt odd yet familiar. He looked miserable, still wearing the same clothes from college, only taking off his jacket. I was so engrossed in observing him that I didn't notice his gaze directed at me until I ducked down. Damn.

Sleep was far from my grasp last night.

With a heavy sigh, I recalled the events of the previous day. I grabbed my coat from the hanger, slipped it on, and double-checked that I had everything I needed. Leaving my room, I slammed the door shut behind me.

A nagging thought lingered in the back of my mind, wondering how many people had actually noticed my absence at college yesterday. I wasn't entirely sure about Kate and her friends. What if they decided to confront me and ask questions? Honestly, I didn't know if they would believe my explanation.

I arrived on time, with around fifteen minutes to spare before I had to stow my belongings in my locker and head to class.

Last night, I had meticulously planned the entire week, jotting down the semester's syllabus, and the class schedules.

"Hey, Hope!" I heard someone call my name as I entered my history class. I turned around to see Akshat waving at me, a bright smile adorning his cute face.

"Where is everyone?" I inquired, and he shrugged. "They're probably running around the campus," he replied, his smile just as adorable as the first.

We spent the rest of the time talking, mostly about him. He shared details about his family, his hometown, his siblings, and so on. He didn't mock me when I didn't say much about my past life.

The class filled up, and the professor began the lecture. I didn't see any of girls. At first, I was disappointed, but Akshat informed me that they live near by campus and may have missed the first class. I wanted to apologize to them for skipping lunch on the previous days.

As the day progressed, I began to regret taking six classes.

Akshat and I bonded well. He accompanied me for two classes, and Kate, Rubina, and Anna joined us in the second one. When I explained to them that I had to go back due to an emergency, they seemed okay with it. I didn't know why I lied, but I couldn't take it back now.

Now, I was heading to the literature class. My day had been going smoothly, and I was secretly relieved not to have seen Aidan. The warning bell rang, indicating it was time, and I quickened my pace.

As I entered the classroom, I quickly scanned for an empty seat and settled into the first available one I laid my eyes on.

The class commenced, and I attentively scribbled down notes to keep up with Mr. Johnson's lecture. Little did I know, a soft whispering voice drifted from behind me.

"Hey, Hope," the voice called out, and I immediately recognized it. I pondered whether to ignore him, but then I felt a gentle nudge.

I turned slightly, shooting him a glare and silently mouthing, "What?"

"I need a pen," he whispered once again, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. I glared at him with intensity but reluctantly handed over the pen I was using, reaching into my bag to retrieve a new one.

As the lecture continued, I didn't hear much from the person seated behind me.

"That's all for today. See you in the next class. And don't forget to work on your assignments," Mr. Johnson announced, dismissing us.

It was lunch break. Unfortunately, when I eagerly anticipated joining them for lunch, they seemed to have forgotten to invite me. It would be awkward if I showed up and they had other plans.

I couldn't help but glance at Aidan, who was still sitting behind me, wearing annoyed expression. I noticed his raw knuckles.

"What?" he asked, catching me observing him.

"Pen," I blurted out, not having anything else to say.

"Here's your pen, Hope," he replied, emphasizing the name.

"Don't try small talks with me," I snapped, surprised by my own harshness.

"Never mind," he dismissed, walking away and disappearing before I could come up with a retort.

As I made my way to the cafeteria, everyone else was already seated in the left corner. Rubina was laughing, Anna scrolling through her phone, and Kate and Akshat engaged in some deep conversation.

Akshat was the first to spot me from a distance and gestured for me to join them.

"You made it!" they all chimed in unison, with Akshat noticing the distress on my face.

"Hey," he greeted warmly, pulling up a chair for me. I couldn't help but smile.

"Come sit here. You seem a bit off. Is everything alright?" he asked, his gaze fixed on me with a curious expression.

"Yeah, the class ran longer than expected," I explained, earning a reassuring smile in response.

My gaze scanned the room, unintentionally drawn towards Aidan. He sat at the center, amidst a crowd of students, predominantly guys in football jerseys, with a cluster of girls clinging to their sides. There was an air of confidence about him, his presence commanding attention.

I instinctively averted my eyes, feeling a rush of nervousness wash over me.

"What's up with you and Aidan?" It was Kate who whispered in my ear.

"Uh, nothing!" I gave her a small smile.

"Don't get involved in his Shit. Just a warning from a friend," she said. There was something other than reassurance in her voice. And, I just nodded.

His shit. I am not sure if I ever will get to know him. I really don't want to. I have my own errands to run, own problems to deal with.

Letting it go, I listened to their conversation.

Rubina cracked a joke that genuinely made me burst into laughter, joining the chorus of laughter from everyone else. It was a delightful moment, sitting there with them. Kate and Anna engaged in a lively discussion about an upcoming competition organized by the seniors. I listened intently as Anna provided all the details about the forms, participation, and other pertinent information.

Before we knew it, lunchtime had come to an end, and we dispersed, each going our separate ways. However, Akshat and I remained together. We had three classes in common, and we had already attended two of them in the morning.

"Wait here. I'll go grab my stuff from the locker," Akshat said, and I nodded.

The others headed to their respective classes, leaving me alone in the cafeteria.

I could feel Aidan's eyes on me, our eyes met, locking for a fleeting moment that seemed to stretch into eternity. I felt a jolt of recognition, a flicker of something unspoken between us. Yet, before I could decipher the meaning behind that gaze.

A hand intertwined with mine, taking me by surprise, and that's when Akshat's playful smile caught my attention.

"Missed me?" he teased, his eyes twinkling.

I chuckled, playfully responding, "Sure did." His smile grew wider, and I couldn't deny that he looked incredibly charming, but I wasn't about to feed his already inflated ego. He had mentioned before how his charming smile tended to win over girls, and I could see why.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Aidan striding purposefully towards us, completely oblivious to his friends calling out to him or the pink-haired girl attempting to grab his hand.

"Let's go, Hope," Akshat suggested, but my mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with Aidan's sudden approach.

And just like that, Aidan passed right by us, his face filled with anger, leaving us all wondering what had sparked such intense emotions in him. The reason behind his demeanor remained a mystery.

As Akshat and I entered the classroom, the aimless chatter of students faded into the background. I paid no attention to their conversations, except for Akshat and his group of friends who excitedly discussed the upcoming football tournament. He had a remarkably expressive face, effortlessly conveying his emotions to anyone who cared to notice.

He possessed that irresistible charm and genuine persona that girls adored in a good guy.

The class seemed to drag on endlessly, and I struggled to stay awake while taking notes. Him, sitting beside me, sported an annoyingly persistent smile throughout the dull lecture. He teased me about it as we left the class.

The day went fairly well, and as the final bell rang, I prepared to bid farewell to my newfound friends. They were curious about my work after college, especially Anna, who remained skeptical when I mentioned taking the bus. Akshat, being his persistent self, insisted on dropping me off, despite living in the opposite direction. After much convincing, they reluctantly let the matter go.

I waited at the familiar bus stop, relieved when the bus arrived on time. By the time I reached, darkness had already settled. Tom, Vicky, and Amar were no where to be seen, so I took it upon myself to prepare everything around. Changing into comfortable attire I keep in the locker, I swiftly freshened up and headed to the front desk.

The tantalizing aroma of the freshly brewed coffee permeated the room, teasing the senses and inviting the customers to indulge in its rich and irresistible essence. The deep, earthy notes mingled with hints of caramel and chocolate, creating a symphony of scents that filled the air.

As the break came to an end, the bustling cafe regained its vibrant energy. The baristas, with their aprons neatly tied and smiles on their faces, returned to their stations behind the counter. They skillfully operated the sleek espresso machines, expertly crafting each cup of coffee with precision and care.

Some craved the bold intensity of an espresso shot, while others sought the comforting warmth of a creamy latte or the aromatic allure of a frothy cappuccino.

Behind the counter, the espresso machines hissed and whirred, releasing jets of steam as they expertly extracted the essence of the freshly ground coffee beans. The skilled baristas adeptly maneuvered the steaming wands, expertly frothing milk to velvety perfection, creating delicate latte art that adorned the surface of each cup.

I love my work, at least I enjoy this.

Having someone around, especially after the loss of my parents, meant a great deal to me. I had spent my time with different families, feeling like a burden as they excluded me from their intimate gatherings and outings.

"No use crying and moping now," I scolded myself inwardly.

The time flies by. Soon, it was time for me to close the cafe. Alone. Yes, that's on my shoulder for next few weeks as the owner is out of town. And, this gives some extra bucks.

So, why not?

As I closed the kitchen door, memories flooded my mind—my foster parents anger-filled expressions which I witnessed all the time.

"Get the hell out of my house, you bastard!" a voice resounded, momentarily making me believe it was a nightmare.

Reality struck when I realized the shouting came from Aidan's house. Annoyed, I huffed and refused to indulge in someone else's affairs. It would be disrespectful. But it looked all too familiar.

I wanted to ask Aidan if he is okay? or if he want to talk about it?

I am not concerned but he sure is going through something.

Time passed, and the commotion subsided, allowing me to finally close the machine and switch off the lights.

However, a tapping sound disrupted my slumber, as if someone gently rapping on a hard surface. The darkness obscuring my surroundings.

The tapping continued, growing louder with each repetition.

I reluctantly approached the source, my fear intensifying. Standing before the window, I hesitated to open it.

"Who's there?" I asked, my voice filled with trepidation.

Silence. No response.

Perhaps it was merely a bird or some other harmless source of noise. I reassured myself, placing a trembling hand over my pounding heart.

"Aidan" The voice that answered froze me in place. It was indeed Aidan's voice.

Cautiously, I unlocked the window and slid it open, wondering why on earth he was there. Shouldn't he be at his own house?

"What happened, Aidan?" I whispered, looking at him with concern. Yet, he disregarded my question, pushing past me and entering the cafe through the window.

Did he not read Closed sign down by the door?

I stood there, dumbfounded, as he ignored me, his bleeding hand capturing my attention. Worriedly, I approached him, taking his hand in mine, desperate to stem the flow of blood. He winced, and I instinctively recoiled.

"I, um... had a fight," he muttered, and I nodded, understanding that he might not elaborate further. For now, my priority was to clean the blood staining the floor, as it made me queasy.

I switched on the light near the front desk and fetched the First Aid kit from behind the counter. Aidan remained motionless as I tended to his hand, gently wiping away the blood with a cotton ball. After applying ointment, I carefully wrapped a bandage around his wrist.

"You need to get stitches. This bandage won't stay for long," I expressed my concern, and he simply nodded in acknowledgment.

His long-sleeved shirt failed to conceal the visible black ink on his skin. A beautiful black rose adorned the back of his palm, but it evoked a sense of sadness within me. Though my hands longed to explore the intricacies of the tattoo, I resisted the temptation.

I felt his gaze upon me, his eyes fixed intently on me for reasons unknown.

"You weren't there today," he stated, and confusion creased my brow.

"You mean, I wasn't watching?" I asked.

"Hmm," he hummed, his attention drifting elsewhere.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I finally mustered the courage to ask. This was my chance to unravel the mystery.

"I just... I thought... well, never mind," he hesitated, debating within himself. "This was a bad idea. I should go now," he abruptly announced, standing up and withdrawing his hand from mine.

Only then did I realize that I had been holding it.

"You can't simply come and go as you please. Tell me why you came here," I pressed, my voice unintentionally escalating in volume. He now stood near the open window, ready to leave.

"I saw you yesterday," he whispered, his words barely reaching my ears.

"You could talk to me, you know," I dared to inquire.

"Huh, why do you think I want to do that. Talking and sharing my personal shit?" he evaded. I nodded, sensing his reluctance to divulge further. I wanted to dig deeper, but I held back.

"You wouldn't understand anyway," he simply passed his judgment, and I frowned, unsatisfied with his response.

"Try me," I challenged, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

A tinge of sadness lingering but he quickly masked it with his usual expression as he gazed into the distance.

Silent and contemplative, I stood beside him, my gaze fixed on nothing in particular. I had once been in his shoes, grappling with pain, fighting battles unseen by others.

There was this nagging voice in my head telling me to console him, to erase the worry etched on his face, but fear held me back—fear of him and the enigmatic situation we found ourselves in.

Neither of us made a move.

"I should go now," he eventually declared.

"You should," I concurred, adding, "And don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Understanding passed between us, as a small smile graced his lips—an expression that seemed foreign yet genuine. He climbed out of the window, and my heart nearly stopped in my chest.

He skill-fully descended and disappeared into the night, making his way back to his own house. With the lights off in his house, I couldn't discern whether he retired for the night or not. I closed the window and doors. It was my cue to go back to my dorm room and retire for the day.

The ride back on bus was quite, my thoughts clouded with ocean blue eyes. We weren't friends, and we knew next to nothing about each other. I dreaded to think what might have occurred if his parents had caught him sneaking out, or if I had the owner in the cafe or anyone else. The thought made me shudder.

People at college warned about Aidan, whispering cautionary tales as he passed by. They claimed his involvement in illegal activities, but I had only seen him with cigarettes. Perhaps I hadn't been around enough to truly know him.

As I settled into bed, a sense of tranquility washed over me.

Turning my gaze towards Em, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of their peaceful slumber. Her face, serene and untroubled, was illuminated by the soft moonlight filtering through the curtains.

With a contented huff, I closed my eyes, allowing the weariness of the day to melt away.

I nestled into the blankets, allowing their warmth to cocoon me in a gentle embrace, like a mother's loving arms.

★★★★★

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