CHAPTER 69
ARIEL
(A WEEK LATER AFTER DINAH’S LEAVE)
Ariel stood up from the bunk bed she shared with Sara slowly, as she swiped the answer button on her cell phone.
She had no idea why Sara’s boyfriend Christian was calling her, but she had this nagging feeling that it was about Sara’s birthday which was a few days from now.
She knew she had given him the idea, of planning the surprise birthday for Sara this year, since the year was a leap year and as such her birth date which fell on the last day of February was going to be on the calendar, so there was no escaping it, this time around at all.
Also that day, just like they had planned Christian would finally reveal the good news of Sara’s leave from the orphanage to her.
At that subtle reminder, that she would be left here all alone with Daniel maybe in this small town where she had come to call home, Ariel’s heart squeezed tightly.
Despite promising herself that she would indeed be strong, and not allow Sara’s leave bother her, Ariel knew that she was just deceiving herself.
There was no way she could effectively go on with her life, after Sara’s leave.
After the girl whom she’d known from childhood, grew up together with, called a sister, her best friend and more leave the shelter, Ariel didn’t know if she would be able to cope or survive.
Nevertheless, there was phone, and with the advancing technology which provided them with lots of social media alternatives to choose from, and Ariel knew they could never loose touch.
They would video call, chat online and visit daily so Ariel was rest assured that their lovely bond could never be broken, she was sure of that.
More than sure…
Why was she even having these chilling thoughts all of a sudden? She asked herself.
She shook her head twice, willing the thoughts to leave and it vanished all of a sudden.
Better… She thought to herself.
No more waning thoughts.
She had picked the call since, but because of her wandering thoughts she had put the call on hold, while she stood outside the door.
Walking stealthily and slowly, she opened the hostel door and closing it gently as she didn’t want to wake Sara up, Ariel walked down the lone long corridor as she placed the phone in her ear, and heaving silently, she finally said, “Hello Christian.”
“Hey Ariel, for a second I thought you were not going to pick my call.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” She asked him not getting the joke at all.
Was he making a reference, as to why she had put the call on hold? She wondered within herself, and then she slowly chuckled.
Oh… If he should have an idea of what she was thinking.
She shuddered at the little feeling of resent she was having towards Christian, at that moment.
To think she was even part of all these and now she was having these childhood thoughts.
Yeah, her feelings was just to childish and she knew that she wouldn’t want to hinder Sara’s happiness, because of these selfish thoughts of hers.
Not just her mind contributing, but then Ariel remembered that she was on her period, thus the added hormones fueling her thoughts.
She wanted Sara to be happy, and anything it took her best friend to be happy then she would do it.
There was silence on the other end of the line after her question earlier, and well she had no idea of breaking it, not at all.
He was the one that called, so he would be the same person to bring up the topic and the main reason why he had called.
Seconds passed, minutes passed, before Christian finally cleared his throat and then said, “I think you might have an idea, why I am calling today…”
…..
CHRISTIAN
“I think you might have an idea, why I am calling today…”
He had called her in reference to the idea, she had brought up some days ago.
The idea of planning Sara’s surprise birthday, and then telling her of the successful processions of her leave from the shelter.
Christian just couldn’t wait to tell her the good news, as well as finalize their plans.
“Well, I think I might have an idea.”
“Huh, huh…”
“It’s about the birthday party right?” She asked him, and he could hear her strained breathing on the other end.
He didn’t know why he was having this feeling, that Ariel was not her usual self.
Ever since Christian had known Sara, and coming in contact with her best friend, he had known her to be a very lively soul.
So bubbly, and the complete opposite of Sara.
He was tempted to ask her what was wrong, but he brushed it off.
Perhaps, he was just overthinking it.
“You’re so right, it’s about the surprise birthday party.”
“Yayyyy…” She squealed loudly on the other end, the signs of the Ariel he had come to know showing and Christian’s lips were already widening in a smile.
He stood up from his bed put on his bedroom slippers, and walked to his window side, pulling the curtain to one side as he looked down below, staring outside as the wonderful cool breeze blew softly on his bare chested skin.
“Eh hem, are you there?” He questioned and he heard her curt yes.
“Good, so how are we going to go about it? Are you coming over to the supermarket these weekend so we can talk more, about our plans?” He asked, rubbing his forehead slowly, and ruffling his hair slowly.
As he touched his hair, he was subtly reminded of the last time he had laid with Sara in his room, the last time she had come.
After making sweet and passionate love with her, her skin glowing a beautiful shade of light caramel, she had shyly started to touch his curls and he had fallen asleep in her arms,
That beautiful memory, she had narrated to him the next morning, when he had woken up still in her arms was forever engraved in his heart and he smiled lovingly at the thought.
Or was it the way she had laughed, her voice like music in his ears when he had threatened to go down on her, and eat her delicio…
“Christian!”
He shook his head furiously chuckling.
He had totally forgotten that he was on the phone with Ariel.
“Sorry, sorry.”
“Did you even hear the last statement I made?” She asked him, and the silence he gave her was enough of an answer.
“I knew it, lover boy. You’re obviously thinking of Sara and she’s here sleeping.” Ariel said sarcastically, and he laughed again.
“What did you say though?”
“Tomorrow, if you would be at home, I could come over to your place and we could get a quiet place to go over everything. Is that okay by you?”
“Yeah, tomorrow is perfect!” He exclaimed.
He was not going anywhere tomorrow, and it was Saturday.
The perfect time and day to talk.
After agreeing on the date and specific time to meet, Christian exchanged his farewell pleasantries with Ariel and extending his greetings to Sara, he hung up abruptly and yawned a bit, still standing by his window side.
His thoughts soon wandered to happy times in Seattle, and he just couldn’t wait for the happy memories he would make with Sara and his new family.
He just couldn’t wait…