They had been here in Madrid, the capital of Spain for the past four days and Audriana didn’t feel like going back home next week as planned.
She wanted them to stay longer and enjoy the spirit of holidaying that overcame them these past few days.
It had been really enjoyable for not only her but for Dimitri also who enjoyed showing her his hometown, some of the places he had been to with his family while growing up, and some of his and his brother's hideouts.
He also pointed out his elementary school and high school before they moved to New York where they all settled for a while.
He told her some part of the story though, how he was the rebellious one and Cade was the one who was putting him on track. He said there was a place he and Cade would go to and hide out when they wanted out of the world and to just stay in peace and quiet.
When she asked if his parents were aware of their escapades he nodded and said they trusted Cade to watch over him since he was the only one who seem to have gotten some strategy on how to handle him and his little tantrums.
She wanted to say how much she wished he was here to teach her some of those techniques but didn’t know how sensitive he is about his brother’s death.
She was just aware that he turned wild when his brother passed away and didn’t know what he was like when the incident was still fresh aside from the fact that he just go with different women every time.
Her smile grew when his eyes beam as he tells her about his childhood memories and how he and his brother formed games they could play together and with Caleb whenever his parents would visit.
It was like a child telling his mum about his experience at the park or telling his mum what Santa gave him for Christmas.
She found it exciting that he wanted to tell her all of these and she could in some ways relate to some of them and would respond to some things he wanted to say which would make them laugh out loud.
She enjoyed his company a lot and hoped he too enjoy hers and thought that he isn't as bad as she painted him to be. He was funny when he wanted to and really hoped all these giggling, chuckling, loud laughing, snorting amidst laughter, and these goofiness wouldn't stop when they get back to New York.
He is showing this playful side of himself and she had grown to love it in a few days and wish it stays this way even if they remained friends.
”There is something I need to show you,” he told her and she nod her head for him to go pick it up but instead, he stood up and stretched then held his hand out for her to take.
She looked at his held-out hand then back to his face before putting her hand in his and he pulled so she was standing in front of him.
“Go get ready”
She didn’t ask any questions and went to do as she was told.
***
“Are we going for a picnic?” she looked up at him as they entered what seems to be like a garden and park.
He just looked down at her and flashed her a smile then look ahead so he could take her where he planned to take her for the day.
She thought they were going to have lunch in the nearby restaurant he told her about the previous day but she was wrong since he was holding the picnic basket he was carrying now when she came downstairs from getting read in something very simple.
He even complimented her brown-colored floral dress that reaches just above her knees and was coupled with a pair of brown gladiator sandals with her hair put in a messy bun.
He was wearing a pair of khaki shorts with a white t-shirt and a black jacket with a baseball cap on his head.
He was going to wear a pair of shades but let her wear it instead before they set out.
The park looks really beautiful with people going o with their individual activities. An old couple was sitting on the bench as the man tells his wife a joke since she was laughing so hard at it before resting her head on his shoulder and his arms went around her automatically.
She smiled at that and remembered her parents and how they would play with each other and her dad would say jokes she didn’t see quite funny but her mum would laugh out loud at it and she would just look at them weirdly but conclude it as love.
That is their joke and she can't say anything to interrupt them.
Next, her eyes went to a boy who was running around as his little sister chases him and would help her up whenever she fell down before she continued chasing after him.
This is love, brings you together, you make memories together, say silly jokes together, when one falls the other is always there to help them get on their feet and like that, like that.
Then she directed her attention to the man that was taking her further into the garden and thought for a while.
Will they just remain like this? Will they go beyond this friendship they had started all over again? Will they keep going back and forth when they had a disagreement with anything? Will he keep saying hurtful words to her and will she keep firing them back at him?
Is that what she wanted? Did she just want to be friends along with her husband, the man she has already started having romantic feelings towards?
She remembered her mum telling her that true love begins with friendship.
When they can be themself around that one person, talk as they want, argue, and would come to an agreement at the end of the day, can't hold a grudge or keep being angry at each other than settle their differences without letting it go over to the next day.
When you can tell each other things you can't tell anyone, be truthful with each other even if it isn't what the other party wants to hear but in a gentle and approaching manner, tell silly jokes only them would understand, have a secret language only them understand.
Be happy for each other, see each other grow and root for each other, fight for each other, protect each other, hold each other needs as their priority, respect, honor each other, apologize when wrong and take to correction, and many more.
Will that ever happen with them?
… ‘It wouldn't last long though’ …
His words from earlier clouded her mind and she shook her head to clear it off.
… ‘I don’t think that would be happening at all’ …
She shook her head again.
… ‘I think this would be long term… we might be staying longer than I ever thought’ …
She opened her eyes when they stopped and Dimitri was looking at her with worried eyes then a furrow formed on her brows as she looked around the park then thought they had reached where he was taking her to.
“Are we there already?” she asked not being able to look at him in the eye.
He stepped closer and raised one of his hands to touch her right cheek before using the back of his hand to caress her cheek to her jaw.
A small gasp left her lips and she closed her eyes while he took in a sharp intake of breath before he stopped and she was able to open her eyes and breath properly.
She looked at his face and looked away in seconds as she was not able to look at him without feeling her cheeks go warm.
‘This is too much’ she thought and could feel her nose finding it hard to take in the air so she closed her eyes and tried to breathe in and out constantly before opening her eyes to meet his watching ones.
“Are you okay?” he asked after a moment of watching her.
… ‘… we are stuck with each other’ …
Nodding her head vigorously and letting out a sigh she replied.
“Yes, I am. Are we there already?” she asked trying to divert her mind to something that didn’t involve her thinking about them or her feeling for him.
“Almost, but are you sure you are fine?” he asked one more time and she nods with a smile on her face.
Not convinced at all by the smile that didn’t reach her eyes, he sighed and decided not to push further so he took her hand in his again and continued to the place.
They would be there soon and he really hopes she likes the place. It is special to him and bringing her here should mean something but he didn’t want any meaning to it.
He just knew he wanted to bring her here when he decided on taking them to Madrid for their vacation.
Bringing her here would mean opening up about something he wasn’t ready to open up to anyone about but he didn’t feel uneasy or hesitant to bring her here or want to tell her about it.
In no time they were standing in front of a gate that had some ivy plants on it and some others that he couldn’t recognize. Looking into the small garden that is being protected by the gate they both are standing before, he smiled and nod his head in satisfaction.
They kept it neat like he had instructed them and it pleased him to see it look like it was freshly taken care of.
Not being able to contain his excitement, he brought out a card and flashed it over a small machine that was covered by the green plant then the gate made a small noise before it gradually opened wide enough for them to enter and close back when they got in.
This is it and there is no going back.