We walk out and without looking back as she slams the door we head over to his car. It started snowing again. It’s freezing cold outside, but I’m buzzing with warmth as we halt in front of the vehicle.
“It’s over,” he says, barring all of his white teeth.
If I thought that earlier was happiness, then this has to be ascension to heaven.
Aoi lounges toward me and hauls me up, spinning me around in the air. He laughs brightly as a few delicate tears well up in his eyes and start their course down his cheeks. “Let’s go home!”
Home. I finally have a home to return to and that’s Aoi.
My Aoi. My savior. My God.
The present
24
Visha
“Visha! Did you finish up the cereal again and leave the box?!” he shouts from across the apartment.
Man, he sure knows how to be annoying at the crisp of dawn. Yeah, I did, and he knows that, so why’s he even asking? Who else in this place could be the culprit other than me?
I don’t bother answering and bury my face in the navy-blue pillow. It’s way too early to argue over some damn cereal.
“Get up you little shit.” Aoi bursts into the bedroom and yanks the blanket off me.
I shiver from the sudden change in temperature and groan in annoyance. “Go away.”
When I first started living with him, he let me sleep in his bed and he took the couch. Eventually, we started sleeping in the same bed.
My favorite moment of the day.
At some point he asked me if I wanted him to clear out his office to make it my room, but I refused. Having my own room meant not sleeping with Aoi anymore and that was out of the question. What kind of dumbass would give up such an opportunity?
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“What’s up your ass this morning?”
“How many times have I told you to stop putting empty boxes in the cabinet?” He pulls out a sweater jacket from thecloset. “I’m gonna have to go grocery shopping. Get your ass up. It’s past eleven a.m.”
He sighs and crosses his arms over his chest, piercing me with his ocean blue eyes filled with more irritation than necessary.
No way, it’s already that late? Ugh, I hate getting up, but you know what I adore? Angry Aoi.
This man is the handsomest individual I’ve ever encountered, and I’m blessed with the privilege of living with him. He treats me like a kid though and that pisses me off. I’m not a kid anymore, okay? I’m already fifteen.
Aoi took over the responsibility of raising me and caring for me like a parent would. He cooks for me every day, buys me clothes and sends me to school. He’s a parent in all aspects of my life but that’s displeasing.
I don’t want to be his child nor his little brother but that’s how he sees me ever since he took me in.
I pull the covers back over me which grants me a grumpy scoff. Any sound coming from him is music to my ears, but he needs to stop complaining for a second, seriously.
“I have a dinner appointment tonight. Don’t wait for me. I’ll cook you something later and put it aside so you can heat it up.”
Aoi focuses on pulling up his zipper, barely sparinga glance at me. His voice is calm as usual, but he seems distracted. I lift my head up to watch him. He’s fixing his hair with his fingers, smiling casually to himself.
He has a dinner appointment? With whom? The idea of Aoi having dinner with some rando pisses me off.
“Who are you going out with?” I ask, my voice still husky from sleep.
