A Good Night... Gone Wrong

It was relatively quiet as we sat in the back seat of the cab.

While my attention was mostly on looking out the window, I couldn't help but slide my gaze to the corner of my eye every once in a while, just to look at Aiden. He too was looking out the window, but I couldn't stop the assumption that he was probably more focused on my slight reflection in the window glass. I could almost feel the weight of his piercing eyes on me.

But in the midst of our silence, I kept on wondering about what he had planned for us to do at the park. Since it was night time now, there was not much to do at the park, except maybe to take a nice walk, or have a rest by sitting on a bench in front of the lake, or maybe to have a make-out session…

Goodness sake, Melindia! Don't you think you're overthinking a bit?

Already such thoughts were awkward for me, and I was beginning to feel nervous that Aiden may have been able to sense it. At first, I wanted to say something to break this silence, but there was an air that was running about Aiden that told me to give him some silence. When I sneaked a look at him from the corner of my eye, I could even see that he had an expression of very deep thought.

When we finally reached the park and had paid the cabbie the fee, Aiden took my hand and began to lead me somewhere, his hold gentle but strong. I could not get over the fact that he was actually holding my hand again, and I savoured in the feel of his warm and silky smooth skin. We walked side-by-side on the pathway by the lake, our steps syncing each other's and paces matching. Many times I sneaked glances at Aiden, only to find him glancing back with a smile.

But the longer we walked, the more I began to wonder where we were it was. And then I began to notice the familiarity of the surroundings, and I asked in surprise, "We're going to the pomegranate tree?"

"Yes," he answered, his eyes flashing to me briefly before going back on the pathway ahead of us. "There's something special that I want to do with you."

And what could that 'something special' be? I questioned to myself as I felt myself becoming anxious yet excited of what was to happen there. Many thoughts came into mind, with some making me blush.

It wasn't really that dark when we entered the thicket. The luminescent shine of moonlight casted a soft yet bright-enough glow for us to see, but it had such an effect on Aiden.

In the paleness of the silvery-white light which shone onto his pale skin, he seemed to radiate so enchantingly amongst the darkness of the shadowed trees. His obsidian eyes, despite being so fathomless, seemed brighter in the moonlight as well, looking so beautiful and ethereal that it was almost impossible for me to look away.

When we had reached the tree which was illuminated by the moonlight which passed through a gap in the canopies, he then turned to look at me, and I knew I was still staring but I simply could not look away. However, just to make that fact a little less awkward, I spoke the first thing that came into mind.

"Artemis' moon is bright tonight, isn't it? You look like you're almost glowing in the moonlight, Aiden."

He raised a brow, and his expression turned into one of speculation. "Why would you mention Artemis?" he asked me.

"I always think of Artemis when I look up at the moon," I told him, still inwardly admiring his enchanting beauty in the moonlight. "When I look at the moon, I see silver Artemis. When I feel the warmth of the sun, I know that golden Apollo is there. When I see a family happily bonding, glorious Hestia is looking out for them. When lightning strikes in a thunderstorm, almighty Zeus shows his power."

When I walked past him towards the tree, I cupped a pomegranate in my hand, and told him, "And whenever I come to this pomegranate tree, the fruit reminds me so much of the story of Hades and Persephone."

Upon further thought, I then began to chuckle in amusement to myself, and said, "It's funny how I always see everything as connected to Greek mythology. A little weird, but that's just the way I am. I guess my obsession is stronger than I thought."

Aiden looked at me with deep focus, his eyes burdened with many heavy thoughts that I knew were flooding his mind right now. He seemed to be in some sort of contemplation, wanting to make a move, trying to decide if it was the right or wrong thing to do. His expression was calculating, as though he was trying to weigh out the pros and cons of what he was about to do next.

"Do you feel connected to the pomegranate?" he asked in a low murmur.

"Well, yes. In a way," I answered truthfully, my interest quipped at the possibility of where this conversation was going. "Do you?"

"Yes," he replied, taking a step closer to me. I could detect a tone of solemnity and wistfulness, as though he had said it out of a deeper yet sadder meaning. It made me wonder what the reason behind it was, just as he added, "Because it reminds me of all the memories I've had with you."

His words were what made me look away from the pomegranate and at him in utmost confusion. "You mean from the first time we met here on this exact corner?" I asked him. "Well, that's really flattering of you, Aiden."

Surprisingly, he shook his head in disagreement. "No… Further than that…" he told me in a low murmur. "Way further… Before you were taken…"

Now the confusion in me grew tenfold, but yet, for some reason, I began to feel strange by the question. "What do you mean 'further than that'? And what do you mean 'before you were taken'? I didn't know you further than last week, and I wasn't taken from anywhere. Aiden, what are you talking about?"

"Have you ever had the feeling that you may have known me before?"

I could not stifle the shocked gasp that escaped through my lips, and I took a step back as though his question had caused such a powerful impact. As I stared at him with widened shocked eyes, I thought to myself about the fact there was absolutely no way that Aiden could have possibly known that on his own, lest he had the ability to read minds, or he just knew somehow. But I doubted that both possibilities were actually possible.

But even with those doubts, I could still question, "How did you know?"

There was no point denying the fact that he knew what I was experiencing, because I bet that it was already obvious from my taken-aback reaction. But on the other hand, it only helped to cement the possibility that he might know what was going on that was causing me to think like that.

Keeping myself calm and braving myself to stand confidently in front of me, I then went on to explain in earnest. "Ever since I first met you, I had this deep hunch inside me that kept on telling me that I know you."

But despite how calmly I wanted to take this moment of questions, I couldn't keep myself in focus. I kept on looking down at the ground, trying to find the right words to put into sentences, but my mind was so jumbled up in so many messy thoughts that I really don't know which one to begin with.

The question about how I felt like I know him?

The question about where did he come from?

The question about what he was doing here in town?

The question about why he had decided to come to me?

Or…

The question about who he really was?

"I have never even seen you before in my entire life. So why is it that I feel like I know you?" I asked him, almost expecting the proper answer from him.

Aiden did not say anything, nor did he stop looking at me with such deep and silent focus. He took steps closer and closer to me until he finally stood right in front of me, towering over me by a foot or so. This was not the first time that he and I had stood so close to each other, but it still managed to make me feel tingly all over. As I looked up into his impossibly dark eyes, I could feel myself slowly melting internally at his smouldering gaze.

All of a sudden, he raised a hand and brought it to cup my cheek. My breath hitched at the contact of his fingers on my skin, but I did not once break my gaze on him. As we continued to look deeply at each other and his fingers slowly stroked the side of my face, I was only now realizing how very intimate this moment was, and it made me blush.

"Maybe because… you do know me," Aiden finally said in a low, breathy murmur. "And maybe because you have seen me, but you just forgot."

I shook my head in disagreement at his words. "No. If I had ever seen you before in my life, I don't think I would have forgotten," I told him adamantly. "You're not one of those people that could be easily forgotten, Aiden..."

Aiden's lips lifted into a smile then, but it wasn't the usual smile of amusement or sincerity or just general happiness that I had always seen. Instead, this particular smile was sad and melancholic, and it was enough to make my heart break at the sight of him starting to look the same.

His fingers froze, just as his voice spoke in a pained tone, "Oh, but you have… You've forgotten all about me… About us…"

And it was then he took me into his arms, and his head leaned down to lavish kisses upon my neck.

I gasped so audibly at the sudden feel of his soft lips on my neck, and I froze completely in place out of shock. My hands fell limp to my sides, held there lightly by Aiden's embrace. I stood there doing nothing but stare at the trees behind him with widened eyes, although my focus was firmly on the fact that Aiden was hugging me and kissing my neck. This close, I could also really inhale the scent of his cologne. The distinct scents of cedar wood, cardamom and Egyptian musk; so smoky and spicy and sweet, it made me want to sigh in pleasure.

"Aiden…" I could hear my voice whispering his name, questioning at his sudden actions. But I realized that it came out sounding breathy and pleasured, as though I was under some form of ecstasy.

He only continued to pepper soft kisses upon the exposed skin, his lips travelling upwards the curve of my neck until it finally pressed the side of my jaw. Under his breath, he murmured, "I've waited too long for this... I have been denied of this for too long… I crave for this… I need this… I need you…"

"…Aiden…"

This was supposed to be wrong, because I was having this very… intimate… moment with someone I didn't really know, and on our first date! I had half a mind to push him away from my neck, and tell him that maybe we were taking this a bit too fast. However, a sigh escaped me despite of myself, and I suddenly found myself bringing my hands up to grip at his hair, messing it out of its groomed-back style. His dark midnight locks were like soft silk to my fingertips, so desirable to touch.

I remembered once, a long time ago, I must have enjoyed this feeling of close intimacy; this warm, heart-racing sensation that ignited within me and overwhelmed me in seconds. I remember loving this experience, and always begging for me.

But like anything else that concerned Aiden, I truly did not know.

My fingers roamed downwards, allowing his tresses to glide smoothly between the gaps of my digits. Finally, I came to the nape of his neck, and my fingertips played around with the soft hairs there. It seemed to excite him, for I could hear his breath hitching and him groaning in pleasure lowly.

My fingers kept teasing his nape, and it continued to go down and down…

Until the feeling of a metal chain made me stop.

I hadn't realized that Aiden had been wearing something around his neck. But then again, it must have been hidden underneath the collar of his light black shirt, and maybe because I really didn't pay that much attention to his neck when my focus had been entirely on his face.

At first I thought nothing of it, thinking that it was just some plain accessory that he would wear for fun. But that thought seemed redundant when I could feel something heavy hanging off the chain.

Curiosity got me, for I suddenly pushed him away, just as I pulled the chain out from underneath his shirt. Aiden froze then, but I did not pay mind to him when I laid my eyes on what hung off the chain.

There was not just something. It was actually two things.

One was a simple silver band that seemed to glow in the soft silvery moonlight. The other ring was similar to that of the first, with the exception of having a perfectly circular cut red ruby as the centrepiece, adorned with miniature diamonds encrusted all around it, giving it a glow that was just as ethereal as the other one's.

Two rings.

Two very beautiful rings.

Two very beautiful wedding rings.

But my focus was mainly on the female ring, my gaze locked on the lone ruby stone that reminded me so much of a pomegranate seed… And I could even vaguely remember myself wearing that very ring on my own right ring finger… A long, long, long time ago…

"It's so beautiful…" I whispered out of awe and admiration, lightly touching the two rings, feeling the smooth metal and diamonds on the tip of my finger.

"They're mine."

And that was when I froze into place.

Usually, other people would have presumed that those rings held some sort of sentimental value to Aiden, considering the fact that he had worn it from a chain around his neck – where it would be the closest to his heart – and he was looking at it with such melancholy in his eyes. Maybe it had belonged to someone before him? Maybe his parents? Or his grandparents? Or a good old friend?

However, I could not presume those, because Aiden spoke with a voice that somehow really told me that it did belong to him.

"Yours?"

He nodded his head silently.

My heart began to race when I thought of the next few words that had appeared on my mind. My tongue began to feel numb and heavy, as though it did not want to say what I fearfully suspected. I could feel all thoughts leave my head, except for that one certain new thought.

Even though I felt like I couldn't say it, I did.

"Are… you… married?"

The racing of my heart only increased when Aiden fell into silence, but he still continued to hold my gaze. His dark eyes were blank, and I could not read anything from them. I could not even get the slightest hint of what he was possibly thinking. However, I hoped to hope with all my heart that he was not going to say what I dreaded he was going to say.

But it seemed that the Fates were working against me on this.

"Yes," he answered in the most solemn of tones.

I could feel myself stiffen all over. It was true; I could hardly even move a muscle. I did not blink, speak, twitch or breathe at the impact that his simple answer had on me. That one simple word had actually been enough to strike me senseless and numb, unable to think of what to say in a response to this.

"Melindia?"

"Where is… she?" I asked without looking at him, internally struggling to keep myself calm and neutral. But I doubt I was being such, judging by how my enclosed fists were obviously trembling at my sides. "Is she… Is she…" But right afterwards, I did not want to say anything, because I did not want to be rude if it was true that he was a divorcee or… a widow.

However, Aiden seemed to know what I would have been talking about, for he then shook his head in disagreement. "No…" he told me seriously. He then took a deep inhale of breath, before admitting in a deep sigh, "She's still my wife, and she's still alive. So very, very near, and very, very much alive."

Now that… was a real blow to my heart.

And at that moment, an imaginary tidal wave of jumbled emotions crashed upon me, drowning me in all that it brought within it. The feelings of overwhelming shock and astonishment were felt, immediately taking over my entire being. However, those two feelings could not even compare to the more bitter, heart-wrenching feelings of anger, confusion, disbelief, betrayal and sadness that was now starting to eat at my slowing heart.

I could only look at Aiden in accusation, feeling disbelieving that he had just actually admitted to me that he was, in fact, married, his wife was still around, and he had dared to even get to know me and actually take me out on a 'romantic' date.

Oh, for goodness sake! How could I have been so stupid?! How could I have let myself be swayed by this guy who I barely even knew, and let him charm me so easily?! And to think – that I would actually think! – that something bigger and more serious could blossom between us?! Was I just some sort of game to him?! Did he just attempt to get to me while he pushed his wife to the side?! Was he just some sort of douche who was just looking for some other girl to play with?! Now I look like a fool! A stupid fool! A stupid fool who was tricked into being so cheap as to be swayed by a stranger who turned out to be a married man!

Anger suddenly ignited within me as a small spark, which then grew into a huge wildfire that started to spread throughout my entire being. I could feel my heart racing frantically, on sync with how the blood in my veins started boiling furiously. My trembling fists at my side were starting to tremble even more, with the tip of my nails pressing into the skin of my palm so very hard and forceful that I knew I would able to break skin and spill blood with just the slightest bit more pressure.

One would not even know the things I wanted to do to Aiden at that moment, as a sort of payback for the way he was making me feel betrayed from blatantly admitting to me that he was truly a married man and that he did not tell me. Screaming and yelling were two of those things, as well as punching and slapping him in the face.

But then, I found myself simply pushing Aiden away and making my way out of the clearing.

"Melindia?" I heard him call my name out in confusion. I knew that he was following me.

With a simple turn of my head to cast a glare that had been able to make him stop in his tracks, I spat poisonously, "Stay away from me, Aiden. Just stay away from me. And don't even dare to follow me."

Without casting another look at him, I looked ahead again and proceeded to walk out of the clearing, leaving Aiden behind, and trying to control the hate and rage that threatened to burst from within me.

XXX

"Melindia?"

I did not bother to look at the door, where Mom was poking her head through the crack. I just continued lying slack on my side on the bed, wrapped up in my comforter. But I did respond to her with a soft whisper of a 'yes?'

"Sorry to wake you, honey," she told me apologetically.

"It's okay," I said reassuringly. "I haven't even slept yet."

"How was dinner?"

With a deep breath, I calmly replied…

It was horrible… My date turned out to be married man… He still has a wife… I feel cheap and used… I nearly became someone's slut… He was using me… He only wanted to 'play' with me… I hate him… I hate him for life now…

"… It was fine…"

Author's Note:

If anyone recalled Chapter 3, Aiden had been wearing a chain with something on it around his neck, which is his most precious treasures.

Oh, Melindia! Things with Aiden are taking a turn for the worse! Indeed, your good night has gone TERRIBLY wrong! But can things take a turn for the better in the time to come? And is Aiden really what you think he is?

Please do review! Certainly helps me out a lot! And see you on Monday!

Muse of Fanfiction