Living With The Bad Boy

“Can I come in?” He asked and I helped him climb into the bedroom.

“What are you doing here by this time and how in the name of hell did you climb up here?” I asked as I stared down in search of a ladder or anything he must have used in climbing but there was none.

“Skills” He said boastfully as he made his way to my bed.

“How did you manage to climb up to this high building?” I asked.

“Have you forgotten how I use to climb into people’s yard through their fences back then?” He said with a smirk.

He was right, one thing Aiden knew how to do best was to break into people’s yards uninvited. Most times it was to do mischief or payback for someone who got on his nerves. But that’s a fence and this is a one storey duplex for crying out loud. He really would fit to be a master thief.

“Oh” I sighed before saying “So what are you doing here?”

I waited for his response while he sat on my bed like he own the place. I’d deal with him soon.

“Well, I was just passing by and decided to drop by” He lied stupidly.

“You were just passing by, by 12:30am?” I shot him an instant glare.

“Okay fine, I’ve been calling you and you never picked, I even texted earlier. So I decided to drop by. Why weren’t you picking my calls or replying to my texts?” He asked as he looked at me carefully while awaiting my response.

“I wasn’t with my phone and by the time I saw all missed calls and texts, I had to call my bestie” I said truthfully.

“And after the call with your bestie, you didn’t dim it fit to call or text back” He said with an unreadable expression. He really knows how to hide his emotions.

“Look I’m sorry okay, it’s not like you’re my boyfriend or anything” I frowned as I made my way to the bed and took my spot back.

“Well I could be” He winked playfully but something about it seemed more than just a joke. I didn’t think much about it though. One thing I’ve known about him all through the years while I was in New York is that he joked a lot. You never can tell when he’s serious except when we’re having our moments.

“You’re crazy” I laughed.

“Crazy about you baby girl” He teased, making me laugh louder. He’s not just crazy, he’s insane.

“So why are you here, for real. You could always come over tomorrow to find out why I wasn’t answering your calls, who visits someone by 12?” I glared at him cautiously.

“This guy does” He said playfully.

“Quit the joke Aiden, why are you here for real, I was about sleeping until I heard your annoying knock” I told him as I fixed him with a stare. It wasn’t a friendly one.

“Fine” He sighed. “The truth is that, I haven’t gotten you out of my mind, all I think about is you and it was making me crazy, the smoke wasn’t even helping so I decided to come over” Only then did the stench of cigarettes coming from his mouth hit me. He’s been smoking.

“Why did you come back home. Were you kicked out of college again?” I had the sudden urge to ask the one question that’s been on my mind lately.

“Who told you?” He asked. Obviously he knew someone had told me.

“Hailey to….”

“Damn Hailey! She’s always gossiping” He growled.

“Isn’t that the point of having her as my sister?” I laughed.

“Well she’s always doing it and always poking her big nose into my affairs which I absolutely do not appreciate” He said. I could sense his anger.

“You know she doesn’t mean any harm” I defended the girl I’m still angry at.

“Whatever” He scoffed.

“You haven’t answered my question yet” I stared at him, searching his eyes for answers but they were just blank without any emotion or expression attached.

“I… Yeah I was kicked out of college once but my uncle got me back… You know his ways” He started.

“Then what happened this time?” I asked curiously.

“I wasn’t kicked out this time, I was only suspended cause I got into a fight with someone and I really did his face a whole big shit” He said to me without any sign of remorse on his face.

“Why did you get into a fight?” I felt the urge to ask.

“Stop interrogating me, you’re not my mother” He scoffed. Ouch. That hurts.

We both remained quiet, neither of us knew what to say next. I was hurt by his response and I certainly didn’t wanna hear him say anymore hurtful things to me.

“I did a business with him and he refused to pay me, so we fought and I got suspended” He said after a while of extreme silence.

“Okay” I simply said. I had the urge to ask what the business was even though I knew the answer, but I really didn’t wanna hear his rude remarks again.

“You’re not saying anything” He calmly said after a while.

“What do I say? You’ll just insult me again” I said quietly hoping he didn’t hear me but he did.

“I’m sorry if I was rude, I didn’t mean it that way. I’ve just been caught up with shit lately” He calmly said to me.

I didn’t even say anything, I remained quiet until he spoke again.

“Please say something, I don’t like this silence” He begged.

“What do I say?”

“Anything, scold me, insult me, reprimand me but please don’t be quiet. I know you have a lot to say and I know you’re mad at me. I have a lot to tell you Liv, but I don’t know how to” He said as he stared into my eyes. I fixed him with a stare and I could see pain evident in his eyes. His umbrella has started to pull off.

“Aiden what do I say, you’ve been doing all the shit you know I hate. You smoke, you take drugs, you’ve gotten yourself into so much shit that’s messed up” I scowled.

“I know…”

“Do you think Nana is happy with this lifestyle of yours? She isn’t. She loves you so much Aiden, think about her for once” I said calmly as I awaited his response.

“I know Liv, it’s not my fault. I only started taking these shit two years ago…”

“Is it me?” I asked cautiously.

“God, no, it isn’t you…. I just couldn’t deal with it all. I was frustrated both emotionally and mentally. I needed something to try getting you out of my head Liv. But I just couldn’t. I tried, I really did try but I just couldn’t, you know how much I really did love you. I know you certainly don’t feel the same anymore but it’s hard for me. I started taking all this to clear my head but I just couldn’t. I know I sound crazy right now but I’m damn serious”  I could see the truth in his eyes but I wasn’t about jumping into his arms.

“Aiden…”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“No, don’t say anything. I need you to just listen. Listen to me” He said calmly as he stared into my eyes and I nodded in response.

After few seconds of silence, he spoke again. “I know I’m not worthy of you anymore….”

“Don’t say that Aiden, y….”

“You don’t need to lie to make me feel better. I know you have a boyfriend and have replaced me. I can’t blame you. No one can really still love a supposed cheating ex boyfriend. It’s been two years, these two years has been tough on me. I thought all this shit only happens in movies but fuck it, I can’t even get you out of my head. Not even now that you’re here”

“Y… you still love me?” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Fuck, yes. I still fucking love you Olivia. It really hurts” He took my hands. “No, I don’t want you to pity me, I know you no longer love me and I’m not asking you to force the feelings. All I’m doing right now is telling you. Telling you how I’m feeling inside” He placed my hands on his chest.

When he says it like this, he’s just making me feel guilty. I really use to love Aiden so much. He wasn’t only my boyfriend but also my best friend back then. I guess I saw him more as a best friend than a boyfriend. That’s why it hurt so much back then. I thought I loved Alex more but now I’m certain that the love I once had for Aiden was more than I did Alex. It was clear now. Much clearer.

Now I remember what I saw in Aiden that made me hopelessly in love with him. It was his brutal honesty. He was a really honest person. Honest with his feelings no matter how much it’ll hurt the other person. He was always honest and that’s why I loved him. I know I no longer have feelings for Aiden but I can’t help but feel pity for him. All these years I was busy hating him with the label of my cheating ex boyfriend. Unknowing that he was innocent all this while.

“Right?” I was brought out of my trance from Aiden’s watching eyes. He must have been talking to me all this while. While I was busy thinking about us.

“Sorry?” I said confusedly.

“You seem to be lost in thought while I was talking” He smiled softly.

“Yeah”I smiled back.

“I was saying…. Since you’re back, we can just try friendship” He said, making me confused.

“I don’t quite understand you” I said to him and watched him smile, showing off his perfect pink lip.

“What I mean is, let’s just start all over again. Let’s be friends, I wouldn’t want your boyfriend coming over to chop off my head” He teased.

“I don’t have a boyfriend any longer…. Long story” I smiled painfully at the thought of Alex.

“Oh, well there’s still hope for me then” He beamed.