Questions

Aimé: I'm here Avril, how are you feeling? 

Avril: what? What are you doing here?

Aimé: I took a flight back with Lawrence and Kye.

Avril: But your grandfather. What about him?

Aimé: All my friends are there. He is still in the hospital and his condition isn't that serious. Also, how could I leave my saviour all alone when she needs me? 

Do you want to eat something first?

{It was the first time after coming back here that I had heard search kind words from anyone. I finally let it all out. I began crying like the baby I was.}

Avril: I– sobs don't know what happened. They just died on me. I didn't even get to say a last goodbye. I couldn't even see their dead bodies. They promised me when they bought this house that we would live here happily ever after at last. Now I am all alone with just their ashes in this big house. They left me so soon. I got admitted to all the top medical colleges they wanted me to and now they won't even know that I'll become a doctor. Mom won't ever see me in that white coat she wanted so bad. What, sobs How am I supposed to carry on all alone now? Sobs

Aime said absolutely nothing but just held me tightly. I cried on his shoulders for another fifteen minutes or so until his shirt was half-soaked with my tears. My eyes had gotten red along with my cheeks and nose. And my lips turned so red each time I cried that it felt like I had chewed on some spicy chilly- essentially my whole face stung. He looked at me warmly for a whole minute before he started brushing away my tears and then kissed me on the forehead.

Aime: Don't worry I am still here. I am not going anywhere. And so is Kye and Lawrence.

Avril: Yeah…Let's go eat something you must be starving after the long flight, huh?

Aime: Don't worry about me. Just look after yourself right now. I was so concerned after you left the hospital with a half-healed wound and damaged organs. I couldn't even reach you until the flight got here.

We reached a nearby restaurant and I ordered something mechanically out of habit. I don't even remember anymore.

Aime: How is it? Do you feel like eating?

Avril: Yeah I'm fine, You finish your pancakes na? Don't keep looking at me. 

Aime: 😊

Just after a minute of saying that I had started feeling quite nauseous. I tried to stomach it since I would get Aime more worried and troubled than he already was for me. But even though I had barely finished anything I had to run to the restroom.

Avril: I think I'll have to hit the restroom. I feel like I got my period. Don't follow me just continue eating. I'll be right back.

Aime: Ok just call me if you need anything!

I ran to the restroom when I was out of his sight and started puking my guts out in one of the nearby stalls. I already was feverish and in pain because of the recent surgery and then there was the wound. After just traveling back to the country and not having anything for the past 25 hours while being sleep-deprived due to the nightmares was definitely weighing on my health. While I thought I was on the verge of collapsing in these stalls someone held my hair behind while supporting my back. I knew it was Aime without looking behind even when the restroom was full of strangers and different smells. I just could tell when he was near. I cried sorry in a faint voice after I was done vomiting.

Aime: What are you apologising for? You are this sick because of me! If only I had been more alert that night. I promise I'll never let you get hurt ever again, ever! 

Avril: I love you…

I think I had fainted after that. When I next opened my eyes I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

Aime: Hey, slowly now. We are in a hotel. 

I had to call a doctor to visit but don't worry no one's informed yet.

Avril: Why are we here?

Aime: I just thought you wouldn't want to go back there. 

Avril: You know me too well for the short time you've known me cough 

Aime: Here, drink this- It has a rehydrating solution mixed in it. And the doctor also gave you a shot so that you don't throw up again.

Avril: I would drink poison if you gave me.

Aime: You still need to eat and please stop being this careless about your own life. You do know that I have lost my parents too right…. And I can't lose you too now…

I still didn't want to accept him. I could only see him miserable with me just like now. Either being close to the doors of death because of my misfortunes or just catering to my needs- looking after me each time I fell sick or got hurt (I had a weak constitution since birth) or enduring my tantrums and mood swings every now and then. I had inherited every bad quality of my parents. I would only ever end up in a relationship where I would keep taking and someone as kind as Aime would only keep giving until I bled him dry. He was far too young and full of life to be with someone as broken as me.

So, to lighten up the mood I said something very wrong once again.

Avril: At first, I thought you brought me here to make love. Haha

He looked pissed as if I had just ignored his heartfelt confession which I had kind of and then leaned closer to my face. He was sitting on a chair all this time but now he had crouched forward on the bed. I started moving back until I hit the bedpost. He didn't stop and I closed my eyes out of embarrassment. He first kissed my face several times and then moved down to my neck and collarbone. He was so gentle. His lips felt like velvety feathers on my skin.

Aime: I would've continued if you weren't sick Av. Please don't play with my emotions like this. I am not letting you go now no matter what you say I am yours now and forever. 

He almost slammed the door and left but then came back and told me to eat the porridge left on the side table.

Avril: You won't feed me?

He was blank for a moment and then sat back on the chair and proceeded to spoon-feed me each bite. I was a bit happy; the last time I was spoon-fed was when I was six and sick by my mother. She was no more but maybe I could try to live for him. 

That's when I saw his ears. He was blushing all this time.

Avril: are you blushing Aime?

Aime: No- Where? I am not blushing 

He said while hiding his face. I leaned in and gave him a long French kiss. He looked beet red. 

Aime: whispers You are driving me insane.

Avril: I tend to have that effect on people and I am insane. But what can we do now? You already gave yourself to me. No matter how much you beg me now, I won't ever let you go.

I went ahead to wash myself and told Aime to buy me some new clothes since these were almost ruined after all the puking. He had bought me a plain white ribbed full-sleeve top with some white sweatpants.

Aime: I heard you have to wear white for mourning so I bought some comfortable clothes in that colour. Is it ok?

Avril: Yeah of course I don't mind what I wear much and it is sweet of you to remember that. 

Aime: It's the bare minimum. Well, I'll be outside then.

We then headed back home to bring my parents' 'asthi' (ashes) which we would now have to let go of in the river. We did that and I thought how if I had not gone on this vacation I might've somehow prevented all of this or at least been there for them in their last moments. It all made me feel choked and suffocated. And even after all of this, I couldn't let go of this feeling that something or someone was still lingering around us. Something ominous had not yet quite passed. I squeezed Aime's hand amidst my thought process and he comforted me by patting my hand.

Avril: This is weird. Despite my dad being a bit of a rough driver; my mom was extremely careful all the time and wouldn't let him drive so rashly. Just how did they end up in an accident so bad that it killed them both almost instantly? My aunt said she couldn't do anything to save them but wasn't it just an accident, what could she have done? Also, why were the hospital staff so unwilling to listen to my aunt who is a doctor herself, and my mom's closest kin when she asked to do a post-mortem? 

Aime: Well, you have a point but you could be reading too much into it as well. Why don't you try asking your aunt about it?

Avril: I don't trust anyone right now. My aunt has been kind to me but the moment something would cause her a loss she wouldn't hesitate to cut them off or even destroy them. I have to check this out myself first.

Aime: So, what are you going to do?

Avril: well, let's head home first.

Once we reached the house I ran to their bedroom which was like a forbidden place for me in each of our previous homes. 

Avril: Start checking out all the files especially those that say CONFIDENTIAL and read every clause and every line carefully. Tell me when you find something suspicious- illegal, high-risk, or dangerous.

…

Aime: I just found two files. But they aren't any special. One is against a construction company in Grenoble but your mom wasn't even fighting that case and the other is about some illegal gambling near Champs-Elysees.

Avril: Grenoble and Champs- Elysees? Are you sure?

Aime: Yeah, why?

Avril: Mom had a strict rule: She wouldn't even look at any cases outside of Paris. Most legal clubs operate in Champs-Elysees, so why set up an illegal one unless it was some kind of a casino or a front for other illegal activities? And look at these files- they're against two pick-pockets: Victor Arnaud and Lucas Arnaud. Even though my mom was kind from time to time. She surely wouldn't have wasted her time on two random pickpockets.

Aimé: But this still doesn't lead us to anything or anyone.

Avril: I know, I'll go check the study for more clues.

Aimé: What about your father's contracts? You should see those too.

Avril: Yes, good idea Aimé. 

Aimé: well, I'll go prepare some dinner in the meantime.

Avril: Hmmm.

There wasn't much in the study except some contracts Dad had signed in the early 2000s. Designing contracts with some Luigi de Luca, Antonio Conti, Enzo Guerra, etc. Weirdly all were either Italian or of Italian origin.

While I was taking out random books from the shelf and checking out the library my parents had built. Since I had only been here during intense exam times, I had not bothered looking at the interior design they had done.

While looking around I accidentally dropped the weird gothic candle that had been in the middle of the shelf sitting a bit high on a candle stand. I tip-toed to place it back carefully when I saw a button of sorts– at first, I thought it was a magnet that kept the candle stand attached to it but I still touched it out of curiosity. When I did I heard some faint mechanical noises and gears turning and shifting until there was a faint click and one part of the bookshelf had cracked itself open very slightly. I was amazed at how my parents had never once mentioned to me about such an amazing place they had designed! When I stepped in, I realized why. That whole room was an armoury filled with all types of weapons. There were at least dozens of shotguns, pistols, rifles, crossbows, and machine guns each kept inside a glass shelf. On the other side there were some knives, daggers, nun-chucks, and other metals I didn't even know of. On a table in the same room was a small shelf with different potions and concoctions and then finally at the end of the big room was a pinboard with torn pages and images. Besides it was the whole security system of the house. Each nook and cranny was monitored including my bedroom's balcony! I could see Aimé in the kitchen cooking something in the highest definition quality and even zoom on him to the very grain in the hotpot he was cooking. Just opposite this bizarre control system was a sort of trap door. I tried opening it until something I had done made it slam itself open leading to a narrow passage-way. I was so stumped and weirded out with it all that I closed it all and quickly ran out of that panic room. While bringing one of those loaded guns that I could use. If they had gone to such far lengths to make a room like that and were so paranoid until the end of their lives and had still ended up dead, I was nowhere near safe.

I tucked the gun under my shirt and made sure it wasn't visible. I didn't mention anything about the secret room to Aime. No matter how much I wanted to ignore it and deny it. There could be a possibility that I couldn't trust Aime. I had never met his family and his parents were dead. I knew nothing about him except his name and address in Spain. I really didn't want to doubt him but I had to be careful for my and his sake anyways. Even if he wasn't the trouble: he could get into trouble for knowing too much because of me. He seemed like a good cook though- he had made some fideuà. It was a seafood dish from Valencia and consisted of pasta, fish, and shellfish.

Avril: It smells amazing but I don't feel like eating anything. I am sorry Aime but you should finish it yourself.

Aime: But I made it, especially for you. How can you skip your meals so many times a day? You will become weak and fall sick eventually. You are still recovering remember?

Avril: I do, I do but I feel like I will throw up anything I eat now plus we can't really eat non-vegetarian dishes for at least 12 days after someone's death. I forgot to mention that to you. So don't feel guilty and finish it for me, please.

Aime: OK but we can order some vegetarian dishes if you want.

Avril: Well, we don't really trust vegetarian food in Paris. Most of them would cook it in the same utensils that were used for non-vegetarian dishes. Also, I feel sleepy, so I'll just go to sleep first. You can sleep in the guest room over there or anywhere else you feel comfortable.

Aime: OK, Good night!

Avril: Good night!