Chapter Seventeen

Aidan

''Where the hell did I put it?'' I mutter under my breath before letting out a deep sigh, searching through the crowded drawers.

I've spent an hour and a half to look for the bracelet ever since we got home while Kenna and Dimitri are busy unpacking. Their laughters are heard from above and I try my best not to be bothered by their chatters, laughters and even their arguments as I search my entire room for the friendship bracelet.

How can something . . . pink go unnoticed? The last time I saw it was probably two years ago, when I got new drawers and decided to place all of my 'unnecessary' stuff in there. Unfortunately, the bracelet is not really unnecessary, at the moment. It's like my whole life depends on that bracelet because truth be told, I don't want to disappoint her.

Wandering around my room and going through each drawer including my walk-in closet has caused my room to be a mess. Clothes, shoes and even bags are scattered on the floor in different directions, almost leaving the drawers empty in order for me to find the bracelet, easier.

With a deep sigh escaping my lips, my eyes wander to the top of the drawer near the wall. Within seconds, I begin to realise the pink material which causes my eyes to widen before running towards it—somehow, couldn't really believe the fact that it has been sitting here all along, instead of being in one of the drawers.

As I grab it, I start to eye our names, making me smile down at the bracelet. For some reason, I don't understand why I had given up the opportunity to wear it all along through our high school years and university because I was bothered by what other people would think than be bothered by how much this bracelet means a lot to Kenna.

Kenna, heart, Aidan.

It appears more like a couple's bracelet than a friendship bracelet. Then again, it should't have bothered me—the colour shouldn't have caused me to lie.

Just like that, I slide it down to my wrist, seeing it fit perfectly. My mind travels back to when Kenna was busy trying to measure my wrist and little did I know . . . it was for the sake of this bracelet, in order for her to make sure it fits.

As an adult, the colour seems to not bother me. In fact, pink looks good with tanned skin.

Ignoring all of the mess I've made in my room, I quickly walk straight towards Kenna's room which was previously my game room. The door is left ajar which causes me to peek a little, seeing Dimitri checking out the boxes while Kenna is busy changing the bed sheets, leaving me to slowly enter the room.

''There you are,'' Dimitri says without looking. ''I thought you were slacking off because you didn't want to help or worse . . . you were kidnapped,'' He pretends to be surprised as he takes out one of Kenna's books from the box and place them in the bookshelf.

Actually, this room was being cleaned out a couple of weeks before the wedding because I wanted to make sure she gets whatever she needs. Other than that, I also bought a few more furniture such as a new bed, new drawers and I even got a walk-in closet installed. There's actually a surprise inside but I'm pretty sure she hasn't checked it out, yet.

I read online about how much women tends to love makeup and Kenna is one of them. So, I got her a makeup vanity inside the walk-in closet, filled with new clothes and shoes that has been picked out by Mia. She helped designed the room and chose the furniture because she said she knows best . . . with woman's intuition.

''Dimitri, do you mind going downstairs to take my phone?'' I ask, immediately causing him to lift his head and raise an eyebrow at me. ''It's in the kitchen, on the counter, near the fridge. I also got Flynn to go grocery shopping a few days ago, I think the fridge's full.'' I add, slowly.

Both of his eyes wander around the room before landing back on me, his lips curving up into a small smirk. ''Did you just say . . . fridge?'' He asks, standing up.

''Did I stutter?'' I raise an eyebrow.

Within seconds, he is already walking out of the door and straight down the stairs, leaving Kenna and I, all by ourselves. Kenna seems to be making the bed before turning to look at me, her eyebrows furrowed as she looks for Dimitri who has disappeared downstairs.

''Where did he go? I thought he was supposed to help me unpack,'' She crosses her arms while I hide my left hand behind my back, unseen by her—the same hand that I'm currently wearing our friendship bracelet.

''He went downstairs for awhile,'' I reply and she nods, trying to get back and fill the drawers with her clothes. ''Actually, I found something . . . spent time looking for it as soon as we got back but I found it and I think you'll be surprised,'' I continue to speak, getting her attention.

''What is it?'' She raises an eyebrow, her lips curving up.

The distance between us are getting lesser and lesser as I take a few steps closer towards her, our eyes never looking away. As soon as we're close enough and only a couple of feet apart, I begin to drop my left hand and raise it up to the front, causing both of her eyes to widen at the sight—leaving me smile, liking her reaction.

''Dude, you found it.'' She breathes out, grabbing onto my hand and touching the bracelet. It may seem a little bit dull as it has been years but it proves just how long we've been together and how our friendship will continue to grow, no matter the circumstances or challenges.

''Yeah, man, I found it. Thinking back about it, I should've just worn the bracelet throughout the years instead of hiding it in the drawers. Now, I'm not going to take it off.'' I respond as her eyes glint with happiness before wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me in for a bone-crushing hug, making me wrap my arms around her body.

''Wait,'' She says, making her way towards one of the boxes labelled as 'important' which causes me to furrow my brows.

Kenna goes through the box, looking for something while I stand still at my spot. Then, she starts to grab onto the same bracelet—smiling widely as she wears it on her right hand.

''Now, we both have matching bracelets.'' She grins, ''I'm serious though, you can't take it off for the rest of your life and I won't take it off, either. Consider it as a punishment for not wearing it and lying to me, nine years ago.'' She eyes down the pink bracelet, leaving me nodding my head—not really considering it a punishment.

''I kind of like it,'' I mutter.

''You do? Then, maybe we should get more matching things such as matching socks, matching shirts, matching watches, matching shoes . . . but it has got to be pink.'' She laughs and I join her, not really expecting her to consider all of our matching things should be pink but then again, I don't really mind because I think it'd be cute.

With both of us smiling at each other, it took me a few minutes to realise her wedding dress laying on the couch which causes me to walk towards it—taking my time, eyeing and remembering how she looked when she was wearing it as she walked down the aisle. It was a time and moment I can never forget because she was breathtaking.

''I wanted to keep it at my parent's house but I didn't have time to go there,'' She says behind me as I turn to look at her, shoving both of my hands into my jeans' pockets.

''You should just keep it here. You know, you can take a look at it or walk around the house in that if you ever feel like you missed it.'' I reply with a chuckle as she smiles. It takes me awhile to imagine her walking around the house in her wedding dress—it'd probably kill me because I know how great she would look, even without her face full of makeup or hair tied up.

''Sounds like a great idea,'' She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, grabbing onto the dress and disappearing into the walk-in closet while I eye her from her room, seeing her putting it with care.

It doesn't take us long to finish unpacking as we're already making our way downstairs, meeting Dimitri who appears to be taking a few sips of wine in the kitchen. He seems to have earned happiness from the fridge as he didn't bother returning back upstairs or with my phone. Then again, I don't blame him . . . I needed a few time alone with Kenna.

''Oh, matching bracelets. How cute,'' He says before taking another sip. ''It'd be nice if I was ever given one,'' He rolls his eyes, precisely jealous about always being left out.

''We got it when we were seventeen. You weren't even in our lives back then,'' Kenna replies as she takes a water bottle in the fridge before taking a sip while I take a seat on the stool near the kitchen counter.

''You really like to break my heart, don't you?'' He places his right hand on his chest, pretending to be severely hurt but Kenna doesn't seem to mind as she sticks her tongue out at his direction before placing the water bottle on the kitchen counter—in between Dimitri and I.

All of a sudden, the doorbell starts to ring which causes me to stand up and head towards the front door while both Kenna and Dimitri start to bicker. Their voices are getting louder and louder but I pay no attention; sometimes, I swear I can even predict what they're going to say.

I pull the door open to see my mother standing with a smile on her face which causes me to clench my jaw, immediately. ''Mother . . . what are you doing here?'' I ask, feeling unsure.

Please, don't tell me that she's trying to alter my life again because I would probably just run away to Germany or even Russia because I'm getting sick and tired of everything. She can't just come here to my penthouse apartment without telling but she always does that and she gets away with it, all the time.

Mother starts to frown as she hears noises and grunts at the back while I place my hand against the wall, not letting her inside. ''You shouldn't be here,'' I add.

''Is that Dimitri?'' She asks, pointing at someone behind me which causes me to turn and see Dimitri being strangled by Kenna as she climbs onto his back, their voices filling the room. Deep down inside, I feel like face-palming myself or hit my head against the wall because now, mother won't leave the apartment.

Both Kenna and Dimitri appear to be shocked at the presence as they stand still, fixing their hair and crumpled clothes.

''Diana! What a pleasant surprise to see you here,'' Dimitri exclaims with a huge grin plastered on his face as he pulls my mother in before landing a peck on her cheek, ''It has been awhile since we've seen each other, don't you think? How have you been?'' He adds, placing a hand behind her waist, leading her inside.

''We saw each other at the wedding, Dimitri.'' She replies, leaving Dimitri chuckling as he tries to make the situation less awkward. ''I've been well, how about you? How is your business going with the hotels? I heard that you're making a new expansion to Beijing,'' She smiles.

''Where did you hear that? News do travel fast, don't they?'' He laughs.

Kenna and I glance at each other as Dimitri and my mother take a seat in the living room, leaving me to join them. He is always acting like this around my mother and distracting her by talking about his businesses and his achievements because apparently, mother likes it when she hears about success.

''How's Brody? Now, it has been awhile since I've seen him. You didn't bring him to the wedding,'' She continues to speak.

''Brody is staying with his mother for a couple of weeks which explains why I'm here and trying my best to find some company but since you're here, Diana . . . we have a lot we can talk about.'' He smiles at her, flashing off his perfectly straight teeth—no doubt, mother has always enjoyed his company and sometimes more than she enjoys mine.

''Well, I actually came here to talk with my daughter-in-law.'' She looks up at Kenna who is slightly surprised at the sudden call.

I scoot towards Kenna and place my arm around her shoulder, trying to appear like the loving couple mother has always imagined while Kenna snuggles closer towards me. This is going to be a tough act to follow because well, whenever our families are around, there's always going to be acting and trying to act all sweet and shit.

''They're so adorable that I feel like I'm going to throw up,'' Dimitri fakes a loud laugh, running his fingers through his hair, carelessly.

My eyes narrow at him as he pays no attention, at all. My mother clears her throat as she looks at Kenna, ''Have you two decided about your honeymoon destination? It has been a couple of days since the wedding and I think that you deserve more time together, far away from the city. Probably, Bali? Maldives?'' She asks, a smile plastered on her face.

Kenna shakes her head, ''We're actually very busy and we haven't found the right time to plan our honeymoon. Actually, it hasn't even crossed our minds.'' She replies.

''How is that possible? You two are married,'' Mother frowns.

I clear my throat, ''Mother, I would really appreciate if you stay out of our personal lives and let us discuss it some other time. Besides, we have all the time in the world to go on our honeymoon, right? Why should we rush it?'' I fake a large grin.

''Why should you wait?'' She raises an eyebrow, ''For all I remember, your brother and your sister-in-law was ecstatic to go on their honeymoon because they couldn't stay away from each other but you two . . . seems to not be bothered by it, at all?'' She adds.

If we want this marriage to work for a year and fool them, we have got to keep up with our lies and actings. Sooner or later, they might get suspicious especially mother. She knows when things are wrong or when she's being fooled unless Kenna and I do a really good job at it.

''We thought maybe in a year,'' I blurt out.

Kenna chuckles, ''Yeah . . . we talked about it but we never really confirmed it. Both of us are very busy with our careers and we seem to understand that. We both know how important it is to spend some quality time together and rushing it would be quite, the opposite.'' She breathes.

My eyes wander down to see Kenna playing with her fingers, she would only do that whenever she's nervous or uneasy and right now, she's feeling both. Spontaneously, I grab onto her hand and smile down at her; mother instantly catching the sudden action which causes her lips to curve up into a smile.

Dimitri, on the other hand, stays silent as he eyes us with a smirk.

''What about you two come along to Texas?'' Mother asks, causing both Kenna and I to drop our smiles and it seems like we're currently picking up our jaws on the floor.

''Didn't we just say that we're busy?'' I furrow my brows.

''Why . . . your father and I are celebrating our anniversary next week. Your brother, your sister-in-law, Ava and Mia are also tagging along. Why won't you two come, too? It'll be great. Besides, it has been awhile since both of you went back to my hometown. We'll be having so much fun, don't you think?'' She continues to speak while I turn to look at Kenna.

''We can't,'' Kenna and I reply in unison.

True, it has been years since Kenna and I went back to Dallas. In fact, we went there together when we were both ten—it was sixteen years ago! We were having a great time there and it was a great experience but that was the last time we ever go back, things started to change and my family got busier, we forgot where we came from.

Specifically saying, where both mother and father came from.

Mother starts to stand up as she lets out a deep sigh, ''I'm going to say this one more time. You two have forgotten about the importance of family. So, let me repeat . . . Aidan, your father and I will be celebrating our anniversary in Dallas. We'll all be there except for you and your wife but I expect otherwise.''

She continues to speak, ''No matter how busy you are or how important that work of yours, your family will always comes first because they've always been there for you. Not your career, not your employees and not your clients. I hope you'll realise that,'' She adds.

Then, she turns to Kenna with a small smile on her face before heading towards the door, leaving the three of us, utterly speechless at our spots.