08

Happy New Year everyone! Sorry for the late update, I haven't had time to go online. here's a New Year chapter to compensate those who are reading.

please say hi or comment any random thing so I'll know my book is actually getting read.

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Days passed by and still, Aelia didn't let me give her a present.

It was already New Year's eve and I had begun to panic.

This was the first New Year's we'd be spending together in a long time and I wanted it to be special for her. After all, Aelia's last New Year was a bit rough.

Getting kidnapped by a crazy villain who wasn't even bionic tended to leave some scars.

Worst thing was, I hadn't known it had happened until I forced the pimple of an elder brother I had to tell me after he had let something about it slip.

Leading to me suggesting she spend her Christmas break at mine.

I wanted to make her New Year special.

"Rio, you coming!" She yelled from the living room and I sighed, grabbing my mask and stuffing it into the little purse my jacket had previously been squeezed into.

I don't know why he hadn't created anything that made purses small and easy to carry but spacious on the inside yet but he could make "healthy snacks" for the bionic. Some genius he is.

"I'm leaving if you're not coming Rio. Why the hell are you taking so long to grab your purse? Have you left without me?" Aelia kept yelling questions as I locked my room up, pulling the handle thrice.

I switched off the lights and walked towards her, making sure I had all my stuff with me. I wrapped my scarf around my neck and placed an ear warmer on Aelia, knowing she'd forgotten about her sensitive ears.

"Can we go know?" She asked like a child. If this woman wasn't taller than I was, I'd have taken her to be one.

Children can be tall too. Something whispered in my head and I frowned.

What on earth was that silly thought?

"Yes, let's go you big child" I answered, ushering her out the door as I made sure it was locked, pulling on it thrice for further confirmation.

As soon as we were out the building, Aelia became a bit too excited. She pulled me so harshly that my body flew as she ran towards the bus.

I didn't know why we couldn't take my car or hers. Ok well I asked but she babbled something along the lines of

'the thrill will be more exciting if we have to wait'

I loved Aelia but sometimes she made me want to cut her head open just to check whether she didn't have a sponge for a brain.

Perhaps the sponge sucked in educational knowledge ( because this girl was a wizard in school ) and leaked out every other necessary thing to function properly.

The bus stopped and Aelia flew out of it immediately. Even the driver was surprised at the speed she'd used.

She ran towards the gate and I sighed.

"This is for her Rio" I reminded myself.

I paid for her ticket and mine despite her whining and then she flounced to the first ride.

Yes, we were at an amusement park.

Aelia rode from ride to ride and sometimes pulled me along with her. She stopped making me join her when I'd released some of the candy she'd forced me to consume on her shoes.

Finally it was night and a few minutes till the New Year.

We'd gone back home with me tired and Aelia rushing to the toilet.

Some of the nonsense she'd downloaded had begun their after effects.

I sighed, finally happy she'd gotten off her sugar high.

Amusement parks were never my thing. They made me uncomfortable.

I leaned a bit on the banister at the veranda, relishing in the cool breeze and watching people gather around just to see a big clock count down into another year with the same people, place,time,name, month, everything.

Nothing ever changed, just the name of the year.

The cool breeze shifted my hair and some fell to my face, I should cut it soon.

"Rio?" She softly called, making me turn my head to look at her as the wind softly blew my hair to my face.

I pushed it out and looked at her, she wore her bathrobe, her hair wet and sticking to her frame making her shiver as cold breeze hit her.

"I'm going to bed. I'm not staying for the countdown." She announced.

I had seen it before she said it. Aelia was too proud to say she was scared.

She probably didn't go to therapy after her kidnapping.

"Sleep well Aelia." I muttered, turning to watch the people and accidentally catching a couple share a loving kiss.

I sighed.

"As long as she's happy." A voice said and I froze.

What? How the hell was she in my head again? I'd meditated severely to stop hearing her voice.

"You clearly didn't react how I'd expected you to." I heard her again and I turned back to find her sitting on a little couch I'd placed out here.

My whole frame stiffened then poised itself, inconspicuously waiting for an attack but it never came.

Instead, she sipped on the drink I had brought out with me. I should tell her how strong the alcohol in that was.

"Only few minutes to the New Year and yet here I am." She sighed while I stared, stupified.

I had wanted to ask what she was doing here but she clearly didn't even know it herself.

I loosened up and sat near her, not too close though.

"I'm not going to attack you Vero. I'm not here for that." She sighed, turning to look at me.

Something was off about her but I couldn't place it. The way she looked at me, or the fact that she seemed so familiar.

I was certain I knew her from somewhere but yet I couldn't place where. It was like something was stopping me from recognizing her.

"It's Rio." I said before I could stop myself. She turned to me shocked.

"You don't even know me." She gasped.

I shrugged, my body relaxing.

"I think I do Apatia. I just can't place it. Plus, you're not that bad."

She looked at me again like I was the most stupid person she'd ever met. I was starting to think that too.

"We only met once. And we didn't talk much. I killed someone in front of you. I-" she began to ramble but I cut her short.

It was probably the alcohol that had begun it's effects but I didn't care at the moment.

"You already knew my address and how to find me. I'm pretty sure you already know everything about me. What's the point of hiding shit?" I asked and she sighed, sipping from my cup again and I snatched it.

" That is some strong alcohol. Not sure you should be having it. "

She stared at me for a moment and snatched it back.

" I have more self control than you do. I'm pretty sure I can handle alcohol Rio. "

To prove her point, she downed the whole cup and then shoved it back in my hand. I refilled the cup and downed mine too.

I had no idea where this was going.

The countdown went to one minute and I shuffled closer only to be met by her head falling on mine.

She smelt nice with a mix of the alcohol we were drinking.

I could say that I definitely wasn't surprised but I can't lie and say that nothing prepared me for what happened next.

The countdown went to ten seconds.

"Rio" Apatia mumbled and I turned to look at her.

"Hm?" I hummed, making sure she knew I'd responded.

As the countdown reached one second, Aelia pulled herself upwards, and planted her lips on mine.