jaded hearts

The Jade mission

Aurora jerks awake from sleep panting heavily, her soft brown eyes that glow in the bright light of the day are not glowing but clouded with fear, her creamy skin has balls of sweat dripping from it, her plum lips were trembling in fear and her brow creased with worry.

'not again a

he said silently while using the back of her left palm to massage her forehead so she can calm the splitting headache she had while using her right hand to scan her bead side drawer for her pain killers.

she plopped a pill into her mouth and accompanied it with a generous amount of water, it took a while for her to calm down but after a while, she starts to relax while performing her breathing exercise.

'good morning sweetie' 

my mom walks in and places a glass of milk on my bedside drawer.

'morning mom' 

I replied to her and continued with my breathing exercise.

'did you have nightmares about the accident scene again?'

 my mom asked concerned.

I have not been having the nightmares consistently for a while now, and on nights when I did I stopped telling my mom about it ever since I announced to my whole family that I was going to the silver city alone to study

"mom!! I don't have nightmares about the accident scene frequently, it's just that I stayed up late watching a horror movie with that trouble maker that's why this is happening

"Aurora replies scratching the nape of her neck with her index finger while laughing humorlessly

Freya studies Aurora's expression and body language with a pointed look, she could tell Aurora was lying when she saw her scratching the nape of her neck with her finger.

"sweetheart, you and I both know that you are lying to me"Freya replies seriously

.I knew my mom was going to see right through my lie I was just trying my luck to see if she will let it slide.....because sometimes she does that. just when I was thinking of a way to avoid my mom's lecture, Desmond my demon brother lazily walks in.

"speak of the devil"aurora replies rolling her eyes. I hope this works she thought silently.

"mom......you guys can ignore me and continue with your mother-daughter moment, am only here to pick up auroras boxes so that the driver can arrange them inside the car"Desmond concludes his statement and secures his headset in place just to make them feel comfortable enough to continue their conversation.

just when I thought I have gotten an escape route this demon brother of mine decides to bail out on me. okay......let's see how I deal with this

"baby do you think you will be fine in Jade?? will you be able to manage all by yourself?? this is the first time in fourteen years after the accident that you are going back to myrtle circle....will you be able to handle it??? Freya asked with worry lacing her every question

I pull my mom into a bear hug to console my mom that was already close to tears in a bit to console her but it was more like I was comforting myself

I can't answer my mom's questions honestly, I also don't know if I will be able to go back to a place that holds so many childhood memories both the very best and the worse, but I am ready to try after gathering my courage for so many years, I was supposed to start college in jade as per how I planned it but I just couldn't do that, but now am done running........ my mom was never a weak woman, neither did my foster mom raise me to be weak so I am going to do this.

"don't worry mom, I am going to be fine....your baby is a strong lady now, she will do exactly what you have always taught her to do and face her fears okay"

"you have to take care of yourself, your medications, and don't skip any appointment with your therapist okay??"Freya says to Aurora with a raised eyebrow.

"yes, mom...... but therapist??????"Aurora asked confused

."I scheduled an appointment for you with one of the best phycologists in Jade Royal care center, all her details have been forwarded to your email address before this time so the only thing I want from you is to be faithful in attending your therapy sessions okay?? at least my mind is going to be at ease a little bit if you do that"Freya replies

"Aye Aye Captain" Aurora replies saluting her mom and at the same time easing the tension between them they both start laughing and Freya pulls her baby into a tender hug.

"will you ladies stop being so dramatic??"Desmond walks in lazily breaking their mother-daughter moment

"mom.....your baby is just going to school, she is not going to die and as for you boss lady do you remember you have a flight to catch?.......well am just here to remind you so you won't start saying that your loving brother doesn't care about you"Desmond continues in a mocking tone.

"here comes my demon brother who loves me so much and cares about me more than anyone in the world"aurora answers back in the same mocking tone

"of course you will have to admit.....that I care about you more than you care about me" Desmond bragged

"guys!!!! you won't be seeing each other for a while, so can you both please spare me your tantrums today, and let's all part with loving and fight-free memories okay?"Freya cuts into their conversation as soon as she sensed their early morning fight brewing.

"mom you and I both know that Aurora is the real trouble maker here, she is the one that is always leading me on to argue with her, "Desmond says in a defensive tone.

"mom you know that if Desmond doesn't try to put his hand inside my throat I also don't fight"aurora counters.

Freya sighs massaging the side of her head with her two fingers insinuating that her children are starting to give her headaches she knows better that she is not supposed to take sides so she gives Desmond a knowing look.

"I only have two of you and you guys are giving me a serious headache....people that gave birth to a dozen children are surviving so please guys don't frustrate me "Freya pleaded

"Okay fine! this is going to be difficult but I will try"Desmond replies honestly

"same here mom I will try my best"Aurora replies with her two hands on Desmond's shoulder leading him out of her room so that she can get dressed, and as usual Desmond allows aurora to lead him out of the room so that he can run back and make her beg him to excuse her, he smiled devilishly at the thought......he was about entering the room when Freya blocks him with her body.

"Desmond I need you in the kitchen so that we can prepare breakfast for your darling sis, "Freya says smiling lovingly at Aurora,

"Sometimes I feel you love Aurora more than you love me, if not you won't choose to punish me so early in the morning by asking me to help you sort food for your darling daughter" he scoffs and says the latter part of his sentence like he can't believe his ears.

"you have a right to your own opinion" Freya replies to him briefly before turning her back on him to ask Aurora her breakfast specifications this morning Desmond takes her distraction as his cue to run away

"am out of here" Desmond's loud voice echoes from a distance.

"I know asking Desmond to join me in the kitchen is the easiest way to get him out of your room successfully"Freya chuckles before stepping out of Aurora's room and making her way to the kitchen

"wow this s**t is getting real now"Aurora sighs

she starts her morning routine, she takes her bath and decides to settle for a black and white Fendi inspired brand designer jogging suit, its a regular sleeve styled crop top with slim-fit pants, she ties a white hoodie lazily over her slim waist and settles for flat designer sandals, she is a sucker for heels but today she doesn't just feel like it, she also leaves out her signature dangling earrings and piles her hair into a messy bun instead of leaving it to fly around as she does on a normal day, she gathers her stuff into her side bag takes one last glance at her room before she makes her way to the dining room.

Freya and Desmond were already seated at the dining having their breakfast when Aurora joins them, her mom made her favorite blueberry pancakes with maple syrup, there is also pineapple juice and neatly sliced fruits arranged on the table, the dish looks mouthwatering but Aurora is just feeling the food vibe as she should.

"ama sorry mom that I made you go through with preparing the dish I asked for..... I appreciate your effort but the thing is just that I have lost my appetite and I don't think I will be able to join you guys "Aurora speaks to Freya apologetically. Freya still has this confused look on her face when Desmond cuts in

"wow wow wow the minister for eating affairs in this house has mysteriously lost her appetite, that was quite unexpected looks like this drama queen has a lot to unfold before traveling"Desmond jokes with Aurora in a mocking tone

As much as I hate to admit this, Desmond is kind right I love my food and I don't joke with it because it makes me feel at ease but am just not in the mood to do so many things today and that includes giving my demon brother a piece of my mind

."mom I will wait for you guys in the car" I replied my mom pretending not to hear Desmond talk

.on my way out of the house, while I was still in hearing range, I heard my mom asking Desmond if he is sure am okay and If this is about avoiding our tantrums she will rather deal with that than deal with me behaving like this

." of course am fine" I scoffed, what could be wrong with me

.I got to the garage and called out to our driver to help me roll down the car glass because I will like to relax inside, when he finished I plugged in my earpiece to listen to thank you by Kelani while waiting for my mom and demon brother to finish up their breakfast.

"wakey sleepy head" I opened my eyes to see Desmond hovering above me and shaking me vigorously

wow, I didn't even realize that I dozed off while waiting for them and now we are at Blackwood's international airport. we all alighted from the car, our driver took care of my luggage's giving it to the courier while my mom and sibling walked me to the airport terminal, I notice Desmond giving me a look I can't decipher and the next thing I realize is he sending my mom back to the car to get something he claimed he kept in her bag......... well that's mischievous but still, I don't know what he is up to

"I mistakenly eavesdropped on your conversation with dad about your mission in jade yesterday night," Desmond says to me seriously.

okayyyyy.......there is nothing like mistakenly eavesdropping on someone else conversation, it's the nosy part of you that refused to mind its business. well, I don't know how much of my conversation with my dad he claimed he mistakenly eavesdropped on but am very sure that's not a mistake and he stayed to get a grip of what we are talking About so I just play dumb and pretend I don't know what he is talking about

"don't you dare play dumb with me Aurora......... I know you all (you including mom and dad) have lots of secrets in this house that you are bidding from me and I am not interested in digging out......that doesn't mean if I find out by chance I won't uncover it, but if there is one thing I know I am sure of I'd that mom doesn't know that you didn't decide to go to jade just to study, rather you have a hidden agenda in myrtle circle"Desmond talks to me in a really serious tone.

most times, my brother is either grumpy or being mischievous he doesn't talk to me in this kind of tone so am aware that he knows am going to jade just as an opportunity to get into the silver city to get my revenge on those who wronged me.

"since you are aware are you going to rat me out to mom??"I asked In a really direct way since he is already aware of my mission, playing dumb won't do me any good. he ignored my question and immediately changed the topic to an unrelated one it was when my mom hugged me from behind that I realized why he did that.

"Desmond are you trying to stress your mom?" my mom asks Desmond directly trying to fake being angry. looks like Desmond sent my mom to the car intentionally to confront me......that's good news its means he won't rat me out to my mom. Desmond pretends not to be aware of what my mom is talking about till he hits his head in a playful way that's something he does when he remembers something, he dipped his Hand in his back pocket and brings out a small case, and hands it over to me, I know the case very well it contains a custom gold necklace with the name aurora customized on it, looks like Desmond is not as clueless as he acts he knows quite a lot.

"I think it's time to say goodbye now", I said peeling my eyes away from the small box in my hands when I felt tears well up in my eyes

"oh, how goodbyes byes it makes me cry" I lied.

my mom hugged me tightly of course she kit's it's not having to say goodbye that is making me cry but how much the necklace means to me

."take care of yourself my baby and put every single thing we talked about at the back of your mind" my mom whispers to my ear.

it is my demon brothers turn to says something, he hesitated for a bit before pulling me into what can be described as a tight hug and he speaks up

"as much as I don't want to admit it, am going to miss you so  much, take care of yourself and don't do anything that makes mom worry unnecessarily about you okay??" he emphasizes the last  part, his hug lasted for about a minute before he pulls away

."pretend that never happened, "Desmond said grumpily, and now he is back to his usual grumpy self again

." mom!! did you get that on camera??"I inquired from my mom" oh yes baby I  did" she answers triumphantly wriggling her phone, it has become a habit for my Mom and me to secure any moment that Desmond acts all lovey-dovey as evidence to embarrass him later, I smiled sadly at the memory

."mom please guard that video jealously for me, nothing must happen To it till it is safely delivered to me" I reminded my mom.

"you guys are really disturbed"Desmond mumbled but it was still audible enough for me to hear

, I pecked both my mom and brother simultaneously giving Desmond strict instructions to take care of my parents and not give mom any reason to worry unnecessarily about him, I say my final goodbyes and make my way to the departure area of the airport to get my board in pass stamped, I wait for the boarding announcement showing my boarding pass again and other necessary documents before getting on the plane.