ᴀɴɢᴇʟ ☑

56. Pieces cut from same fabric

Jimin

I found out from Lance that Aaron was two years my junior, which was a shocker because when I came to know about his achievements, they made me feel like I wasn't doing enough.

There was wisdom to Aaron that I thought I could never acquire. I believed that my mental growth stopped when I was probably seventeen. The numbers kept adding to my profile, but I simply never felt older by any means, but Aaron was so much ahead of me. It was something that intrigued me the most about him.

For the following three weeks, I ran into Aaron either in Morph or at the university. The first time I saw him in Morph, I couldn't help a knowing smile as though we were indeed sharing a secret, but he kept his distance, waving at me or flashing those lazy smiles except that one time when I asked him if he was following me, he didn't deny it. In fact, he said he wasn't planning on leaving me alone until I said yes to a date.

This was another thing that I admired about Aaron a lot. His cockiness was unbound, never shying from speaking his mind, uncaring what people would think all the while with a glint of tease in his eyes. It had to come from his confidence. And man he was resilient, a quality that all sportspeople should have. 

A silent understanding fell between us since then. I looked at him as Lance's baby brother harboring a crush on me. I believed it would pass soon. I found him cute, and really admirable, and that was that.

When on the one side, I admired Aaron for his qualities, I couldn't forego Lance's advances as well. The brothers were cut from the same piece, I could see it, even when Aaron would argue at length that he was nothing like his father, but Asher men didn't know how to take no for an answer.

Lance had his own agenda, and no matter what I thought, it seemed that he wasn't playing to lose either. He remained a total gentleman, there was nothing new about that. I started acknowledging his good-boy manners and pretty-boy looks.

For some reason, I was afraid of accepting Lance's offer for taking me out for a coffee, thinking of Aaron, but then I guised my fear into ridiculousness. I wasn't into younger men, and Lance was the definition of my prince charming. Tall, well-mannered, mellifluous, pretty, and strong.

And I loved his lips, which also resembled Aaron's. 

We went for coffee one evening. I couldn't help thinking if Aaron would third wheel us but surprising me, he didn't show his face to me for the next three weeks.

I would be lying if I said I didn't think of him often.

But things with Lance were going well. Better than well. He was patient with me and so kind. We fell into the rhythm, but I still thought of Aaron occasionally, finding myself either oddly disappointed or worried. 

On one Friday, I was supposed to leave with Lance on a short trip. I had a few classmates who were joining me and Lance was also bringing a few friends. 

Sure, I liked Lance, but I still had a lot to figure out. Smart, successful, handsome, and rich, Lance was the man of a dream for most, including mine, but I still had a few apprehensions. He did like me, but I didn't want to do anything to piss off his dad, the senator.

He had won the elections a few days ago and he was theoretically unstoppable. He was shooting for the stars, wanting to be president in the future. Like I said, I was none the wiser, but I didn't want to tangle up with politics, especially when Mr. Asher didn't like me around his son.