You, Me, and Her

Verse 34: Numb

Even in the past, Nia always found it strange how fast Aidan would act when it concerned his dearest "best friend" and she brought this up on one of their dates, upset at how divided his attention was.

"You've been on your phone for hours," she complained. "Are you even listening to me?"

Finally hearing the subtext in her tone, Aidan put the phone down but the expression on his face wasn't subtle. "I'm sorry, okay? Hal's family is going through...something. He needs me."

"I need you too," she turned her face away when he didn't even defend himself. Disappointed, she muttered, "Just go."

Aidan looked at her, uneasy and perhaps, a bit guilty but resolute to get to Hal. At that time, Nia was certain, he truly wanted to be with Hal. She knew this even when he asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"I promise, I'll make it up to you, okay?"

As he gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked away from the diner, Nia had more questions in her mind than answers. Why was it that when she was talking, he couldn't even hear her, yet he could understand what Hal was going through even if he was a mile away from him?

Back then, she didn't want to seem demanding or hypocritical. There were times, that she didn't even know how to start a conversation with Aidan. Deep in her mind, and she could no longer deny it, she knew exactly who was in his heart...

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There were now five people inside Aidan's private haven, and four of them were unwelcome. Owen, Floyd, and Dylan sat on the long couch beside Nia and opposite Halwyn. They were as still as statues with their smiles frozen on their faces as if Botox were injected into their muscles.

Halwyn didn't mind their presence but he was glancing at Nia who was glancing back at him with equal retaliation. If the hatred in her eyes were any indication, well, the feeling was mutual. Hal didn't withdraw and stared back without fear.

"Maybe I should leave..." Hal finally said as he didn't want to ruin the entire mood.

To his surprise, Aidan came back and handed him a hot chocolate after giving him a quick peck on the left cheek. And this wasn't the first time he did this in front of these people. Aidan simply didn't care at all and continued doing what he wanted to in front of them like this was a natural occurrence and others should get used to it.

"No need to go," the man said. "They will leave shortly anyway."

"But you have visitors..."

"We have visitors, babe. My home is your home as well."

Owen wanted to kill these love birds in front of them while Floyd and Dylan simply wanted to disappear, if possible, be swallowed by the earth and reappear in another place. Nia's expression was incomprehensible but her eyes tell a different story.

"Wow, looks like you did it. Finally."

"Did what?" Aidan was the one who answered, his tone was cold.

Nia ignored him and kept her focus on Hal. "So, what does it feel like to win after scheming for years?"

"Opposite of what it feels like to lose after a foolish mistake," Hal replied with a smirk.

If Nia thought that Hal would falter under her scrutiny, she was dead wrong. The person in front of her was only soft with Aidan but he would fight a battle beside him if needed.

Aidan squeezed Hal's hand as though he could feel how upset the other was. Turning back to her, he said, "Why are you here?"

"Just dropping by to check on you," she replied with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "So, how long have you been together?"