Echoes Of Aurelia

Chapter 7

Felix's plan to get closer to Aurelia seemed to be working. 

Earlier he thought after having the conversation with Aurelia that he has to help her somehow and make her open up more.

Despite her initial resistance, he persisted in spending more time with her, finding ways to make her smile and feel better. 

He would prepare macarons and tea for her in the evening, a gesture that seemed to soften her demeanor towards him.

As they spent more time together, Felix found himself falling deeper and deeper in love with Aurelia. 

He admired her strength, her resilience, and her ability to endure despite the hardships she had faced. He found himself drawn to her not just physically, but emotionally as well.

On the other hand, Aurelia also found herself falling for Felix. 

Despite his sometimes overly attentive nature, she appreciated the attention and care he showed her. 

She found herself opening up to him in ways she never had before, sharing her fears, her dreams, and her past with him. 

She felt a connection with him that she had never felt with anyone else.

One day, as they sat together in her room, Felix began to tell her about James and their memories from high school.

"You know, we were going to the canteen that day," he began, a smile playing on his lips as he remembered the incident. "I asked James to wait for me as my shoelace got untied. I crouched down to tie it, and James kept walking. Then, he felt a presence beside him and without looking, he grabbed the hand of the person walking next to him, thinking it was me. But, it turned out to be another girl, and she thought he was trying to grab her hand. She ended up slapping him, and James apologized profusely. The funny thing is, that girl was Scarlett, and now James and Scarlett are getting married next month."

Aurelia burst out laughing at the story, finding it both hilarious and ironic. 

"Wow, that's quite a story," she exclaimed between laughs. "It's funny how things turn out sometimes." 

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The next day Felix and Aurelia were walking together in the corridor, engaged in conversation. Felix was sharing a humorous anecdote about a mix-up with his painting orders.

"Can you believe it?" he chuckled. "I once had four orders at the same time. One was for a funeral, another for a pet dog, and the other two were completely random. But the problem was, the delivery people mixed up the packages and sent the dog painting to the funeral instead of the portrait of the lady. I had to apologize so many times for that!"

Aurelia laughed at the story, finding humor in the mishap. 

As they continued walking, Aurelia's foot slipped on the smooth floor, causing her to lose her balance. 

But before she could fall, Felix reacted quickly, his reflexes sharp. He reached out and caught her, his arm wrapping around her waist to steady her, while his other arm instinctively moved to support her head, ensuring she wouldn't hit the floor.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they locked eyes. In that fleeting moment, there was a silent exchange between them, a connection that transcended words. 

Aurelia felt a warmth spreading through her, a feeling of safety and comfort in Felix's arms. 

Felix, too, was captivated by her, his gaze soft and full of care.

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. It was Austin, who had come upon them unexpectedly. 

Aurelia quickly composed herself and stepped back, her cheeks flushing slightly. Felix, too, let go of her, his expression slightly flustered.

Austin smirked as he looked at Felix, clearly amused by the situation. 

He patted Felix's shoulder in a teasing manner before turning to Aurelia and nodding politely.

"Miss Aurelia," he greeted her, his tone respectful.

Aurelia nodded in return, her composure regained. She gave Felix a small smile before excusing herself and walking away. 

Felix watched her go, his heart racing with a mix of emotions.

As soon as Aurelia was out of earshot, Felix turned to Austin, his expression a mix of embarrassment and confusion. 

"It's not what you think," he started to explain, but Austin simply walked away, leaving Felix to ponder the moment that had just passed between him and Aurelia.

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It was night and Felix sat alone at the dining table, waiting for his dinner, lost in his thoughts. 

The room was quiet, the only sound being the faint ticking of a clock on the wall. 

Suddenly, the chair beside him was pulled back, and he looked up to see Aurelia taking a seat beside him. 

The sight of her in the dining room was a rare occurrence, and everyone was visibly surprised. Austin's jaw dropped in astonishment—it had been ten years since they had seen Aurelia dine outside her room.

The lady servants, who had grown fond of Aurelia despite her reclusive nature, smiled warmly and hurried to bring dishes to the table. 

Once everything was set, Felix noticed that the servants remained standing. Concerned, he asked why they were not taking their seats, insisting that they join them for dinner. 

Before Austin could respond, Aurelia interjected, politely but firmly, "Please, sir, have a seat. All of you, sit and have dinner with us. I don't want to eat alone tonight."

Her words brought a smile to everyone's faces, and they quickly took their seats, grateful for the unexpected invitation. 

The atmosphere in the dining room transformed as the staff and Aurelia shared a meal together. It was a simple gesture, but it meant a lot to everyone present.

As the meal came to an end, and the staff began to leave, Aurelia leaned close to Felix's ear and whispered, "Your reflexes are very good, Mr. Everhart." 

She then giggled mischievously and left the room, leaving Felix blushing and lost for words.

Past midnight, Felix lay wide awake, thoughts of Aurelia swirling in his mind. 

The silence of the room was broken by the soft creak of the door as it opened, revealing Aurelia standing in the doorway. 

She entered slowly, her gaze meeting Felix's as she settled in front of him.

"I couldn't sleep," she admitted softly, her eyes reflecting the moonlight filtering through the curtains. 

Felix, unable to tear his gaze away from her, confessed, "I couldn't either, don't know why."

Aurelia, her cheeks tinted with a delicate blush, lowered her head, her hair cascading over her face. 

Felix, wanting to make her more comfortable, shifted on the bed, silently offering her a place beside him. 

Understanding his gesture, Aurelia began to move, but as she did, the shawl draped around her shoulders slipped, revealing the smooth skin of her bare shoulders.

Felix's eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly averted his gaze, his cheeks flushed. 

Aurelia, her face flushed as well, adjusted her shawl and settled beside him, both of them leaning against the headboard in a comfortable silence.

Minutes passed, filled only with the sound of their breathing. 

Felix, wanting to break the silence, began to ask Aurelia if she needed anything, but before he could speak, he felt her head gently resting against his shoulder. 

He looked down at her, her features peaceful in sleep, and a small smile played on his lips.

Tucking the shawl around her more securely, Felix carefully extricated himself from her embrace and made his way to the couch, where he settled in for the rest of the night.

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