The Promise

41) Aurora

It's been two months.

So, let me give an update. First things first, I reached the third goal of points, and my salary became regular. Also, I'm in a friend group now, which consists of me, Dionne, Zaira, who's now in a relationship with Crew, Aisha, and her intern Chris. Me and Elio are somehow on neutral terms. I stopped tutoring him, and he apologized for what he did, we now don't cross lines a lot except in the shared sessions.

I also work with Elena, a fashion designer at her agency. I shoot for her now, and pictures are taken so both agencies, mine and hers, benefit. I can drive as well now, which resulted in me being Dionne's personal chauffeur. Also, I attended a couple of events as my friends were their hosts. All in all, everything's good.

Now, there's one thing or person left. I like him more now, we spend nearly every day with each other either for sessions, dance classes, driving ones, or language learning. We also started to have sessions at coffee shops, my place, or on the roof. But, are we together? No, we just let what happened be; to be honest I pushed him away again after my huge confession about my past and his fight with Elio. I felt triggered and unsafe so, I decided to let it be within the lessons nothing more.

He sometimes looks at me as if he wants to say something and sometimes, he just mirrors my behavior when he senses my exhaustion. I'm better that way knowing that I'm not hurting him that much. Lastly, I started therapy sessions, is it good? I don't really know, but I am more aware of what's going on with me than before.

I'm sitting at Coffee Moon, my favorite coffee place; it's very cozy and helps me study like my couch at Omer's office. I study for a bit before my coming meeting with Elena then my session with Omer after.

"Ugh, today was hectic as fuck" Dionne places the two cups of coffee as she slumps against one of the seats taking a sip from hers. "We're already midyear, of course, it is, Di," I tell her not taking my eyes off of the laptop.

"How's it with your sessions, where are you now with, Mughrabi?" she asks. "We're fast-paced now; it was slow at the beginning when I was still getting used to the new syllabus," I reply. "I wish it was me" she sighs, I look at her from above my glasses, "You what?".

"To be your fucking mentor, he's blessed!" she throws her hands in the air, and I laugh "Hard luck, Di", her mouth falls open, "You know, you shouldn't stay with him for too much, you already started talking like him", I chuckle and shake my head; focusing on my notes again.

I'm immersed in my studies when I get a notification; it's a request on social media. When I open it, my whole body freezes.

Joe Mughrabi has sent you a follow request.

"What the fuck?" I exclaim, taking off my glasses. "What is it, Ro? I'm not in the mood for any crisis today."

"Does Omer have a brother?" I ask, she frowns lowering her legs from the table, "No, he never mentioned that". I look back at the account, it's private. "Maybe it's a name resemblance, but" I tail off. "But what, Ro?", "He looks so much like him," I say, she pulls the laptop towards her to look, "Fuck, it's the same hair color", "Not just that, look the eyes and everything."

She smiles, "He's hot", I scoff "Di, what are you saying now!", She snickers, "A girl gets to appreciate men's beauty and this man is beautiful; considering that I can't appreciate your man's beauty."

"He's not my man, Di" I deadpan pulling the laptop again. "Yes, you both stuck your lips together and he's not. Also, he created a work of art on a boy's face because he touched you and he's not. Umm, what else?", "No, stop don't think of more" I stop her and she wiggles her brows.

I told Dionne about everything when I went home that day after Elio's incident. I was scared from her reaction, but she managed it well and she supported me throughout everything I chose even when it was me ignoring what happened; she said 'to protect your peace'.

"I have a feeling I should accept, Di", she smirks "Interested already?" I smack her with a notebook, "Ow!". "Shut up I already said I'm not looking for something!", she smiles "Okay, but yeah accept the hottie". "I'll think about it till I come back, I got to go, now.".

"A shoot with Lena?", I nod. "Have fun! And send me the photos, sweetie." I smile and bend to kiss her cheek, "See you later, Didi"

I knock on the office's door and enter, "Hello, my favorite boss" I muse as I sprawl myself on the chair in front of his desk. "Hello, favorite girl" he replies glancing at me and then back at the PC.

"Hectic day?" he asks, "Very" I sigh. He smiles, "No skipping sessions though," he says smirking. "Hey, I didn't even ask!" I say feigning anger as I lace my hands through my hair braiding it. "Just telling you." He says.

I finish braiding my hair and stand to go to my spot on the couch. "You ate?" he asks, "Yes" I reply. "What did you eat?", "Omer, I'm not a baby", he raises a brow, "Exactly, if you were I'd feed you myself, and problem solved." I scoff, "As if you already don't do that" I mutter as he does the same thing as every single day; order me food when I arrive and demand I finish it.

"Omer, do you have a brother?" I ask as I take the first bite from my sandwich. His face pales and he zones out, I frown then call out again, "Omer?",

"Yeah? I'm here, dove. Why are you asking?". I sense that something's wrong, "Someone named Joe Mughrabi sent me on social media today; a follow request" I tell him. He frowns thinking and adds "Maybe we have similar names". "Yes, I thought so, but the resemblance between you two is what made me question it" I reply.

His breath catches and he clenches the pen in his hand hard, "Omer, is something the matter?".

"No, no I don't have. Don't accept him too." He states and I raise my brow, "Again with the ordering around?".

"Listen to me, dove. You're now getting known and we don't want people disturbing you; we already suffer from that" he's got a point here; I sigh and nod. We continue our session, but his mind is elsewhere, I can feel it.