Arcane Love

Chapter Two: Rendezvous With The Past

"There you are," said his aunt when she saw Andrew, "This is such a surprise. I honestly wasn't expecting you."

"I  guess nobody did expect me," Andrew said with a grinned face. 

Aunt Greta laughed and said, "Well, I'm glad you came. Enjoy the party, I need to go and grab a drink." 

Aunt Gret made her way to the open bar and Andrew walked all around in search of his sister.  "One of the loveliest women I've met is, Aunt Great. Living all alone and also adopting two children is very brave and kind of her," Andrew thought to himself. And just when the crowd in front of his view cleared, he saw his sister and one of her friends with her. Andrew walked up till her, and just when he reached close to her, she turned towards him and looked at him with her eyes moist as she felt joy because he attended this gathering. She hugged him tightly and said, "I'm so happy you made it, and even sorry for I did not answer your calls. Why do you don't hug me back?"

"That's okay. I do hug you back, I guess." 

"You don't. Well, meet my boyfriend, Lucas." 

Andrew gazed his eyes towards the timid boy standing behind Staci. "Hey," Lucas said, with fear trembling his voice. 

"Why do you seem to be so scared?"

"Scared? No, I'm not scared."

"Are you sure?" 

"He's alright. He is just shy while meeting new people," Staci said. 

"Okay. Enjoy your time. I need to meet a whole lot of other people." 

Andrew left the new couple and made his way to the open bar. There they were, the three musketeers he called them. Aunt Greta, Aunt Madaline and Aunt Margret. "Oh my God! Is that you, Andrew? I cannot believe this," said Aunt Madaline when she looked at Andrew. "What have you done to your hair? How long are you going to grow them?" 

"Why is everyone asking me such questions?" Andrew sighed. 

"Well, because a busy person as you don't appear in such events every time," said a lady who stood behind Andrew. 

"Hello, mother. It is my pleasure to meet you." 

"Could you cut your hair someday soon?" 

"Why does that bother you? I will shave it off when the time comes."

"Whatever. See you around."

Andrew's mother left. Aunt Greta tried to console Andrew and said, "She hasn't seen you for over two years now. She's sad, not angry."

"I figured that. Well, what have you guys been doing?"

Aunt Marget took charge of this conversation and said, "We have turned old. Tell us about you. How is that girl?"

"Oh! Yeah," said Aunt Greta, "How is Michelle?"

There was a long silence, the three of them were eagerly waiting for a reply, and then he said, "She and I broke up a few months ago."

They were astonished. They were hoping for a positive reply, but to their misfortune, the reply was a negative one. None of them asked why or how the break up happened, as they knew that Andrew would not speak about it or else lie about it.

"That is very sad. But you'll find someone new," said Aunt Greta. 

"Even if I do, I wouldn't want one," Andrew said out loud, but deep inside he knew that was not true. He was conning others to believe that he does not want love, but he was smart enough to not live in his lies, but also foolish enough to be ignorant about his true needs.