Chapter 36 ELARA
Alba sat on a rocking chair by the fireplace in silence. He was lost in deep thoughts about the images that flashed in his mind when Mahina slept off in his arms. Silence filled the ambiance with Alba just rocking his chair. The squeaking sound was the only sound heard in the spacious study room. Aya entered the study room abruptly and knelt before Alba and with reverence for him she bowed:
“Master!” She looked rather sad when she called out to him.
“Aya! You look remorseful. What is it that you have done that has caused this sad face?”
“Master I am unworthy to call you master again for I have been chosen to be one of the twelve caged birds. Please just eliminate me because I won’t be able to live with myself if I cause you any harm” she fell on her face and cried bitterly. The mare thought of hurting the man that saved her life wrecked her completely. Alba looked at the mark of the twelve caged birds that appeared on her nape with distaste. But even though he was irritated looking at his loyal servant suddenly brightened his face.
“Aya worry not about today’s discoveries and what it can do in the future. Tomorrow and the future will take care of their mysteries. Life is fleeting for most humans but definitely not for Alba Marcello.” He cackled but Aya looked at him worried and spoke.
“I feel her presence my lord!”
“Elara?” He confirmed from her unfazed. And she answered him with utmost confidence:
“Yes, my lord.” Alba smiled, he wasn’t even shocked about the confirmation that his nemesis was close by. He just confirmed her believes to be true:
“Hmmm! She is closer than you think… but she can’t do anything to me.” Aya looked at him with a puzzled face. But the man she was afraid for looked rather confident and unbothered about anything. It was as if he was prepared for his fate.
Arlo woke up to the piercing rays of sunshine peering into the bedroom through the window. He noticed he was on the bed after feeling the softness of the sheets all round him. He sat up on the bed and looked around properly and he saw a stranger lying next to him. Arlo quickly covers his mouth with his hands in shock as he continuously stared at the man. He knew that he had to leave that room or things will get too complicated. He was worried that Axel might have searched for him everywhere and if Axel knew that he spent the night in a strange man’s room it wouldn’t be funny. So, he gently and quietly got up from the bed and wore his clothes then he tip-toed to the door but as he was about to open the door the strange man spoke:
“If I were you, I wouldn’t do that” the man spoke with a relaxed tone.
“Well, that’s the point you are not me and I am not you so adios senor” Arlo stubbornly turned his face towards the door to exit the room.
“Well maybe… I should tell you why you shouldn’t move a muscle out of here. I think there might be an entire girl fans based outside waiting for you. Mmhmm what will you tell them you were doing in my room all through the night.” The young man raised his browse at Arlo and continued talking:
“Lastly you are cute, but I am not willing to live a disturbed life just because I helped a drunk man I found inside my room … I am a surgeon, and I live a quiet life… I don’t want to complicate things for myself″
“Damn it! Arlo you outdid yourself this time around” Arlo scolded himself.
He sat in front of the door on the ground and crisscrossed his legs. He was crestfallen at his situation. Arlo’s mind was clouded with so many thoughts and confusion was written all over his face. He was eager to leave the hotel and to go home. Sadly, the odds were not in his favor. There was an entire fan based outside the room he spent the night at. And although, he hates to admit it but the estrange man was right. If he made even the slightest mistake and goes out, his name and the estrange man will make the headlights for years.
Arlo didn’t know when tears rolled down his cheeks, he just found himself wiping away his tears with the back of his hands. He suddenly wished he was no longer hiding anything as he was feeling overwhelmed with his present vendetta. Arlo cussed Althea inwardly for the trouble he was facing. If only he could face her right now he will engage her in their cat and dog fight until he feels better. Alas, even if she was around there was nothing, he could do to her. For she had incriminating evidence against him that could destroy his career in a moment.
Arlo sighed for the umpteen time and took out his smart phone from his pocket. Immediately his notification started appearing before his eyes and each time he read something from his phone his eyes shot wide open in shock. Arlo Jolted with his eyes glued to his phone. The estrange man noticed Arlo’s reaction and quickly got up from the bed. He artfully went to have a glimpse at what caused the reaction, he smiled at Arlo and asked:
“Is she your girlfriend?” he looked curious and eager to know. Arlo shook his head sideways and answered:
“No!”
“Then why do you look like he stole your girlfriend from you?” the man prodded further even though Arlo was looking agitated already:
“It’s none of your business, you nosy man!” Arlo was panting angrily as he replied to the man. The man smiled at him and remarked again:
“If that’s not the case then… is he your secret lover?” Arlo made a fist with all intensions to punch the man, but something suddenly came over him and he turned his back and headed for the door, but the strange man did something even stranger to Arlo. He swiftly drew him into his embrace and said:
“Lo siento senor pero todo va a estar bien” meaning I am sorry sir, but everything will be okay. Hearing those words made Arlo to cry in his arms. Arlo was hurt; he didn't know how to control his feelings at that moment. He sobbed, until his weeping turned into a painful laughter. The estrange man pats him on the back to console him, Arlo takes in a deep breath trying to calm his emotions and said:
“Thank you, stranger! Although, your Spanish is not very fluent, but I get the message. Hmph” The estrange man smiled and Arlo exhaled.
“You were right! He is my secret lover and indeed I love him a lot, but a sudden incident has drawn us apart from each other. That man is proud of the love we share but I on the other hand am afraid because if this news comes out it will cause me my career… its really suffocating to live in hiding of who I truly am but it will be more excruciating to use my hands and destroy what I have built for ages through hard work and dedication.”
“Tell me what incident caused you all these troubles?” The man asked Arlo anxiously.
“I am sure you know her, the most sort after model Althea Xavier. She was my childhood friend. We practically grew up together. But she was the one that threatened me with incriminating pictures that if I don’t split my friend and his girlfriend apart, she will release them to the public.” Arlo looked sad. The mare thought of destroying Alba’s relationship caused him too much pain.
“What did your boyfriend say about it?” The man asked curiously while peering into Arlo’s eye.
“He said he doesn’t care what she does with those pictures because he loves me whole heartedly. As for me I cared because I was not ready to face my truth. I begged her not to release the photos after what he said because they could cost me my career. Although he was sad that I didn’t want our love to be out in the public, that day he told me that he understood my situation.”
The estrange man gestured his head as if he was in agreement with what Arlo was saying but as soon as Arlo finished talking, he raised his disturbing question:
“Well and fine if that’s the case but why is he caught on camera with that girl making out?” The man was puzzled by everything he just heard from Arlo.
“It’s all my fault senor. Lately I have been keeping my distance from him because of the evidence Althea has against me. I may have pushed him to the wall for him to cheat on me…”
“Don’t say that Arlo! It wasn’t your fault that he cheated on you. People need time to own up to their truths. And you were no different, you needed time but when you needed it the most, he failed you as your lover. Because when you love someone there should be no reason attached to it less it becomes lust and love is not lust. And Arlo please don’t call your pictures with your lover evidence because you are not guilty of anything just love.” The estrange man smiled warmly at Arlo and gave him a hug again.
Arlo could tell from the waves of the man’s word that he had no malicious intend towards him. He was just a kind man with a lot of live experiences that much Arlo could tell by using his ability.
“Please senor don’t tell anyone what I just told you. I needed to get it off my chest and somehow you made me feel comfortable with you and that’s why I told you everything that has been weighing me down.” Even though Arlo knew that there was no way, the man will snitch on him. He still reaffirmed it with the man.
“It’s alright Arlo. Your secret is safe with me… so… how do we get out of here?”
After a while of looking at each other and wondering how to escape the crowd. Arlo thought of an idea and quickly shared it with the estrange man.
“I think I have an idea!”