To Endure A Little More

NINETEEN

*Aelia's Point Of View*

"No." I spoke with clear determination stitched in my voice. I tried to sound confident with determination laced in my tone so that the man in front of me couldn't argue back. That man, by the way, looked way too good if to be described. His hair looked fresh form being newly dyed into dark burgundy that he had combed and gelled behind, for settle with the affairs of consequences, looked exquisite and his impeccable figure was fitted in an alluring suit which made him look excellent without the hint of any flaw to be detected. His outfit that gave him a dignified and elegant look, perfectly fit around his muscular and toned body. 

He was wearing a standard shirt of excellence in quality and charm. He had buttoned it up fully to support the elegant tie he's wearing which was of a color of garnet. On top of the simple shirt he was wearing, he had on a stylish vest with only three buttons filled with details which had a fairly deep v-line. It's narrow on the top just enough fairly to remain visible, adding another layer to the overall look of the suit. His coat that was perfectly tailored fit for him, it was of a solid color without a pattern which radiated finesse on him. It had a high collar to it which was what had given the suit a unique look. 

The jacket is longer at the back with a vent to it on the behind and there's a pocket on either side and there's a breast pocket which only held a handkerchief like of every gentleman who'd be attending the party tonight. The six buttons of his single breasted jacket were half buttoned up which was a stylish and elegant choice of his, I must say as I observe.

Even the pants he was wearing complemented his look perfectly which was of a slight different but unique design than the coat and they were a perfect match for his shoes. He's wearing a handsome pair of split toe bluchers. To top it all off he's wearing a trendy belt, which can be accompanied by a tie clip and gloves that he was already wearing for it was an etiquette of the ballroom to be gloved to not offend the other's touch in any sort of way.

In the Victorian Age, showing skin, other than that on the face, was taboo. No descent man left home without his gloves. He was wearing one of white goatskin that is to be worn with the most formal evening dress, which was to suit his white tie attire.

Out of the strange about me but notably, he looked good enough to be hard to resist; although, what had had taken me by the heart for him was his aura. I've been to plenty of formal gatherings and parties and met a multitude of handsome men with great scores at being perfect. But after getting comfortable with the man whom I excused as immature and nobody to find interest in Jeremy, having him stand as a man in front of me was seeming for my heart skim over a few beats once in a while. He could easily be mistaken for a royalty or prince from the 1800s. 

"I said I'll drive." He insisted. His tone strong and voice huskier which catches me off guard.

"And I said no." I certified, staying still on my ground. "You are still weak so I'm not letting you drive which will be for at least an hour long. Let me."

"Then how will we even reach there? You don't know how to drive and do you realise you're wearing a puffed gown that's touching the floor and that you're going to a formal dinner ball where you will be encountering mine and brother Thiago's entire family so you probably should not want your dress to be wrinkled, dear Cinderella!"

"Yes I do know the certain people I will be facing tonight and I'm enough experienced to know the conditions of attending a formal party, Thank You Prince not-so Charming anymore." A smile of sarcasm mocking on my face as I babbled out with any word that came to my tongue with my utmost and only aim being to shut him up. "But, bold of you to think I don't know how to drive when I own five distinctive cars." I point at the cars standing before us without realizing how odd my choice of words was making me sound.

"Oh... guess I lacked that information but that isn't helping you drive in your current attire. I am to be the gentleman tonight, how can I let my lady drive!" Jeremy continues to argue but I wasn't going to let him waste all his strength on a one hour drive to their residence where the party is being held at, which is out of city.

Our arguments runs on, wasting all the time we should not have been wasting, like kindergarten children fighting over who'd eat the last piece of chocolate chip cookies. But before we could continue on with our little war of words, I feel the keys to our ride being snatched from my grasp. I turn my head towards the direction to see another man who looked perfectly fancy for the night. 

He's wearing a shirt that was simple and buttoned it up fully to support the elegant tie he is wearing. On top of the shirt he's wearing a chic vest with only four buttons that were painted gold and held a clear crystal gem in the mid of each which made his fit stylish in an elegant manner. It has a fairly deep v-line which causes the vest to line up perfectly with the v-line of his jacket when it's buttoned up that it was until now. He unbuttons the coat as he rests his hands over his hips lowly, tapping his feet on the ground for a few quick seconds as he serves as questioning look.

The jacket was clearly made for him, it's a perfect fit. It was of an elegant pattern of a windowpane design which radiated confidence and was of a color that suited him well. The buttons of his double breasted jacket are all buttoned up which made him too look stylish and perfect for the night. His coat was slightly longer at the back which had a vent at the back. He's wearing pants which have the same color as the jacket, but a slightly different pattern and they create a perfect balance along with his shoes which was a dashing pair of cap toe monkstraps.

To top it all off he's wearing a refined belt which was accompanied by gloves and cuff links. 

"I don't see why you both are taking so much pain of a quarrel when the car is mine. Therefore, I drive. Now hop in fast, will you both?!" Terran speaks, slipping into the driver's seat as Jeremy obeys and gets into the passenger seat. I simply roll my eyes with a huff of relief, wishing he'd come in to solve our silly argument sooner, and get into the backseat.

Most of the ride went by in silence as we reached closer to our destination, except for Terran's radio playing peculiar songs. Jeremy somewhat started giving off a rum aura from his nervousness out of the odd. I was curious why he was growing nervous as we neared our destination by the second. Terran however had anger and worry steaming off of him ever since he talked to his father on the phone. I could tell by the way he kept chewing on his lower lip.

"Stop!" Jeremy suddenly uttered aloud. Terran threw him a questioning look. "Stop the car."

"Are you serious? Why?" Terran raised a brow. "We are already late by 15 minutes and didn't you wanna give a speech for a opening? We can't afford to be more late!"

Terran's cleared my cloud of questions. Jeremy was nervous because of his speech. Of course because it was his Father's birthday after all. To speak truth, his father actually lucky to have a son like him. Now Thiago's too.

"Please. I wanna sit with Aelia." Jeremy pleaded and my heat skipped a beat before a shy smile secretly appeared on my face.

"Why didn't you sit with her from the beginning then, I'll feel like a hired driver now!" Terran frowned jokingly but nevertheless parked the car quickly so Jeremy could switch seats. He moves the cloth of my dress carefully before taking a seat next to me.

I placed a hand over Jeremy's hand to comfort him as he comes sit behind with me. I figured he wanted to sit with me so that he could feel less nervous. He took my hand and placed a meaningful feathery kiss on top and I squeezed his with care and assurance which had turned sweaty from the tension in his mind.

He smiled at me and I could see he was anxious. He stared me in the eye and my heart started to pace. I never knew I could feel this way with Jeremy which seemed very odd to me. Was is because he looked excellent tonight or because of the bond I was starting to create with him due to the experience I had with him over the past two weeks.

Jeremy's eyes stay fixed on my face, seeming as if he was taking note of every detail of mine which causes me to immediately hide my eyes out of a shy, tingling feeling fluttering my heart before I can process. And suddenly I was reminded of how Luan used to stare at me like this. There would be a peaceful silence in the air and he'd stare at me like there's nothing else worth looking at. He'd stare me with such intensity and love. The exact way I would look at him. Even the new him whom I used to believe no more remembered me. The way we would smiled at look at each other, the way we would make us feel complete, the way we would do anything for each other the the point like as if it were only a façade to conceal our real selves. I broke him and ao he were finding a way to break me too. 

The exact way Luan would look at me, having Jeremy do the same made me feel weak. And filled me with fear for I did not want us to end up the same if not worse. Neither was my heart strong for anymore of this that I was weak for. 

Suddenly a memory hits my mind. The day Luan stared at me for long, taking note of my every feature just so he could draw me later. He never showed me the artwork he'd created of me but he promised he'd gift me those on our third anniversary. But he could never make it. He got caught in an accident which resulted him losing his memories to even be able to remember me.

As I begin to grow nostalgic, I was suddenly reminded of the day Jeremy had fallen into his coma. I remember the spray painted box with Luan's name and the crumbled pieces of paper with drawings. I wondered if those were the same drawings from 4 years ago he promised he would show me himself. I quickly noted in my mind to check those after returning to the academy.

I was so deep buried into my thoughts, I hadn't realized that Jeremy had been speaking to me. He shook me as I returned to me senses.

"Yeah...yeah, I'm fine." I smiled as he nodded. "Jun, you will be perfectly fine. I believe in you. Just believe in yourself like I do." I said and another memory hit my mind. It was Luan's family's funeral and Luan was afraid to give a speech, convinced he wouldn't survive accepting the truth, and I had told him the exact same words. Sigh.

I believed I was ready to start a better future with Jeremy but how can I if I'm still not over Luan, moreover when now his memories have returned... I was filled with shame and guilt, knowing Jeremy does deserve someone who cannot give him their whole. But I shooed all the odd thoughts with hope and held onto Jeremy's hands tighter, sticking to aim to return all the love to him that he has blessed me with, hoping he'll be able to rescue me from the past.