MTLNOVEL Chapter 652: Just as you.
She had forgotten it all. But even so, that name has always fascinated her.
Moon.
There seemed to be a story behind it —she had always felt it, but never dared to ask before, in fear that she might hear something that might disappoint her.
However, now that she was sure of something, she wanted to know why she got that name. Why, hearing it every time her heart feels the familiar warmth that she seemed to have never forgotten, even after forgetting everything else.
Aiden was facing her, staring right in her eyes when she asked him that. He didn't answer her immediately; instead, he held her gaze as if the answer was very clear in everything, he had portrayed all this time.
Arwen didn't make haste. She gave him the time. She paused with him just to deepen whatever they were sharing in that moment together.
While their faces were close, a few inches apart. Her one hand was resting flat on his thigh, and with the other, she was still holding her chopstick over the bowl.
"I never knew you would ask me that?" he said, giving a soft smile when he caught the seriousness in her gaze. His fingers slowly moved to comb away her hair, to caress her gently.
Arwen, however, pulled away. "Why?" she asked, before turning back to her bowl of noodles. Gathering a small portion of noodles, she toyed with them for a second before lifting them to eat. But then stopped just to glance at him once again. "Is it that difficult to answer?"
Her gaze carried some intent that was hard to read. But it was captivating enough to make him pause.
Aiden shook his head. "No, it's not difficult," he said, his voice a little above a whisper. "Instead, it's too obvious … too easy."
Arwen stared at him, humming and then nodding. "Mhm-hn~ Go ahead. I am waiting to hear the obvious."
However, Aiden shook his head. "Not like this," he said before grabbing her hand. "Come with me."
"Where?"
He didn't say. He just nodded … in reassurance. "Come, … and you will know."
They then left their chair, and Arwen followed his lead. They went to the back door before stepping out of the manor.
"We are going out?" she asked, not knowing what she should expect.
But he tugged her along, leading to the fountain garden behind. In the darkness, Arwen could see it properly, but she remembered seeing this part often from the window of the manor.
"There are lights here. We should have switched it on."
"Then you might not be able to understand why I call you Moon?"
Arwen halted in her step. "Huh?"
He turned only to give her the smile and the last tug to reach the spot he wanted to take her.
She gasped, but anyway followed.
When they stopped, all she saw was a fountain which was dazzling under the moonlight. "This …"
"Look up in the sky," Aiden said, his voice suddenly deep.
She looked at him, and he pointed up in the skin with a finger. "There!"
Arwen's gaze followed his gesture to find the bright moon shining up in the sky amidst millions of stars.
It was a bedazzling scene that could make anyone stop for a moment, just to take in the view.
And she didn't realize when it made her pause. Her momentary trance only broke; she heard him speak again, close to her ear.
"The wide sky has millions of stars that could dazzle the world, but even so, no one could take away the charm that the Moon brings to the table," he said, pausing for a brief second to breathe out. "Just as you."
Arwen was taken aback. Her breath hitched, and she turned her head to look at him standing a step behind her.
He nodded. "You are the moon, because you are one only in my life. No one could replace you, nor can they substitute you in my life. Not now and never in the future."
"Forever is a big word to promise. What if in future, when we grow old and I have wrinkles all over my face —I might not stand the beauty you are comparing me to today. What then?"
"The beauty of the lover never fades in one's heart. It won't even fade in mine. As long as I stay alive in this world, the sky of my life will only have one moon. And that would be you." His words carried the sincerity that she couldn't even force herself to doubt.
Not when she could read the seriousness in his gaze.
————
The night ended quite late for both of them. And hence, the next morning happened to be late as well.
Arwen had to skip her early practice because she had to work on something else that was urgent.
"You want help?" Aiden asked when he walked out, ready for the day. He was about to join the office, so he was ready in his semi-formal business attire.
Arwen barely glanced at him. "No, I am almost done with this. I just need to approve it so that they can proceed with it straight away."
Aiden nodded as he walked to the dresser while she went back to check the document.
Her focus only broke when she felt the fingers slipping into her hair. "What are you doing?" she asked, reaching out to hold his hand out of instinct.
"Your hair is still wet," he said, showing her the hair dryer he brought. "I will help you dry them. You can work on your document."
Arwen would have refused, but then, knowing they were getting late, she nodded. "Okay."
And then while she worked, he meticulously dried her hair, feeling its softness between his fingers.
After a while, Arwen finally closed her laptop. "I am done," she announced, before turning to look behind. "What about my hair?"
"They are done too," he replied, taking a step back just to wrap away the dryer.
She touched her hair, and finding it all dry and soft, she smiled, "You are good at it, I must say."
Just then, a knock at the door interrupted them, and at the same time, Arwen's phone rang.
Looking at the screen, she said, "I have to take this."
Aiden nodded, and she walked to take the call on the balcony.
"Mia," she answered, and the girl responded soon from the other end.
"Ma'am, good morning," she greeted, before finally getting on the topic for which she called. "As you have asked, I have found out the neurologist who could help you."