" Ready for the date night ? " Kiara asked her husband . She was excited for the dinner . It was her 24th birthday and their 3rd wedding anniversary .
" Yes." He replied back. " Hey , honey I will reach home by only I still dunno whether u understand how much luv u ennanu 9 I have got some work pending here. " he paused to listen to her reaction. " Is that okay ?" He asked " Kiara ?"
Kiara stood silent. She didn't know how to react. The dinner is ready to be served. According to their usual date nights he must be reaching in an half an hour now he s excusing for an hour and half . She didn't say anything. She put a smile on her face. ' Poor soul must be really busy at work. ' she thought and talked to him . " It's okay . I will b waiting . Come soon " she said and hung up. She had no idea he was trying to escape.
Kiara went to the study and sat there silently reading a magazine . One side of the wall was completely decorated with their photos together from middle school to their last trip to Vegas . She was taken back to her teenage days.
" Kiara and Ryan met in middle school when they were only 13 . They became best friends instantly. They had play dates and camps together during summer. They spent most of their time together. But as they grew up it's wasn't just friendship for Ryan. It started to become more and more complicated for him. But Kiara knew nothing .
They were in highschool when Kiara started getting mixed signals from Ryan Denin . He started to grow more caring and being there for her all the time even when she didn't need him to. He made sure that no guys came near her nor asked her out. Kiara had no idea that even the whole school knew what was going on between them and how Ryan sees her. Kiara was upset at first when was not asked by anyone for Senior Prom and in the end went with Ryan who didn't ask anybody else playing tricks.
Sooner Kiara knew what was happening. Things changed to romance . But Kiara didn't let him know. She was scared to even to think or tell him when she knew she has grown fond of him over the years. She kept telling herself that it was nothing because her intusions kept telling it would not go right.
She coldly rejected him and his love and started dating others. He was heartbroken but he never stopped trying to get her . And she never ended her day without talking him because she knew about the cover she was putting around her wearing around her aura protecting both of them from a heart break she kept imagining in her head. Her friends went crazy over here scolding that she should stop talking to Ryan . It was right but she couldn't just stop talking to him since he was a part of her childhood and still being a part.
They were in college. Everything was new. New place, new people , new friends , new dates. He didn't move on and she pretended she did . They both dates other people. But nothing worked out. For 8 months they didn't contact each other. But he chased her. She didn't expect him on her birthday in front of her hostel. He came all the way down to New York from Vancouver to wish her and surprise her. That was her best day. Her first day as his girlfriend. She confessed the words the he had been waiting for years.
And things got fast between them. They found time for each other to spend it together. Both were head over heels in love . He showed that to her very perfectly every time they were together. They fled to Italy during their Christmas break one year not even going home . And he proposed her when they were in Verona. She was happy and glad . Everybody was surprised when they got back with a ring in her hand . Something people thought would never workout and Kiara as a badass never committing type. But the world was wrong. She got what she dreamed.
But the fear never left Kiara. She had a constant feeling that something is not going to work out between them. But nothing was on their way for past years.
Kiara walked back to kitchen for reheating her dinner. She got sad that the food will not taste like before when cooked freshly. Someone rang the doorbell as she was arranging the plates.
She ran for opening the door and there he stood. He checked her out fastly. Her red dress with a wide deep neck she chose intently for this night to seduce him . But this time she failed to. He didn't seem to be in a mood.
" Let me get fresh " he said and walked inside the room .
' work must have been hectic ' she thought and returned to her work.
He arrived dressed in a suit as she poured wine in to his glass. She was waiting to surprise him. She had been preparing for this for over a week now.
" How was the day ? " She asked him casually.
There was no much of a reply as she expected him to.
" Was fine " he said eating his steak and salad. But she was in her good spirits. She didn't mind his foul mood .
" How do you like this ? she pointed to the other plate , the Sea food she had prepared ransacking the internet. " Hoped you will want it. "
" Amazing Kiara . It's good . You should cook that more often " he said. She got Happy instantly.
Kiara let him finish the dinner and then got up waiting for the perfect time to arrive.
He put on music. Melodies , her kind.
She put the dishes in dishwasher and came back to the living room. He seemed to have a bit of progress in his mood. "Dance ?" He asked her. She smiling, took his hand and they both danced around the room like for an hour. The tune kept on going. Kiara felt that like he have got to tell her something either . ' Does he know ' she thought.
She lifted her head from his chest looking into him now . She took a deep breath " hey " but before she even began speaking he started kissing her. So gently and deeply. He seemed to be in a hurry . She pulled herself out to catch up with her breath . "Slow down Captain " She laughed and kissed him again. He lifted her in his arms and walked towards their room. She kept giggling and kissed his jaw. He tore down her beautiful red dress and loved her like never before. And he wondered why he is doing it. There seemed to be so much going on inside him but his love for her made him do this. It was past midnight and and they were lying in each others arms warm and happy.Happiness for her. And something kept troubling Ryan.
"Rayn " she called him.
"Hmm" he was playing with her hair pondering over things .
" Do you know what a fool I used to be back in school. "
" Huh "
" When I understood what feelings you have for me , I actually had the same . But I was worried that something is not going to work out . Like we would split. I was in fear. And I kept a distance from you . " She said.
" Did you?" He wasn't much interested in her conversation. He was thinking deep about something else that has been bothering him for the past year.
" Yeah I mean it was evident that I couldn't keep any distance from you right. Mom told me so even when friends warned me to keep a distance. I didn't. "
" Mom told you all this" he asked her
" Yes . I was such a fool right. I should have dreamt about this. How we are now. How am lying next to you now but instead. I should have shared your dream from then trusting you and see what you saw for us " she talked in a very low and soft voice constantly keeping a smile and feeling stupid.
" I wish I saw the things you saw in front Of my eyes " he said.
" What ?" She was surprised. She got up ,put on her dress and sat facing him .
" I am sorry " his voice changed along with his expression.
" Hey. " She took his face in her hands and kissed him . " I know you are under so much stress with works and stuffs. Just don't worry" she consoled him.
But he moved her hands looked into her eyes.
" That's not it Kia "
" What's not it ? " She started to worry."
" Do you feel that it's working out between us ?"
" Why would you ask that now ?" She asked him . " I mean it is working . Ofcourse. I love you so much and you do too Ryan don't you?"
He hesitated. " No , Kiara I love you, I respect you really but it's not working out. I need a break. "
" A break ? From our marriage !? Do You mean divorce ? You wanted this . Don't you dare speak to me this way. I left New York and my higher studies for your sake. I don't go for a job because you did not like me to. Am here because we loved each other. And we still do." She became hysterical .
" No we don't " he told her. " And tell me didn't you want this ? How can you say it's my fault alone. You vowed . " He stopped.
She smiled with tears in her eyes " I didn't vow what you were coming to say. Do you even remember our wedding vows "
Ryan furiously opened his mouth but shut immediately. He didn't know honestly. Something he forgot to look up to when they moved to Vancouver. ' Damn it ' he thought and shook his head.
" I should have know " she got up from the bed fuming. " Is it other girls . Just be honest . Am I boring now. Don't we have nothing to conquer in the world now. "
" No it's not that . There are no other girls. There was like two years back but no "
" There was ? Two years back ? While we were newly married ?"
" Holy shit " he gasped.
" So now you are saying that you were cheating on me "
" No Kiara no , listen to me " but she was all crying.
" You promised" she said trying to control her emotions. " But I should have known you better. "
"Kiara you misunderstood" he got up walked towards her .
" Don't touch me , you bastard " she pushed him away .
But Ryan held her as she cried. " It's my birthday and my wedding anniversary , and my marriage has collapsed. Why did you do this to me ? "
" Am sorry " he apologized
' should I tell him now ' she wondered . ' no this would be bad , I don't want any sort of sympathy , I don't need his support . Am not gonne give a life away ' she decided.
She moved away from him and picked up her rest of the clothes. " You are good in hiding and faking " she said and walked out of the room. He stood there helpless and made up his mind to call her mother and tell her that he is done.
Kiara went upstairs and cried for a long time slowly falling asleep thinking how her life has collapsed. " Ryan , what has gone wrong between us ?" She wondered . she didn't even notice that it was already morning .
Ryan stood in the door watching her sleep. He wanted to shout out and cry . He loves her so much but he has started to feel that he should be himself with her and not the Ryan Denin anymore. He set the breakfast for her in the bed side table and walked away.
*****
" Kate am going to tell the truth . I can't stand it anymore . I feel fucked up . " She told Kiara's mother irritatingly.
" Why did you do this to her ? "
" Really. Is it me ? Or are you the one's hurting her lying to her and staging an award winning drama in her life. Playing with her life "
" Listen Ryan , is it money ? "
"Don't call me that name. And I don't fucking need your money I asked you to stop writing cheques. "
" Calm down " Kate said
" I can't . She is suffering . Your daughter. She doesn't even remember his face and think everything you told her is right. All the Fairy tales."
" You made her suffer " Kate snapped.
" I did ." He chuckled . Am not talking to you anymore. " Bye " with rage he hung up the phone and started walking back upstairs to talk to Kiara. But she was already behind him listening to his conversation.
" What's going on ? " She asked him . She understood something is serioudly wrong. Something has been wrong for a long time.
" I can totally explain " he tried to connect to her.
She took a deep breath closing her eyes " all you have is one more chance and you are out of here "
Ryan was surprised and shocked to listen such words from her . " I will " he agreed. " Listen, you deserve to know something . " He paused. She settled down in their breakfast table listening to him . " I am not Ryan Denin "
" What? " She laughed
He stood there looking at her till she stopped laughing .
" Okay sorry continue. "
" My name is Eric Jayden , Am actually born in Vancouver . "
" What ? "She looked shocked
" Here" he put down some of his old photos of his family and friends. " You do remember that you had an accident right ? "
" Yes , two years back " she looked at his face baffled.
" You and Ryan went to Hawaii on June for your first year anniversary there "
" Are you mad our anniversary was yesterday on my birthday . July 18 "
" Not ours . You got married in June . June 11." He told her.
" Are you trying to make me go crazy.?" She asked him.
" No. No just please listen to me." He begged her.she remained silent her brain struggling to remember and pick up any of the things he has said .
" On that trip you went , when you were traveling , a truck hit Ryan , you were walking through the road and you didn't see the truck he pulled you but you both went under and he didn't make it. He was badly hurt. " He blurted out fastly to get over with .
" Woah " she didn't accept what he had just said.
" You had no damages except amnesia , you forgot who you are were you are from whether you worked everything. "
" I know I have amnesia" she said hardly audible.
She sat in shock unable to believe what she is hearing. " Both of your parents were struggling to tell you the information because you some how understood that you were married with the ring in your hand. That's how I came in. Your parents filled your memory as it is instead of Ryan they made you picture me. "
" You . ?"
" Yes me. I didn't know this would go this far. I mean I agreed for money because they didn't want to see you broken. The doctors said that you were likely to get depression. So they filled me into Ryan's space .
" Money , you did that for money " she was shivering.
" Let me explain please. " He said.
" You were going hysterical and you had to be contained. Telling about Ryan would have killed you . Because you both just began a life. And coming to an end would mean an end to you. His parents didn't co- operate but you parents were willing to do anything. So they found me they begged me. They offered me everything. I was young and reckless , I agreed. Am sorry I shouldn't have. "
"You shouldn't have " she said in a low voice her hands in her rubbing her Temple. He knows saying so much truth together to a person suffering from amnesia could be stressful and dangerous but he took the risk anyway.
" That's when I came in it was your birthday. You kept asking about what happened to Ryan because of the wedding band. And finally your parents took the doctors advise and lied and brought me to you as a surprise. And you easily believed. "
" Yes I did because I was helpless and trying to remember. " She didn't cry it was evident that she is struggling.
" And we moved here you were happy. Doctors advised to care you properly and I didn't want to take risk so I asked you to not work and stress yourself. "
" And you were sleeping with me all this time. You asshole . " she said looking at him
"Yeah am sorry I had to. See I dated for sometimes and " he went out of words. " And I fell in love . And all our times after an year was very serious to me. " he struggled to say speak his heart . " The problem was you didn't like "me " you liked The guy I was pretending to be as your parents told me , and I have started hating that. "
" I understand " she exhaled. " Sorry " she mumbled. " I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to. I didn't want any of this. Am sorry " she began apologising madly.
" No it's ok. It's fine. It's everybody's fault. And you have no part in it . Don't do it. " He said holding her.
She took the the glass pour some water and began drinking water. She started breathing heavily .
" Are you okay ?" He asked her. She didn't seem okay to him
" Am fine " she said her face buried in her hands.
" Am sorry " he said again.
" Don't "
" So "
" I don't care. You can leave. Since we were never married and I have been a widow. " She chuckled. " Life is a wonder. Its a game. You will never know what you have in store for you. All it's levels. " She suddenly became philosophical.
" Kiara " he talked to her " do I have a second chance. ? "
" So. ? " She said tears in her eyes. " So all the photos are fake ? "
" I sorry but yes except the new frames of past two years " he said.
" Second chance ? "
" Yes" he said " please , as me , as Eric. I love you " he begged her tears whelming in his eyes kneeling down and burying his face in her lap.
" I need some time " he looked up at her face as she said it coldy. " I don't even know you."
He didn't say anything . He got up and walked out of the house silently leavING her behind. He knew it was all his fault. When she gave so much of love he didn't give it back properly. Instead and he fooled around with other girls coming back to her for the purpose of money from her parents. But when he fell in love. It was late and he began getting irritated with the play written by her parents. Now he has broken her completely. Saying her about Ryan , her old life Her life with him and what a jerk he had been with her. And ND somehow he hoped that she is never going to love him for who he is.
Meanwhile Kiara spend her days in anger and in tears dealing with her parents about how wrong they were , Calling Ryan's parents and being abused and scolded for the play.
She feared more, she began stressing trying to remember everything Eric had told her. But it wasn't helping except losing her mind. She went to see her doctor told her everything and started seeing a therapist.
Two weeks later
Eric knocked on the door . He came back as she requested him to come and see her. He looked upset drunk and sleepless. He hadn't been to office for a week .
Kiara rushed to open the door and to see him.
He stood motionless looking at her. She smiled and hugged him which caught him by surprise. He didn't understand. " Come on in" he invited him in .
" I need to speak with you ." She said .
" Yes " he didn't make an effort to be glad and happy because he knew she is not wrong and has all the right to kick his ass out if her life.
They settled down in the study serving him his favorite decaff and choco chip cookies made by her. He smiled as she set the coffee table. He missed her and will miss her always.
" So ? " He asked her looking out through the window avoiding her eyes. 'She looks better ' he thought ' and I am pathetic '
" Am pregnant " she said.
" What ?" he was shocked and choked . He kept the coffee mug down looking at her.
" How uh what" he was beginning to get excited.
" Do you want me to explain how ?" She said startled.
" No " he said his eyes running all the way down to her stomach. She noticed. She took his hands and kept it on her belly.
" I was meaning to tell you that night " she told him. " But you pulled the trigger. So I didn't want to . You wouldn't have told me what you wanted if I did. " She became emotional.
They looked at each other and stood there without a word. " Thanks " he said. He understood from her eyes and kissed her softly . He lifted her in his arms and slowly moved towards their room once again. " I promise now and will remember the vow this time for my life. " She giggled holding him tightly. " And we should go around the world. " He added. She felt happy in his hands again.
" My feelings never changed Ry.. Eric" she corrected his name. " the person I loved all this year's ever since I woke up was you. I love everything about you. And Ryan " she stopped . She didn't know what to feel. She cried and cried and it didn't help. Now what's best is to move on after all she never knew but lived with him all this time. And will continue to.
They never talked about the past again. They had many new things to conquer in the world.
