Chapter 31

Athy sighed as she finished reading a mail..

"what happen..?" lucas asked

"it's just that.. My dance institution in Paris.. Is gonna held a ceremony and they invited me as a guest.." she said.

"that's good.. So you are going..?"

"that's what I am thinking about.. I was confused whether to go or not.."

"huh.. Why..? You don't want to see your colleagues again..?"

"hmm.. I do want to.." athy said thinking deeply..

"then you should go.." lucas said and smiled.

" hmm... Should I..?" she said staring at the mail.

Then she got ready to go for a week trip to Paris and lucas will also go with her.. Since he also by chance have to go to France vis-a-vis his new album work.. So they planned to go together.

" haah... I wish we can take atheia with us.." athy said as she patted her daughter who is lying down in between her parents on the bed .

"yeah.. But we both have work so we can't be with her always.."lucas sighed worried.

" mommy daddy don't worry.. We can go next time.. "athiea said patting thier arms which is holding her dearly.

" my daughter is too nice.. Such a good girl... " athy said kissing her cheek.

" athiea.. Why do you never whine or anything like other kids..? You are too nice.." lucas said patting her head.

" huh.. Mommy daddy buy everything I want.. Daddy never say no so I don't have to whine.. My Friends whine because thier parents don't buy them toys.. "athiea said and they chuckled .

" but we are leaving you here and going to Paris.. You don't want to come..? " lucas asked in between chuckling.

" hmm.. I do want to come.. But you two will be busy then athiea will be bored .. I will Play with oppas here.." she said.

"sometimes I feel like she isn't five years old.." athy said.

" yeah.. She is so matured for her age..." lucas said nodding his head.

" you like staying with boys more now so you don't care us leaving huh..?" athy said pinching her cheek.

" what really..? Athiea.. Who do you like more..? daddy or Aaron...?" lucas asked pouting athy and athiea giggled.

" daddy.." athiea said giggling and lucas smiled happily..

" yeah.. That's my daughter.. " he said hugging her.

"hehe.." atheia giggled and they chatted till late night and fell asleep together.

"athiea baby.. I will miss you so much... Be a good girl as you always are.. Mommy will call you whenever I have time.. OK..? I will come back as soon as I can.." athy said hugging her daughter tightly.

" hmm.. We will come back soon.. Bye athiea..." lucas said hugging her and gave her a kiss on cheek.

" hmm.. Bye mommy daddy.. Come back soon.. " she said waving to them.

" hmm.. I will buy plenty of Chocolates for you." lucas whispered to her.

"hehe.. Really...?" she whispered back..

"hmm. How much do you want.. This much..?" lucas asked gesturing with his hand..

"yeah this much." she copied him and giggled. He smiled at her.

"what are you two taking about..?" athy asked and they both said nothing and smiled. Athy crouched down beside lucas and caressed her face with a worried smile... It's her first time leaving her daughter alone.. Usually lucas is the only one travel around athy always stayed with her.

" I am sorry athiea.. Mommy will come back soon.." she said with a sorry face. Atheia hugged her and give her a kiss on cheek.

" mommy.. I love you.." she said and smiled.. Athy hugged her tight

" I love you too.." she said and kissed her back.

" no huggy for daddy..?" lucas asked with a puppy face.

"hehe... Athiea loves daddy so much.." she said hugging him.

" hmm.. Love you too my daughter.. Should we just take her with us..?" lucas asked hugging her tight leaning his face over her head .

" I will take good care fo her.. Now get going you two.. You guys are gonna miss the flight at this rate.. ". Lily said looking down at the two kids hugging thier kid.

" hmm..we know you take care of her better than us aunty.."

lucas said and smiled as he stood up carrying his daughter in his arms.. He handed her to lily and they both waved bye to her with a sad face... She waved them back and they watched them walking inside the airport..

"oh my.. dear .. Do you miss them already..?"

lily asked with a worried face when she saw athiea's face changed when her parents disappeared from her sight.

"hmm.. A little.." she said in a sad voice sniffing.. she is crying..

" oh my... Our angel.. You didn't even cried in front of them. You take after your mom so Much.." lily said patting her back as she started crying loud.

"let's go home and play with blackey OK...? " she said they get on the car.. Felix also joined lily on consoling thier grand daughter.

" athiea.. We are home.."

she heared asher's voice and ran to the entrance.. They played with her for a while eventhough they are busy with thier exams since they felt bad after hearing she cried. When they all went back to dorm atheia Sat on her room with lily and did her homework.. When she finished studying she packed her things ,athy called.. They chatted for a while in video call... They didn't tell them she cried because they know they will flew back the next moment they hear it... After she talked with them she had her dinner and roamed around the house bored..

'atheia is bored..' she thought as she was walking around.. She walked past Aaron's room then stopped.. She slightly opened the door and peeked inside..

She saw Aaron studying and was about to close the door back but he turned and saw her standing there.

"come inside.." he said and she slowly walked in..

" what..?" he asked as he finished with his studies and closed his book.

" nothing.. I will Go back.."

she said and was about to walk back but her legs are floating in the air.. She turned back and saw Aaron was holding her up... He carried her in his arms and walked outside.. Athiea was surprised since it's the first time Aaron carried her.

" I am going out.. Do you wanna come..?" he asked and she nodded her head happily.

' is she OK now..? Why did she cried..? this idiot.. She should have went with her parents if she is gonna miss them..'

he thought as he walked out of his room carrying her..

" are you going out..?" helly asked as she came out of her room.

"yeah.." he said nodding a yes.

"Aaron Take blackey with you for walk.. I am a bit busy please...? " helly asked with puppy eyes. He nodded a yes and the three went out for a walk..

"oppa.. Athiea can walk..." she said and he stared at her for a while.

"why..? you don't want me to carry you..?"

he asked raising one of his eyebrows..

" then oppa wants to carry me..?" she asked back immediately and he was taken aback by her question.

"it's not like I want to.. But you always run around like a wild thing and end up falling down.. So it's just .. I have to.." he said looking away. She pouted hearing him.

" hmph..i won't fall down all the time .."

she cutely said pouting and Aaron chuckled hearing her.. She looked at him wide eyed and even he is surprised at himself.

" oppa you look like daddy when you smile.. "she said and smiled at him. He stared at her with a blank face.

" Haa.. Why did you stopped smiling..? Smile... " she said pulling his cheeks into a smile with both her hands..

" stop.. "

He said taking her hands away from his face..

'her hands are so tiny..' he thought at how both her hands can fit into his single hand.

" you are so loud.. If you keep silent I will buy you chocolate.." he said as they walked further

" really..? "she asked with stars in her eyes.

" hmm.. After all your dad gives me so much pocket money.. I should  use them don't you think...? " he said

" oppa.. Buy me icecream .. Pease .."she said with puppy face.

" huh.. Ice cream at night..? Nope..sister in law and aunty will scold me.. "he said as they entered the nearby super market. Aaron tied blackey's leash outside and they entered.

" hahh.. Pease .. Pease .. Only once.. "

she kept whining to him. Only  her parents know how much her cuteness will increase if she starts whining.. Aaron can't stand her cuteness and ended up buying her ice-cream. They came outside and Sat on the bench in the nearby park . Aaron gave blackey the dog food he bought for it and unwrapped the ice cream for atheia..

" here.. Don't tell anyone in the house you ate ice-cream.. Let's keep it a secret OK..?" he said as he handed her the ice cream..

"okey dokey.."

she squeeled as she is staring at the ice cream in his hands with heart eyes..she take it from him and took a bite.. She holded her cheek with one hand when she get brain freeze from the chillness... Still she continued to eat the ice cream with a big smile. Aaron stared at her with a smile.. Which he don't know was there..

'pfft.. She looks like hamster while eating.. So cute...' he thought as he sipped his drink with straw. He kept staring at her the whole time she savoured her ice cream.

She finished eating and put the wrapper in the dustbin nearby..

' such a good girl always aren't you...? ' he thought as he stood up.. He kneeled down in front of her and tied her shoelace.

"may be this is why you always fell down.. You don't know how to tie them..?" he asked looking up at her.

"hmm.. I don't know.." she said and smiled.

"that's because someone always ties them for you right..? Should I teach you..?" he asked and she smiled.

"yeah yeah.. Atheia wants to Learn.." she said with curious eyes..

"hmm.. It's easy if you do it with this rhymes .. It's like.. Look carefully... Bunny ears.. bunny ears.. playing by a tree...

He taught her using the rhymes and she was so excited and copied him on tying the other shoe.

" wow.. You did it.. You are so smart.. Good job.." he said patting her head smiling.

"haay atheia did it ... Hehe... It's fun.." she said and giggled...

"let's go.." he said holding out his hand.. She holded his hand and get down from the bench.. They walked back home as athiea kept talking and he hummed to her stories.. When they reached home. Aaron crouched down and wiped her cheeks Which had traces of ice-cream with his sleeve

"oppa.. What are you doing..?" she asked.

"I am protecting our secret.. You have ice-cream all over your face.." he said wiping and she giggled.

"what are you two doing outside..?" lily asked as she came out hearing atheia's laughter.

"we are just.." Aaron stuttered but atheia flipped the topic.

"granny... We are back.." she shouted with a big smile.

"yeah.. Come inside.. It's cold.." she told patting his back. And they all entered the house.. Blackey walked towards its bed and lied down..

"blackey are you gonna sleep..? Good night.." she said patting it.

" now come here.. Let's wash your hands.." lily said as she carried her in her arms.. Aaron went back to his room and flopped in the couch.

" oppa..may I come in..?" he turned hearing her voice and she was smiling bright standing in front of his room.

"come in.." he said and she ran towards him.

" you are gonna.." he catched her at the right time before she kiss the floor.

" haah.. Walk slowly will you..? " he said carrying her in his arms..

" thank you oppa.." she said and smiled sheepishly..

" look at you always smiling.." Aaron mumbled as he placed her on the couch.

" she came to you huh.. May I come in..?" he turned to see lily standing outside..he nodded a yes and she came inside..

" atheia.. Let's go... You have school tomorrow.. You have to sleep.. "she said but athiea tightly grabbed Aaron's pant.

" I want to be with oppa.. "she said pouting.. Lily giggled and Aaron stared at her confused.

" but you shouldn't bother him.. He has exams.. let's go.. You can sleep with him some other day.. "lily said and athiea looked at her with a sad face..

"ok.." she said in a sad tone as she stood up from the couch and gestured lily to carry her.

"good girl.." lily said as she holded her in her arms .

"now let's go.. Say goodnight to Aaron.."

"Oppa.. Goodnight.. " she said in a sad tone..

"aunty it's ok.. She can sleep here.. I am already done with my studies"

Aaron said stopping lily and athiea immediately climbed up on him. He holded her in his arms instinctively ..

" hehe.. Then good night granny .." Athiea said smiling brightly at lily..

" oh my.. Look at this girl.. Aaron.. You are the one who said she can stay here.. I will take my leave.. From now on.. It's upto you and your niece...do something and make her sleep early. Good night guys.. "

she said and went out. Aaron looked down at atheia who is smiling brightly at him and sighed..

" why do you want to sleep here..? "he asked her with a blank face.

" I can't..? "she, asked with puppy eyes and he chuckled

'whenever I ask her something she always ask a question back' he thought as he made her sit on the bed.

" oppa.. Do you know any stories.? "

" bed time stories.? " he asked tilting his head and she nodded a yes.

"I don't.."he said lying down beside her.

" hmm.. Then sing me a song.. "she said turning towards him.

" a song..? "

" hmm daddy always sing me lullaby.. " she said and smiled.

" hmm.. I don't know any lullaby but I will sing a melody for you. "

he said and started singing. She fell asleep hearing his song.. He stared at her with a smile. He covered her with bedsheet and scrolled his phone screen.. He felt her tiny hand on his chest and saw her cuddling him on sleep.

'pfft... It feels like a teddy bear is hugging me ...' he thought and smiled. He patted her head slowly and then fell asleep hugging her.

He slowly opened his eyes when the room light up from morning sun . He Sat up and stretched his hands.. He was about to get up but remembered atheia was sleeping with him and turned to saw her sound asleep.

'her cheeks are like steambun so fluffy.. Cute.' he thought while caressing her cheek. He carefully got up not to disturb her and went inside the bathroom.

" atheia.." he heard lily calling her as she entered the room while he is in shower.

'she must have took athiea by now..' he thought and when he came out she wasn't there. He got dressed in his uniform and went out of his room with his bag..

"oppa.. Good morning.." athiea smiled brightly at him.

" hmm.. Morning.." he said sitting beside her and lily served them breakfast.

"Aaron.. Will you drop athiea at her kindergarten on your way.. I am bit busy.." lily asked.

" Yeah sure.." he said and smiled.

"thanks.. Eat more.. You have exam I am sorry for bothering you." lily said with a apolegetic smile.

"no it's not a problem.. It's on my way to school anyways" he said and smiled.

"is Atheia going to school with oppa..!? " Atheia asked as she finished drinking her milk.

" yeah." lily smiled at her.

"guys be safe.. Bye.." lily waved them bye as they got out of the house.. They waved back to her. Aaron started his motor bike which lucas and athy bought for him after he came here. He put athiea  in front of him and started the bike.

" hold tighter OK..?" he said and drove slowly for her.. On thier way as usual athiea was the one who did all the talk.. When they reached her kindergarten he put her down.

He crouched down and corrected her wrinkled uniform.. But he got surprised when atheia hugged him..

" oppa see you .. All the best for your exam.." she said smiling at him and give a peck on his cheek. He stared at her surprised.

"kiss.. do you always kiss everyone like this..? You shouldn't you know..." he said in a serious tone and she giggled.

" I won't ..daddy always say the same thing.. Atheia shouldn't kiss anyone other than family.." she mimicked lucas and giggled.

'family huh..' Aaron thought and his lips curved into a smile..

"hmm that's right.. Go inside.. see you.." he said smiling at her. He watched her walking inside and then started his motorbike.

" Aaron why are you late..?" asher asked as they were standing in front of the school waiting for him.

"I dropped atheia in her kindergarten on my way here .." Aaron said as he got down from his bike.

"ohh..!! Someone is getting closer to his neice.." Liam said in a teasing tone.. They all started chatting as they went inside.