Aria and Lena were sitting together, having a casual conversation, when Lena suddenly brought up something that Aria hadn't thought about in a while.
Lina: "You know, do you remember that girl Aiden used to hang out with? She still lives in the same neighborhood as you. They used to spend a lot of time together, playing and having fun as a friend beacuse their father's are friends.
Aria: Oh, I remember. She lives right next door, doesn't she?
Lina: "You know, that girl he was close to. They were always together, playing games and having fun. I think you've seen them around".
Lina: "Yeah, exactly. I remember when you first heard about them. We used to tease Aiden about it, but he'd get so embarrassed. It was funny, but they didn't seem to mind."
Aria (thinking quietly): "Yeah, they never really cared about the teasing. It didn't seem to bother them."
Lina (laughing): "Yeah, I remember us teasing him. But it never really fazed either of them. They were always so comfortable around each other, and it was like nothing could change that."
Aria felt a slight pang in her chest but quickly brushed it aside. She hadn't really thought about Aiden's past much until now, but hearing it brought up again made her feel strange.
Aria: "Well, it's all in the past now, right? Things change."
Lina: "Yeah, but it's funny to think back to that time. Aiden and her were always so carefree."
Aria was sitting outside her house when she suddenly noticed something that caught her attention. The girl who used to be close to Aiden, the one who still lived nearby, was walking outside with her father. Aria recognized her immediately, remembering how often she'd seen them together in the past.
As Aria watched, she noticed that Aiden was nearby, playing, but he wasn't alone. He seemed to be close to the girl,. Aria kept her distance but couldn't help but watch the scene unfold.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Aiden glance at the girl and quickly adjust his hair, as if trying to look better in front of her. It was almost as if he was self-conscious of the moment and wanted to look presentable.
Aria watched this from a distance, trying to make sense of it. Was it just a casual reaction, or did he still care about how he looked around her? Aria shook her head, thinking, "It's probably nothing. I'm just imagining things."
But the moment stayed with her, lingering in her thoughts. Was Aiden still holding on to his past connection with that girl, or was this just a passing moment? He must be free !!
Aria already knew about Aiden and that girl—how they use to be friends in childhood or something like that. It didn't matter to her now… or so she thought.
But lately, whenever she stepped outside—whether for a short walk or just standing near the gate she'd often notice something strange.
Every time that girl came out with her father, Aiden would somehow show up too.
Sometimes, he was across the street, tossing a ball to his little brother. Other times, he was just walking out of his house, acting casual—but always, always managing to be seen.
And then came the small things Aria couldn't ignore.
He'd fix his hair. Straighten his shirt. Smile at the girl's father and greet him politely. As if he was trying… trying to be noticed. Or maybe to leave a good impression? Seems like he is impressing the girl!
Aria didn't say anything. She didn't even frown.
But somewhere in the back of her mind, she just noted it. Quietly. Without judgment. Without emotion.
Just a thought.
"He still does that, huh?" " he is too cringe"? Whatever!
And with that, she walked back inside. Not hurt. Not angry. Just thoughtful.
Aria noticed the scene almost every day—Aiden trying to act casually around that girl, adjusting his hair or looking her way. She'd caught herself paying attention to it more than she liked. But in her mind, she quickly shut it down. Why should I care about it anyway?
She kept telling herself it didn't matter. It was none of her business. But still, a part of her wanted to know more. She wasn't obsessed with it—she was just curious. And the best way to find out? Ask Jack her cousin .
Aria thought to herself "I didn't expect him to be so straightforward about it. It would be harder to get him to open up, he never told me everything with such ease. But i will try my best".
One afternoon, while they were hanging out, Aria casually dropped the question. "Jack, do you know anything about Aiden and that girl he's always around? Trying to free with her
Jack glanced at her with a grin. "Oh, that? Nothing serious, Aria. He told me she's from his past. He said he's not interested in her anymore."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because it doesn't look like that to me."
Jack shrugged. "Trust me. He doesn't care about her. He said he's moved on."
Aria nodded, not letting it affect her much. She had no reason to overthink it. If Aiden said it, it must be true. No need to dwell on this.
Aria thought to herself as she walked away from Jack. I thought it would be harder to get him to open up, but somehow, he just told me everything with such ease.
Why should I care? she thought. It's their business, not mine.
She paused for a moment, staring ahead as she walked. She felt a small frustration rise but quickly silenced it. "Focus, Aria," she whispered to herself. "There's more to life than whatever this is."
And with that, she took another step forward, pushing the thought of Aiden and the girl away. I've got bigger things to focus on, she reminded herself. This doesn't concern me.
Aria walked on, a sense of calm settling over her as she continued her journey, her thoughts are already moving toward the things that truly mattered!