Chapter one hundred nineteen: "Born For The Job"
Aiden's back was facing me as he searched through the CD box, I feel like he was looking for CDs as a distraction. My hand went to his back that made him stop
"Aiden" I called out his name softly and my hand that was on his back felt his entire body relax
He hasn't faced me yet when he stood up, it got me worried that the carefree guy was so tense right now "It's just..." He turned around to face me "Cloud will always be the better guy"
"What do you mean?"
Is this inferiority complex?
He chuckled a little as his eyes were dead serious "He always managed to get everything he ever wanted, always a step ahead of me"
Cloud was never given anything he wanted, he worked hard for it, I know because I saw it with my own eyes how he love his studies and doing modeling
But I couldn't say that to Aiden right now
"Is this connected to the fight you both had years ago? The one where you were about to leave?"
"It was years ago but I couldn't help myself to remember it so quickly when I met him again in the music lounge" he grabbed a popcorn from the bowl and threw one in the air that landed in his mouth
I sat down on the couch and he sat beside me "That was a childhood fight, I didn't even think a fight could last this long"
Aiden rested his head at my shoulder "Penelope, you've already known how competitive and selfish, me and Cloud could be"
I set down the bowl of popcorn beside me as I put an arm around him in a comforting way, a small laugh escaped my lips "How could I forget? Everything was a competition to you two, my most recent memory of you two being competitive is fighting over for the last chocolate piece on a plate"
They used rock, paper, and scissors to make it fair and square but they both don't want to back down so while they were fighting Danny stole the chocolate and ate it behind their backs, I just kept my mouth shut when I saw it
"Once we want something we become selfish" he glanced up at me from my shoulder "It just so happen that the last thing we would be fighting over is you"
Those words gave me a slap of realization, these two have been fighting for a long time because of childhood competitiveness. I was so busy with myself I never noticed that I was the reason
The first thing that came to my mind was "What the hell did little Cloud and Aiden we're thinking?"
I don't think I look or even act cute when I was little, because of course, I would be a violent tomboyish child that would grow up to hate herself
Aiden moved his head a bit so that his chin was on top of my shoulder then he wrapped his arms around my waist "I don't want to lose you to him but when I heard from the rumors that you two were dating I felt like I can't control my rage "
His hug tightened
Aiden, you must be mixing up your true feelings about me because of your competitiveness with Cloud
You might think you're in love with me but what you want was to win against Cloud
I can't assume it though because if I say it to him it would cause me to hurt his feelings
We sat there on the couch hugging each other for a long time "I don't know what you guys see in me, all those years you both could've found a girl much better than me but here we are in this small mess that started in childhood"
It's not that I'm complaining, don't get me wrong, I was baffled at that fact but seeing them become like this just made me feel sad
"Don't beat up yourself too much for something like the beauty you can't see yourself in, if we have focused only on your looks we wouldn't be like this but you always manage to captivate us in many ways, that is your charm"
First a confession now a compliment, I must be dreaming for this to be happening because I know damn well nobody would compliment me this much
I swear to God I can be a champion for being an overthinker
We heard the doorbell ring at the entrance, I was about to stand up but suddenly I was pulled to sit down "I'll bring you to my practice for the concert tomorrow and we'll go on a date, how does that sound?"
I grinned up at him "I would love to but what about my work? I can't become a leech to Daisy's family you know? Gotta pay rent"
He pouted where he protrude his lower lip a little "Fine, I'll hang out with you in the ice cream shop"
Aiden looks like an upset little kid, how adorable
I squeezed one side of his cheeks "Don't feel down Aiden, there is still the festival we can enjoy for our date" I try to brighten up his mood and to take his mind off of Cloud which was supposed to be his job but I guess this would be an exception
The person who was at the door kept ringing the doorbell that Aiden snapped "Alright! I'll answer it, sheesh" he stomped his way to open the door
"What the hell do you want Ruth?!" Aiden said loudly at the person, I stood up and walked up to stand beside him and to also peek who is Ruth
Ruth was actually a guy who was neatly dressed, he has dyed dark green hair and his eyes were covered with shades
"You look like an idiot for wearing shades at night" Aiden accepted the folder that Ruth was giving to him
Ruth removed his glasses and put them on top of his head "Excuse you but I feel cool wearing it"
"But you do look like a blind person though, don't complain if a girl scout wants to help you cross the street"
Aiden snorted at my comment, Ruth looks appalled by my remark "Uh who are you?"
"Why don't you tell me who you are first?"
He scoffed at me then put on a proud face while he dusted off imaginary dirt off of his sleeves on his blazer "I am Aiden Elliot's manager so who the hell are you?"
I then copied his actions but instead of dusting off my clothes I flipped my hair "I am going on a date with him, I'm his bestie since birth bitch"
The guy was being sassy with me, gotta return it
Aiden was trying hard to contain his laughter because it might insult his manager who was the same height as me
Now that I notice it, Ruth does have amber eyes the same color as my contact lenses and he has that pretty boy style added to his aesthetic
Aiden lets Ruth in his home, I watched Aiden walk around while reading the paper that was given to him, and as for Ruth who was on his phone looking busy like he was messaging somebody
After he finished messaging he shoves his phone in his pocket then twisted his upper body to face me "So, you're his childhood friend?" He looks at me up and down
I crossed my arms at him "So, you're supposed to be his manager?" I then proceeded to look at him up and down like I was observing him
He snapped a finger in front of my face 2 times "I may not look like it but I am the most capable manager in the entertainment industry, the person behind the rising star success of Aiden" he used his thumb to point at Aiden
I smiled at him "I'm Mia what's your name?"
"I'm Ruth Lee" he shaked hands with me
I learned that Ruth was half Korean so he was assigned to be Aiden's manager during the planning stages of his rising fame, he's also the infamous person that he 'claims' the golden touch
Whatever that means
He told me whoever star he worked with would become insanely famous
He takes pride in his work that his entire image is built to become a manager, it's almost as if he was born for the job
"Ruth, you could've just sent me this tomorrow why would you give these to me now?" Aiden puts down the papers on the kitchen island
"As you can see I have a lot of work to do and I only get 4 hours of rest because of work"
"No, it's because you're a workaholic. We gave you a day off before but you used it for work"
Like I said, he was born for the job
I watched as they both talked about Aiden's work, my eyes wandered around the room to distract myself until it landed again on the CD
I wonder what Cloud is doing right now?