(Arata)
I had begun to settle into a routine at ho. Thankfully, because of the winter season, I didn’t need to take my cap off, and Grandma didn’t get to ask questions about my hair.
But I had to wear a dicated foundation around her so she wouldn’t see my wounds.
She was too happy to have back but often asked why I didn’t smile as much and mostly remained tense.
"You can speak to , child. Whatever is bothering you, share, and I might be able to provide an insight," she calmly asked while I lay in her lap near the fireplace.
I had asked her to knit a red woollen cap and she was doing that.
Baba didn’t speak about my pregnancy, not even once. It was like he didn’t even acknowledge it because the father was Karsten.
I understood his reasons but it bothered . Everyone else, Mom, Zaylen, Stella and Aunt Huria, always asked how I was doing.
Mom had even booked an appointnt with the best gynaecologist in Angel City, and I was extrely thankful to her. She hadn’t been judgntal.
In a few months, Grandma was going to learn either way that I was pregnant so there was no point hiding.
"Grandma, I am pregnant," I quietly told her, holding her waist and enjoying her warmth.
She adjusted her glasses and watched with awe, the knitting needles dropped from her trembling hands. She struggled for words while I slowly smiled at her.
"Moonshine, what a blessing." A tender kiss she placed on my forehead. "I am going to beco a great-grandmother. This is such a joyous occasion."
She was overjoyed, I could tell from how her glassy eyes brimd with tears.
"You know, there was a ti when I had given up hope of even becoming a mother, but then ca Zyair, and then he brought Skyla along." She nostalgically smiled, her eyes crinkled from sides. All those wrinkles ca together. I just watched her with a smile.
"Then they brought you and Zaylen into this world. And now you are bringing forth a new life. I am over the moon." She placed her hand on my head and jubilantly said.
"This calls for a celebration. Why didn’t your parents tell ?"
The smile disappeared from my face and I diverted my gaze. Grandma must have understood so she asked.
"Your Baba. He doesn’t approve of the father?"
I shook my head. "It’s that and his relationship with is complicated as well. I don’t know where we stand."
Grandma was lost in thoughts for a while before she asked. "Father of the child is your boss? The one I made cookies for?"
My eyes enlarged as I blurted out. "How did you know?" Quickly I got up from her lap and faced her.
She knowingly smiled and picked up her knitting needles again, wrapped in red woollen thread.
"You asked for a recipe. You never baked us anything but wanted to do sothing special for him. You didn’t even bother with Andy. So I knew he was becoming soone special for you," Grandma explained, returning to her knitting. Her dexterous fingers swiftly moved the needles.
"That obvious, hmm," I sighed and leaned back against the one-seater nearby.
"Did he break your heart, Arata? Why doesn’t your father approve? What happened?" Grandma shifted her gaze between and her knitting.
"He kind of did, and then he apologised...but he broke my trust, and now I just need ti," I explained a bit without trying to go into too many details.
"n usually don’t appreciate what they have until they lose it. He will co around. Let him grovel." Grandma winked at and I had to laugh at her action.
Throwing my arms around her, I hugged her, rubbing my face with hers. "You are amazing."
Her grin was wide as she patted my arm.
"And don’t worry about your Baba. When the ti is right, I will speak to him."
"Thank you! Grandma, I love you." I hugged her.
"I love you too, Moonshine."
My phone pinged, diverting my attention. Picking it up, I saw that it was a notification from Twisted Rider. He had uploaded a new video.
’Karsten, what are you up to now? Tempting through your Azul personality.’
"Grandma, I will take a walk in the garden."
She nodded and returned to her knitting. Leaving Grandma, I wrapped the shawl around my shoulders and stepped out of the mansion.
The evening was lding into the night and the cool wind was picking up.
Slowly I walked towards the patio swing and settled down on it in a squatting position. The swing had cushions and a blanket so I made myself cosy.
Excitent flooded as I clicked open his profile to see what he had uploaded. I promised myself I wouldn’t open his ssages which were about 15. Nor would I comnt but I needed to see him, see him like this.
That was his persona which had been most open to , so very different from his usual self. The thought of how I had bitched about him—to him made my ears burn.
Jerking the thoughts away, I clicked on the video, which was titled.
[Taking Phoenix to new levels.]
The video starts with the focus on his covered head from the back and the pull-up bar he was hanging on with his hands covered in red gloves. The only sounds were the rhythmic clink of the pull-up bar and Azul’s controlled breathing. The cara then slowly focused on his back—broad, defined muscles glistening with sweat.
I muffled a scream when a vibrant phoenix tattoo spanning his shoulder blades, its fiery wings seeming to ripple with each movent ca into view.
Did he get a tattoo of Phoenix on his back as well?
Azul gripped the bar, knuckles white, veins tracing his forearms like rivers of determination. His back flexed as he pulled himself up—slow, deliberate, each motion was disciplined. The phoenix’s feathers seem to shimr under the fluorescent lights, alive with every contraction of his muscles.
Down. His arms extended fully, a montary surrender to gravity.
Up. The phoenix spread its wings as his back flared, the ink stretching with his skin.
A low grunt escaped him. His breathing was steady, but mine was not. The more I watched him the more my insides burned to reach through the phone and just touch him.
How many tattoos of Phoenix did this man get?
"And the Phoenix will rise again..." his smooth, dark and heart-splitting voice ca. The one which always made lose control.
"Arata!"
My eyes wouldn’t waver from his perfectly sculpted body, the sweat, the ink...
"Arataaaa!"
I almost didn’t hear Sister Cherry calling and almost dropped the phone when my dazed eyes upped and I found so many people standing in front of , watching .
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