Feather After // Chapter 29 // Yes Or No

Aria's POV
I couldn't comprehend what was happening. I just wished that this all was a dream and that I was going to wake up as soon as Nanna would barge in into my room and literally spank my butt to irritate me be use she knew I hated it. But the sad, very sad part was it that wasn't a dream. Ignatius was still bent on one of his knees while he was trying to figure out what I was thinking. The other problem was that Ignatius was good giving me hopes for a future which I knew would hurt me in return. What I had learned till now was the life wasn't all flowery and great as they showed and portrayed everywhere. It was hard and difficult, irrespective of the fact that you had money or not.

"Well I'm kind of looking for an answer, you know?" He said and awkwardly smiled at me. He took a deep breath and then used his other hand to rub his neck. Then I realized what was happening, Ignatius Hudson was nervous.

We lived in a world where everyone was considered or scratch that, was made to feel equal. It was just like those pretty words which were used to make the truth and dark and harsh reality sound better. I considered everyone equal so I bent on my knee and looked at him. If he could bow his head for me, I could do it too. Because this was equality. Equality isn't him treating me like a better person, but it's more of, doing fifty-fifty and sometimes thirty-seventy because if both men and women are equal and if, it is expected of men to cook in the house, then it should be expected of the women, to pay for her man's meal, too.

"Listen, I'm not saying this because I hate you or because I want to take revenge on you or make fun Of you. But this is way more complicated than you think it is. You asking me to marry will not make things easy for me. It will make everything way more complicated than it already is. Do you think my parents want to get me married because they want to get rid of me? No. They are going is because we're rich people Ignatius and we are not rich anymore. We need money, for survival and also because we don't want our name to go down in society. So there you do, I'm not saying no or yes but this is very complicated and don't get involved in a mess from which you won't be able to step out."

"Well, let me tell you a little something too," he snorted while he scratched his Neck again, his left arm went up and his ripe muscles of his biceps relaxed. I closed me yes because if I wouldn't have said yes, to him because if his attitude, I would have totally said yes, because of his moving muscles. God.

"My point is, Aria, you don't decide who I play against and who I play within a battle, I decide it." He declared and put his index finger on his chest, "I, Ignatius Quentin Nathaniel Hudson decide what I want to do-"

"No offense, but that is a long ass name. I have friends who don't even have a surname, forget about the middle name, you could probably offer them any syllable of that name." I raised my eyebrow at him. His behavior, his face, his attitude, and even his name, I fact everything about his was so wired.

"Well, thanks for interrupting me. As I was saying, I chose to take your side, I don't know why you think it's so complicated. In the medieval times, guys asked girls to marry them all the time, the feelings are the same, it's just that the time is different." He shrugged.

"Let me tell you something, Mr. Mynameissobigthatnobodycanpronounceit, those guys left their wife for their mistresses even more easily. And I'm no way letting those things happen to me." Everything was so easy for him. For guys like him asking girls to marry him and then asking for a divorce from the same girl, wasn't that a big task. I was not that new to Maple High, and I have heard all those rumors about him not saying, anyone.

"If you're scared of my image let me tell you something, I may be called the bad boy," he said and I saw his eye darken, I knew he was suddenly angry because I blamed him for cheating, but I didn't say anything, knowing well that I had pulled the wrong string. "Do you think, that I want people to call me that? Just because I have some tats here and there doesn't make me bad, what do they and for the matter of fact, you, know about me? For an instant, I thought you're different Aria, the way you looked me at the hospital and when I had helped you with that accident. But-"

"I'm sorry okay, this doesn't happen every day you know? Does no one just want to marry someone just like that you know? Even the food we eat, we get it after giving money. Like my chauffeur and even my driver, they Are also paid for their services. I'm not saying that I think that you're bad or a cheater what I'm trying to say to you is, that I belong to the world of money and I have seen it. I have been raised in that world. And I'm not able to figure out what you'll get from this. I have nothing to offer you, and with you're reputation in school, you could probably get anyone." I said as politely I could, I knew what he was saying was not possible. We're just seventeen years old and we have not even seen the real world yet.

"Aria, I have asked your hand in marriage. Give me the answer. I don't know what you want to hear what you want me to say but I'll just say one thing to you, I'm not bad. Everything is relative in this world. Like beauty and patience and everything. I'm the bad boy because I don't tell anyone to expect a few what I feel. It doesn't mean that I don't have feelings. When the world west to know you and you hide your self from it, it thinks you're bad."

"See, I completely understand everything, and I'm thankful that you want this, and that you're ready to jump in my mess so willingly as if you're jumping into a pool of Nutella, but I have some priority. You know, I can call my parents names and tell them how bad they are but no matter what happens, I'm their daughter and I'm their hire. If I don't help them now, who will? I'm their own blood and I have to help them. My mother father and I have lived the luxurious live from the very starting and we'll crumble if this is taken away from us if I can help my parents I'll. And there is no other way out of this, I'm sorry." I couldn't say no to him, he didn't deserve it. He was very polite and I felt ashamed of judging such a great person like him.

I really wanted him to understand that nothing could happen between us even if we tried to. I was not meant to be with him and if I would have this wouldn't have happened. I was happy and I felt nice because I knew my priorities. And my priorities was my parent's happiness and nothing else. I looked at him and he looked sad. He looked unhappy and I had no words to offer him. No words because I had none, I was suddenly speechless and even if I wanted to say anything I couldn't.

I looked at him, stood up and walked towards him. I offered him my hand and I pulled him up. When he was on his feet I smiled at him and hugged him. When my body collided with his, I felt a spark. I felt that butterflies had exploded in my stomach and everything felt so much better now. He was stiff for some time but then he cooled down and he put his arms around me. I felt safe and lucky because I never felt that this would happen to me. "Everything will be okay, so don't worry. Okay?" I smiled because this was probably the last time this all was happening.

"Can I try something if you don't mind?" He said so softly that for an instance I thought o was hearing things out of no bloom. He looked away from him and I looked in his eyes. I felt that I could get lost in his eyes. They were the beautiful pair of eyes I had ever seen, they were so mesmerizing. In no time his face descended and our lips met. His lips on mine. The tingling sensation felt my heart with warmth. I wanted to fly because I felt like life couldn't have gotten any better. I closed my eyes and I heard a thud.