A week passed by but Ailee didn't get any word from Romano. Maybe he was busy? Or maybe he forgot? She doesn't know why she was even thinking about it or him.
A ding from the oven brought her back to the real world. Her cookies are ready. She beamed brightly at the sight of the warm goodness.
She decided to fill up a jar for herself and leave the rest for her family.
Alex and Iris especially loved the chocolate chip cookies made by her.
She took the jar and went up to her room. She changed into her PJs since it was already evening and then plopped down on her bed.
She was scrolling through her phone while munching on the cookies she made when she got a call from an unknown number.
She hates it. Though it happens very rarely she still hates it. She is taught to receive the call and ask who they are, if they are someone she knows then she must proceed to the next question but if they are not, then she must immediately hang up after telling them it is a wrong number or they might keep calling her back.
It stopped ringing and Ailee sighed in relief. But it was short lived because the ringing started once again.
She very slowly picked up the device and put it on her ear,
"Hello?" She said in the best voice she could gather at that moment.
"Did I bother you?" Yes, mister, you did, she thought.
"Who's this?" She felt so intimidated by the strong voice from the other end that her words wavered.
"Xavier,'' came the reply. Huh? She doesn't know any Xavier. She hasn't known many boys in fact.
"Sorry, wrong...." she was about to hang up but what she heard next made her breath hitch.
"Romano DeVinci, Ailee,"
Him? He actually called?
"Oh,"
What should she say?
"You?" She ended up asking stupidly.
"Yes, me." Amusement could be heard in his voice.
"How are you?" Xavier felt warmth filling him hearing the sincerity in her voice.
"Much better now that I am talking to you." She blushed after hearing his response.
While Xavier couldn't believe he was talking some real sweet shit. When did he become like this?
"That's good, I guess?" Her response turned into a question at the end.
"That's definitely good," he replied, nodding to himself.
"Are you eating your dinner right now?" he asked, hearing her munching on something.
"Uh no, I was just tasting the chocolate chip cookies I just baked." She replied, looking down at her jar of cookies.
"You love chocolates." he stated recalling how she only ate her chocolate dessert properly that night.
She nodded her head rapidly but soon realized he couldn't see her so she replied, "Yes! Yes! Chocolates are my absolute favorite."
He found her enthusiasm for chocolates very amusing. "I can tell that," he replied observing that as well and Ailee once again blushed.
"Can I ask you a question?" She asked after gathering some courage.
"Yes, you may,"
"Why did you introduce yourself as Xavier just now?"
She heard him sigh first and then came his reply,
"That is my first name. I don't prefer to be called by that."
She was about to say I understand when he spoke again.
"You can call me that,"
"Huh?"
"You can call me by my first name,"
Even he himself was perplexed by his strange behavior.
"What? I mean, Mr Romano, it is really fine with me. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"It's alright,"
After thinking about it for a minute she answered, "Okay, if you insist, Xavier,"
That name. His name. It sounded like music to his ears after so many years.
In the background, he heard her being called for dinner and decided to let her go.
"I'll call you sometime later."
"Okay, bye,"
"Mhmm,"
She kept staring at her black mobile screen, too shocked to believe it actually happened.
Did she just have a normal conversation with THE XAVIER ROMANO DEVINCI ?
She walked downstairs to the dining hall in a daze.
"Lily? Are you alright? Your face is so red." Her mother asked, worryingly.
"Hmm? Oh yes, I'm fine, just feeling a little bit under the weather."
"Ok, rest well after dinner, alright? "
Ailee smiled and nodded.
___
It was the weekend and all the sisters decided to spend the day together doing all sorts of crazy stuff.
They all were perched up on Ailee's bed and trying to convince her to join them for shopping.
She is ready to take part in everything as long as it can be done indoors. She doesn't want a repeat of last time.
"Please, Lily, just come this once and if you don't enjoy today then I promise we'll never force you into going out ever again." Mila pleaded, holding her arms.
"Come on, Ailee, we all got a schedule-free day collectively after so long." Emma whined, throwing herself on Ailee.
"But why can't I stay at home while you go and buy the snacks and all?"
"It's not about just buying things, it is about our bonding time." Iris said in exasperation.
Ailee sighed defeatedly and said, "Okay,"
"What?" Mila asked, shocked to hear her agreeing so easily.
"Ok, I will go but we will leave whenever I want." She put forward her condition.
"OMG! Yes of course," they all squealed happily and went into their respective rooms to get dressed.
___
"Why does it look like you're about to kill someone?" Luka asked Xavier.
"Because I will, shortly." He responded dryly.
"Nah bro, have some faith in yourself. I believe you can sit through this shitshow for another hour."
"And I believe I can bury you underground with my bare hands at this very moment."
"Woah woah woah, brother, hold your horses. Let's not get violent, shall we?"
"You dragged me here Luka, I have every right to break your teeth."
"Not my gorgeous face, bruh, all my fans will be heartbroken."
Xavier rolled his eyes.
"Remind me why am I friends with you again?"
"Because I am the baddest and the most amazing bitch." He smiled proudly looking at Xavier but seeing his expression it dropped immediately and said,
"Of Course after you, best friend. Nobody can beat you," He said laughing nervously.
Xavier felt like pulling his hair out.
After a dreadful forty minutes they finally left the auction.
With nothing.
Xavier might've punched Luka on his back for wasting his time.
Now they were headed to a fancy Italian restaurant. Finally a place where he will go willingly.
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I'mma cryyyyyy this is getting saweeeetttttððð
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