A TOKEN OF HIS PROMISE

"Ahhh!!!" Arianna shouted in shock. She just got on the car when she noticed a man seated on her right. It was only five in the morning and still a bit dark outside so the man's presence surprised her a lot. She even didn't recognize him at first.

"You scared me! What are you doing here?" Arianna asked. How long has 'Vier' been waiting inside the car? And why is he here?

"I'm hitching a ride." Yago answered matter-of-factly. "Carl called me last night. He said Mom wanted to see me." he added.

"She's my mom. Not yours. And you're still injured. You can't come with me." she declared. "Just go back to your room and rest."

Yago's smile widened.

"Are you worried about me?", he teased. "You're worried about me, yes?"

Arianna's heart skipped a beat with that smile. Why does he has to be as gentle as Yago? Those smiles are bad for her heart!

"I'm not! Why would I worry for someone like you?" she replied with a glare.

"Alright, then let me come with you."

Arianna was tongue-tied. It was a trap. And she fell for it due to exasperation. Forget about it. She'll just let him come.

"Cole," Arianna turned to the driver. "Go call Heleina over. She's coming with us." she ordered.

Yago was flabbergasted. That woman would come too?

"Why do we have to bring her along?" Yago asked in protest. "I'm alright. I'm better off without her."

"She's your nurse. Where you are, there she goes." She stated firmly.

Arianna sneered. Even if he stays or leave the mansion, he won't be able to shake Heleina off. She's his secret security, too. She's more relaxed with her around.

When Arianna and Yago reached their destination, they were immediately greeted by Carl who was eagerly waiting at the gate. He dragged the two of them to somewhere secluded and was acting very secretive. They sat on a bench and he looked around a few times before finally revealing his aim.

"Arianna, I'm going to ask you for a favor. I hope you won't refuse me." Carl said as he held her hand and stared straight to her eyes. "Please... pretend to be a couple with Yago in front of your mom."

Arianna went silent. What kind of a favor is that? She's at a lost of what to say. She just stared back at his dad unable to say anything.

"Your mom wants to pair you with Yago very much. You've witnessed how she praised Yago during the dinner last time. If she hears about you and Yago getting together, then maybe she'll be more determined to get better." Carl explained, then lowered his eyes. "Your mother, she.... was abandoning hope that she can ever walk again." he muttered.

Mom believes she won't be able to walk again? Is that the reason dad called us here? But wasn't she making progress already? She was doing fine last time...

Arianna was dazed. Her mom was her soft spot. She'll do anything for her. But to give her false hope, wasn't that too cruel? If it's with Yago, she wouldn't mind even if it's real. But Vier was engaged. This is just unacceptable.

"Just til new year. You'll just pretend til new year. I invited a specialist for her but she won't be able to come yet because of the holidays. She'll come after new year. For the moment, won't you help raise your mother's spirit these days? I don't want her to fall into depression again..." Carl kept persuading her.

Again? Yes. How could she forget about it? Her mom's depression before was due to Carl treating her badly in the begining of their marriage. It was one of the reasons he hated Carl before. For her, Carl wasn't very significant. If he's good to her mom, then Arianna will be good to him. If he's uncaring towards her mother, then she will make him suffer. During those times, Arianna used her influence to threaten Carl's company. She only let him off after promising to at least be civil with her mother and help her deal with her depression. Not long after, her mother's health deteriorated. She fell terribly sick, and the rest was history.

"I love your mother now." Carl declared. "I don't want to see her in the same predicament again."

Arianna took a deep breath. Neither did she.... but...

"But it's not my call alone. 'Vier' is..." Arianna cut her words. She forgot to change 'Vier's name into Yago. But why does it feel so hard for her to call Yago's name? Her heart was very much against calling another man Yago.

"I agree." 'Vier' interjected.

Both father and daughter turned to Yago at the same time. 'What did he mean by he agree?' she thought.

"I'll pretend to be a couple with Arianna. Mom's health should always come first." he announced.

Arianna's eyes widened. Disbelief was written across her face. She stood up and dragged 'Vier' away from her father before scolding him in a hushed tone. "What are you saying? What about Ellaine? What if she finds out?" she whispered.

"Isn't it just an act? What are you worrying about? Ellaine is not here. She'll probably spend the holidays with her family. Three weeks will be over before you even know it." he replied.

Arianna looked at him with pained expression. Yes. Isn't it just an act? Why not seize the moment while it's there? Unfortunately for her, what she's craving for isn't real. The man in front of her isn't hers. She was just borrowing him from Ellaine. She felt sad and guilty at the same time.

Arianna lowered her head.

"Alright. Do as you wish." she said aloud before turning to leave. She walked ahead of the two man who stared at her lonely back.

"I think you're being too cruel to her." Carl said as he approach Yago. "Why not just tell her you're alive?"

"I wish I could, Carl... I wish I could."

To Yago's surprise, Carl suddenly smack him in the back of his head. It hurt! His wound was still a bit fresh! But Carl didn't know about that. "Brat! Shouldn't you be calling me dad? You call Dianna mom, and me, Carl?" he jested.

"It's your name! Even Arianna call you Carl behind your back." he replied.

"She does?" he exclaimed.

***

"Mom... I came to see you!" Arianna greeted Dianna when she found her on the bed. "Why are you still in bed at this hour? Are you not feeling well?" she asked, her voice full of concern. She sat on the edge of the bed and held her mom's hand.

Why? Even she herself didn't know why. Carl said Arianna is coming to see her, and that she should stay in bed until Arianna comes. He didn't explain why though.

"It's nothing. I just don't feel like going out today." Dianna answered with an awkward smile. Arianna took it as she was hiding something from her, and she remembered her father's words making her a bit worried.

"It's not good to stay here all day. Let's go out to have a picnic later. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare food for us." Arianna tried encouraging her.

Dianna simply nodded with a smile. It was then that she noticed the hearts decorating her clavicles. She reached out to touch the gorgeous pendant and caressed the crystals with her thumb.

"Forever..." Dianna read aloud. "It's beautiful. I've never seen you wear this before."she commented.

"Yago gave it to me. On my birthday." she stated.

"Oh... but why do I have a feeling that I've seen this before." Dianna said as she pondered about it. "I know! Your ring! It has identical design!" Dianna pointed out, seizing her hand. "Look, this small heart crystal in the middle and the design around the ring is the same with the necklace."

Arianna blinked her eyes a few times. She didn't really had time to think about it lately. She thought it was just made from the same materials. Could it be that the ring and the necklace were created at the same time? Perhaps Yago planned to give them at a later date but was forced to give her the ring earlier as he had to leave... It was a token of his promise. His promise to come back.

"Did Yago give this ring to you too?"

"Yes. That's from me." Yago confirmed. He was standing at the door with Carl at the moment. In her daze, Arianna didn't immediately notice their presence.

Dianna's eyes brightened in surprise. "Let me see!", she said as she excitedly took the ring from Arianna's finger. "Yago heart Rian forever?" she said, laughing. "Yago, I didn't know you have this side in you." so cheesy, she thought, but sweet. "When did you give it to her?" Dianna asked as she return Arianna's ring to her.

"A long-long time ago... when I confessed to her." Yago answered. "She just wouldn't wear it because she thinks it's absurd to wear a ring from me. She said she has no feelings for me and only sees me as her brother."

Arianna quickly turned to 'Vier'. How did he come up with that? It's not something like that! What does he know anyway?

Yago laughed when he noticed Arianna's murderous gaze. Was she pissed off? He would love to add more fuel to the flame. It's better than reminding her of her 'regrets'.

"I didn't say that!" Arianna denied at once.

"Yeah." Dianna interjected. "She obviously didn't mean it. Isn't she wearing the ring now? So tell me... how long have you been dating?" Dianna probed with a smile.

Arianna turned from Yago to her mother with widened eyes. Did she just fall into a bigger hole?