| CHAPTER 2 | NEW BEGGINNINGS | PART 2
Before he could search for the child’s parents or any guardian or adult related to the kid, he was interrupted when a small voice called out
“You're the new neighbour, right?” She asked
Aaron returns his gaze downwards. He remained silent for a second before he responded “Yes… I am.”
“I would have thought you’d be taller.”
At her unexpected statement, bewildered by the blunt statement, with a wide-eye expression plastered on his face “I beg your pardon?”
“Also your eyes look like egg yolk.” She bluntly commented
Who is this kid?
“Hey! Are you an Alien or a Magical creature?”
“No, I’m not-”
“What about a spirit? Or did you just get chemicals in your eyes?”
“No! They’re my natural eye colour!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
“Really-”
“Candela!”
Instantly the pair turned to the loud voice
A young Argentine woman, with long tamed wavy ebony hair, fair skin, and from this distance, a presence of authority emitted from her
However, turning back to the child on his doorstep, back to the older woman approaching, he had come to a realisation that both held similar appearances
Which got him thinking, They must be relatives.
Keeping his gaze on the older woman, his first impression by a glance, she gave the demeanour that she was both a fair but strict individual
Yet, what captivated his attention was her eyes which shone a vibrant forest green colour.
Her eyes…they look like-
“Candela Maria Romero! Are you harassing the new neighbour!?” Interrogating the girl
Candela spluttered “Paula!!”
Dashing off to Paula, making frantic whispers
The one known as Paula simply gave a hard stare
It was a lost battle between the two sisters
Paula then repeats her statement “Please tell me you weren’t harassing the new neighbour just now?”
In a low tone, the girl whose name was Candela kept her eyes locked on the other
Replied “No.”
Paula responds with a raised brow
“Maybe.”
Paula then crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes
Which was enough for Candela to cave in
“Yes.”
Paula releases a heavy sigh
Seeming too tired to deal with this, Aaron could somewhat sympathise with her since he had to deal with the same ordeal back home with his siblings
“This is the fifth time we've talked about this.” The older one reprimanded “Saul won’t go easy on you if he loses another tenant.”
Saul? What does he have to do with this?
Turning to the kid with a weary look
Is she the reason why he keeps making strange remarks?
Thinking back at previous remarks made, this kid couldn’t possibly be the reason why previous residents left, I mean that’s preposterous
Right?
“I know, I know-but c’mon nothing ever happens around here, besides he seems cool with it.” Was her only argument and form of defence
“Is that so?”
“Mhmm.”
Along the sideline, a vein popped on the side of Aaron’s face. I’m most certainly NOT cool with it. Who in their right mind likes to know that their eyes look like an egg yolk!?
From that moment on, Candela was dubbed from then on ‘Imp’ in Aaron’s list of people
Not gonna lie ‘Egg yolk’ is probably the kindest comparison I’ve had. Aaron added inwardly
He grimaced remembering past insults and comments made by strangers and colleagues alike
While Aaron was secluded in his thoughts, his two Guests continued to bicker
Paula, the embodiment of an ‘Older Sibling’ in other words the ‘Responsible sibling’ blew a casket
“Honestly, I leave you alone for one second and you’re already pestering someone, more so the new neighbour, you can’t keep doing this.”
Candela could only shuffle on the spot in discomfort, being scolded… once again
“If Saul catches wind of this, he might just kick us out of our apartment.”
Mumbling “I was only teasing him.”
“You can tease people you know, not a stranger who you’ve just met. For all you know, he could be a violent man or worse, a-”
“A pedo. Yeah, yeah I know, geez.” Candela groans in annoyance
After all, she was hearing the same lecture again
But the younger of the two sisters, simply shrugged not fully grasping her older sister’s worries
With a stern, warm gaze, Paula adds, “I’m serious Candela.”
Candela rolls her eyes
“I know, but this time I waited for someone else to meet him.” She stated
Paula gave a moment of thought
There was one name came to mind
“Abigail?”
Nodding in reply
There was reluctance in Paula’s mind to simply accept that fact, despite Abigail being the first to interact with the new neighbour, but given how Saul a man who only cared about ‘Finance’ openly informed everyone about the new resident with a big smile on his face
A genuine smile
Which was out of character
And as such, she was concerned, to say the least
I mean how could a newcomer bring an honest to god, warm smile from that Arruinador de alegrías*.
*Arruinador de alegrías: “Ruiner of Joys”
Which honestly shocked her, among many others, when he waltzed down the streets with a huge smile, perking from cheek to cheek, shining white teeth, and many alike had either fainted, when pale as paper, or even mumbled small chants and prayers
Paula recalls seeing one of her neighbours places candles on their window while trailing salt around the front porch
She even considered doing the same practices, I mean after living here in Buenos Aires since birth, with various interactions with the ‘Financial Devil’ who was a grouch most of the time, basically their version of Scrooge, who only gave a sly senile fox-like smirk
Turning back to the new tenant
To give a genuine smile as soon as he appeared
In every aspect… this newcomer was normal
Yet…
As the saying goes ‘Appearances can be deceiving’. She inwardly added
More so there was one thing that unnerved her
His eyes
His eyes were almost pure gold, and when in the light it almost seemed as if his eyes were glowing
It was undoubtedly rare
But it wasn’t the colour that made her uncomfortable, it was the small glimpse of a shadow that lurked behind them that put her off
“Paula?”
Looking back at her younger sister, shaking her head from side to side, to collect her thoughts. Maybe I’m overreacting.
“It’s nothing.”
Candela didn’t speak, but her eyes showed disbelief at her sister’s answer
Despite that, she kept a smile on her face, as she turned to Candela’s Next Victim
Which was unavoidable at this point
She almost pitied him… almost
Of course, as soon as they made eye contact, silence remained, which deepened the tension in the air
I mean what do you say in a situation like this? Do you apologise and walk away or stay and interact, and hopefully better first impressions?
Honestly, either of those choices was disastrous
She of course went with the latter
Giving a short cough to break the tension “I apologise for my sister’s remarks, she can be… open-minded.”
Open-minded is a term far from what the kid implied.
As the words, Blunt and Rude constantly popped up in Aaron’s mind
Awkwardly smiling “It’s quite alright,” scratching the nape of his neck “Let bygones be bygones.” He replies
Inwardly he pleaded. Please just leave, take that Imp and leave me in peace.
Of course, the message wasn’t received, as the eldest continued to… apologise
“Look I’m sorry about her, if you have any grievances-” As she continued to rant, Aaron could only stare in discomfort
What the hell does my face express? Because I’m pretty sure I’m expressing discomfort.
Honestly, all the apologies just went through one ear, and came out of the other, since there was no need for them
Letting out a sigh, halting the apologises
Paula was simply dazed at his reaction, completely fixated on Aaron. Did he just sigh? At an apology no less
Mixed feelings swarmed in Paula, and she didn’t know what to feel, Rage or Confused by his reaction
This rude, no-good son of a-
“Look… I couldn’t care less about what your sister called me,” taking a breather “...honestly I’ve been teased and called worse, so I wouldn’t be too worked up about it.” He plainly stated in a calm manner
Internally, Aaron was raging, projecting himself tearing at the corner of a handkerchief
As Aaron’s thoughts rampaged, the Romero sisters could only stare with puzzled looks
Candela leans in towards Paula, asking in a hushed tone “¿Está…loco o es estúpido*?”
*¿Está loco o es estúpido?: “Is he/she crazy or stupid?”
“Muy posiblemente*.” Paula whispered back
*Muy posiblemente: “Quite possibly”
Aaron catches the two sisters whispering
I wonder what they're chatting about now? Raising his left brow. I hope they’ve decided to leave, I’ve had enough excitement for the day.
Images of individuals, popped into his mind
Saul, with a smirking grin
Abigail, with a warm grandmotherly smile
These two sisters gave him the impressions of an Overprotective mother cat and an Adventurous Baby Kitten
Honestly, if he meets someone else, who fits the ‘Questionable category’ he will seclude himself from everyone for a month
Hoping…was all he could do when it would be unavoidable in Buenos Aires
“Um…Mister Blackwood?”
Turning to Candela
“Yes?” Aaron replies
Candela of course doesn’t reply straight away, but the nudge from Paula signalled her to continue
She slowly apologizes “I’m sorry… for comparing your eyes to egg yolk.”
“I appreciate the apology kid.”
He then teasingly says “And maybe next time you have a newcomer around don’t comment on their features, yeah?”
“Yeah…”
Aaron then turns to Paula, and gives a simple smile, causing a dumbfounded look on her face, as her eyes widened –I mean could you honestly blame her, in the past people would snark rude comments back, or just lecture Candela.
“What’s going on over here?”
Three pairs of eyes turned to the new voice
Finding a stout firm figure heading towards them
Unknowingly the trio internally said in sync, the newcomer’s name
Saul Muñoz,
A late 50-year-old man, with light brown fading hair, styled in a low ponytail, with a demeanour that spells out a Self-assured personality
Which was accurate… from a certain point of view
Sharp blue eyes, behind rectangular-shaped eyeglasses, landed on each of them, before landing on Aaron
As Saul was practically beaming, he calls out to Aaron. “Mister Blackwood! How are you settling in?”
Aaron admittedly replies “As well as it can be…tho I’ll have to admit, after eating one of those… uh pastries from Mrs Meza, this place has added another bonus to it.”
Reminiscing on his snack, mentally drooling at the memory of it
“Well… I guess you’ve met the local Gallina Madre* my friend.”
*Gallina Madre: Translates to Mother hen
*Sigh* Aaron gives a blank look “Saul English… I’m not a linguist you know?”
“Uh-huh…” His left brow rises an inch. “...And you also weren’t a pain in the arse, yet you were a Major pain in my arse.” Saul reminded in a whimsical tone
Aaron retorts back “And you had a stick up yours–”
Saul responds by giving a small whack to Aaron’s head
“Ack!”
Rubbing the back of his head, Aaron's glare matched Saul’s glare
After a heated moment, the two retract their gazes from one another slowly
Aaron mumbles “Geezer.”
While Saul mutters under his breath “Brat.”
Concluding that argument
On the sideline, the two sisters were baffled once again, by the scene in front of them
Paula looked from Aaron to Saul
What in the world is happening?
Was the last question that remained, and would be a constant one with Aaron around
After all, things were taking a new turn, becoming a New Beginning