C8 Chapter 7

"Bro, can you do me a favor?" I asked Aiden. He nodded. "Bro, can you invite Amberine to our party?" I quickly said to him. His forehead furrowed. It was clear that he didn't understand what I said. I sighed.

"What did you say, Aiden?" he asked, confused.

"I want you to invite Amberine to our birthday party," I repeated, this time slower and more clearly.

He looked at me with a mix of surprise and disbelief. "You want me to invite Amberine to our party?"

I nodded. "Yes, bro. I want her to be there. It's our birthday, and I think it's time to set aside all the misunderstandings and grudges. We're family, and I want her to be a part of our celebration."

Aiden's expression softened, and he sighed. "Arden, I don't know if I can do that. It's still too painful for me to see her. I haven't moved on yet."

"I understand, bro. But it's been months, and I believe it's time to heal and forgive. Let's give her a chance to be present and mend our broken relationship," I pleaded.

Aiden remained silent for a while, contemplating my words. Finally, he nodded slowly. "Alright, I'll invite her. But I can't promise that everything will be okay right away."

"That's all I ask, bro. Thank you," I said, grateful that he agreed to my request.

Days passed, and the preparations for our joint birthday party were in full swing. Aiden and I had decided to have a simple gathering with our closest friends and family. I reached out to Amberine and extended the invitation, explaining our intentions to reconcile and rebuild our relationship.

To my surprise, she accepted the invitation. I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness as the day of the party approached. A part of me was hoping that this event would mark a new beginning for all of us, especially for Aiden and Amberine.

The day of the party arrived, and the venue was beautifully decorated. Aiden and I greeted our guests and mingled with them, trying to keep the atmosphere light and joyful. I kept glancing at the entrance, waiting for Amberine's arrival.

Finally, I saw her walking in, and my heart skipped a beat. She looked stunning, just as I remembered her. Aiden noticed my reaction and smirked.

"Arden, calm down. Remember, this is not just about you and her. It's about all of us," he reminded me.

I nodded, taking a deep breath to compose myself. Aiden went to greet Amberine, and I followed suit. We exchanged pleasantries, and I could feel a mix of tension and hope in the air.

As the night progressed, Aiden, Amberine, and I found ourselves talking and laughing together like we used to. It felt so natural, as if time had stood still. We reminisced about old memories and shared stories of our individual journeys during the time we were apart.

At one point, Aiden raised his glass for a toast. "To new beginnings," he said, looking at both Amberine and me.

We clinked our glasses together, and I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of optimism. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something beautiful—a renewed bond between us as a family.

As the night came to an end, Amberine approached me. "Thank you, Arden. Thank you for giving us another chance," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.

I smiled at her. "No, thank you, Amberine. Thank you for accepting our invitation and being here tonight. Let's make the most of this fresh start."

We embraced, letting go of the past hurts and embracing the possibility of a brighter future. Our journey to rebuild what was broken had only just begun, but I was hopeful that love and forgiveness would guide us every step of the way.

Amberine hesitated for a moment before answering my question. "Well, I got your number from Arden. He gave it to me when he invited me to the party."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by Arden's actions. "He did? I didn't expect that."

Amberine nodded, her eyes avoiding mine. "Yeah, he insisted that I should be here tonight. I guess he really wants us to reconcile."

I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Part of me was grateful that Arden took the initiative to mend our relationship, but another part of me was skeptical. Did he genuinely want us to reconcile, or was it just his way of keeping me close to him?

As we continued dancing, I couldn't ignore the undeniable chemistry between us. Amberine fit perfectly in my arms, and her presence felt so familiar and comforting. It reminded me of the times we spent together before everything fell apart.

"Do you think we can move past all the pain and start anew?" I asked, my voice filled with hope and uncertainty.

Amberine glanced up at me, her eyes shimmering with a mix of emotions. "I don't know, Aiden. Rebuilding trust takes time, and we've both been hurt. But if we're willing to forgive and let go of the past, maybe there's a chance for us."

Her words resonated with me. She was right. Rebuilding what was broken wouldn't happen overnight, but if we were both willing to put in the effort and open our hearts to each other again, there was hope.

"I want to try, Amberine. I want to rebuild what we had and create a better future together," I confessed, my voice filled with sincerity.

A small smile played on her lips, and she nodded. "I want that too, Aiden. Let's take it one step at a time and see where this journey takes us."

The rest of the evening passed in a blur as we danced and talked, getting to know each other once again. It felt like a fresh start, and the weight of the past began to lift from my shoulders.

As the party came to an end, I walked Amberine to her car. The night was filled with stars, mirroring the hope and possibilities that lay before us. We stood there in silence for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"I'm glad we're giving this another chance, Aiden," Amberine finally broke the silence, her voice filled with warmth.

"Me too, Amberine. Let's make the most of this second chance and create a love story that's stronger than ever," I replied, reaching out to hold her hand.

She smiled, intertwining her fingers with mine. "I believe in us, Aiden. Together, we can overcome anything."

As we drove off into the night, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and hope. Our journey was far from over, but with love, forgiveness, and a willingness to start anew, I knew we had a fighting chance at a happily ever after.