Aurora

"Malinda! You're back!"

Aurora jumped into the arms of Malinda the moment she opened the door. Malinda set her bags down and hugged her back.

"Oh my child. So good to see you. Everything still good?"

Aurora pulled back a bit from the hug. "Yes, no problems. How was your trip?"

Malinda sighed while straightening her back. "Good. Sad part is uncle passed."

Aurora picked up her bags and began walking with Malinda.

She pouted. "Matteo told me. I am so sorry to hear that."

"It's okay. Where is that grumpy man anyway?" she scanned around the area.

Aurora giggled. "He is in his office. He has been there all morning."

They approached Malinda's secluded section of the house and Aurora dropped the bags onto the floor. Malinda took out the keys, opened the door and the two entered the room.

"Nothing has changed, I see. Well apart from you." Malinda said.

Aurora followed her, dropping her bags onto the carpeted floor. She looked at Malinda with confusion.

"What do you mean?" she asked her.

Malinda smiled at her cheekily. There was a glint in her eyes when she studied Aurora from head to toe, making Aurora squirm.

"You are, what do the Americans call it, "glowing"?"

"Glowing?"

Malinda gave her a nod. "You look better, healthier. Even happier since last time seeing you."

That was ironic. The part where Malinda said that she looked healthier when in fact she was the complete opposite. She didn't have it in her heart to make her understand that she was everything but healthy, so she bit her tongue.

"Because of certain man?" she said mischievously.

Aurora blushed as she avoided the playful gaze of Malinda. Malinda laughed at the way she shied away from the mention of him, hitting the nail on the head.

"I'm right?"

Aurora shook her head. "N-no. I have no idea what you're talking about." she replied in a hurry.

Malinda made a sound clearly indicating that she did not believe anything she said. "No need for lie. I know when young girl like you is in love. I was young once."

"Malinda, I am not in love."

"Denial is not the only river in Egypt." Malinda said firmly.

Aurora sighed as she plopped down onto the couch, closing her eyes. First it was his sister that insisted that she had a crush on him and now it's Malinda. It must have been quite obvious because deep down they are anything but wrong, still she won't admit it.

"How did you know?" she asked her softly, avoiding her gaze on her.

Malinda opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by another deeper voice.

"Welcome back, Malinda." Matteo said.

Both Malinda and Aurora snapped their gazes to the man who stood proudly at the entrance of the room. Malinda smiled widely and went to go hug Matteo, who hugged her back with his left arm. She was so small compared to him, but Aurora could be even smaller.

She watched as his eyes momentarily slipped up to hers, catching her breath in her throat. His dark eyes drank in her stiff posture on the sofa before they moved back to the older woman in front of him. What Malinda said to her just before he had arrived was still fresh in her head and it felt like she had been caught red handed, yet he had hopefully not heard anything.

Hopefully.

"È bello riaverti qui. Come sta la famiglia?" Matteo asked. (Good to have you back. How is the family?)

Malinda placed a hand on her chest and smiled warmly. "Tutti stanno bene. Talia era un po' triste di non poter venire con me e rivederti.) she chuckled. (Everyone is doing good. Talia was a bit sad that she could not come with me and see you again. )

Matteo groaned. "Solo sentire il nome di quel moccioso mi dà già un mal di testa." (Just hearing that little brat's name already gives me a pain in the head. )

Malinda hit him lightly on the chest. "Quel moccioso è mia nipote, giovanotto." (That little brat is my niece, young man. )

Matteo rolled his eyes but Aurora could detect a very faint smile that wasn't very noticeable, but it was there. She wondered what they were speaking about but she awkwardly sat still and watched the pair converse with each other, giving then space to catch up.

Matteo's dark eyes quickly fell on her but he directed it back to Malinda.

"Di cosa state parlando voi due?" (What are the two of you talking about?)

Malinda looked over her shoulder. Aurora was now fully drawn to her cat, Kitty who started purring at her feet. The two people watched her without her even feeling their gazes on her, picking up her cat and tickling her stomach.

Malinda turned to face him. "Niente che ti riguardi." (Nothing that concerns you.)

Aurora looked over at the two of them while petting Kitty and saw him raise a brow at Malinda.

"So che l'hai interrogata, Malinda." (I know you've been interrogating her, Malinda.)

She couldn't see Malinda's facial expression but it made Matteo sigh, and she wondered for what.

"Lo farai a me dopo. vero?" (You will do it to me next. Wont you?)

Again, Malinda said nothing but it made Matteo breathe harshly through his nose at her. She was dying to know what they were talking about and wished that she learnt their language to understand them.

"Mali-"

Malinda clapped her hands. "I am tired. Please leave room for me to sleep."

Her small hands started pushing Matteo out of the room, even though she shoved him he wasn't budging. He started mumbling in Italian but she shushed him every-time. Slowly she started moving him out the room and his body started going further away.

"I had long flight. I need sleep." she scolded.

Her head snapped over her shoulder, while still pushing Matteo out of the room. Aurora nearly gasped at that movement but didn't even have time to question her.

"M-me too?" she asked.

"You. Yes." Malinda said.

Aurora got up from the sofa understanding that Malinda would like some peace and quiet since she had a really long flight. However, it was weird since she was not that tired when they spoke earlier. This is very bizarre and the reason must be because of Matteo, or related to him being here.

Matteo moved to the back, and now Malinda didn't need to force him out anymore. Aurora stepped out of the room with Kitty in her hands, and faced towards Malinda.

"Goodnight, Malinda." she said softly.

Malinda smiled, but this smile was a but weird. "Have good night." she sang but mumbled something under her breath "piccioncini" before closing the door. (lovebirds)

Aurora stared at the now closed door in confusion, her head slightly tilted to the side. That was odd of Malinda for her attitude to change so fast and it must have something to do with what they were speaking about perhaps.

She became well aware of the person who stood a few centimeters behind her, as his warm breath fanned the side of her neck. The heat that radiated from his body was slowly latching onto her, and goosebumps awakened on her skin.

"Hungry?" she heard him ask.

She whipped around with Kitty in her arms only to see his back towards her and his retreating figure disappearing. She sped walked behind him but still kept a bit of distance.

"Yes." she replied.

Matteo insisted that he makes dinner for them and Aurora gave in after numerous attempts of offering to make it herself. Like the previous times, this dinner was delicious and she told him exactly what she thought about the food.

During their dinner, Matteo made it clear that Cordelia was going to visit tomorrow but did not elaborate on why. She didn't pry any further since it was normal for a brother to want to see his sister and since she has a very good friendship with her, she didn't hold any arguments with that.

The only thing that bugged her when she went to her bedroom was that he mentioned that Cordelia would most likely be in his office most of the time. She had thought that they would be spending time together but clearly she was mistaken. She wondered what was wrong and if he was going to scold her for doing something, like a big brother would.

Whatever it is, she hopes that it's nothing too bad.

I'm sorry for this terrible chapter.