Samuel's POV
Mom?
A small boy, nearly around six or seven years old, runs to her and hugs her tightly.
I clearly remember not seeing any ring on her finger, so she might be a single mother.
"I missed you much." He tightens his hold on her neck, and she pats his back.
"I missed you, too."
Pulling back, she makes him sit in her lap and turns to look at the door where a middle-aged man in driver's uniform is standing.
"Thank you, Marvin, for bringing him home." She smiles at the man, whose name is Marvin.
"It's not a problem, Ma'am." He nods then takes his leave.
Turning back to her, I find the small boy curiously looking at me.
"Justin, say hi to Samuel." She glances down at the boy and lightly nudges him.
A big grin breaks onto his face deepening the dimples on both of his cheeks.
"Hi, I am Justin." He offers me his hand.
"Hey." I shake his hand, smiling at him.
He turns to Ariana to ask her something when he notices the bandage on her hand.
"How did you get hurt?" He asks in a small, sad voice.
"I am clumsy, so I fell." She makes a face and then smiles, ruffling his short light brown hair.
"Are you in pain?" He frowns and carefully takes her hand in his, then lightly caresses his fingers over the bandage.
"No," She shakes her head, then she looks at me, "Samuel took care of my hand; he is a doctor, you know?"
"Thank you." He gives me a hug, which surprises me, but a smile automatically comes to my lips because of his sweet gesture.
Releasing me, he runs inside another room after whispering something in Ariana's ear, making her laugh.
"He is a nice kid." I look in the direction where he went.
"Thanks, but don't let his innocent face fool you." She lightly laughs, "He is a mischievous kid."
"But he is mischief never harms anyone. He just spreads happiness." An adoring look passes her face as she talks about her kid.
"Momsis!" Justin calls her from inside the room.
Momsis? What is this word?
"Excuse me. I will be back." She goes to check on Justin.
Meanwhile, I put away the trash and checked the time, noticing that my reporting time would be in a few hours.
Time passes with her so quickly that I haven't realized it has been hours since I am here.
"Justin wasn't able to find his jammies." She comes back and takes her seat beside me.
"What does momsis means?" I remember the weird word, "I haven't heard it before."
"How could you have heard it when Justin is the creator of this word?" She raises her eyebrows, "When Justin was around four years old, he came to me looking upset that he doesn't have a mom. I told him even though I am his sister, but I love him as a mother. Since then, I became his Momsis." A soft smile plays on her lips, reminiscing the beautiful memory of how a little boy found his mother in his sister.
"If you hadn't told me this, I would have continued believing it that you are his mother," I admit to her, honestly.
"Well, then you should continue believing this as I may not have given him birth, but I am his mother in every sense of the word." She smiles, and I can't help but feel impressed by this girl whom I met just a few hours ago.
Samuel's POV Changing out of my scrubs, I walk out of the changing room. Glancing at my watch, my eyebrows slightly shoot up in surprise as this will be in a long time that I am going home early. "Sam." Hearing my name, I stop near the reception area and wait for Mason as he quickly approaches me. "What's up?" He asks, slapping my shoulder. "Going home." "I am also done with my shift." Removing the stethoscope from around his neck, he rubs his neck, trying to release some tension. "Let's go for some drinks." "Nah, I have to go home, maybe some other time." Shaking my head, I decline his offer.
Samuel's POV The sound of heels fades, and suddenly there is an eerie silence. However, I never heard Ariana's apartment door closing. This forces me to go check on her. Earlier I had planned to check on her later, as I wanted to give her some space, but now it seems a bit unnecessary. Opening my door, I find her sitting on the floor with her arms wrapped around her knees. She is resting her head on her knees. She raises her head when she notices me standing in my doorway. Quickly, standing up, she wipes her tears. "I am sorry, all that noise must have disturbed you." She apologized while not meeting my eyes, as she figured that I might have heard everything. Suddenly, the thought of Justin comes
Samuel's POV "Samuel!" I crouch down just in time to catch Justin as he comes barreling towards me. "Hey, buddy, what are you doing here at the hospital?" Picking him up, I ruffle his hair. "Momsis brought me here." He makes a face. Glancing away from him, I find Ariana filling some paperwork which the nurse has given her. Panic flashes through her face when she doesn't find Justin beside her. Frantically, she looks around and then visibly relaxes when her eyes land on us. Walking to her, I sit beside her with Justin in my lap as she narrows her eyes at Justin. "What I had told you about running away?" She sternly asks him, causing him to shrink and
Ariana's POV I still can't believe I agreed to this stupid plan. "Samuel, I think this a bad idea." Shaking my head, I look at him, "Mom will instantly figure our lie." God! She was furious to find that I have a boyfriend, who is not Greyson. The only response I get from him is a slight twitch of his lips, resembling a faint smile. My anxiousness increases the moment I watch mom sitting in the car, waiting for us, as we walk outside the airport. Samuel turns to me, halting me in my steps. He suddenly kisses my cheek, my breath hitches in my throat. Leaning away, he smiles down at me while tucking my hair behind my ear. "Relax, Kitty," he says softly,
Ariana's POV I braid my hair, ignoring Samuel's gaze on me, which is really difficult as he is just sitting and staring at me while I get ready. However, it doesn't feel weird. It feels like this is our routine when in reality, this is the first time we have even spent so much time together. I am trying damn hard to look decent and presentable in my mother's eyes, so she spares us with her remarks. I am used to her behavior, but it is different with Samuel. I don't want to give her any chance to insult him. He is already doing so much for me, and he definitely doesn't deserve her rudeness. Suddenly, his hand grips mine, stopping me, then without any warning, he unbraids my hair. "No!" I shake my head, trying to stop him, but he has managed to release
Samuel's POV I watch Ariana, and this is the first time she looks happy while talking to someone since we have come here. She wasn't joking when she mentioned to me that she dislikes her family. I haven't met every one of them, and even I can say that they all are prudes. "Samuel, meet Misha; she is my cousin." Ariana comes to me and places her hand on my arm, "And Misha, he is Samuel." "Hey." Misha smiles, "I am glad you came with her; at least my husband will not be the only one at the receiving end." She laughs, making Ariana roll her eyes. "Ariana and I, we nearly are the outcasts of the family." She points to herself and Ariana, "I am married against their will, and well, now I feel she is also going to walk on the same pa
Samuel's POV Running my hand through my hair, I take a large sip of the beer. The chilled beer bottle, hanging by the neck between my fingers, completely contrasts the heat on my skin as the afternoon sun is at its peak. It has been a long time nice I have been on vacation, and it feels nice just to relax without worrying about anything. When I made my mind to accompany Ariana, I would not have thought how much I needed this vacation for myself away from my routine life. Ariana brings out the Samuel in me, which was lost with the time. There is something about her that makes me want to be myself again. Even Dad noticed this change in me, which also made me realize whatever happened with me three years back has also deeply affected him though he never showed. "Hey, man!" Kei
Samuel's POV We got back into our room, but since then, she hasn't spoken a word. The silence of Ariana is something that is bothering me, and I have never seen her so quiet. However, the fear in her eyes is hard not to miss. Is she afraid of me? Before I can ask her what is bothering her, my eyes travel to the bruising appearing on her arm as if someone has grabbed her harshly. Placing my hands on her knees, I sit in front of her. "Ariana." I swallow as my eyes flicker to the bruise, "Did I do that to you?" I point towards her arm as I recall grabbing her arm. "No." She blinks an