Aria got down from the couch, searched her bag silently, and walked out as if she wasn't drunk.

Alan rubbed between his brows reminding himself that she was drunk. He followed her and saw her paying the bill and later taking the driver's seat in her car.

​​

He carried her out before she could close the door.

"Ahhhh... let me go... let me go..."

Alan knew to stop her shouting, "If you don't want me to eat you up in the car. Be quiet."

Aria widened her eyes and kept her forefinger on her lips blinking at him.

Alan had no mood to smile but he couldn't help but let his lips curl up looking at her adorable innocent behavior.

After making her sit on the shotgun seat, he drove her to the Morgan mansion.

Amelia and the housekeeper Lilly helped Aria to change seeing her drunken state.

Alan who showered checked on Aria to hear her mumbling. After knowing she was thirsty, he helped her to drink and sat on the bed pulling her to his arms.

"Do you really want to study so far?"

He heard her hum in a half-asleep state.

"Can't you stay with me?"

He saw her snuggling and wrapping her hands around him making him sigh.

"Aria, can't you study here staying with me?"

He didn't hear any response and soon realized she was weeping when he felt his shirt wet.

He tried to wake her up to stop her from crying but Aria who wasn't sober continued crying.

Rian who heard Alan's continuous concerned voice checked Aria's room to see Aria crying and Alan coaxing.

Rian leisurely commented, "Bro this is nothing. When she actually has to leave you for a different country, she will cry for weeks. She is just seeing one side of the coin now."

Rian raised his hands in the air and left seeing Alan glare. He closed the door while going out.

Alan cuddled her to sleep feeling his heart tug uncontrollably seeing her cry on. When she stopped weeping falling into a deep slumber, he wiped her face before going to his room.

---

Rian got to know whatever Roxy told him was the truth. He asked her to talk to Aria but Roxy refused. He didn't mention Roxy to Aria either.

Rian sent her the university information where he was joining and didn't contact her again.

Rian thought to try if she was willing to join the same art college as him but seeing no reply and her absence in the school, he didn't think too much.

...

It was about a week, Roxy excitedly went to his desk and kept her admission letter on his desk.

Aria, Eva, and Noah saw it and gave thumbs up before letting the two have their time.

Aria and Eva were teasing Noah for sometime before watching the playground as they reminisced their school days.

"It feels like we grew up too fast."

Eva hummed to Aria. "I can't believe we are so grown-up to even have a boyfriend."

Noah turned to them who was sitting in the front, "Are we still going to be the same even after our graduation?"

"Of course Little one." Aria tousled his hair as she said.

"We will have new friends and it's inevitable. These two boys will be grown-up men. Will that really make no changes between us? Will 'The Fourie' can last long with add on relationships and responsibilities?"

Aria didn't reply thinking about her five years plan and they heard Rian's voice who wounded his hands around both the girls' necks sitting between them.

"Flirty, if you forget us getting new friends and boyfriend, I'll chop your hair short."

All chuckled hearing Rian.

They spoke for a long time and decided how they were going to meet during their three years of graduation, promising each other that they would be the same.

Roxy who was standing at quite a distance was smiling seeing the four hugging. Even though in the shortest amount of time she couldn't get close to Aria, she was happy that she got to go with Rian.

Now she could officially say as 'I'm dating Rian.'

---

It had been nearly another week since Aria and Alan saw each other and spoke.

The exam was nearing. Since the four weren't writing the national college entrance exam, there wasn't necessary for extra preparation.

Aria still helped all the classmates in her class staying late at school.

When one of the days she exited late sending other students, she saw Alan standing near her car patiently waiting.

Alan was passing by and saw Aria's car so he sent his car back to the office and waited for her.

He thought she would ignore him but Aria went straight to him without showing any emotions on her face but her eyes were enough and said it all.

Alan had missed her too much so he wrapped his hand around her without a word.

The security had to ask them to leave to close the gates seeing them stand silently for more than fifteen minutes.

Their way to the Morgan mansion was in silent mode.

Seeing Alan enter with Aria, others thought one compromised for the other one.

"What have you guys decided?" Amelia asked at the dining table.

Aria's hand quivered lightly, filling her eyes but didn't reply. Alan glanced at Aria and didn't reply.

The other three understood they were still on negatives so the rest of the time dinner completed in silence.

While entering her room, Aria spoke mildly, "Don't investigate the man who helped me. Dad had introduced him to me when I wanted to learn hacking and stuff... He treats me as a sister so please."

Alan furrowed his brows, "Do you think I don't trust you so I investigated? Aria, I don't want anybody to take advantage of you so I investigated." but anyway he got no information.

Aria asked before entering her room, "Then why didn't you ask me first about him before investigating?"

Alan didn't have the answer to that.

He didn't want to say he wanted to know how well Aria was prepared to run her business and her hidden support system. Because getting Isaac's information especially about his mother wasn't as easy as she got in two hours.

Seeing the distance between them growing gradually with so many misunderstandings, Aria was on the verge of giving up.

Alan also knew if the current situation grows, probably Aria leaves and they would have to live like strangers.

Seeing Aria sitting on the floor looking outside blankly, he bent and scooped her up in his arms.

Aria was a little startled but composed soon. Alan had lightened the fireplace in his room. He sat opposite it on the floor mat leaning on a chair, keeping Aria in his arms.

Aria gingerly spoke after sometime, "How about we sign a marriage certificate before I leave?"

"Aria." He wants to marry her but not because of it.

Aria sat up facing him, "Will you be happy if I drop off going to University S and study here or seeing me happy?"