96. Lovesick
**DINNER AT THE BROOKS MANSION --
Aiden Brooks: Newly Diagnosed with "Marcelline Fever"** --
The Brooks dining table was usually elegant, serious, and filled with quiet conversation.
Tonight?
It felt like a zoo where one lovesick idiot single-handedly ruined the atmosphere.
Aiden sat at the table with the softest smile on his face.
A dreamy, floaty, I-just-met-a-goddess-and-lost-my-soul kind of smile.
He didn't even realize Aunt Liana put food on his plate.
Or that Kyron flicked a pea at his forehead.
Or that Chloe was staring at him like he had gone MAD.
Finally, Chloe slammed her fork down.
Chloe:
"AIDEN. EARTH TO AIDEN. HELLO??? Why are you smiling like a pregnant butterfly??"
Aiden blinked slowly.
"…Butterflies don't get pregnant, Chloe. They lay eggs…"
The whole table went silent.
Uncle Adrian almost choked on his soup.
Aunt Liana covered her mouth in shock.
Maximilian slowly lifted his head, looking at Aiden like he had grown two horns.
Kyron burst out laughing. "Bro, what the hell is wrong with you?"
Aiden hugged his phone to his chest, sighing like a poet in love.
"I saw… something beautiful today."
The family collectively leaned in like hungry gossip vultures.
---
Chloe narrowed her eyes.
"Oh? Beautiful? Who? WHAT? Explain."
Aiden went scarlet.
"I can't tell you."
Max raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
Aiden glared.
"Because you monsters will make fun of me."
Kyron crossed his arms.
"Man, we already ARE making fun of you."
Uncle Adrian wiped tears from laughing.
"This is new. Aiden blushing like a tomato."
Aiden grumbled and stuffed a spoonful of rice into his mouth.
"…She's just… incredible."
Aunt Liana gasped dramatically.
"A SHE?!"
Aiden froze.
"…Did I say she? I meant— uh— the sky! The sky was beautiful today—"
Chloe sneered.
"Oh please, you looked at your phone and SMILED like someone sent you a picture of heaven."
Aiden's blush deepened.
"Maybe heaven DID text me…"
They all screamed in exaggerated shock.
"So it is a girl!"
---
ROMANTIC RAMBLING: AIDEN SPILLS WITHOUT SPILLING --
Aiden sighed, dreamy again.
"She's… mesmerizing. Like… like… when she looks at you, everything else disappears…"
Everyone froze.
Max included.
He blinked slowly.
"Aiden, are you okay? Did you hit your head today?"
Aiden ignored him.
"And her hair…"
He placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"God—her hair fell on my face and it smelled like… like heaven dipped in sunlight."
Chloe made a gagging noise.
"Oh my god he's GONE. We've lost him."
Aunt Liana swooned.
"That is ADORABLE!"
Kyron: "Bro is in DEEP."
Uncle Adrian leaned forward.
"So? Who is she? What's her name?"
Aiden panicked and shook his head like a toddler refusing vegetables.
"Nope. Not telling. I don't want you people ruining it with your demon tongues."
Chloe smirked.
"So you DO remember her name.
And you ARE protecting it."
Kyron pointed a spoon at Aiden.
"Dude, did you have A MOMENT with her?"
Aiden almost choked on air.
"I—WHAT—NO—MOMENT?! I don't— we didn't— it wasn't—SHUT UP!"
Everyone stared.
That was all the answer needed.
---
THE FAMILY GOES FERAL..
Aunt Liana clapped her hands.
"OHHHH MY GOD HE DID!"
Chloe screamed.
"SPILL. SPILL RIGHT NOW!"
Uncle Adrian grinned.
"How close? Close enough to stare? Close enough to… accidentally kis..ahem..?"
Aiden turned beet red, stood up, grabbed his glass, and marched to the water dispenser.
"MIND. YOUR. OWN. BUSINESS."
Max smirked slightly — a rare expression.
"Aiden… you're glowing."
Aiden almost dropped the glass.
"I—WHAT—GLOWING?? I'm a grown man! I don't glow! I don't—"
He tripped over air.
Everyone burst into laughter so loud the mansion echoed.
---
He sat back down, face buried in his hands.
"…She's just… different," he whispered softly.
His voice shook with real emotion.
"She… made me feel like the world stopped for a second. Like I couldn't breathe but in a good way. I haven't felt that in… ever."
The table quieted for a moment.
Aunt Liana smiled warmly.
"That sounds like love, sweetheart."
Aiden covered his face again.
"Stoppppp…"
Chloe whispered loudly,
"HE'S IN LOVE. HE'S IN LOVEEEE!"
Kyron:
"Bro got shot by Cupid with a shotgun."
Uncle Adrian:
"I need wine for this romance."
Max gave a tiny sigh.
"…Don't get distracted from your responsibilities," he said — but even he couldn't hide the faint smile.
Aiden muttered into his plate:
"…I can't help it… She's… perfect."
---