chapter-31: Worth Everything

Zaiden Storm
��Say that you forgive Luke,�� Aria said for the umpteenth time after poking my arm.
��Let me concentrate,�� I grumbled, trying to keep my eyes on the road. I was driving Aria to her apartment, and God knew how she had that much energy left within her to keep nudging about me after all that happened today. My mind wasn't even functioning properly.
��Not until you agree,�� she said stubbornly.
��Great. We can get into an accident then,�� I retorted.
��Won't you do this much for me?�� She tried flashing her puppy eyes at me.
��Stop it, Aria.��
��No, I'll keep bothering you.��
I groaned. ��Okay, fine. I will learn to put up with Luke for you, but that doesn't mean I am forgiving him. He has to earn that over time.��
��I knew it. You are the best.�� She clapped her hands excitedly and kissed my cheek.
I shook my head at her craziness with a small smile tugging on my lips. This was the smile I was yearning to see when she was missing. Just the thought of her disappearing from my life even for a single day terrified me.
I parked my car in the garage of her apartment building. I would need to learn to keep a first aid kit in my car from now on because Aria really loved getting hurt due to me.
After entering the elevator, I pressed the twelfth-floor button which she asked me to. Once we reached in front of her door, she fiddled with her keys.
Why was she nervous? Or did she feel sick? Well, she was held captive in that abandoned place, so I guess it was normal to feel out of sorts.
��Do you not feel well?�� I inquired.
Aria released a sigh and turned towards me. ��I'm sorry, but the thing is, Zaiden, my apartment is a mess right now.��
Was that all she was worried about?
��Do you think I'm here to judge your apartment? Aria, I really don't care about it,�� I told her and took the keys from her hand. ��Let's not waste any more time and get you to rest.�� With that, I spun around the keys and pushed open the door to her apartment.
I stepped in after her, only to enter her living room. Damn, she wasn't lying when she said it was a mess. Several papers, files, highlighters, pencils, and packets of snacks were scattered around her living room.
��Wow, it's nice.�� I emphasized the artistic decoration of her place.
��Thank you.�� Her cheeks were red as she ran to pick up the papers, but I stopped her by grabbing her hand.
My eyes fell on the dried blood on her hand. ��You should go freshen up. I'll take care of it.��
��No, no. How can I have my boss clean up my living room?�� she said.
I pushed behind a strand of her hair and said, ��Forget that I'm your boss. Right now, I'm just your boyfriend, okay?��
She pursed her lips and simply nodded before going into her bedroom. I exhaled a breath and looked around the trashcan of her living room. My hands were already itching to clean it. I hated messiness. It was only possible for Aria to act so organized at the office after being such a slob at home.
I took off my suit and kneeled down to pick up the pieces of paper. Out of curiosity, I checked what the papers contained, only to find them to be market research data. In fact, all of these papers consisted of work-related data which were highlighted.
��Damn, even I don't work that hard,�� I muttered under my breath, a proud smile appearing on my face. Hiring Aria as the Managing Director of our company was really one of the best decisions ever.
By the time I was done compiling all the papers into a bundle, arranging all the files by serial, putting the pens and highlighters in a pen holder, Aria was out of her room with a towel wrapped around her head in her pajamas.
��You look cute,�� I complimented and pecked her lips briefly.
��Thanks for doing all that,�� she said with a smile.
��Now sit down,�� I instructed and pulled out the first aid box which I found on top of one of the shelves. ��Show me all the other places you are hurt.�� I sat beside her on the couch and started by putting a bandage on the light cut on her forehead.
Aria started showing all of her minor injuries to me. I was glad that it was only small cuts and scratches. I have no idea I would have acted if she sustained any major injuries, worse if something happened to her in that bomb blast.
All of a sudden, Aria placed her warm hand on my cheek. ��Is something bothering you?��
I shook my head in denial and focused on applying antiseptics to her wounds.
��I can see it on your face, Zaiden. Tell me what's wrong,�� she insisted.
My hands shook a little bit as my mind flashed back to the time when I was waiting for Aria without knowing that she had been kidnapped, also to the moment when I saw a bomb tied to her. I was so scared at that time��so scared that I almost felt I would collapse from all the pressure of rescuing her.
��It's just�� I was so afraid to lose you,�� I finally uttered, my voice wavering slightly.
��It's alright. I'm here with you now,�� she said and rested her head on my chest.
��I'm so sorry. This all happened to you because of me. I was too careless����
��I told you it's alright. It wasn't your fault, rather you saved my life. I couldn't ask for anything more.��
I wrapped my arms around her and rested my chin on top of her head. ��Thank you, Aria.��
She giggled and said, ��I'm feeling pretty hungry right now. So, can we eat something?��
I released her from the hug. ��What do you have for dinner?��
��Nothing? I was planning to order something,�� she replied.
��Outside food isn't good for your health. I think you can try out something I can make.�� I finished putting the last bandaid on her forearm and stood up.
Her eyes gleamed with excitement. ��What are you making for me?��
I wasn't that great of a cook, but I could nail the two dishes that I could make. ��Vegetable soup.��
Aria made a disgusted face. ��Seriously?��
��It's healthy,�� I told her and made my way to her kitchen.
She followed after me, saying, ��I don't like vegetable soup. It's yucky. Make something else.��
��Noodles?��
��Even more disgusting. Let's just go with the soup.��
I chortled and opened her fridge to find very few ingredients. Aria sat on the counter and watched me make the soup. For an amateur cook, I could cut vegetables really well. Therefore, it didn't take too much time to make the soup.
��Even though it looks and smells good, I'm not sure I won't throw up,�� Aria said reluctantly.
��Too bad that you will throw up the first thing I cooked for you.�� I let out a dramatic sigh.
Aria rolled her eyes and took a spoonful of the soup. ��Not bad, but still yikes.��
I smiled looking at her disgusted but slightly pleased expressions. It didn't matter what sort of expressions were on her face now, all that mattered to me was that she was here.
I took the soup bowl from her hand, making her arch an eyebrow. I cupped her face and pressed my lips on hers as if I was assuring myself that it wasn't all a dream.
Really, nothing was better than having her safe in my arms. All that turmoil of the whole day to save her was worth it, if only she was smiling in the end. After all, she was worth my everything.