chapter-37: Apology Balloons

Aria Anastasia
��Ma'am, the boss is calling for you,�� Yana mumbled fearfully.
I didn't look up from my computer screen and said, ��Tell him that I'm busy.��
��But he said that it's urgent,�� she said.
��I don't care.��
��He also said that the company can go bankrupt if you don't come to him,�� she added.
��Then let it go bankrupt,�� I said curtly. ��Now go and do your work. I'm your supervisor, not him,�� I ordered Yana who quickly nodded and sauntered away.
I was still mad at Zaiden for making me seem like a fool who already had crafted images of our wedding. Of course, he didn't want to marry me. I wanted to shoot him with his gun for that.
My cell phone was ringing again. It was the fifth time that Zaiden called me after I left him in the pizzeria with Freja. Freja didn't dare call me after that and just texted me that she reached my apartment safely.
Getting irritated with his constant calls, I picked up the call without checking the caller ID and hollered, ��I fucking don't want to talk to you! Leave me alone!��
��Should I be knowing why you are that mad at me?�� I bit my tongue as I realized it was my dad.
��Oh, I'm sorry, Luke. I just thought it was someone else,�� I said sincerely.
How embarrassing. I yelled at my father, thinking it was my boyfriend. Way to go, Aria.
��You thought it was Zaiden?�� Taking my silence as a 'yes', Luke further spoke, ��It's alright. I know better than to butt into a lovers' quarrel.�� He chuckled while I heard my mom's voice in the background. ��Don't worry. It's just the two of them fighting over nothing.��
��How do you know it's nothing?�� I pointed out, slightly offended.
��What are you even fighting about?�� my mom joined in the conversation after Luke put the call on speaker. Well, Mom surely was interested to butt in our lovers' quarrel.
Sighing, I told the entire story. But I regretted telling them because they were laughing at me.
��Oh, God, what a silly issue.�� Mom laughed.
I puffed my cheeks. ��How is it silly? Zaiden is using your daughter as a time-pass, Mom,�� I complained.
��But don't you think he deserves to explain himself?�� she said.
��But he already said that we were only in our dating phase and I shouldn't think about marriage. It means that he is indicating he doesn't want to marry me,�� I explained.
��Oh, dear.�� Mom sighed. ��You won't believe whatever we say. Just keep in mind that don't let the matter drag. Resolve all your issues before going to bed at night. That is a tip for a healthy relationship, got it?��
I hummed in response as I understood her point. ��By the way, why did you call me in the first place, that too during work hours?��
��Oh, Amora wanted to make sure whether Freja arrived safely or not. She hasn't called yet, neither did she receive my call,�� Luke said worriedly.
��Yes, don't worry. She has arrived safely at my apartment. She must be in the shower right now, that's why she didn't hear your call,�� I assured them.
��I'm going to give an earful to that girl. How can she forget to call me after landing there?�� Mom fumed while Luke and I let out nervous chuckles.
Poor Freja. Mom was going to chew her out.
I talked to Mom and Luke for a few minutes, inquiring them about their well beings, until I hung up the call and focused my attention on work. Just then, the door of my cabin opened and Zaiden walked in.
��Don't you know you should knock before entering a lady's cabin?�� I questioned.
He simply ignored my remark and sat on the chair in front of my desk. ��Who have you been talking to until now? I have been calling you continuously and it's been showing that you are on another call for the last twenty minutes,�� he demanded.
I arched an eyebrow and said, ��Is that any of your concern, Boss?��
��Of course, it is. I'm your boss, and you can't be talking to other people during work hours,�� he pointed out.
��Oh, it's fine if you call me, but not other people?�� I challenged him.
��Yes. Because I'm your boyfriend. No one can be more important than me,�� he grumbled.
��Not even my parents?�� I responded curtly, which silenced him for a moment.
��Oh, you were talking to your mom and dad.�� He cutely scratched the back of his neck and further said, ��Why haven't you been picking up my calls?��
��You exactly know why.�� I turned around my face and started typing on the keyboard.
��Hey, don't turn your gaze from me like that,�� he complained. As I didn't make any movement to look back at him, he came closer to me and spun around my chair. He raised my chin to meet his intense gaze. ��What can I do to melt your anger?��
I was about to brush away his hand but remembered what Mom said. I shouldn't drag this matter. So, I said, ��Earn your forgiveness. Do something for me.��
��Do what?�� he asked cluelessly.
��Anything.�� I checked my wristwatch and said, ��I need to head out to check the factory within an hour, so you have the time until then. Because after that, I'm going home to spend time with Freja,�� I informed him.
He twitched his lips as an idea seemed to have popped up in his head. ��That's more than enough,�� he said and stole a quick peck before running out of my cabin.
��Hey!�� I hollered after him. I couldn't help but smile at his cute antics. I wondered what he was going to do.
After thirty minutes, Zaiden sent me a text and told me to come to the office terrace. I grinned to myself and went there.
During this time, I had thought about the issue calmly. Maybe he was meaning to say something else, and I misinterpreted it. Therefore, in my heart, I had already forgiven him. For at least making the effort. Now, all I needed was an explanation from him.
As I opened the terrace door, a strong gust of wind hit my face, making some dust get into my eyes. I heard someone groaning. ��Fuck, don't blow away!��
After rubbing my eyes, I opened my eyes to see Zaiden having a war against the wind to hold back some balloons in his hands. As if sensing my presence, he turned towards me and flashed me a big smile.
Once I approached him, his smile dropped as he let out, ��Aria, have you been crying because of this?��
��What?�� I was confused until I realized that I had got some dust in my eyes. ��No, I just got dust in my eyes.��
��Seriously, Aria, that's the oldest lie in the book. Do you think I would buy that?�� he huffed.
��And do you think I would cry over such a silly thing?�� I glared at him.
He thought about it for a while before saying, ��Yeah, you probably won't.��
He put on a smile like before and started speaking, ��Sorry, this is all I can do for now. But I promise to do something more for you on our whole day date tomorrow. For now, this is my apology.�� He pointed at the three heart-shaped red balloons in his hands which had different things written on them, but I couldn't read them yet as they were turned towards him.
��If you don't want them, I will give them to Daniel so that he can use these for Yana. But if you accept them, then you can release them one by one,�� he informed me. I was trying hard not to let a smile crack on my face as he asked further, ��So, will you accept them?��
��At first, let's see what your little balloons have to say,�� I said sternly and crossed my arms.
��Okay.�� He sucked in a deep breath. It was heartwarming to see him trying so hard for something so silly as earning my apology when he hardly ever seems nervous. He started reading the balloons out one by one.
��I'm sorry,�� he cutely said at first and handed me the first balloon. I smiled looking at the balloon and gave it a squeeze before releasing it in the air.
Zaiden's smile got wider as he handed me the next balloon and said, ��Forgive me, please.�� I released that one too with a smile. ��I love you.�� I completely melted at the last sentence.
��I love you too,�� I said instantly and released the final balloon together with him. Then I pulled him a hug.
Seriously, how did he even manage to get all these within just half an hour?
��Now I feel like I can breathe again,�� Zaiden breathed out.
��You still have your explanation left,�� I mumbled against his chest.
��Well, Aria, it's too soon for our marriage, and I don't want to pressurize you for anything. Also, I know that people are going to keep asking us when we will get married, but let us decide when we want to do it. Marriage is a big deal, and we shouldn't rush it,�� he explained, and I hummed in response.
��But you do plan to marry me someday, right?�� I asked for assurance.
��Do you think I'm the kind of man who loves a woman for an affair and marries another one?��
��You might be,�� I joked.
��Such little trust you have in me, babe,�� he feigned hurt.
I chuckled and hugged him tighter. Maybe I really was overthinking it. We didn't need to worry about marriage this soon. I only needed to enjoy what we have now.
If fate has it in store for us, someday Zaiden and I surely will get married, and no one can stop that.