chapter-39: Poking & Avoiding
Aria Anastasia
��Hey, babe, you coming to pick me up?�� I asked after Zaiden received the call on the third ring.
I usually didn't call Zaiden this early in the morning because he always sent me good morning messages and said that he would come to pick me up. However, I didn't receive any texts from him today. That has never happened in the last six months of our dating. I wondered if he was feeling okay.
��I am already at the office, Aria. You can come on your own, can't you?�� he replied.
I stopped buttoning my light blue blouse and stared at myself in the mirror blankly. ��Oh, okay. Cool.�� I tried to maintain a neutral voice. ��But you didn't tell me that you will come early today. I would have gotten ready sooner.��
��I have work to do which you don't,�� he replied curtly.
I didn't know why I felt hurt. Maybe because it has been a long time since Zaiden talked to me in that tone.
��Oh. I will see you at the office then.�� I pursed my lips and started saying, ��Have you eaten���� Before I could finish my sentence, he hung up the call.
��He must be busy,�� I told myself.
I didn't want this to bring my mood down for the day. I didn't want to be a petty girlfriend who gets upset over small things like this. Therefore, I quickly got ready and had my breakfast before driving to the office myself.
I was about to enter the private elevator but stopped, realizing that Zaiden wasn't with me and it didn't seem right to ride that elevator alone. So, I took the employee elevator to my floor.
Placing my bag on my desk, I checked the time. I still had some time left to start working. That's why I went to see Zaiden and wish him good morning.
As I was about to knock on his door but stopped when I saw the door to his cabin was locked, meaning he hadn't arrived yet. But he said he was already at the office. Strange. Why did he lie to me?
��Aria, what are you doing here?�� the familiar voice of Zaiden pulled me out of my thoughts.
I pulled up a smile on my face and greeted, ��Good morning, Zaiden. I was just here to get a glimpse of my boyfriend.��
��Well, your boyfriend is busy for the day.�� He opened his cabin door and entered the room, with me trailing behind him like a puppy.
��Why did you lie to me about being at the office?�� I asked.
��I was actually at the base. It must have been a slip of tongue,�� he said and sat on his chair. That could make sense.
��By the way, did you forget to text me this morning?�� I asked further, and he gave a curt nod. He was acting weird. ��How are you feeling today?�� I wondered if his health was alright. What if he was feeling sick and wasn't telling me?
��Fine,�� he curtly replied.
��Let me check your temperature.�� I placed a hand on his forehead, but his temperature seemed normal, neither did he seem pale.
Zaiden brushed away my hand and said, sounding slightly angry, ��I told you I'm fine.��
My heart sank at his tone, so I asked, ��Are you mad at me for some reason?��
��No.��
I made a puppy face and said, ��I know you are mad at me, but why? Did I do something wrong?��
��No,�� he again replied curtly.
��Really?��
��Yes, now go and start working,�� he instructed as if I was being a nuisance to him.
I pouted and dragged my feet out of his cabin unwillingly. I missed the Zaiden that wouldn't want to let me go to work and have me seated on his lap, flirting with me all he can before Daniel walked in to tell him his schedule.
Usually, I wouldn't even know how time flew by while I am working, but today, time wasn't willing to move at all. I was forcing myself to work.
Finally, it was time for a group meeting with Zaiden. I got up excitedly as I would get to see him again. Maybe he was in a better mood by now.
Zaiden and I always arrive early in the conference room to discuss the projects. As expected, he was sitting on his usual chair, shuffling through some papers.
��Hey,�� I said and entered the room.
��Hi,�� he simply said without looking up.
I put my files down and sat adjacent to him. Since he didn't say anything else, I decided to joke around a little to lighten the tension between us.
��Zaiden, I'm thinking of leading this project,�� I said mischievously, knowing he wouldn't let me do that. It was a project related to an old business partner with whom Zaiden got along really well, so he always looked over it personally.
��Okay.��
I just gaped at him with my jaw almost dropped to the floor. ��Why?�� I let out in shock.
��Because you want to,�� he stated curtly.
��No, I don't want to. I was just joking,�� I quickly clarified.
��Oh, okay.��
I clenched my fist. What was with his nonchalant attitude? He should say something meaningful at least.
��Are you hungry?�� I asked. He might be grouchy because of that.
��No.��
��Shall I make you some coffee?�� I offered. He might be feeling sluggish because of not having coffee.
��No.�� He rolled his eyes.
��You are really not angry with me, are you?�� I asked again.
��No, Aria.�� He gave me a flat look.
I was about to speak more but other members entered the conference room and interrupted us. I exhaled a deep breath and flashed them a welcoming smile.
Throughout the whole meeting, I couldn't concentrate. All I did was stare at Zaiden with my palm resting on my chin. No one dared to say anything to me. After all, everyone knew that the two of us were dating and they would hate to get scolded by me when I was in a bad mood.
Just like me, Zaiden was distracted too. I couldn't help but think about what he was thinking about. Did he not love me anymore? Or did he fall in love with someone else at first sight? Oh, God, please no.
Once the meeting was over and everyone was leaving, I let out, ��Stay, Zaiden.��
Zaiden sighed and remained seated on his chair.
There was only one way to find out. I pulled my chair closer to him and was about to kiss him.
��Not now, Aria,�� Zaiden said and stood up after brushing me away. ��I will talk to you later. I have work to do.�� With that, he walked out of the conference room, leaving me sad.
I gritted my teeth, trying to stop my tears. I was rejected by Zaiden for a kiss. So many things were happening that had never happened to me.
Were things changing between us? Did Zaiden stop feeling the spark between us? Has he lost his love for me? Does he want to want to break up?
I didn't want to think about all these uncanny possibilities. But my boyfriend was avoiding me all of a sudden with no explanation. What should I think? What should I do? What do I do now?
Is my love story going to be like those unrequited ones, ending up in heartbreak as one of the two falls out of love?
After a tormenting day at the office, I was finally at home and preparing for bed. I was extra tired today.
I wanted to go to sleep and pretend like all the avoiding from Zaiden never happened to me. I wanted to wake up and feel like all of that happened today was a nightmare only, nothing else.
As I laid down on my bed after wearing a grey tank top and shorts, all sorts of bad thoughts came rushing into my mind.
Maybe this was why Zaiden never said anything about marrying me. Maybe because he wasn't that deeply in love with me. Otherwise, how can he fall out of love with me? Or maybe he still does love me, but I have done something to offend him. But what have I done?
That idiot should have said something if there was my fault. If he didn't tell me, how would I amend it? I poked him all day, yet he avoided me. How is avoiding me any way going to solve our problem?
The more I thought about his behavior, the more I wanted to hit his head with a big-fat dictionary.
I was almost falling into a slumber when my cell phone rang up. I groaned and picked up the call without checking the caller ID. ��Who the fuck calls this����
I was cut off by the broken, timid voice of Zaiden as he said, ��Help�� me�� Aria.��