The door opened, startling her and when she looked who it was, she froze on her spot. Yes, it was Aiden, the person she least wanted to face right now.
She was frightened but didn't dare move until he advanced towards her, reducing the distance between them. She stuttered, "Wh-What do you wa-" but got cut off when Aiden stopped in front of her, just two steps away and said,"Stop. You won't interrupt me. Let me finish what I have to say. You understand?" She just nodded in response and shut up.
Aiden sighed, looked down then again up at her face,"Look, I've never done this. Apologizing and all, it's not my thing 'cause I've never apologized." He paused for a moment biting his lower lip and taking in a deep breath. He looked down and continued,"What I did yesterday-" but he got cut off by Adina.
"You- you don't need to apologize for anything. It- it was all my fault. I should've waited instead of barging in the room like that. Everything that happened.. it's on me. Instead I should be the one apologizing, you raised your voice at your parents for me. I'm so sorry for that and thank you, thank you so much for protecting me yesterday. I should've been more careful. I promise I-" she was blabbering on and on making weird hand gestures and looking here and there but stopped due to sudden closeness when Aiden closed the distance between them and she stumbled back and hit the wall. She widened her eyes, looking up at Aiden. "I-", she tried to say something but got cut off when Aiden put his index finger on her lips to shush her and it effectively worked. Her eyes were now as big as saucers, those hazel orbs staring into the green ones trying to find answers or some sort of clue of what was happening.
Aiden said in a low husky voice which Adina sweared to God, made her weak in the knees but she somehow managed to stand upright, his finger still on her lips and eyes boring inside her soul,"I told you not to interrupt me, didn't I?" She weakly gave a single nod to him. "But then you are Adina, who never listens to me. Though this time ... just let me finish what I have to say and don't utter a word in between. Okay?" She again nodded and humming in appreciation, put his hand down by his side but didn't back away. "What I was saying, before you so rudely interrupted me is, what happened yesterday shouldn't have happened. I lost control and I'm... I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to scare you or hurt you. I was... I was just worried... you just barged in the room.. and anything could've happen if I wasn't fast enough. I-", he sighed," I didn't want you to get hurt. I hope you'll forgive me. I know it'll be hard for you but I just had to apologize 'cause it was my mistake. I hope at least you'll try to forgive me. I shouldn't have lost control. I'm sorry."
Adina was too stunned as well as flustered to say anything. Stunned because of the unexpected and sudden apology and flustered because Aiden was still standing too close to her. All she could do was hum. Aiden once again was captivated by her innocence that was crystal clear in her eyes. He softly caressed her left cheek saying," je suis vraiment désolé mon (I'm really sorry love)." Unknowingly Adina leaned in that soft touch and closed her eyes sighing contently. She didn't understand French but coming from him it sounded sweet. She just smiled and leaned in a little more to that touch. Unaware of himself, he also let slip a smile on his lips looking at her.
A moment later realisation dawned upon him of what he was doing and panicking he stepped back and left a confused Adina staring at his retreating back, the second time in that whole day. The closing of the door made a loud noise which made her come out of her stupor. She flinched at the noise and blinked a few time thinking, 'What the hell just happened here? Why did he leave so abruptly while we were having a moment?' Her eyes widened at her own thinking and she covered her blushing face in both her hands. She said out aloud, her voice a little muffled because of covering her face,"What did I just say? A moment? A freaking moment?" She looked up in the mirror, seeing her red self and muttered,"I was having A MOMENT WITH AIDEN. Holy mother of God! What just happened? OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!" She again hid her face in her palms and landed on her bed face first, her face buried in the pillow and her full body squirming. She bit her pillow and screamed which wasn't really audible.
She sat up straight on the bed when she had screamed her lungs out and lightly dabbed her cheeks saying,"Ok Adina, calm down. It's nothing. It meant nothing. He just came to apologize. Nothing at all happened so cam down and breathe. Breathe in. Breathe out." She took deep breaths to calm herself and smiled a little thinking about his apology.
That night she slept with a smile on her face, a sweet smile. Next day she got up very early and took out a cute little dress from the closet which was still unworn. It was a light blue coloured dress which reached her knees. She looked really cute in it. As she was tying her hair in a side ponytail while humming some song, the door burst open with a loud,'HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADINA." She giggled looking at a shocked Ian who first looked at the bed and then hearing the giggle his attention shifted to her. He stuttered, "I-... how? How did you?.. so early?..." She laughed at his cuteness. She slowly made her way near him and pecked on his cheeks, mainly because she was really happy today and hugged him. Ian, of course, hugged her back.
"Thank you so much Ian but how come you know? I didn't tell you, then how?" She asked backing away from the hug.
He didn't answer her question and took her by the wrist. She kept asking him where he was taking her but no use, he didn't answer. They entered Ian's study room and he ordered her to sit and eat the breakfast which was kept there. It was all her favourite. She didn't waste a second and dig in because she was hungry as she had skipped dinner last night. She finished and looked up at Ian who smiled and said,"Good girl. So today is your day and we are gonna fully enjoy it but please forgive me, there's one important meeting in half an hour that we HAVE to attend."
She chuckled at his words and said,"You need not apologize. It's alright and always remember, work comes first." Ian smiled at her words and as soon as she said that, her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and smiled. "Give me a minute. It's maa", she said and excused herself and went near the window.
"Happy Birthday, love."
"Thank you so much maa."
"My baby, how are you?"
"I'm good. How about you and dad?"
"We are doing just fine dear but for now there's not much improvement in your dad's condition."
"Its ok maa. Don't loose hope. He is our hero, remember?"
Her mother chuckled bitterly and said,"Yeah. Our superhero. Ok! no sadness is allowed today. It's my baby's birthday afterall. Any plans for today?"
"Not really maa. I have work."
"WHAT?"
"You've taught me. Work comes first."
"Yeah, yeah, my mistake. I should've taught you your birthday comes first." Adina chuckled which made her mother smile and she continued,"Just stay happy like this always. That's all I want."
Adina smiled saying,"I love you Maa... so much."
"Love you too baby."
They chatted for a little while then hung up the call. The meeting was two hours long and as it finished Ian groaned,"Why in the bloody hell are board meetings so long and boring."
Adina chuckled at him and stood beside him, ruffling his soft hair and said,"Its important and it is nothing new. Board meetings are always long and exhausting."
He looked up at her with questioning gaze and asked,"What's up with you? First in the morning you got up very early then you kissed me on the cheeks and hugged me and then just now you ruffled my hair. Thay are all firsts. Something good happened?"
The last three words made Adina instantly think back to last night where her and Aiden shared a moment, as she calls it. She blushed at the thought and shook her head to shrug off that thought and said,"Its my birthday. Can't I be happy?"
Ian didn't question her anymore and said,"Okay, okay. You have been locked up inside these four walls for quite a long while now. I can't take you out somewhere but I think I can still take you to our back garden. So, come on!"
He held her wrist and took her to the said place. The gardens were full of blossoming flowers which made Adina smile and enjoy the scenery around her. They enjoyed there till evening and then settled down on a tea table that was placed in the garden only. Adina didn't wanna go inside, at least not yet and Ian wanted her to enjoy her birthday as much as she can.