Mira sat on her bed, her mind racing as she tried to process the events of the day. The encounter in Zamian's office had left her in a whirl of emotions. She found it difficult to believe how quickly everything had escalated. The unexpected appearance of the marriage contract had caught her off guard, and she was left questioning the emotions she was beginning to experience. What was it about the contract and Zamian's sudden decision to present it that was stirring such feelings within her?
She tried to brush off her confusion, reminding herself that tomorrow was Monday and she needed her laptop to check some important documents. It was a task she had forgotten to bring with her from her apartment. The thought of asking Zamian about it later seemed daunting. She was unsure how to articulate her questions. Why had he suddenly brought out the contract? What prompted him to present it now? It was better that he had brought it out earlier than to wait for four months and then face the risk of everything turning into a bureaucratic mess.
Feeling the weight of the day's events, Mira decided to take a quick nap to clear her mind. As she drifted off, she hoped that a short rest might bring her some clarity. The weight of the day was almost overwhelming, and she longed for a brief escape from the whirlwind of thoughts spinning in her head.
Hours later, Mira awoke with a start, surprised at how long she had slept. The soft knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. Nana, with a warm and apologetic smile, greeted her. "I'm very sorry, Miss Mira, for waking you up. It's time for lunch."
Mira blinked, disoriented but appreciative. "It's okay," she replied, rubbing her eyes. She stood and followed Nana downstairs. As they approached the dining area, Mira's senses were immediately assaulted by the delicious aroma of food. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her: one of her favorite dishes, fried rice, was laid out in a sumptuous spread.
Her mouth watered at the sight of the fried rice, its golden grains glistening with a savory sheen. The aroma of the dish was irresistible, and her stomach rumbled in anticipation. Zamian, who had noticed her eager gaze, promptly raised a plate of the fried rice and began to pass it to her.
Blushing, Mira realized that her reaction might have been a bit too obvious. She took her seat at the dining table, trying to compose herself. As she began to eat silently, she couldn't help but savor the flavor of the meal. The fried rice was perfectly seasoned, each bite a comforting reminder of home.
After a few moments of eating, Mira decided to voice her need. "I would like to go to my apartment to get something," she said. She hesitated to mention that she needed her laptop because she was sure that if she did, Zamian would likely provide a new, high-end laptop, far superior to hers. She preferred to handle this on her own terms.
Zamian, who had been eating his meal with his usual neutral and stoic expression, glanced up. "I'll go with you," he said calmly.
He then pulled out his phone, typed something quickly, and spoke again, "We'll head to your apartment immediately after finishing here." His tone was even and controlled, as always.
Mira nodded, appreciating his willingness to assist, though she had hoped to manage the trip alone. With Zamian's offer to accompany her, she found herself feeling a mix of gratitude and trepidation. The prospect of returning to her apartment with him in tow was both reassuring and slightly unsettling.
Immediately after they finished eating, Zamian stood up, followed by Mira, as they stepped outside to enter the sleek black Los Giros car that Zamian had arrived in that morning. Mira then realized that it was already getting dark, and she was surprised by how long she had slept. It was unusual for her to nap for so long, especially since her grandpa in the village would have considered such behavior lazy. He believed that people should work hard and avoid showing signs of laziness, so Mira was taken aback by her own behavior.
As they entered the car, it was already evening. Mira wondered why Nana had referred to it as lunchtime earlier. She realized that she hadn't had her lunch yet, which cleared up the confusion. She was sure that by the time they returned to the apartment, it would be night, but she didn't mind. Zamian sat beside her as the car zoomed off. Mira pulled out her phone and started scrolling through it. She soon received a text from an unfamiliar number. The message read: "Hey Mira, this is Lily."
A smile spread across Mira's lips as she recalled their conversation at the milkshake store yesterday. Her smile widened as Lily's message continued, asking about her day. Mira responded that her day was great, and Lily replied that hers was too. They continued to chat, and Zamian noticed Mira's occasional smiles and curious expressions. He wondered who she was talking to and found it surprisingly comforting to see her like this.
The car came to a halt in front of a building. As Mira turned to Zamian, who was already looking at her, she said, "Okay, let's go down now." It was drizzling as she stepped out of the car and entered the elevator. The atmosphere inside the elevator was calm and quiet, a sharp contrast to the stormy weather outside.
Zamian broke the silence, asking, "How long have you been in this apartment?"
Mira counted and replied, "I think 2 or 3 days."
"Okay," Zamian said.
When the elevator doors opened, they entered the apartment. Mira switched on the light and was relieved to see that her apartment was still neat and organized. Everything was in its place, just as she had left it. She quickly went to her room, grabbed her laptop and charger, and then came back out.
At that moment, she heard Zamian receiving a phone call. He spoke into the phone, "The rain outside is very heavy, and we didn't bring an umbrella. The thunder and lightning are quite intense, so there's no way we can go out now."
Mira turned to him and suggested, "Why don't we stay here for the night?"