Manager Gilmore who was gritting his teeth thinking Aaron was dancing on Aarvi’s fingertips, realized he was at the wrong. Other managers who felt sorry for him arising dislike towards Aarvi immediately changed their opinion and talked to each other about the project.

“We would have lost billions of investment.”

“Thankfully Ms.Evans saved.”

“You think President Rivas is a fool to hear a dumb girl.”

“What was manager Gilmore thinking when he was arguing with her?”

“Doesn’t he know we have to follow her orders without questioning back?”

.

.

While they left, Manager Gilmore ran behind Secretary Wen to give him the last chance.

—

After exiting, Aarvi understood they were going out for lunch, and unexpectedly the restaurant they had chosen was near their school. They silently enjoyed each other’s company and completed their lunch.

When they exited the restaurant, Aarvi noticed the cafe. She couldn’t understand why that cafe always felt special to her. That place felt close to her heart even though she doesn’t remember going there even once.

“What’s wrong?”

Aarvi glanced at Aaron and pointed to the cafe, “I never went there but whenever I pass by this road, I feel like that’s my favorite cafe.”

Aaron frowned hearing that. He asked to confirm, “Don’t you remember going there even once?”

Aarvi shook her head promptly without thinking about why he asked.

Aaron never had tried to force her to remember their past but he can’t believe she doesn’t remember the place where she visited continuously for two whole years. He asked a different, “Do you remember there used to be a famous popsicle shop next to the tree?”

Aarvi tried to remember but shook her head, “Was there a popsicle shop?… And how do you know? Did you study here?”

‘Did you study here?’

Aaron felt his heart clench hearing her. He understood not only him, but she also doesn’t remember anything that is related to him. Unfortunately, she doesn’t even know her memory is wiped off.

That popsicle shop was the place where she had asked him to bring her every day even after they grew up. He used to try all popsicle flavors with her just because she liked to eat.

Aaron gave it a last try, “I heard you used to be close to a senior and you were having lunch with him daily. Who is he?”

“Senior?” Aarvi gave it a thought and shook her head casually without knowing her every response was stabbing his heart repeatedly, “I don’t know any seniors.”

Seeing her confused, Aaron stopped asking and looked away. It was the road where they had created memories for two years which held a special place in his heart. He understood he shouldn’t wait for her to remember and just focus on the present and future.

He rubbed her head composing himself and asked looking at her petite face, “Did you have any work with me? Why did you suddenly come over?”

“Oh!” She thought he was going to ask some serious questions to solve her cafe mystery in her head. She went in the car saying, “I missed you.”

Aaron causally nodded while closing the car door.

‘I missed you?’ Then he realized what she said and peeked in, “You missed me?” It was like the heartache he felt the second back vanished, just like finding the oasis in the middle of the desert, he was full of the joys of spring failing to control his astonishment.

Aarvi: “…”

She couldn’t understand what he was so happy about. According to her analogy, she expected a confused or questioning look.

Aaron composed soon and went around the car to sit next to Aarvi on the other end, “Drive to Orion mall.”

“Yes, President Rivas.” The driver responded and drove while Aarvi couldn’t help but look at the cafe as it passed.

Aaron remembered her saying she feels close to the cafe without visiting so he spoke, “Don’t fret over unclear things.” His voice was back to unemotional with a hint of tenderness.

Aarvi shook off her thought and hummed.

Aaron was on the seventh cloud and heard her ask, “Which college did you study?”

Aarvi knows nothing about him other than little about the family due to Shawn and his current work and hospital.

He really wanted to ask what was going on with her that she is showing interest in him so suddenly, “University U, medicine and research.”

Aarvi nodded and asked, “I was in the same university with Shawn, I have met his parents, why weren’t you visiting him?”

If he knew she was in the city next to the city he stayed, he wouldn’t have let anything happen to her. “My bad luck.”

Aarvi didn’t hold back and asked in curiosity. “Why?”

He sighed inwardly seeing her showing interest in the days he regretted for never showing interest in Shawn’s friends group. He responded to the question, “I was visiting when aunty and uncle were visiting but we used to meet at restaurants.”

‘How is that bad luck?’

“Oh! I and Shawn used to live in the opposite flats, then Dax joined Shawn in the same apartment. We practically lived together… Shawn was saying that you have loved a girl for a long time, does she know that you are looking after me?”

Aarvi turned to him and spoke seriously, “I’m fine now, I can live alone. You should be with your girlfriend, you aren’t getting young.”

Aaron: “…”

He wasn’t sure which part she is actually concerned and curious about.

‘Not meeting her in the country U.’ Or ‘The girl he loves for so many years.’ Or ‘To live alone.’ Or ‘To tell him he is twenty-seven and he should settle soon.’

Aaron seriously responded, “The girl who I love knows whom I am looking after.”

‘How can you not know yourself?’

“If you are thinking I will let you live alone for being sweet the whole day, forget about it. I’ll not let that happen. About age, I’m just 27, not forty.”

Aarvi doubted if she was sweet. She wanted to say, ‘You don’t know the real me to say I am sweet today.’

She shook her head, “I didn’t mean any of that. I meant to say, your girlfriend will dump you if you keep running around me even after seeing me completely recovered.”

Aaron realized she is worried about breaking his relationship but he didn’t expect her to think all along that he has a girlfriend.

“Do you think I have a girlfriend?” He started to think that might be the reason Aarvi never cared about him.

Other than the office and hospital, he only spent time with her. He couldn’t believe she thought like that.