The Traps of Black Swan

Getting friend-zoned right on the face, Aaron realized there doesn't exist a confession that could be smoothest. And he was wrong in thinking he could fool her but innocence isn't shallow.

However he was kind of satisfied that she didn't say yes because he asked her, she didn't say yes because he liked her and she didn't say yes to go with the flow or have a chance.

"Are you rejecting me?" He asked to know her response.

Ava started nibbling her lips. She wasn't thinking of whether to accept and be his girlfriend. She didn't even know if she had the right to say yes. She spoke hesitantly, hoping she won't hurt Aaron and lose a friend, "Brother Zain told me not to get a boyfriend till sixteen."

Such a sweet rejection.

Sighing to himself, Aaron invalidated her reason without batting an eyelid, "Then be my girlfriend after sixteen." His words were like an order but he sounded sincere and sweet that made it hard to reject.

Ava stared at his handsome face. Now, she didn't know whether to accept or reject it. If she should accept, then why? If she had to reject him, then why?

Aaron didn't want to burden her or force her. He rubbed her head to ease her up as he stood up, "Let me drop you home, it's getting late."

'Late?' Ava's back stiffened remembering her mother. She looked around, it was already dark and she didn't even realize it. She quickly grabbed Aaron's hand to check the time on his wristwatch, then she breathed a short sigh of relief. 

There were still twenty minutes to seven. Without knowing they had spent one hour in the play area.

"Senior Aaron, I gotta go. Bye." She hurriedly declared and turned around to start running. Anyway, Aaron held her hand and took her to the car hearing her chatter that she was late.

Her fifteen minutes walk reduced to five minutes, She thanked him, bid him before running towards the door of the villa. Aaron only left once he made sure she went inside.

….

Following three days, Aaron and Nikun were worried about Ava who didn't go to school or visit them. Aaron started blaming himself for taking up an hour, as it could be a reason to get punished by her heartless mother.

When she finally returned, she was pale and weak. She smiled at them as usual but didn't tell them what happened at the house on her birthday. She had just said she was down with a fever.

Aaron and Nikun could only sigh hearing her. "Wait, I will just come," Aaron said to help her out with her studies, after stocking the coffee beans. He went to the storage room without noticing Ava recalled that he had asked her to be his girlfriend, might ask her again.

When he came out of the storage room, he involuntarily turned to the table where Ava sits to write. She vanished, leaving her bag on the chair. He looked around as he served the customers but didn't get a glimpse of her. 

"Did you see Ava?" Aaron asked Nikun.

Nikun hummed as he handed the bill to a customer, "She just went there." He pointed away.

Aaron realized she was hiding from him. Ava was following him but she would hide as soon he was turning to her. If he didn't know why she was doing it, he would have really misunderstood her.

That repeated for two more days, she was saying hello then eating her cupcake and playing hide and seek with him before bidding bye. Aaron was finding it funny until he realized he might be distracting her. 

So to bring her out, he baked cupcakes in a different flavor and sounded loud enough to reach the hiding ears, "Nick, do you wanna try cupcakes? It's Apple flavored this time."

Nikun glanced at Aaron knowing he was teasing Ava. "Where is our cupcakes' glutton?" He questioned.

Ava gulped and licked her lips looking at the tray full of cupcakes. She slowly went out and stood at the other side of the counter watching Aaron skillfully piping the cream on each cupcake.

Those were drool-worthy and smelled delicious making her mouth watery. Chewing her lip, her sneaky hand slowly made its way up to the cupcakes but earned a flick on her backhand. She whined rubbing her backhand. 

Going to Nikun, she paid for a new cupcake thinking Aaron won't be able to say no. She proudly placed a bill next to the tray showing she was smart and again reached for the cupcake.

However, Aaron flicked on her hand harder, "Senior Aaron, I have paid for it."

He carelessly responded, "When did I say these are for sale?"

Ava: "..."

She sulked watching him taking his time to garnish the 24 cupcakes and gulped repeatedly looking at the mouth-savoring cupcakes. She let go of her pride and asked in jittery, "If I will become your girlfriend, will you give me?"

Aaron: "..."

He wanted to dump all the cupcakes into the bin. How could he accept that he lost to the cupcakes he had baked for her?

"Nope." He grumpily walked with the cupcakes tray when her hand was trying to reach the cupcake, again. 

She threw her tantrum, "I won't be your girlfriend. Hmph." It was loud enough to be heard by the people around the counter.

'Girlfriend?' Nikun: "..."

Nikun kind of knew it couldn't be out of Ava's lips first. He turned to Aaron who retorted back childishly, "Fine, cupcakes are out of the menu."

Nikun: "..."

His long thought guess was right, His friend had fallen for the little girl. 'Aaron Rivas, Why don't you hear how you sound? You are jealous of cupcakes.'

Ava was flustered hearing Aaron, "Yo-you can't do that. I-I…" She desperately tried to look for a reason to save her cupcakes and blurted out, "I will complain to the boss."

Aaron smirked evilly as he crossed his arms over his chest. His brows lifted in wonder, "I am the boss, I am the pâtissier. I can do it." He wanted to win on his cupcakes at any cost.

Nikun: "..."

This was the first time Nikun was seeing his friend countering childishly. He was speechless so he didn't stop and enjoyed his friend's unseen side.

Ava was at loss, gaining the lower hand. She didn't know that, she had thought he and Nikun were working at a cafe as part-timers. "I-I will give a one-star review." She retorted as a customer, popping up a finger from her hand.

Aaron scoffed half shrugging his shoulders, "One bad rating doesn't matter."

Nikun: "..."

'Are you still my bro?'

The bantering of the two continued without giving up. One wanted to save the cupcakes, the other one didn't want to lose against the cupcake. 

Nikun and most of the customers were too intrigued to miss it. So they looked at two who were arguing like silly lovers.

At one point, a couple commented, "They are arguing like us." They giggled. They were husband and wife.

Aaron bit his tongue and Ava flushed bright red.  She looked at Aaron and wanted to hiss as 'I won't talk to you anymore.' so that he gives in to her but she was afraid he might never talk to her or get angry.

She had very few friends and she liked to be with Aaron and Nikun more than with anybody, so she didn't want to lose them due to her stupidity. Biting back her words, she went to her table with the fear of losing two and her life going back to the same world, locked inside the four walls.