The Traps of Black Swan

The cooking had been completed. Sean, who made chocolate globes, went to keep them in the freezer. Aarvi was washing her hands asking the Shadow team to help themselves and eat. She was going to take tissues when her eyes landed at the door.

Aarvi smiled looking at Aaron standing in trousers and shirt with his blazer on his arm. She lifted her hands and asked for a hug. Her initial plan was to take care of office work, going home, and cooking for Aaron, Shawn and Dax. Dax would be staying with them until he recovers. However, all her plans changed due to Sean.

Aaron went inside as his eyes swept over the kitchen counter, there was a full course of dishes. His eyes landed back on his Cupcake. She didn't look exhausted after so much cooking, instead… She was smiling brightly at his presence.

Instead of hugging her, he pulled the tissues and dried her wet hands looking at her puffed cheeks. 

Sean came out of the storage section and paused looking at Aaron carefully taking care of Aarvi. He slowly moved, watching Aarvi go to Aaron's arms. He wished she couldn't touch Aaron too, just like others.

Aarvi glanced behind and saw the Shadow team was frozen after the arrival of Aaron, "We need to leave after dinner. Start eating."

They started serving themselves when Aaron whispered near her ear, keeping his arm around her, "Your little boyfriend looks… Sad." Aaron felt like the little guy had truly fallen for his wife.

Aarvi gently elbowed him as she cued Sean to go closer. "Aaron, Sean... Sean, my husband. Let's eat."  After the introduction, Aarvi went to serve the plates while Sean and Aaron looked at each other.

Aaron could sense the envy of Sean, he preferred not to rub salt. "I heard a lot about you, Sean Harmon." Then he passed by Sean and reached his wife.

Aarvi served soup to a bowl and placed it on a plate. "Sean…" She passed him first, like an elder sister. However, that small gesture was enough to make Sean smile like a little fool.

Aarvi didn't notice him and served another bowl, "Ronron, Sean made this soup. I tasted it, I liked the sourness. Try it." Turning around, she blew over the hot soup and fed it to Aaron.

Aaron tasted it. It wasn't as perfect as sweet and sour, there was some personal touch added to it and it was tasty. "It tastes good, Sean." He treated Sean fairly as he would treat any little brother of his friends. Aaron never felt he should guard up against the admirers of his Cupcake, so he didn't worry about him or anybody being around his wife.

Sean felt too hard to swallow the soup after witnessing the couple and nothing tasted in his mouth. 

The Shadow team was used to Aaron and Aarvi together so they found nothing different and quickly ate food so that they could check the safety outside.

"Cupcake, you should have changed your heels while cooking," Aaron said, looking at her heels. He looked around for a chair but saw nothing. So he carried her up and placed her on the different counter.

Sean clearly heard the nickname Aarvi calls Aaron. He felt like it was kept when they were young. And 'Cupcake' sounded so sweet especially when her eyes sparkled and her attention shifted to Aaron.

Sean barely enjoyed the dinner watching the couple. He grimaced silently whenever they touched each other, as simple as just wiping the corner of the lips or tucking her hair strands away or pinch on the cheeks. He was utterly silent unlike how he was speaking earlier with Aarvi. She didn't poke in either. She wanted Sean to give up what he had in his head. 

Nevertheless, Sean focused on how well Aaron was making sure Aarvi's negligible needs and indulged her without letting her do anything.

He had thought Leon was the best man as a husband to Eliza. After knowing it was all drama, he had thought it was all in movies and dramas. Now he feels the best husband does exist. He wished to be as caring and loving as Aaron and he wanted Aarvi, especially after looking at her so simple, smiling, mischief, and attentive of Aaron.

To get her, he has to stand on his feet and achieve something. Sean was determined to learn a lot and do something with his life first...

He heard Aarvi crying as she was full and Aaron repeating the last spoon. If in the past Sean probably would have said, 'She said enough.' but he knew Aaron just wanted her to eat well.

He interrupted them, "Aarvi, why did you take a week-long leave for me?"

Aarvi turned to him. After tasting his dishes and cooking with him, Aarvi wanted him to enjoy the local specialty of the country. Sean just knows signature dishes as he was born in an upper circle and grew up the same. So she thought he shouldn't waste time sitting at home during this week.

She added some lie to her arrangements, "Your brother has arranged some field trips for you. Enjoy the food and resume your classes from Monday."

Aaron knew it was her who was going to arrange it. But she didn't want Sean to assume anything. He added, "All the best for your new journey."

Sean was nodding hearing Aarvi when he heard Aaron. Before him, Aarvi spoke, "Wait, no farewell yet. We made dessert too. I will get it." Aarvi jumped off the counter. She sprinted away asking Sean, "Sean, could you warm the cinnamon cream."

"On it," Sean responded and quickly got into work.

Aaron watched Sean. Probably Sean was enjoying cooking but his driving force was Aarvi. Aaron hoped Sean could manage to let go of her soon. Even if he wasn't there, he knew Sean couldn't have Aarvi.

Aarvi returned quickly and placed the dessert in front of Sean. The latter pushed the little porcelain jar to Aarvi. The latter gave it back, "You made the melting chocolate ball for me. So take the honor as a chef."

Sean obediently heard Aarvi who recorded a video of him on his mobile. She handed him the mobile back and gave him some advice. "You were regular over your social media. You used to enjoy uploading new pictures and videos of yourself. You don't have to back away just because you are living a different lifestyle now. I know your old friends might laugh at you and those friends don't deserve to be in your life. You will know who cares for you... Go ahead, start your new life."

She took a spoon of brownie, ice cream, and hot fudge. "Sometimes your new experience will be bitter, sometimes sweet. And that's life. That's how you learn to live. You might fail if the path is rough. Keep trying till the path becomes smooth for you, but never give up."

Aarvi felt like she said too much. She took a bite and smiled at Aaron seeing him amused. Suddenly a thought crossed her mind. She was speaking about his life, she flustered thinking Sean might take it as about her. Without showing her emotions on her face, she quickly added, "Don't covet what is not yours." She wanted to add 'don't be like your elder brother' but avoided it, keeping Leon away from their topic.

Aaron hid his smile hearing her last words. His wife clearly drew the line. Seeing her still, lifting her brows at Sean, he turned to Sean who was still mulling over her words to understand.

"T-that's a lot." Sean's voice trailed. He thought he understood the literal meaning unless she had some hiding meaning in it.

Aarvi and Aaron looked at each other and chuckled. Before the couple could share the spoon, Sean shoved another spoon to Aaron's hand and the latter had to control laughing at him. 

Was he hurting the little guy's feelings? If he knew, he would have controlled himself from indulging his wife in front of him.

Aarvi was thinking of sending Sean with the Shadow team member, Aaron suggested dropping Sean and it could be a small drive for them. 

So the couple dropped off Sean at Maple regency and then they spent some time at lake Huron, cuddling and reminiscing how they used to sit and complete homework on the wooden deck. In the end, Aaron regretted provoking his Cupcake and felt his cheeks hurt when she was adamant about giving all the kisses for the cupcakes she ate in the past 2 years.

'A cupcake cost the price and kiss to the chef..' The teen Aaron's dialogue.