The Traps of Black Swan

In City J

After lunch, Aarvi strolled around and reached the campsite. All the doctors from Rivas hospital knew her so they faintly smiled whereas Naomi was grinding her teeth looking at her.

Naomi had no idea Aarvi accompanied Aaron. She had thought she could get two days alone time with Aaron hence she had joined the camp knowing he is joining this year.

Aarvi was ignoring Naomi because she wasn't worth her time but Naomi greeted her purposefully with a sweet smile, "Ms. Evans, I didn't know you were coming here too."

Aarvi silently watched her face without a word. The fakeness of her sweet expression just highlighted more and more for every second passed. Noami couldn't maintain eye contact with her and started to fluster.

Then Aarvi's serene, fresh smile appeared, "Good afternoon." Aarvi wasn't an idiot. She could easily guess Naomi was behind the news that spread in Shawn's birthday party. Even though Aarvi wasn't sure if she would accept Aaron or not, if Noami dared to play, she would gladly play along.

Naomi first time saw her smile and mellow voice greeting her. She wasn't sure what was wrong with Aarvi that she suddenly became friendly. A view raised in her head that Aarvi was doing it to get close to her but her bubble burst out when Aarvi's tone turned mesmeric having no warmth, "Doctor Fisher, I am not a good actor like you. Pardon me."

Naomi failed to pull her fake smile or words on her lips. She clearly understood that Aarvi knew that she is acting friendly with her. She wanted to retort but no words supported, she wanted to look confused but her face failed to bring it up. She just had an unpleasant eloquence staring at Aarvi.

Aaron who saw Aarvi in a single trench coat turned to his secretary who had prepared an extra quilted Jacket for Aarvi on his instruction. Secretary Wen quickly passed him the jacket and stood aside.

Aaron reached her when Aarvi was about to go further inside, "Why are you wearing so little?"

Aarvi complained as she wore the jacket with his help, "I will look like a puffed balloon in this."

Those two lines were enough for Naomi to realize Aaron was warm with Aarvi who wasn't reserved with him anymore. They didn't look like a doctor and patient but more like good friends. Aaron wasn't responding to Naomi's father or his grandfather's calls in his busy schedule so the wedding process is delayed.

Naomi discerned the urgency to plan how she could force them apart quickly and marry him.

Aaron pulled the fur hoodie on Aarvi's head and smirked, "This looks better." Only her petite face was visible which looked too cute to watch.

Whoever saw his smile stunned but Aarvi rolled her eyes removing the hoodie to see big fur earmuffs in his hand. "Oh god! Do I look like a 5-year-old to you?" But she liked it.

Aaron didn't respond and put it on her head. Cladded in black among white-coated doctors, snow, and tent, Aarvi was a major highlight.

She was soon bored looking at all doctors treating the villagers. Poking Aaron, "There is a resting hut nearby, I will go there."

Aaron had seen the hut so he hummed checking on the villager, "Be careful and return soon."

Aarvi shook her head and sat on the bench to face him and explained, "They have the coal barbeque grill in the hut. I have asked to get meat and veggies. We will have dinner there." She meant to say I want to eat barbeque.

Naomi who heard her knew that only those two will be going for dinner so she tried to add in, "That's amazing, Ms.Evans, how about I join you guys?" She thought Aarvi was trying to be cute and sweet in front of Aaron to impress him.

Aarvi rejected with a straight face without thinking or batting an eyelid. She also didn't care to face Naomi, "No."

Naomi: "..." She expected Aaron to react and warn Aarvi to behave so she turned to Aaron with a troubled face.

She didn't matter to Aaron at all, he asked Aarvi without knowing somebody was having so many expectations from him, "No issues. I will come and grill so don't do anything. Just rest there, alright?"

Aarvi didn't argue and rose, "Okay. I am going." Then she collected the bags and went alone.

The difference in the past days and now is that they are talking and everything else is the same. The invisible boundary Aarvi had created wasn't there anymore which made others think they have changed but they haven't.

---

In the Wooden hut,

It was more like a cabin with a bathroom and a small open kitchen. They had an electricity connection and fireplace with only three logs left that she ignored and prepared for the grilling.

By the time Aaron reached her, she had started grilling outside the hut. She received the question as soon as he checked everything was prepared, "How do you know to use coal grills? This isn't common."

Aaron sat her on the chair at the small table and took the grill hearing her response, "Me, Shawn, and Dax didn't only enjoy three years of studying. Our every enjoyment had something to learn for one or the other one. One is this and Dax taught us."

Aaron hummed and asked, "Hadn't you learned driving here before going to country U?"

Shawn had taught her driving so she guessed he might know that, "My parents never cared to teach me and didn't allow me to enroll in any type of classes."

'They just wanted to make me weak and dependent.' She didn't voice it and internally sighed. She is really glad to have Dax and Shawn in country S or here.

"Then the dance?" Her dance moves didn't match to the noob level.

Aarvi didn't wait for the grilling to be completed, she started eating, smelling them delicious. "Dax and I learned from Shawn then we joined the class for Tango. Shawn fancies Tango, especially high noted, angry Tango." Aaron drank wine, she had to adjust with hot milk for the dinner.

Then both sat inside and spoke about random topics forgetting about the time until the power cut covering everywhere with the darkness.

Aaron instinctively pulled her to him and checked the time on his mobile to see nine in the night. An indistinctive smile appeared on his face while his hand caressed her hair, he was glad Aarvi was trying to get along with him that they even forgot about the time. "We should leave. It's very late."

Aarvi hummed and held his arm walking out. As soon as they stepped out, both were greeted with heavy cold wind and snow. Aaron realized he couldn't take Aarvi for twenty minutes walking in that wind.

'Achoo.'

Aarvi sneezed after just standing for half a minute. She quickly pulled a hoodie on her head and said, "Let's go."

"Unsafe!" Aaron said but the cabin didn't have a heater or duvet. It will be colder as the night darkens and deepens.

"Do the villagers have a snow bike? They can pick us." Aarvi suggested pulling her mobile out but heard Aaron, "We don't get network here."

Aarvi chuckled to herself after looking at the mobile, "I thought if the female lead does something stupid, they get stuck in the night without help. I didn't even do anything."

Aaron who was worried really wanted to tell her that they are going to freeze in the cold night but, "I am honored to know that I am the male lead."

Aarvi grinned mischievously in the darkness which wasn't visible to him, "Congratulations! You are one of the male leads in the reverse harem."

Aaron: "..."

He can't punish or scold her for hearing what she was thinking. Even though he knew it's just to tease him, "How many do you want?"

Aarvi silently chuckled hearing his pensive and cold tone. Her mellow voice slowly counted as if she was counting the male leads remembering some men "One... Two... Three... Four... Five..."

Aaron controlled but failed. He couldn't believe her count was increasing. Shrugging her hands off, "Then go to your other male leads." Since it was dark, he thought she would hold his hand and follow him but she didn't.

Aarvi was entertained by his reaction. Till two days back, she hadn't even thought they were going to have a relaxed conversation or tease each other and she never in her dreams thought Aaron had an adorable side too.

Aaron turned around thinking she was terrified to even move and regretted throwing a silly tantrum but saw her peek in smiling teasingly holding the mobile torch.

'Doozy.'

"Get in, don't catch a cold." He said cuing with his hand.

His smile while saying it amused her. Aarvi thought to herself while closing the door of the hut, 'He is kind of cute. Mmm...'

~~~~

Extra:

Munchkin: "Aarvi, do you like reverse harem?"

Aarvi: "It sounds interesting. Aaron set the standard high so I am thinking if anybody could reach my standard."

Aaron: "Munchkin, how dare you teach my innocent Cupcake about your dirty thoughts? You are dead when I get you."

Munchkin: "Oh ho..." (Runs away but peeks back) "Aaron, are you interested in the harem of concubines?"

Aarvi smiles like the early morning breeze, calm and cool: "I am coming for you, Munchkin."

Munchkin: (Escape)