The Traps of Black Swan

Zelda watched her grandson who was patient to the bones, can't keep his cool if she talks a word against Aarvi. And the one she was trying to make her lose control, always looked serene as a placid lake.

Instead of responding to his question straight, she dodged it, "I am old." She sighed, "I have nothing better to do."

Aaron: "..."

Even though he was talking back to Zelda repeatedly, he was being mindful of his words. He wished he could say something harsh too or just pack their things and leave. There was a homestay nearby anyway.

He stared at Zelda who looked outside ignoring him. Zelda's main intention for taking stairs was to call them for breakfast and ask them to rest after eating. But seeing him dutifully waiting for his wife, she pulled his leg.

Seeing him sitting, without raising his voice or disregarding her, Zelda never had any complaints against her grandson. After a few seconds, she hissed, "Stop giving me that look. I didn't steal your wife."

Aaron sometimes really doubted what Jordan liked in Zelda. He rolled his eyes and looked outside.

Zelda sighed, "Jordan spoils you all rotten. There should be somebody to put some fear in you and discipline you all."

Aaron turned back to Zelda. Putting fear in Aarvi? Aaron wanted to laugh at it. Jordan indeed spoils them, becomes one in them but he knew well when to hold the reins and pull tight.

And whenever anybody did anything, they always had family in mind. Discipline, are they looking like school kids that would be in fear of punishment?

Aaron didn't voice any of it. He said something that could make her quiet, "Then why are you here, Grandma? Pack your luggage. Everyone is behaving as they like. You need to put them straight."

Zelda: "..."

'This rascal.' She knew he was being over-smart with her. If she agrees to him, she will fall for his trick else she will have nothing to counter.

She stood up pretending to be grumpy and went towards the stairs, throwing her words, "I will send your breakfast here. I am going out, I won't be here for lunch."

Aaron smiled helplessly before he heaved a sigh. He wasn't sure why Aarvi wanted to meet Zelda. Was it to meet Zelda as a family? Or convince Zelda to go with them? With the current tension between Aarvi and Zelda, he felt it was hard. Of course, it was not impossible.

He heard the door unlock and the little pink face peeked out. Aarvi looked around and at the stairs. Then she whispered looking at him, "I think… I heard Grandmother's voice."

Before he could respond, she came out of the bathroom after taking a good look at him. "Woah!" She was surprised and admired him for a few seconds. Then she narrowed her eyes at him, "Aaron Rivas, tell me the truth. Are you planning to get some pretty girls? Or are you sexy only for me?"

Aaron: "..."

He was wearing nothing special. Just a simple white T-Shirt, dark blue cargo shorts, a wristwatch, and white casual shoes. So, "Somethings wrong with your brain, Cupcake."

Aarvi pretended to be dizzy, swaying towards Aaron and landed on his lap. Aaron had no choice but to hold his crazy wife and hear her say, "Yeah, my brain seemed to be short-circuited."

Aaron couldn't help but smile hearing her and seeing her. Then she poked his half-visible biceps while the rest hid behind his stretched short sleeves of the t-shirt, "Look at you all showing off today."

Aaron: "..."

Then her fingers traced his hairstyle without touching it, "And the cool hairstyle." Then she again narrowed her eyes at him, "Are you saying these are nothing?" Then her eyes widened and her eyebrows rose, "If I send you out like this in Coasta or Mocon, I will be tired of plucking out all the girls from sticking to you."

She heaved a long sigh. "Beauty is troublesome."

'Such a drama queen.' He thought and looked at the stairs. His expression turned serious, "Grandma!?"

Aarvi's eyes widened. She was flirting with him in a bathrobe because none were there. She didn't want Zelda to infuriate Aaron due to her careless behavior.

She never wants a bedroom without an ensuite. Ugh.

She quickly stood up, "I will just come, Ronron." The name was Aaron but her words were for Zelda. Then she sprinted away without looking at the stairs where none were there.

Aaron chuckled when the guest room door closed. He was sure she would quickly get ready to come out and avoid Zelda's petty tantrums.

Aarvi got ready in the clothes Aaron had picked for her. She was wearing light blue, high waist shorts, and a black lace crop top was layered with a black, floral, loose fitted, long, open shrug that reached her knees at the back. Completing her look with light snazzy jewelry and white running shoes, Aarvi smiled realizing Aaron was making her look sultry too.

She usually wears chic, kicky style dresses while going out with Shawn and Dax. Stylish and ladylike dresses whenever she went out with Aaron. Probably she would have chosen something that way if Aaron hadn't picked her outfit for the day.

After breakfast, Aarvi was amused seeing bicycles stuffed in the modified, mountain, open jeep. Aaron filled her in, "Many waterfalls and viewpoints don't have access to the car. Only bicycles would tire us out by cycling all day." Hence both vehicles. "And It's grandmother's jeep."

Before they could leave, "Wait wait wait… I want a picture to tease Shawn and Dax."

She stood in front of the car and posed for the pictures which Aaron captured.

Sophia, who was watching them with a smile, offered, "Young Master," Aaron turned around, "Shall I take your and Young Madam's pictures?"

Aaron turned back to Aarvi and saw her pearly white teeth between her pink lips shining against the sun. He didn't know she could be more excited to take pictures with him than her singles. Well, it was the same when she was little. The difference was, she wasn't shyly or innocently standing and smiling next to him, Sophia gasped, laughed looking at Aarvi dancing around him with different poses, and even demanded him to carry her on his back for some pictures.

Before leaving, Aarvi went to collect Aaron's mobile, then whispered to Sophia, "Aunty Sophia, don't tell all this to grandmother. She will scold me as a child."

Sophia chuckled hearing her as she nodded, "Don't worry, Young Madam. Have fun."

Getting on the jeep, Aarvi sent the pictures to Shawn and Dax first as she will not get network later.

Aaron was glad she was enjoying their day before it even started. He had been there to the different falls when he was very young, so they had to follow the map for a safer side to avoid entering the forest area.

-----

At Dax's villa, in Mocon

Shawn and Dax were having breakfast talking business when they heard their mobile beep at the same time. Without even touching their mobile or taking any glance at the screen, they already knew who messaged them.

Both looked at each other and grabbed their mobiles. The first picture was Aarvi sticking her tongue out at them, standing in front of a jeep with a breathtaking background behind her. In the second picture, Aaron was carrying her on his back. The man seemed to be laughing at her antics.

Shawn and Dax were happy that she was enjoying her time in the village so their focus went on the scenic background and the jeep behind them that had bicycles.

[Damn! Little heart, are you guys going out? I should have tagged along.]

[Dum Dum, you won't mind a third wheel, do you?]

Aarvi: [The pretty subscriber you are trying to reach is busy with her hot husband. Please reach her in the evening. Thank you.]

Dax and Shawn chuckled reading her message and kept their mobiles away. Dax glanced at Shawn who lightened after Aarvi contacted them.

Still curious about his behavior at night, "Shawn…" He called and heard him hum with a spoonful of breakfast in his mouth, "Did you fall for somebody?" He asked.

'Pfft'

Shawn choked on his food and started coughing hard, patting his chest. Pushing the water glass closer to him, Dax was entertained so he watched Shawn calm down before he could throw some more random questions.