I was surprised to find roses on my desk the next morning when I entered his office. It was not just any bouquet, but a large one.
Who placed that on my table? This was a large block on my table, so instead of appreciating the flowers, I threw them away. It's just a distraction from my work, plus chocolates aren't my thing, so I put it on the edge.
The room was at peace; no one would look at me and follow whatever I did. I don't know why he always follows me with a look as if I will do something to destroy him.
After a few hours, when the door opened, I looked at who it was, and our gazes connected, but he quickly averted his gaze and went out and searched for someone. His gaze shifted to the flowers in the trash, and his optimistic expression was replaced with annoyance.
"You didn't like it?" His step was lightning-fast as he went at me. "I bought this for you." My eyes widened as he headed to the trashcan and got the flowers, probably he had clearly lost his appetite.
"Ahh." I had to come up with a rationale so I won't offend him. "I don't like roses." When I said that, his eyes lit up.
"What flowers do you like?" A genuine smile plastered on his face, and I couldn't resist telling him what I liked.
"Tulips," I whispered, but it was enough for him to hear.
***
The next day, there were tulips and he was on the other side of my table. When he spotted me, he immediately rose up from his perch. I just smiled and bowed slightly in greeting.
"What's that?"
"What did you see? A dinosaur?" He gave me a sarcastic reply and I just wanted to strangle his neck. He just can't get rid of his nasty response to me. I rolled my eyes and sat down at the table. That's why I became aware he was perplexed.
"If you don't have anything to say, you can leave; I have work to do." I noticed that he is more manly-scented than before, or maybe I'm just too focused on him lately, but I wondered why I was criticizing that too.
"What? You won't even accept my flowers?" he asked in disbelief, and I winced.
"Ahh, that's a flower and not a dinosaur?" I wasn't in the mood, and he was the reason.
It was a lunch break when someone delivered something for both of us. The food was on the table near him; he watched my every move and didn't let me out because we were supposed to eat here inside. I wondered what he was thinking.
"I need to eat,"
"The food is on the table." He pointed at the food using his mouth, but I didn't want to eat us together at the same time because I knew how my heart would react. "If you don't want to eat with me, then I won't eat with you," he summed up.
But I would still get uncomfortable whenever his eyes darted on me while eating, so I fought my hunger. The man was also tough and didn't eat as I did. I don't know why we took pride in who would be first to give up.
I looked at the food; it was my favorite dish, so I hoped I could handle it if I didn't get distracted. When I couldn't do it anymore, I'd just give up because I might collapse here, and that would be even more embarrassing.
I also waited for a few hours. It was past two in the afternoon when I decided to get up and eat the fvcking food because my mouth was aching from chewing the air. The man still didn't move, and just looking at his laptop, I pouted and held my temple.
Should I ask him to eat with me, or should I just eat alone? But isn't it too rude if I don't invite him when, in fact, it was his treat?
"Raven." I fake a cough and fix my voice because it seems like something is blocking my throat. "Let's eat," I invited, and in less than a second, he was next to me. My eyes enlarged because of how fast he was by my side.
We both just ate to respect the meal, so I kept modest despite my wanting to see him because he was so close to me. I completed what I was doing and dashed home since they had materialized in front of me again.
It was Saturday, and thankfully, I didn't have work today because it was the weekend, unless Raven had instructed me to come in because he needed something from me. So far, I have not been able to work during the weekend. I was meditating on my lawn when a package arrived unexpectedly.
Did I order something? I asked myself in the back of my mind and went to the gate to talk to the driver.
"I didn't order anything." I said goodbye to him, but he showed me the paper with my complete name and address written on it.
"What is that?" I just ask because our conversation might end somewhere else and a lot of eyes are looking at my behavior.
"Rice, ma'am, and then ten thousand dollars worth of groceries." My jaw dropped. Who would make fun of me this time? Oh god, how dare they?
"How much will I pay?" I don't have a choice but to just pay because if I deny that it's mine, they might just say I was just lying. This is still a big scandal, but it is a pain in my ass.
"It's paid, ma'am." His statement surprised me even more.
"Excuse me?"
"This is paid, and we will just deliver this to you." He smiled at me as if they were just holding their breath, but I needed to make sure it was mine.
"Give me the paper, maybe you just made a mistake." He handed me the papers, and my hands went to my mouth. My eyes widened at what I saw. It was indeed my name and my exact address.
"Holy sh*t!" I couldn't stop cursing and opened the gate voluntarily. Whoever gave this to me, I can't do anything but accept the grace He gave.
Did I win a raffle? A promo or what?
I asked the men, but they said that there was only one man who ordered them, and that man paid them. I wonder who gave it; he wasted money just for me.
I didn't refuse, and after the men left, I also arranged what they gave me. There were plenty of sacks of rice, and he almost filled the space in my stock room because of his huge amount. I also used my two fridges because someone delivered them to me the other day, and until now I don't know who the hell gave this to me.
My body ached after they arranged them, and I almost fell asleep because it was already afternoon when I finished. I also cleaned the house, so it took me the afternoon after cooking and eating, so it really took a long time.
***
I was surprised when, after that day, someone delivered other things to me. He would buy me flowers and deliver them to my house and sometimes at the office. Sometimes sofas, cleaners, and other things missing from the house that he ordered would just arrive. I always told him not to be so showy, but he didn't seem to hear anything. I also found out that he was the one behind the home deliveries when I discovered it in the receipt that was on his desk.
"What's this?" I pointed to the chocolates and black card bouquet on my table. "I won't accept that." I widened my eyes at him, and he ran towards me just to meet me.
I don't know why he was doing this—if this was a peace offering or if he just didn't want the two of us to fall apart.
"It's for you," he insisted.
"Have you gone mad, Raven?" I shook my head multiple times. "I'm not going to take that, so take your black cards back!"
"I won't; I already gave that to you, so there's nothing to take back." He shrugged and took them, then gave them to me. "Come on, baby, will you let me take it?" He raises his eyebrows, so I don't understand why he likes what he does.
It's been a week since he has done this; he didn't say anything about what it was; he just gave it all of a sudden.
"All you give to me is too much, Raven but I still accepted it." I pointed at the cards. "But this? It was too much for this." I sighed. He closed his mouth. "I can accept all your gifts, Raven, but these? It's a big no," I explained to him, explaining why I wouldn't be able to accept his gift.
I was born as an independent woman, and a man's money would never make my heart flutter. I want effort; I want things that are actually made by work because I am like that to others. But I understand Raven because what we have is just a deal.
"If this is a peace offering, we're fine." If he wants us to congratulate each other on Lethia, I accept that; he doesn't need to give everything.
"For what?" His forehead knotted, and I winced.
"About Lethia?"
"All this time, that's what you're thinking about what I've given and what I'm doing?"
"Why? What exactly? Isn't that all there is to it?" I laughed and asked, What else?
"Look, I am courting you, okay? And not that fvcking peace offering," he snarled, so I just stared.