Chapter 52 — Rising Request

Zinnia.

Change.

It was the fourth time Draven changed his suit color.

"Draven, you said the blue one is finalized," I let out sternly.

Draven shook his head. "No, this color looks weird now." He twitched his lips in distaste as if the suit suddenly became uglier in a few minutes.

"A few minutes ago you were going crazy over this color. You were saying it was the perfect one for you," I pointed out, already exasperated.

"Let it be, Zinnia. What matters is his happiness," Kavita interrupted.

I sighed and glared at Clave, who shook his head with a smile.

"Of course, he will do this. He's your son after all," I taunted him. I swear anyone would think Draven and Clave actually had the same blood flowing through them with how similar the two of them could be.

Clave put on an innocent look. "I didn't teach him that. Tell your mom, Champ."

Draven slapped his forehead dramatically, sighing. "I cannot find a color, and here you two are fighting. Help me out first."

"I can help you," Kavita volunteered and took out a red suit piece. "How is this one?" She held the piece on Draven's shoulder, who was standing in front of a mirror.

"Mom, how is this?" Draven looked at me for my opinion, despite me knowing what he thought of the suit.

"Will my opinion matter?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "You will still say no and go after another one."

"No, I will wear the color you pick, Mom. Star promise." He showed me the three fingers of his right hand and placed two more fingers of his left hand on it.

I looked through the aisle of kids’ suits and pulled out a maroon color suit piece that I knew would be perfect for the occasion. I held it on another shoulder of Draven and asked, "Do you like this one?"

Draven didn't even bother to glance again at Kavita's one as he beamed, "Yes, Mom! This is the one I want. I love it."

"You will look really handsome on it, Champ," Clave commented, widening Draven’s grin.

"So can we finalize this one?" I looked at Draven, arching an eyebrow. "You sure you won't change this one?"

"No, I love it," he said with full confidence, which made me smile in relief. He may be picky like Clave, but in the end, he was also my sweet son who trusted his mother to know him the best.

Kavita quietly removed the red piece and kept it back on the counter with a smile that didn't reach up to her eyes. It was normal to feel dejected, I suppose.

"Let's go and give your measurements," Mom said and took Draven with her. Zara had already gone home as she was tired.

"Kavita," I walked to her and said, "this red color is really nice. I’m sure Draven would look handsome in it. Regardless of that, he will say that it's too bright, just like someone else I know."

I side-eyed Clave, who just ended up bursting into laughter.

"I mean, yeah, I was thinking that's too bright, but if my champ had chosen it, I would have never said anything."

I placed my hands on my hips. "So for your champ, you can accept everything. But for your wife's dress, she has to listen to you. Why such injustice?"

"I never said you cannot buy the wedding dress you love," he pointed out.

"Sure. If I bought a wedding dress you didn't like, what's the point of buying it? I want your eyes solely on me at our wedding," as soon as I said that, Clave leaned to my ear.

He whispered, "And you will, with the dress you bought. But no matter what you wear Zinnia, my eyes will always be on you. Keep it in mind."

I could almost feel my cheeks getting hot, until my gaze shifted to Kavita, who was still looking at us.

"Umm... Kavita, did you decide what you will wear to our wedding?" I decided to change the topic.

Kavita shook her head. "I am thinking of buying something today. You guys can join and give me your opinions," she offered.

"Sure, I can join you," I uttered with a smile.

"Great!" Kavita's face lightened up immediately.

"You guys can shop while I take Champ to the play zone on the ground floor," Clave informed.

"Why?" Kavita asked.

"Our shopping is done, so I think Draven will get bored if we accompany you guys. It's better if we have a father-son time instead."

"Yeah, that's better. Otherwise, Draven will keep asking when we will go home once we finish ordering his suit," I said thoughtfully.

"Oh," was all Kavita said, her voice hinting disappointment? Maybe, I was overthinking.

"Mom, let's go home. We are done, right?" Draven ran to me and held my hand with his small one.

"Draven, we have to buy Aunt Kavita's dress as well," I informed him, making him frown.

"So we cannot go home?" He pouted cutely.

"But we can go to the play zone on the ground floor," Clave said cheerfully and held Draven's hand. "What do you say?"

"Play zone? Yay! Let's go!" Draven hollered in excitement.

"Stay careful, okay? If you get hurt, I'll be very angry," I ordered Draven who nodded obediently.

"Okay, we are going then. Call me once you are done," with that, Clave left with Draven.

"I am really tired," Mom said to Kavita and me. "I'll head home now, okay?"

"Okay, Mom. Drive safely."

Mom smiled at me and left as well.

I sighed and glanced at Kavita. "Looks like it's just us. Let's go to the gown shop and find you the perfect gown."

Kavita reluctantly nodded as we walked out of the shop and then went to the gown shop.

I started looking at the gowns.

All of a sudden, my eyes fell on the perfect gorgeous blue gown. I could already picture how beautiful Kavita would look in that dress.

"Kavita," I called her and pointed my index finger at the blue gown. "How's that one? You would look perfect in it."

"Umm... I don't like this one," she mumbled.

"Oh, okay." Then I showed her a yellow one, but she didn't like that one as well. There was a green-colored one, but Kavita disliked that too.

"Well, Kavita, do you have any specific color preference or—" I was interrupted by Kavita.

"That one! I want that gown," she pointed somewhere, and when I followed that, I noticed that she liked a maroon gown.

It didn't look that much fancy. However, not everyone had the same taste in clothes. But I knew Kavita's taste, and that wasn't the kind of outfit she would wear at a wedding. Something was definitely wrong. I needed to talk to her.

"Kavita, we can shop later. How about we grab a cup of coffee at the nearby café?" I offered.

"Sure."

We went to the café and took a seat.

"Is everything okay, Zinnia?" Kavita asked me.

"For me, yes. But are you okay, Kavita?" She became quiet as soon as I asked that. Noticing that, I placed my hand over hers and said, "You can open up to me, Kavita. I know you very well. I can tell when something is bothering you."

Kavita closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, before letting out, "Zinnia, can I spend some alone time with Draven just to bond with him?"