I Can't Love you, Mr. President

Six

“Hello, Azura! It's so great to see you again!” Damian exclaimed while I stood there rather flabbergasted.

“What happened?” I stuttered confusedly.

“Oh, this old thing?” Damian teased with a cheerful smile looking around the wheelchair even when I found nothing funny, “I got in a small accident not too long ago, it's nothing serious,” he shrugged nonchalantly.

“Darling, it's truly not a big deal. He's been moving his legs a bit more recently even, it's just a temporary paralyzation,” Freya assured me.

I sighed, not figuring out the kind of words to use in such a situation. I stared admiringly at Damian as he did at me. I grabbed the handles of the wheelchair, pushing him towards the living room as we sat and discussed randomly.,

“How are Samantha, Esther and Prince? Are they around?” I inquired.

“Oh no, they are actually out on travels for work and miscellaneous this Easter,” Freya smiled, trying to hide the emotions exposing her through her eyes.

I frowned, staring between Damian and Freya who suddenly seemed rather sombre, “You mean no one else is around for Easter?” I asked.

Damian's face fell, using his wheelchair to strictly face the television while Freya's front was giving in to my questions, “Azurea, we haven't seen any of our children, foster or not, in about three years now. You're the only consistent one that we are very appreciative of.”

“After all you've done for them? The least they could do is drop a call,” I defended, getting rather worked up already.

“But they don't,” Damian said sternly but you could hear the pain in his hoarse voice, “They don't drop calls, when we try to call, they claim so busy, and then never call back. We love our children, we love your efforts to always call as well but they should really do better,” Damian complained, of reasonable cause.

I sighed, at a loss of words. I took Freya's hand beside me, giving it a reassuring squeeze as her eyes brimmed with tears, “At least you're here to celebrate Easter with us,” she muttered solemnly.

I smiled, reserving my words as I knew it wasn't the right time to tell of my brief visit. I gave her hand another reassuring squeeze, and her lips curled into a soft smile, emphasizing her gorgeous-looking wrinkles.

We spent the rest of the day together on the joyous occasion, helping Freya in the kitchen once again was a joy to experience again and I savoured each moment now that I knew they don't get to do this much with the ones they supposedly raised.

As per tradition, we distributed some food to the homeless in some areas, then came back to enjoy our own time. We cracked jokes and reminisced about my childhood. I was filled with glee and embarrassment as they reminded me and laughed at all my stubborn times.

Some things never change.

“Azura,” Damian called suddenly, traces of laughter still in his mouth as he clanked and cleared his plate, reaching out to some more.

“Yes, Damian?” I answered.

“What about the meeting that was supposed to be held today?” He asked sternly.

I felt flushed suddenly, not wanting to face Freya's confused face, “What's that?” Her voice pitched.

I sighed, wondering how Damian knew about the meeting and why he chose to bring that up when it was already dark out. I cleared my throat, straightening up slightly, “I shifted the meeting till tomorrow, I wanted to stay with you two a bit longer. I might end up sleeping over.”

“Oh, darling. Please, don't let what we said destroy your plans,” Freya cooed pitifully.

“I didn't destroy my plans, I just figured my first proper day back to Singapore shouldn't be in a stuffy conference room, I prefer to spend it with you guys,” I shrugged.

“I really hope so,” Damian sighed, “I heard you over the phone earlier so I just wanted to make sure you weren't using pity to stay with us this Easter.”

“Not at all,” I shook my head.

“Good,” he nodded, taking a spoon to his mouth again, an awkward silence lingering as we continued our dishes, “We put you through your school because we saw your potential, where you are right now is solely by your strengths, don't jeopardize that for a visit,” he warned.

“You two are worth it,” I admitted.

He kissed his teeth, waving dismissively as well, “We've done our part, it's not your fault the rest of our children don't call or visit,” he shrugged.

“Honey!” Freya warned calmly.

“It's the truth, my love,” he shrugged, the pain vivid in his voice, “It's not a bad thing either, it's just rather sad if I'm being sincere.”

I sighed, not saying anything at first, “I'm staying for a bit longer. Whenever we all finish gossiping, I'll leave for my place,” I smiled.

“Alright, Azura,” he smiled, “I'm really happy to have you here again.”

“I'm happy to be here too, Damian,” I smiled back.

The sky grew darker and darker by the minute while we all caught up on the recent. My mind was clear and peaceful whenever I was around these two, such angels they were, and how horrible it was for the rest of their foster children not to want to even drop a call if not able to visit, talkless of their biologicals.

I took the courtesy of tucking both of them in, which they thought was a silly idea but I insisted. I followed Damian especially upstairs and I stayed up with them till they eventually drifted to sleep, which didn't take so long by evidence of the multiple yawns they were echoing earlier.

Damian turned to me as I was seated beside their bed, a contagious smile on his sleepy face, “I'm really glad you came to visit, my dear,” he muttered sleepily.

His words made me smile even wider, my cheeks hurting badly, “I'm glad I could be here too.”

He groaned, and snoring followed, indicating he had slept off. I covered the duvet properly on them before taking my leave. Luckily, they need not worry about the locking doors because they did those automatically.

As I got home, I treated myself to a small snack before getting myself to bed, rather exhausted from the day.

All I had to do was make it to tomorrow.

I missed my morning jogs to the gym here, unfortunately, it had to be a public gym as early as 3 am so I didn't have to encounter anyone who would start asking for stuff or staring awkwardly at me.

Unfortunately, there was one particular person there that I never could have expected in a million years to be there by such a time.

“Mrs Kuorus, good morning, a pleasure to see you again. I didn't have the chance to ask how you saw the event,” he asked in that annoying formally-american voice.

“It was quite alright, thank you. Lovely party it was,” My heart seemed to ache in a way I didn't understand, feeling suddenly uneasy in my stomach.

“Thank you,” he smiled, “You're here to work out?” He asked, seemingly nervous.

I frowned, rather confused, “I suppose so,” I answered shocked.

“I'll leave you to it then,” he nodded, raising a dismissing hand.

I dashed him a small smile that dropped almost as quickly, making my way to the familiar machines. Still, I could feel his gaze on me, like a creepy man staring through my soul for some odd reason and would turn back once I caught him at it. I sneakily had to turn on my location, just in case. Only heaven knows what these rich people do for recreation.

Who even asks if one is here to workout at a gym?

Once I finished, I made my way right out the door which I walked in from as fast as I could, right on time as well because people had begun to enter bit by bit, some even greeted and stared even more than Mr. President was.

Speaking of which, it was as if he wanted to stop me on my way out, but, as usual, I couldn't give him the light of day. It was too dark out to even do that.

I was rather late already to get prepared for my long day at the office. I had shifted yesterday's work and meetings to today, it was worth it but I was about to go through hell on earth today.

I went to very comfortable corporate wear, something I could easily move around in but was indeed nothing less than gorgeous. As I encountered the traffic, I released a concerned moan before it dawned on me that I could get there anytime I felt like it.

I wouldn't dare be late but…still.

I greeted through the halls the many individuals nodding and greeting ‘good morning’. The halls smelt of new furniture, just as perfect as I had wanted it to smell from when I was younger.

“Good morning, Azura,” one of the directors and my closest business partner, Shawn, greeted.

“Good morning, Shawn,” I replied enthusiastically, “I'm very sorry about the cancellations yesterday, I had to stay with my parents a bit longer,” I admitted.

“Oh no worries,” he shrugged it off dismissively, “We've been waiting for you, let's get to work, shall we?” He stretched out his hand for me to take the lead politely.

“Let's start this day, I guess,” I sighed.

As I stepped into the conference room, I was met with a comfortable and cheerful scenery that made me feel welcome, almost didn't make the day and workload seem so bad.

Each person came to greet me one by one as I dropped my bag steady on the table, preparing for the meeting with only a minute left before the minute-taking was to start.

I had finished the set-up nearly ten minutes into the meeting time which was unlike me. I was never late, nor was I ever queasy or frantic. My palms were sweaty for some reason, my heart aching in my throat.

I hadn't felt like this in a long while, I wasn't going to start cracking at such an important meeting.

I took a glance at Shawn's comforting smile, as if he knew what was happening. I smiled back, taking a deep breath before facing back at the board, ready to address them.

Before I could move my lips, bursting through the door with his composure still on his head, his dashing suit and cologne that covered the rest of the scents in the room, was Mr Hallard.

Why is my heart aching?

“Pardon me–”

“You're late,” I interrupted sternly, even if I felt weirdly jittery at the sight of him, I stood my ground, “Surely you should have asked around, never come late to Ms Kuorus's meetings, especially one as important as this one,” I deadpanned, a thin line as my lips, contrasting the feelings raging through me.

“My sincerest apologies, Ms Kuorus,” he said dryly, attempting to sit.

The jittery feeling was soon replaced with provoked anger of such nonchalance, “Manners manners,” I warned, “I don't remember telling you to sit," I warned quite harshly.

Everyone's face seemed to turn pale towards me with fear, but I stood my solid ground as my jaw clenched with anger just bare looking at that smug look ok his face.

He thinks I'm a joke? I'm furious in here and he's f*****g smiling!?