Almost

Live The Present

Violet's POV

I'm getting in to my apartment after the very tiring and horrible date at the concert. I feel so exhausted. The only thing that's good is that the concert has good music. That's all.

Thinking about the concert, I remember that I met Aaron. Someone that I least expected to meet. It's not like I don't want to meet him anyway. It's just like I always thought that it would be impossible to meet him again. Cause we had our own lives and I moved to another city. Can't stop thinking about it, I feel like I want to have some flashback.

I walk to my drawer, sliding out the third rack. I found navy blue colored box. I take it out and bring it to my bed. I sit on the middle of the bed, I begin to open the box when my phone is ringing. Watching the caller ID, it's Raymond Wood. My beloved boyfriend.

"yes, baby?". Answering the phone.

"what are you doing?". He say it with calm tone.

"just laying on the bed. You?"

"I'm going to work, something came up so had to fix it immediately"

"it's almost midnight already. Can't it wait till the morning?"

"I'm afraid that it can't. It's so urgent. I call you just to tell you that. So you can sleep first, no need to wait for me to go to bed"

"aren't you tired, baby? Poor you. Wish I could be there and accompanying you"

"there's no need, darling. Just sleep well and dream of me. That would be enough". He can be sweet sometimes. Actually he is a good man, his love is sincere and I can feel it and that is the reason why I love him. I feel needed I feel wanted, I feel loved, and I feel cared. The only thing that become his minus is his emotions, he can't control it sometimes (some couple of times). But I still try to deal with it.

I chuckle and set the box aside to my bedside table, lay my body on the bed, grabbing my lovely bolster. "okay honey, I'll do that. I'll see you in my dream. Don't force yourself, okay?". I smile.

"okay, babe. Goodnight, I love you"

"I love you too baby". Then he hang up the call. I turn off the lamp and begin to sleep.

-----

I wake up early today. Planning on preparing breakfast for Ray and send it to his office before going to work. So I get up from bed and start preparing the ingredients. I want to cook a simple yet special breakfast for him hoping he can feel better after working overnight. I want to give him a little surprise to not telling him that I'm going to his office this morning. 

I begin to prepare the ingredients. I prepare the rice cause I want to cook fried rice with rolled egg, his favourite.

The food is ready and I go to bathroom to bath, then I put on make up, dress nicely. I wear high waist palazzo, loose blouse and half button to make a casual look, put on necklace and updo my hair to loose ponytail, then wear black stiletto to give the formal touch that fit for work. 

-----

I arrived to his office, and walk in to receptionist. I can feel the, fresh air before entering the building. Ah it is gonna be a good day. 

"good morning Ms. Calfuray, what can I do for you?" receptionist greet me with my last name. She knows me because I often came here for business matter, and for personal matter (meeting my boyfriend). So the company where I worked for is having a good relationship with his company that he worked for. They have projects together, my company is in real estate and his company is in building construction. Me as the Public Relations Manager and he as the Quality Control Manager. Yes we have kind of high position in our job and I'm grateful for that. 

"morning, mandy". I smile at her, she's so nice and have a beautiful smile makes everyone that see it want to smile too. 

"it's too early for meeting. Let me guess.. Here for Mr. Wood, right?". She's can be so friendly and polite when in need. 

"nice guess. So has he arrived yet?" 

"let me see..". She begin to check from the server cause every employee that come to work has to check in and integrated in computer. "yes, he is the first one that come to the office today" 

"okay, can I go there mandy? I want to give him surprise because I didn't tell him that I will be here" 

"sure. He's a bit free these days and to know that his girlfriend come to him and bring breakfast, he must be happy"

"free? He said he is busy and worked overnight yesterday". I confused. 

"oh? That's all I know. I'm just a receptionist, not knowing every detail of this company" 

"that's fine Mandy. Okay I'll go up now, see you" 

"see you". 

I walk to the elevator, pressing 7th floor

Thinking about what Mandy has said, it's impossible that he's not busy. He is kind of person that put so much of himself in work. Think of that, so I let it off. 

Ding! 

The elevator has reach 7th floor and I walk right through his office. I knock on his door. I hear silence. So I knocked it again. Still no one answer. So I just go in since the door is unlocked.

No one is here. Maybe he grab some coffee at the pantry. So I sit at the sofa across his desk. Taking out the lunch box and arrange it on the coffee table. With smile, thinking about how shocked he is when he finds out that I'm in his office. 

"you should come again to my place tonight, Ray. That was fun". I hear the conversation from outside. I'm sure that it's a girl. And she seems like talking with Ray.

"maybe next time. My girlfriend might be suspicious about it if she knows that I always work overnight". Yes, that is Ray. 

"hmm okay then, call me again if you need me or you can just come to my place. I will just go to my desk now. Got a lot to be done"

"ok, see you". From what I've heard, they are flirting with each other. What the hell! 

I hear a footsteps getting closer to the door, and hurriedly walk back to sofa as I without my consciousness walk closer to the door to hear the conversation. 

The door has opened. I look to someone who just entered the room. So that is really Ray, my Ray. 

He look surprised. His eyer get wider, his mouth open, enough to express how surprised he is. I manage myself to stay calm and trying to smile "hi Ray..". That's all I can say. 

"Violet, why are you here?". He respond it as he walk to the sofa. Still standing and not sit beside me. He still look surprise, like he doesn't believe what he see in his eyes right now. 

"trying to surprise you. I made you breakfast. You worked overnight so I'm afraid that you forget to eat. Have you had a breakfast?". I'm still trying to act calm. 

"oh.. That.. That was good. I didn't expect you to be here. Breakfast? I just had it. No.. I mean I can eat it. It looks delicious. Thanks, babe".

"so you can sit beside me now". I say as I tap the sofa, sign him to sit beside me. 

"o.. Okay.. That looks really good". He seems so nervous. 

I smile, trying to act calm can be so hard this time. "so how's work these days? Is it tiring ?". I look straight to his eyes to see if he's lie or not. Bu he seems to avoiding mine. 

"mmm.. Kind of. Some people are so hard to deal with . It.. It's so hard to meet their expectations with ours."

"hmm.. Okay. So what would you do about that?" 

"that's how business work. I just have to find another agency to back everything up."

"so that is your way to solve it?" 

"what are you talking about?" he respond it and seems confused about my reaction.

"about us.. You find another person to do what I can't do. Cause I can't give you what you expected me to give you.". I look down, I'm afraid he can see that my eyes begin shed tears. 

"what do you mean? I... I... I don't get it. We talk about work, right? "

I look up to him. I meet his eyes. He seems nervous and confused at the same time. "I overheard your conversation with that girl. I don't know who she is but all I know is that you spend the night with her. Not working overnight. Why are you lying to me". I still manage to try to calm myself down cause I don't want to be so emotional at the office. 

"Violet.. It's not what it looks like. It's not what you think it'd be. We are just... I just...". He close his eyes as he pause. Taking a deep breath as he continue. "yeah.. It is what you think it'd be". 

I gasp and my tears begin to fall down like a waterfall. I didn't expect him to be this honest about it. "why??.. Why did you do this?". I cry but trying hard to keep my self calm. 

"I'm sorry Violet. I shouldn't have done this to you. It's my fault" 

"is it because I can't give you what you want?" 

"Violet.. Please don't say that." 

"Ray, the way you say it.. Make it more clearly that that's the reason why you did that. Why couldn't you just continue lying? I have a high hopes on us. We plan everything for our future. It looks like it will be real sooner or later.". I can't hold my tears."but you.. But you just ruined it. It makes me wonder, Do you ever love me? Is that why you were always avoiding every topics about engagement and wedding lately? Did she change you heart?"

"nooo.. no Violet. I love you, truly. I never lie about that. I still love you. Please Violet"

"but she.. Makes you love her too?"

"noo Violet.. Please" 

"I said do you love her?" 

"Violet I'm so sorry.. Between her and you I would always choose you over her. So please Violet baby"

"so you love her. how long has you two been together?"

He let out a small sigh. "about 5 months ago"

"5 months??? That's our anniversary..". I just can't believe he did this to me this whole time. "is that why you didn't come to our anniversary that day? The day you said you had an urgent work so you need to go out of town?"

"mmm... Look Violet Im so sorry I won't do that again. I love you so much and I didn't mean to do that to you"

"that day.. You went out of town for work then she came to you, or you came for her and there's no work related? Do you planned to meet her?" 

"I... I planned to meet her. You know Violet I'm a man. I have needs. Please understand me" 

"but that's our anniversary date! And about your needs.. Why did you stay with me then? I can't give you what you want" 

"I'm really sorry Violet I forgot it. But I still managed to get to you the day after that right?. And I love you so much I don't want to lose you" 

"you forget about our anniversary it is mean that it didn't get the important place in your heart. It means nothing to you. I don't mean to be drama queen complaining about someone forgetting anniversary date. But the reason you forget is something unbelievable. Do you ever feel guilty about that?"

" please Violet we can still have so many anniversary ahead. I will make them special. I promise. Could you just forgive me? I missed only one of our anniversary"

I feel like I can't breathe. My heart is aching. It's like it's been torn apart. "hah.. So.. That was it". I bitterly smile, still with tears.

"Ray... I guess... that day.. Was our last anniversary"