Wave to the Sky (Omegaverse)

Chapter 34: The Car and the Bus

Alon's Point of View

Days had passed since my brief conversation with Sir Caelus in his office, and I finally felt comfortable working on my designs now that the air had been cleared between my boss and me.

"Phew, I'm dog tired," I sighed, sinking into my office chair's backrest. It wasn't the most ergonomic position, but I needed the break. I stretched my arms to alleviate the muscle soreness from hours of drawing. Bryan approached, curious about the designs I'd been immersed in for the past month. He picked up one of my sketches.

"Wow, these are really good," he remarked, examining my work.

"Thanks," I replied. "Though I'm not sold on the color palette."

"I think toning down some of the colors could work," he suggested. He had a better grasp of color theory than I did. Glancing at the time, he added, "I guess it's time to head home." He returned the sketch to my desk and began packing up. Following suit, I organized my designs into a folder before adding them to my stack of files. Grabbing my worn-out bag, a faithful companion to my workdays, I signaled to Bryan.

"Ready to go?" I asked as I stood up. Together, we left the art department and headed for the elevator.

"How's your kid?" Bryan inquired once we were inside.

"He's growing more handsome every day," I replied, smiling.

"I wonder what it's like to have a child," he mused, studying his reflection in the mirror. "Anyway, what about his father? You never talk about him."

"Let's not get into that," I deflected.

"Was he a bad guy? Did he bail when he found out you were pregnant?" Bryan pressed. "Then why bother getting you pregnant if he didn't want anything to do with your kid?"

"No, it's not like that. He passed away," I revealed, sticking to the story I'd concocted for Uri's sake. I didn't want him growing up knowing the truth of his conception. It was better this way. Even if it was a lie, I wanted him to believe he was loved by his father. I had no intention of searching for his real father; I couldn't bear the thought of Uri being rejected.

I nodded silently. Speaking only seemed to necessitate more lies.

"Do you have a photo of your kiddo?" he asked.

"Oh, I haven't got any yet," I replied.

"Not even on your phone?"

"I don't have one," I said.

"That's why I never see you with one," he remarked. "But if you don't have a phone, how did SkyHaven contact you?"

"I usually leave my landlady's phone number," I explained.

"Why don't you get one?"

"I don't see the necessity," I replied. "I'm focused on preparing for Miu's future; luxuries like that aren't a priority."

"I get where you're coming from, Loony... But you have to treat yourself sometimes."

"When you have a child, you'll understand why I feel this way. Their needs come before anything else."

"You're a great mom."

"Thank you. I'm doing my best." The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out. As we walked toward SkyHaven's entrance, I took a moment to appreciate the surroundings. It still feels surreal to me that I work in such a big company. It's like a dream come true. Bryan and I continued chatting about work and other topics.

"Well, then. I'll see you tomorrow, Loony," he said as we reached the bus stop.

"Sure," I replied and sat on the bench, waiting for the bus. With Bryan gone, fatigue settled in. I gazed at the sky, where warm hues of pink, orange, and red painted the skyline, probably because SkyHaven is near the dock, making the view even more lovely. The bus stop I was at is closer, too. A memory of the flea market I visited with Beck before crossed my mind. I remembered indulging in food without knowing I was pregnant with Uri. I decided I would visit that flea market again soon.

"Where are the buses?" I muttered to myself, realizing I'd been waiting for a while. A sleek car caught my eye, its expensive appearance momentarily captivating me. I was surprised when it stopped in front of me.

After a moment, the window rolled down, revealing a familiar face.

"Hey," he greeted.

"S-sir Caelus?" I choked, surprised by his sudden appearance. "Good evening."

"Are you going home?" he asked. "Do you want me to drive you?"

"Huh?!" I reacted, still taken aback by his offer. "No need, Sir Caelus," I declined, embarrassed and not wanting to take up his time. "The bus I'm waiting for stops exactly in front of my neighborhood."

"Is that so?" he asked. "What a shame. Anyway, I'm out for dinner. Care to join me? I don't take no for an answer."

"I guess I don't have any choice," I said softly. He's my boss after all, though I couldn't fathom why he was inviting me for dinner.

"Get in," he told me as he opened the door. The bus was already arriving, but I had already agreed, hadn't I? I quickly got into his expensive-looking car. "Seatbelt, please," he said, helping me with it.

I froze, his face just inches away from mine. His bluish eyes gave me an icy feeling. I realized they were the same shade of blue as Miu's. What a coincidence. He smiled before returning to his seat.

"Well, that was awkward," I thought to myself. He started to drive, and the silence between us made the atmosphere even more uncomfortable.

"Hey, how's the progress on the designs?" He finally initiated conversation.

"They're coming along well, Sir," I responded.

"I'm eager to see them."

"You will, Sir... if Sir Henry gives his approval," I added.

"Why wouldn't he? I've already seen your designs. They're impressive."

"Thank you, Sir," I said, feeling a bit awkward. Receiving praise directly from someone of his stature was unfamiliar territory.

"Anyway, I know this might seem odd, but I wanted to ask you something," he said, his focus still on the road ahead. "Are you currently dating anyone?"

"Oh, I'm not," I answered. It felt a bit weird hearing that from him. "But may I ask why you're curious, Sir?"

"Just wondering," he replied simply. I couldn't help but wonder if he posed similar questions to other employees. It's quite an eccentric character.

"Sir, pardon my bluntness, but I'm curious," I ventured. "Do you often invite your staff out for meals like this?"

"Not typically," he replied promptly. "I happened to be headed for dinner when I spotted you at the bus stop. Feeling a bit lonely, I thought some company might be nice," he elaborated.

That explanation made sense.

"You're feeling lonely," I echoed. "Are you not in a relationship, Sir Caelus?"

"If I were, I wouldn't be asking you to join me."

"Fair point." I fell silent once more, observing the passing buildings outside.

"You're feeling uneasy, aren't you?" he inquired.

"Not particularly, sir. I'm simply pondering the odds of having dinner with someone like you."

"You're making it sound like I'm intimidating," he remarked.

"Oh, I didn't mean that, Sir."

"It's alright," he reassured me with a smile. After a while, we pulled up to a luxurious restaurant.

"A table for two, please," Sir Caelus requested from the host stand near the entrance.

"Right this way, Sir," the host guided us inside. We took our seats as the waitress handed us the menus.

"Feel free to choose anything you like," he offered. I glanced at the menu and was taken aback by the prices. It was absurdly expensive!

"I'm not very familiar with the items listed here," I admitted to Sir Caelus.

"Then allow me to select for you," he replied, catching the attention of the staff with a gesture of his hand. A member of the restaurant staff approached him, and he proceeded to place the order. I couldn't even articulate the words he effortlessly exchanged with the waitstaff. He's indeed on another level; someone's who's out of my league.