Love in Politics ( PoohPavel)

21

The next day, Pavel woke up feeling drained and restless. The events of the previous day still weighed heavily on his mind. He got ready for work, his movements mechanical and his thoughts preoccupied with the image of Pooh's tear-streaked face and the argument with Jacqueline.

At the parliament, Pavel made his way to the canteen, grabbing a quick breakfast—a croissant and a cup of coffee. He barely tasted his food as he replayed the previous day's events over and over in his mind.

After finishing his breakfast, Pavel headed to a meeting on international relations. As he took his seat in the conference room, he couldn't help but notice that Pooh was missing. Normally, Pooh would be one of the first to arrive, always punctual and prepared. Today, his absence was glaringly obvious.

The meeting began, and Pavel tried to focus on the discussion, but his mind kept drifting. He glanced at the empty seat where Pooh usually sat, a pang of guilt and worry gnawing at him. The conversations about diplomatic strategies and foreign policies blurred into background noise as he wondered where Pooh was and how he was doing.

During a brief break in the meeting, Pavel pulled out his mobile and hesitated for a moment before texting Pooh:

"Hey, are you okay? I noticed you're not at the meeting. Please let me know if you need anything."

He stared at the screen, waiting for a reply, but none came. His anxiety grew with each passing minute. Pavel couldn't shake the feeling that Pooh's absence had something to do with their confrontation the previous day.

As the meeting resumed, Pavel forced himself to concentrate, contributing when necessary but still distracted. When the meeting finally ended, he hurried back to his office, hoping to find some clue about Pooh's whereabouts. He asked a few colleagues if they had seen Pooh, but no one had any information.

Feeling increasingly worried, Pavel decided to check Pooh's office. He walked down the familiar corridor, his heart pounding in his chest. When he reached Pooh's office, he knocked softly. There was no answer. He knocked again, louder this time, but still no response. He tried the door handle, finding it locked.

Pavel leaned against the door, his thoughts racing. He couldn't ignore the sinking feeling that he was somehow responsible for Pooh's absence. The guilt and regret from their confrontation gnawed at him, making it hard to breathe.

Desperate for answers, Pavel decided to go to the reception desk to see if they had any information on Pooh's whereabouts. The receptionist looked up sympathetically when she saw Pavel's anxious expression.

"Have you seen Pooh today?" Pavel asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

The receptionist shook her head. "No, I haven't seen him. He didn't check in this morning. Is everything okay?"

"I'm not sure," Pavel replied, forcing a smile. "I'll try to reach him again. Thanks."

As he walked back to his office, Pavel's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. He knew he needed to find Pooh, to apologize and try to make things right. The image of Pooh's hurt expression and the tears he had wiped away haunted him, pushing him to take action.

Determined, Pavel pulled out his phone and called Pooh, hoping against hope that he would pick up.

When Pooh didn't answer his phone, Pavel's worry turned into determination. He decided to visit Pooh's mansion, hoping to find him there and perhaps get a chance to apologize and talk things through. As he approached the grand estate, the heavy wooden doors suddenly opened, as if inviting him in.

Pavel stepped inside, the opulence of the mansion failing to register in his anxious state. As he walked through the foyer, he heard raised voices coming from deeper within the house. His heart pounded as he followed the sounds, dread pooling in his stomach.