The Traps of Black Swan

Nikun watched his sister thinking deep so he let her be. He went to the bathroom to fetch a wet towel and returned to her. He craved to slap that on her face but held back and wiped her face. He made sure she didn't look scary.

He shoved her things into her bag hearing hundreds of her questions. He dragged her out and left her at the door.  "Now deal with your life." 

'Thud.' He shut the door.

Shea looked around and shouted at her brother, "Are you really my brother? How could you throw me out of the house?"

Nikun opened the door hearing her, "I would prefer to kick you out."

'Thud.' He again shut the door on her face.

Shea: "..."

Nikun watched his sister from a window. She dilly-dallied at the door for a long time. He knew she had questions, confusions, those weren't something he could respond to. She has to find the answers to them. He wanted her to face the trouble herself instead of running away as she did from their home. 

After something, he smiled seeing her encouraging herself and leaving from there. If she genuinely likes Shawn and Shawn feels the same, he would personally speak with his family without trouble. His grandparents won't get a chance to reject or find a flaw in the Rivas family.

He stretched going towards the kitchen. He prepared the dinner, made a video call to Mehak, and went to bed early.

A good sleep before the battle.

----

At Rivas mansion,

Aarvi was hiding behind Aaron, cursing her two friends when Shawn was over dramatically elaborating what she and Aaron did in the afternoon, disregarding the different client meetings they were at.

Jordan was slicing the apple for Zelda and the latter shook her head in resignation. She turned to Connor, "Connor, why didn't you make your son like you?"

Aarvi peeked out and remarked before Connor could say anything, "Grandfather Jordan's genes are good." She indirectly appreciated her husband. 

Everyone burst into laughter leaving Zelda speechless. Jordan was proud of himself and his grandson, "That's like my granddaughter-in-law."

Zelda squinted her eyes at her husband and Jordan immediately flipped, "I like Connor. He is so caring, patient."

Well, it only brought another round of laughter. 

Although Zelda didn't actually laugh, she looked happy. Jordan was energetic more than ever. The family was lively and cheerful, talking about nothing important but some nonsense.

Everyone was continuing to talk about some random fun topic or teasing one another when they heard a maid announce the arrival of Shea. They turned to the end of the entrance corridor.

Shea stood, watching everyone having a smile. "Hello everyone." She greeted as her eyes brushed over each one and halted at Shawn, who didn't look at her even once.

Karsen called her inside, "Come, sit with us, Shea" He invited her to join them.

Shea hesitantly shook her head with her eyes staying on Shawn, 'No more running away.' She encouraged herself. "Shawn, I need to talk to you." 

Everyone's gaze moved between the two. Aarvi and Aarvi looked at each other and Jordan and Megan did the same.

Shawn wanted to turn her down, however, he wanted to avoid others assuming anything. Turning to her with a fake smile, "Yes!?" He asked her to speak right there.

Connor patted Shawn's back, "Go Shawn." It was obvious Shea wanted to speak with Shawn personally in private. 'In private?' Connor turned to Karsen.

Karsen half shrugged his shoulders at his elder brother and watched his son oblige.

Shawn went to her, before he could utter anything, Shea grabbed his wrist and took him upstairs, forgetting there were elders and they might think wrong about them.

Zelda sensed the tension between Shea and Shawn. She questioned once they disappeared from their sigh, "What's going on?"

Aarvi who was looking at the stairs turned to Zelda. She noted everyone fell silent and discerned Zelda wasn't the type to encourage one who is in love and it was always Jordan.

Jordan gave a slice of apple to Zelda and responded to brush off the topic, "Shea might need some help. Let them handle it."

Meanwhile, upstairs, Shawn was colder than Ice. Shea was nervous as hell. She berated her heart for beating erratically, 'Why are you going crazy? It isn't like I have fallen for him, have I?' She felt like crying.

Shawn let her have her way, only till they stepped away from the stairs. He smoothly shrugged her off.

Shea stumbled but blanched herself on the flat shoes. Turning to him, she asked, pointing towards his bedroom, "Could we talk in your bedroom?"

"No." He instantly turned down before composing.

Shea changed her hand and pointed towards the other side, "How about the screening room?"

"No" He denied again. He didn't want to play on her terms so he wanted to reject whatever she asks.

'I am reaping what I sowed.' Shea felt her heart fall to her stomach.

"Speak here whatever it is." He demanded coldly.

Shea became nervous again, "I… That… You…" She didn't know where to start, what to say and how to handle it. She was more confused.

Shawn watched outside the window and waited for a few seconds. His mind was clear, he didn't want to think about anything which would give him expectations. When she didn't speak, he was even madder for dragging him here and there, "Fine, I am leaving." He turned his heels.

Shea quickly clutched his hand. This side of Shawn makes her panic and lose her every once in a while. It was like she was going to lose what she was carefully treasuring for many days. She started saying whatever came to her mind, clutching his hand tight.

"I never thought of dating. I don't understand this love, like and all. When I was attracted to you, I thought it was just a simple crush. But you are like a stupid magnet, attracting me and making me look for you every time…"

Shawn paused and slowly turned to her without shrugging her hands. He heard her and understood her nonstop babbling.

"I honestly thought I would get over you but, argh, it was harder than I thought. It's weird how I easily get so comfortable around you and start depending on you. And I was getting scared too to get attached to you more than I should. I didn't want you to think of me as I am a clingy one-night stand of yours. The hell, I made blunders after blunders trying to avoid you, yet run back to you every time..."

Shawn had to give his all attention to listen to her rambling and understand her. She doesn't know how to talk, he thought. She might be agitated. Then he hated himself for trying to understand her situation.

Shea didn't stop. Afraid he would shrug her off and leave, she continued without knowing if she was making any sense or not, "Upon all that confusion, we again did it. You know the standard rules, we shouldn't hang around later. So I was afraid you might throw me out so I ran away. Why won't I be scared? I don't know what you think of me. But I can't sleep, eat or focus on anything. I hold the book…"

Shawn sensed eyes on them. He turned around and noticed speechless Aarvi, Aaron, Megan, Karsen, and Connor standing on stairs one below the other. He realized that Shea was pretty loud in nervousness and regretted not going inside. He quickly covered Shea's mouth and rushed her to his room.

Shea's voice sounded like a big argument between them hence they had run upstairs to cool them off. 

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