From early morning, Hayk couldn't find a place for himself. It was Friday. The employees' faces were calm — it seemed everyone was wrapping up the workweek and, with a light sense of anticipation, waiting for the weekend.
Hayk was the complete opposite. With every passing minute, as the end of the day approached, his face grew darker, his gaze more restless.
Anna watched him from the side. And perhaps for the first time in her life, she couldn't find the words to support him.
By the end of the day, she sat silently in Hayk's office, going through documents. Hayk himself stood by the window, his hands in his pockets.
The anxiety on his face shifted into a strange calm — so strange that even Anna didn't dare to ask what he was thinking about.
Suddenly, Hayk straightened and looked down intently.
For a moment, he froze.
— Arevik has arrived.
— How do you know? — Anna asked in surprise. From his position, it was impossible to see the entrance.
— Grish is almost running to the door…
— He wouldn't hurry like that for anyone else.
— I'll go down and meet her, — Anna said, standing up.
— Don't rush, — Hayk stopped her with a faint half-smile. — I don't think she'll come here first.
— She knows you're waiting for her. Why wouldn't she come here first? — Anna objected.
— She'll give in to the temptation… and go to the garden first, — Hayk said calmly.
— Well, if you say so, — Anna replied casually, not fully understanding what he meant. — So what should I do now?
— You can go down and meet her, — Hayk said firmly, then softened his tone: — Just don't rush her. Let her stay in the garden as long as she wants.
— As you wish, — Anna said, rolling her eyes.
— Anna, — Hayk called out.
— What now? — she asked with slight irritation.
Hayk said nothing, but his anxious взгляд spoke for itself.
That was exactly what irritated Anna. She didn't like seeing him like this — unsettled, dependent on a situation she couldn't control. And the guilt that held him back was something unfamiliar to her.
She took a deep breath, shook her head, and left.
— My girl… I've finally seen you! — Grish exclaimed, embracing Arevik.
— Uncle Grish, how are you? How is your health? — Arevik asked, hugging him back.
— I'm fine, my girl. I hope you are too, — he said, gently holding her hands. — How are you? What are you doing here?
— I have some business here, Uncle Grish, — Arevik replied. — But before I get to it… I really wanted to see you, — after a short pause, she added, — and the garden… if that's possible.
— Of course. Come, — said Grish, taking her hand and leading her with him. — You'll be surprised at what the garden has become.
Arevik's heart began to beat faster. Curiosity and longing intertwined. She hadn't seen the garden in a long time… and now her chest tightened in anticipation.
When they stepped inside, her eyes filled with tears. She looked around almost greedily, trying not to miss a single detail — as if she wanted to preserve everything in her memory forever… because she wasn't sure she would ever see this garden again.
— Uncle Grish… the garden has become so beautiful, — Arevik exclaimed. Her eyes shimmered with tears, but there was a smile on her lips. — And the fountain… it's прекрасен.
— I promised you I wouldn't leave the garden unattended, — Grish said, with a hint of emotion.
He paused for a moment, then added:
— The master comes here often… and helps me a lot.
Arevik looked at him in surprise — and involuntarily remembered how they used to work here together.
— The fountain was his idea, — Grish added with a faint smile, watching her reaction closely.
— I see, — Arevik replied dryly.
She immediately turned away, hiding the sudden flicker of admiration in her eyes.
She continued to look around — almost hungrily, as if afraid to miss something — until she suddenly felt someone's presence outside.
Her expression changed.
She immediately remembered why she had come.
— Uncle Grish… I should go, — she said quietly, without turning around.
— So soon?.. — he asked with disappointment.
— It seems… someone has come for me, — Arevik replied.
She stepped closer, hugged him, and walked out of the garden.
— My girl… will we see each other again? — Grish asked anxiously.
— I don't know, — she answered and left.
Anna was already waiting for her outside. She stood alert, as if assessing the situation. Arevik wasn't surprised.
Approaching her, she gave a slight nod in greeting.
— Hello, Arevik, — Anna said calmly, then added with a faint smile: — I'll walk you to the office. Please follow me.
Arevik nodded silently and followed her.
The entire way, she was thinking.
She had come to this meeting… but still hadn't decided what she would say.
With every step, her anxiety grew stronger.
When they reached the door of Hayk's office, Anna stopped.
She opened the door and gestured for her to enter:
— He's waiting for you. Go in.
And without waiting for a response, she left.
The secretary's desk was empty.
That seemed strange to Arevik — before, she had always been greeted.
She moved forward slowly.
Took another step…
crossed that familiar boundary — the one that used to hide Hayk's office.
And saw him.
Hayk was standing, leaning against the desk, looking directly at the entrance.
The moment he saw her, he straightened abruptly and stepped forward, opening the door to his office.
His sudden movement made Arevik unconsciously quicken her pace.
They stopped in front of each other.
Neither of them noticed how much time had passed.
They simply looked at one another.
Only after a moment did Hayk seem to come back to himself.
— Come in, — he said quietly.
Arevik stepped forward calmly, glanced around, walked over and sat in a high-backed armchair with enclosed sides — one that made it impossible for anyone to sit beside her.
It struck Hayk.
He had hoped for a more direct conversation.
Holding back a sigh, he sat opposite her — like in a negotiation.
Arevik was looking at the floor.
Noticing this, Hayk spoke first:
— How long ago were you discharged from the hospital?
— A few days ago, — Arevik replied shortly.
— Do you feel better?
— Yes, thank you.
Her answers were even… and cold.
Hayk fell silent for a moment.
Then he made up his mind:
— How is the baby?
He immediately noticed her sharp reaction — and froze.
— Fine, thank you, — she replied just as restrained.
But then, after a brief pause, she added:
— I tried to contact you… and tell you about the baby.
Hayk looked at her.
Something inside him tightened painfully.
— At first your number was unavailable, — Arevik continued, — then I couldn't get into the office… and then…
She fell silent.
— And then? — Hayk asked quietly, but insistently.
— And then you scared me, — she said sharply, looking at him.
— Scared you?.. — he repeated.
— Maybe it sounds foolish… but it's true, — Arevik said.
She took a deep breath and continued:
— I saw you on TV. You changed. There was… coldness coming from you. You weren't the person I knew.
And I didn't know how you would react if you found out about the baby…
I was afraid you might take him away from me.
Hayk said nothing.
Every word struck him deeply.
He understood… but still hoped it wasn't this bad.
Now he saw clearly:
he had lost her trust.
— So, this is what you think of me… — he said quietly, shaking his head.
— I was confused, — Arevik said quickly.
— I know why, — Hayk replied, looking straight into her eyes.
— How? — she asked, surprised.
— Anna conducted an investigation. We found out everything, — he said.
Then added, holding back his emotions:
— Meruzhan was punished. He is no longer in the institution.
— I see, — Arevik replied briefly.
— I didn't know… — Hayk began. — I was told you had resigned…
— I didn't resign, — she interrupted. — I was fired.
Hayk fell silent.
— I understand everything, — he said quietly. — And now I blame myself… for not seeing it sooner.
His voice trembled.
Arevik noticed — and it unsettled her.
She hadn't expected such a reaction from him.
To keep her emotions under control, she abruptly changed the subject:
— I think… everything that happened should be left in the past.
Hayk looked at her immediately.
— Do you want to leave me in the past as well?
The question was too direct.
Arevik's heart tightened.
She hadn't made a decision yet.
But one thing she knew for sure:
right now, she was protecting herself… and her child.
— The child is yours, — she said firmly. — You already know that.
She paused.
— What are you going to do?
Hayk took a deep breath.
He understood: this was the main question.
— With your permission… I want to be part of the child's life, — he said carefully.
And, a little quieter, added:
— And yours as well.
— Too much time has passed, — Arevik replied sharply. — Right now, there is only the child for me.
— I understand, — Hayk said softly. — I didn't expect you to agree right away…
He paused.
— But I won't back down.
— By force? — she asked, tense.
— No, — he answered immediately. — There has already been enough pain.
He fell silent for a moment.
— I have a proposal.
— A proposal?..