Chapter 35
1625 Words
Chapter 35
SPRING IS TIME FOR FRIENDSHIP IV
Friendship did come at the most unexpected time. You met the least person you expect and bonded with him and let your souls be united by the memories and understanding… but who am I to say that friendship comes at the most unexpected time? Was there the right timing? A right place? A right season? A right person with who you would share your secrets for the rest of your life or have your back even in the hardest situation? The people sitting at this table with me planted something I did not want to grow. I used to regard them as my company until I realized that they treated me as someone more than their company in this festival or the―wait, am I his fling because I am not his girlfriend―girl their friend is hanging out with. They brought relief when I saw them earlier, and they secured me in a situation that no one asked for. Was it just pure kindness though? I refused to believe that it is. It was more than that, and no matter what it is, I was grateful for that.
The waiters then served the soup; I filled my mouth with a spoonful. A moan escaped my lips from the satisfaction of feeding my hungry stomach. Seth glared at me, and I questioned him using my face.
“You did it again.”
“The what?”
“The thing you did when we were in the waterbath,” he whispered emphasizing the word ‘thing.’
“I don’t know what you are saying.” I scooped another and slurped it, a moan grazed my throat as I tasted it with my tongue. My hand was suspended in the air; I faced Seth. He was staring at me with dark hunter eyes. “I knew what you mean.”
“See?”
“That’s just my reaction when something satisfies me.”
“You did not react that way when we ate the barbecue. Does that mean that you are not satisfied with it?”
“I was. You just didn’t hear it.”
“So, you know, when we do ‘it,’ you will know whether I am satisfied or not.”
He rolled his eyes. “I am being challenged.”
“Yeah.”
I finished the soup, water, and the second glass of cocktail requested by Seth to the waiter and burped. “Thank goodness.”
He wiped the side of my lip using his tissue. “That’s not even the main course.”
“I can still eat later.”
He nodded his head slowly and intaken his food. “Why did I forget that you have a monster inside your stomach.”
I hit his arm. “Hey!”
He did not dodge it.
The events tonight were moving fast. The servers took the plates away from our table. The host was back in his post with the same energy even though an hour has passed. His eyes, examining the audience, did not stop in one direction.
“May I call all the boys who have flowers in his hand?”
Only Seth bought them from the student, but all the guys at our table stood and walked towards the line led by the host. Seth distributed the flowers to his buddies.
“As much as I want to join this part, I do not have that special someone in my heart, so I am now giving the stage to everyone. This night is yours, beautiful ladies and gentlemen.”
The spotlight died; their silhouettes spread in the field. Orange hue painted on the guys’ faces as they advanced towards our location, holding three flowers in their hand. Gabriel transferred his yellow flowers to Ayuna. Next was Drake to Mary, Frank to Leslie, and Liam to Ann.
I c****d my eyebrow at Seth. “Are we waiting for next year to come?”
“Who said these flowers are for you?”
He turned his back against me to go to Troy, but he changed his direction back to me. Laughing at his lame joke, he passed the flower to me and offered me a dance.
Suddenly, our first meeting when he asked me to dance flashed in my head. “Oh, sorry, I don’t dance.”
But this time, he responded differently. “You cannot refuse. I bet you don’t want to sit with these two lonely men for minutes without any girl or me.”
“I am only accepting this because I had no choice left. If I am to pick between eating and dancing with you―”
“You would prefer to dance with me,” he concluded, but I burst his bubble.
“No, I love food more than anything in this world because food never leaves you but people do.”
With my hand on his, he guided me to where the others were, and he turned my back against the big bonfire. As much as I wanted to take off the mask and see his facial expression, I couldn’t disregard the rule of this festival, so with only the fire dancing on his precious dark brown eyes. Very common color, but it was the most expressive eyes that I have seen.
“So, what is the meaning of violet flowers?”
“You figure it out yourself.”
Using my hands clung around his neck, I pulled him closer slowly and hit his head with mine. He groaned as I smiled evilly.
“You’re one cruel woman.”
“Are you going to tell it or not?”
“Can’t you solve the puzzle yourself?” He nodded his head in the direction of our friends. “Who only has violet flowers?”
I looked around. “Couples?”
He shrugged. “I already have you a hint.”
I glared at him.”I better search it later, and you better not talk to me since your mouth is good for nothing.”
“It’s good in kissing though.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are one cruel man who wouldn’t tell me what the meaning of violet flower is. Imagine, I am a helpless woman, and you don’t want to give me a hand. Instead, all you could do is say a word as if it could help me.”
“I swear, you can guess it with that hint,” he muttered, “and I thought you promote gender equality?”
“Yes, but no one said that I cannot use it in this kind of situation.”
“Hypocrite.”
“Merciless.”
“Lazy.”
“Smart.”
“You’re too mean that people don’t see the good in you.”
I put my head on his chest. “You’re too perfect that I want to see your dark side.”
“You wouldn’t wish for it, baby.” His arms held me tighter. He placed kisses on my hair. “One of the meanings of violet flowers is modesty which describes how aristocrats act.”
“This doesn’t define me.” My voice vibrated in my ear. “Later, I will say sorry to James. I don’t want to let the night pass that someone is angry with me.”
“Aren’t you that type of person?”
“I was, but I learned that when anger consumes a man, it brings nightmare to him and the others.”
“You have changed… a little,” he said while swaying me. “I am your guardian angel, ain’t I?”
“I beg to disagree, but since I haven’t found out who my real guardian angel is, I will say that you are to comfort your fragile ego.”
“My ego can take criticisms.”
“Most men can’t.”
“I am not most men,” he claimed, “and right now, you are belittling men. Where is the gender equality?”
“I am only bullying you.” I pouted. “Besides, all men are different, and you are one of the most unique men I have met.”
His hands on my waist, we swayed our bodies with the music until we felt tired and planned to go back to our seats. Suddenly, a group of friends, who I recognized was the group we met earlier based on their clothes, changed their beat from slow to fast like they were rocking the entire festival. Another group mimicked their style and started jumping on their positions and banging their heads. From being modest, they’re gone wild. Someone pushed me, and I lost my balance. I stood up but was elbowed again by someone I don’t know. I was very near to the fire pit. One more wrong move, I would burn myself from its hotness. I couldn’t see Seth from the crowd. The masks in my sight mixed up that it was hard to recognize anyone because everyone was rowdy.
“Seah!” Drake held my shoulders to keep my balance. “Where is Seth?”
Mary tiptoed. “I can’t find him.”
“Let’s go back. This people are so lively. I can’t match my energy with them.”
“Me, too.”
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- Writer
