"Eh? What's the occasion mom? " Linda asked Violet, as she opened a box finding an elegant dress inside. Her father bought it for her
"Next week is an acquaintance of mine's birthday. You and I will be attending. "
"Huh? How about Dad? "
"I'll be on a business leave two days from now, so I can't go. "
"Eh? Again? "
"Anyways, make sure you won't be going somewhere on that day, okay? "
"O-Okay... " truth be told, she got something to do that day. It was Sunday, and she asked Freiderich to go somewhere with her.
The next day at school, she doesn't know how to say it to Freiderich, "U-Uhm... I... "
"Hmm...? "
"I-I can't go out on Sunday, I'm sorry... "
"Sigh... Good thing. "
"Huh? "
"I've got something to do that day too. Haha... "
"Oh! Then it's next week then? "
"Y-Yeah... " he answered, but deep in his mind, "Why do you suddenly asked me to go out, out of nowhere?! "
When class ended, Freiderich told Gustav to head straight for the mall, "Eh? You're going out with someone, Young Master? "
"Eh? Huh?! No! Mom's waiting for me there! "
"Huh? Oh, yeah! The Madam mentioned that to me... Haha, sorry I forgot. " Gustav drove his Young Master towards the mall, where Scarlett was waiting.
"How's school? " she asked as she kissed her son's cheeks
"Mom! "
"Haha! Sorry... You're just too handsome! "
Scarlett told Gustav to wait for them at the carpark, then she took Freiderich inside, "What are we going to do? " he asked his mom
"Where going to buy your father something. It's his birthday this sunday right? "
"Oh... yeah. "
They stopped by a clothing shop, "Dad's usual coat look dull... Maybe something of different color can make him look better? "
"Hmm... You're right! "
Scarlett looked for something that might adda bit more color to her husband. But even after half an hour later, she still couldn't find any. Then, she felt Freiderich clutching her shoulder. She turmed around and saw dozens of clothes in his arms, of different styles and colors. Freiderich was almost a hundred percent exact copy of Peter. Why didn't she think of asking him?
She picked out the red one, and a pairing white slacks, "Wrap this up for me. " she asked an assistant. While she was busy, Freiderich wandered off, "Stay close okay? " his mother reminded
"Yeah... "
In the same store, he found a mother buying her daughter a golden necklace. He glanced at the glass rack, displayed with shining jewelries, of various designs. Then he thought of Linda. A silver necklace, with a heart-shaped pendant caught his eye
"Interested sir? " a saleslady asked. She was watching him the whole time, and saw that he was looking at the necklace for quite a long time already, and thought that he might've already made up his mind.
Freiderich glanced at his wallet. He already saved up quite a lot, so buying something nice for his freind isn't bad right? "Yeah... I'll get that one. " he requested it to be placed in a red box, so it would be nice to look at. Then he stuffed it inside his pocket
"Let's go! " said Scarlett, who also just finished having her present to Peter wrapped up. Then, they went at the carpark where Gustav was waiting, and went home.
The following day, Freiderich don't know, or in what way, he'll give it to Linda. It's kinda akward to hand it in front of everyone else, or Linda might think he's up to something weird, if he asked her somewhere hidden. So, over and over again, day after day, he failed to gather courage and give it to Linda.
Peter's birthday had come. The celebration was held on the rooftop of the hotel, under Lindemann corporations near Charles River. After taking a few family pictures, Freiderich isolated himself from the crowd.
He sat on a bench on one corner, facing the Charles River. He pulled out the red box from his pocket, which he carried everywhere, and thought about it.
After multiple failed attempts, he was about to give up. He just thought of tossing it off the building. But suddenly, there was a voice from beside him, "Uhm... Can I seat beside you? "
"Uh, yeah. You ma- " to his surprise, it was Linda!
"Freiderich?! I thought you've got something to do this day?! "
"This is it! It's my father's birthday today. " he said
"Hmm... You're father's? Then you're father must be my mom's acquaintance! "
"So our parents know each other, eh? "
"Mmm! Fate brought us together... Right? " she teased as she drew her face close to Freiderich
"W-What are you saying?! This must be just a coincidence! " he said as he turned red, "You're too close! "
Then, she noticed the red box in Freiderich's hand, "What's that? " she asked
"Eh? Uh, this? I-It's uh... "
"Hmm? "
He held it in front of her, and slowly opened it. It was kinda embarrassing, so he was looking away, "I-It's for you... "
"Eh? "
Freiderich pulled out the silver necklace, "I saw this while we're buying something for Dad, and I thought it might look good on you. " he went behind Linda and placed it on her neck.
Linda, who was too surprised to speak, stayed still, "I-I hope you like it... " only when Freiderich said those words, did only she cane back to her senses.
She took out a mirror and looked at herself, "Haha! I like it! Thank you! "
"L-Linda... I think I... "
Linda wasn't listening she thought of something to at least say her deepest thanks to him. She likes it lot though. Them she remembered something she had done to him before.
Freiderich suddenly faced her, "I like you, Linda! " the next thing he knew, was Linda was kissing him in the lip! She was originally aiming just for his cheek, but he suddenly turmed his head.
Just after a few seconds their lips parted, "I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to! " Freiderich tried to explain himself.
But, Linda's reaction was the exact opposite of what he expected. She gave him a sweet smile. She leaned over again, for another kiss. This time, she did it properly. Deeper and sweeter than before. Only did she stopped when she ran out of breath.
Then she whispered something to Freiderich's ear, "I don't like you... " When he heard those words, he felt like his world fell. But Linda added something,
"I can't like someone who I already love! "
A new story begins...
-END