Our luxurious French dinner ended with a giant check, one that was absurd even for a restaurant operated by a master chef. Fortunately, I wasn't the one paying the bill. Furthermore, I'd got to see the amusing sight of Len forking out his credit card rather than his beloved bride-to-be.
Sienna… Didn't you say that you were treating?
Len's crying face aside, the day ended on a cordial note. The couple managed to coax Althea into exchanging numbers, mainly through the temptation of discounted dresses from Sienna's workplace.
While I was uncomfortable with Sienna meddling with my affairs, it was ultimately Althea's own choice. Also, gaining a new friend was a good thing for Althea. Given her past, perhaps Sienna could be a new buddy on her road to recovery.
The next few days passed, and nothing of note really happened.
Althea would stick to her routine of entering my apartment in the morning and would often leave after dark. Given our circumstances, I didn't really think much of it.
What did peeve me off was the fact that Sienna was starting to become a little too chummy with my friendly neighbour. As girls with similar interests, they bonded quickly and were already exchanging messages every single day.
Althea would update me about Sienna's work life and her relationship with Len, something that I would typically avoid.
I will admit, though, hearing bad things about Len from Althea was quite the eye-opener.
While there were some benefits to Althea and Sienna's friendship, it was only a matter of time before…
"Desir, are you free the first week of Spring?"
"Huh?"
I looked up from my delicious fried chicken, dripping its juices from the tenderised bone. A bad feeling crept up my veins, but I still asked cautiously: "Why do you ask that?"
"Sienna asked if we would want to go flower viewing. You know, since restrictions are slowly being lifted."
Ah… The dreaded time has arrived. Every year, Len would invite me for flower viewings; however, I would deny that request every year. Why, you ask?
The first year he'd invited me for flower viewing, we hung out with a bunch of Sienna's female colleagues. The vast majority of them were designers and models from her company. With the couple going into their own sweet world, it became an awkward scene where I would sit alone with a bunch of single ladies.
I later came to understand that Len was trying to set me up with some of the girls there. But since I was too intimidating for any of them, there was only an awkward silence hanging in the air. None of them talked to me, and I didn't bother to start a conversation either. It was one of the worst moments of my life.
Ever since then, I'd turned down every suspicious gathering that they'd invited me to.
Sighing, I opened my mouth to reject. However, before the words could come out of my mouth…
"Ah, Sienna also told me to say that only four of us would be going. There won't be anyone else."
"Huh?"
Now I was genuinely confused.
They weren't trying to set me up with someone else?
"Yeah, since there's still a restriction on how many people can gather. Also, Sienna said that it would be easier for us to find a spot if there's only four of us."
Hmmm, now that's interesting. The government had indeed eased restrictions on the lockdowns, but there were still many rules that had to be followed. If you were outside, you should always be wearing a mask. Groups should stay at least one metre apart, and lastly, there was a limit to how many could gather in a group.
But if they're not going to bring a horde of women to the picnic… Maybe I could go.
If that's the case, why didn't Sienna ask me herself? Why did she have to go through Althea instead?
"... Do you want to go?"
"H-Huh?"
"Do you want to go flower viewing with Sienna and Len? I know you've just met them, so I'm unsure if you're comfortable with an excursion with strangers."
"No! I would love to go!" Althea beamed as she clapped. "Truth is I kind of like Sienna's company. She's smart and wise… and she can get me discounts at Edora!"
"Haha, you little fox."
I don't know about smart and wise, but Althea's bootlicking skills were top notch. If she kept it up, Sienna might buy the entire store for this adorable little critter.
"... I kind of understand it now."
"Hmmm? Understand what?"
"Why you treat me like a child..."
What was she talking about? I don't treat her like a child… Do I?
"Sienna is so mature. She has a successful career, a nice boyfriend and can easily treat others to expensive meals. Compared to her, I really am a kid."
"Haha, there's nothing wrong with that." I chuckled at Althea's self-deprecating statement. "You're still studying in university and barely have any real-life experience. It's normal for you to be a little more immature than Sienna."
"But..."
"Besides, Sienna is five years older than you! You have all the time in the world to catch up to her."
"... You're right!"
Althea's face brightened up as if she'd seen the Holy Light. With a dazzling smile, she declared: "I'm going to work hard to become a more well-rounded woman! That way, you won't treat me as an immature child!"
"Oh? Does the immature child want me to stop patting her head?"
"M-Mature women also like head pats, alright!"
"Haha, as you command."
I reached out and gently stroked Althea's hair. Her puffed-up face and adorable upturned eyes brought a smile to my face. Seriously, what kind of mature lady is this adorable?
"Ding Dong!"
A sonorous bell woke both of us up from our stupor, and I retracted my hand off her head. Althea looked at my rough fingers with a tinge of regret, but she didn't move to speak on it. Rather, she stepped in front of me and headed to the door.
"I'll get it!"
"Huh?"
Why was she answering my door? Was she expecting someone?
Curious, I followed the girl down the hallway and stood a few metres back. Althea reached for the door and opened it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Peering out of the corner of her shoulder, I could see a mailman with a small parcel in his hands.
That's strange… I don't remember ordering anything online.
"Is there an Althea Kong here?"
"I'm her," Althea smiled at our visitor.
"Please sign here." The mailman delivered the parcel over to Althea and asked for her signature. After a brief exchange, the man gave a simple bow before leaving: "Have a good day!"
It was impeccable service. Since it was a pandemic, the man was wearing gloves and a mask. Furthermore, he spent no more than a few seconds at our door, socially distancing himself from my apartment. I couldn't help but marvel at the efficiency of the delivery service. But that wasn't important…
"Why are they delivering your items to my apartment?" I asked Althea with a raised brow.
"T-That… Since I'm here most of the time, I won't be able to hear the delivery man if he comes to my door. S-So for convenience's sake, I told them to send it to your apartment..."
Ah, that makes sense. Though it feels a little wrong, I can't argue with Althea's logic. After all, the girl did spend most of her time in my apartment. If the mailman knocked on Althea's door, no one would answer it.
Distracted by my own thoughts, I didn't see Althea heave a sigh of relief. Eventually, her lips broke into a smile, and she murmured softly: "Good… He's fine with it..."
"What was that?"
"N-Nothing!"
I could almost swear that Althea said something, but alas, I was too distracted to pick it up. Whatever, it shouldn't be anything significant.
"So, what did you buy?"
"... Do you want to see?"
"Is it something embarrassing?"
"No, of course not!"
Althea hurriedly tore the packaging and unveiled its contents. Glancing into the parcel, I saw a beautifully designed dress. Since it was still packaged, I couldn't carefully examine it piece by piece, but I could tell that it was explicitly designed for Spring.
"You bought a dress?"
"Yeap! And coincidently, Sienna invited us for a flower viewing session. It would be the perfect place to debut my dress!"
"Do dresses need debuts?"
"Of course they do! The more grand the occasion, the prettier the dress must be! Luckily, this won't go to waste."
"If you say so..."
Women… Why are they so hard to understand? Whatever makes Althea happy, I guess? I sighed and brought the dirty plates to the sink, giving Althea time to bask in the happiness of receiving her new gift.
However, after a small celebration, Althea looked towards me with expectant eyes: "... Do you want to see me in it?"
"See you in it? The dress?"
"Y-Yeah!"
I paused and thought about it for a moment. Well, if I made a delicious dish, I would definitely want to show it to someone. Just to share the love. Perhaps Althea was feeling the same way?
"Hmmm… I don't see why not?"
"O-Okay! Just hold on for a moment!"
With that, Althea bolted out of my apartment and rushed into hers. Hehe, twenty-one years old and still behaving like a kid on Christmas. Looking at Althea's fading silhouette, I couldn't imagine a day where this young girl would morph into a mature lady.
I sat down and resumed the comedy show I was watching. I waited and waited… Eventually, thirty minutes passed, and there was still no sign of Althea.
Could she have gotten into an accident?
No, that's impossible. She was literally just next door. Besides, she was only changing her clothes. So what's taking her so long?
Just as I was about to drop her a message, I heard a soft knock on the door.
"Oh, you're finally here. What took you so-..."
The moment I opened my door… I was engulfed with a sense of awe. My jaw dropped, and I unconsciously sucked my breath. The person at my door was no mere mortal. It was a pure angel that had descended from the heavens.
Althea had donned on an A-Line white chiffon dress, with floral patterns all over it. It had a short flouncing sleeve, short enough to reveal ninety percent of the angel's supple white arms. Her luscious black hair was ironed up into curls, and they were covered by an ivory white sunhat.
Though I wasn't a makeup expert, I could tell that Althea had applied some onto her already perfect face. Red lipstick to make her lips rosier than the most beautiful flowers. A peach blush that made her cheeks perky and all the more graceful. And the cherry on top of the cake… A fragrant, faint perfume, one that brought flowers wherever the girl went.
That was deadly…
I now see the power of makeup. And to think that I couldn't Althea in a mature look. With her current outfit, the girl was the epitome of an elegant fairy that had descended to bless the world with the aroma of Spring. She really made me eat my words.
"D-Desir? H-How do I look?" Althea shyly asked.
During times like this, it was better to say my honest thoughts. The girl had spent over thirty minutes dolling herself up. I couldn't just let her down.
"You're beautiful..."
"H-Huh?!"
"I've never seen anyone more beautiful than you in my life. You're like an angel, only real."
"D-Desir?!"
"I don't know how you did it… I'd always thought that the most beautiful people were movie stars, but I couldn't be more wrong. It's a miracle that you haven't been scouted for any modelling or acting jobs."
"Good grief! Desir, stop!"
Althea waved her arms in the air, forcing me to shut my mouth. Huh? Wasn't I supposed to praise her? Why was she stopping me? From the looks of her crimson red face and trembling shoulders, it seemed that Althea didn't like my compliments.
"Desir, you… why are you so good at this? Are you sure that you'd never had a girlfriend before?"
"What does this have to do with my love life?"
"You… Nevermind..."
Althea harrumphed and skipped right into my apartment. Her feet movement was light and gentle as if she really was a fairy that had escaped from the Divine Forest.
Whatever, at least she seems to be in a good mood.
"Do you think that this dress is enough?"
"Your dress isn't complete?"
"Yeah, I was thinking of adding a belt. You know, something like this?"
Althea went onto her phone and pulled out a nice picture of a model in a similar dress. The two were peas in a pod, with the only difference being the brown belt that covered the model's waist. While I believed that Althea was already beautiful enough, I had to admit, adding a belt would have given her an added layer of style.
"That looks nice. Do you have one?"
"That's the problem, I don't have any suitable belts for this dress. Maybe I should buy one as well..."
Althea then turned towards me, and with a raised brow, she asked: "What will you be wearing?"
"Something like this, I guess?"
I pointed to my everyday clothes. It was a simple black t-shirt with long pants. To me, simplicity was key, and I'd always worn the same clothes. If we're just going flower viewing, my current outfit will do just fine.
"... You don't have anything else?"
"Hmmm? Yeah, other than office wear, all of my casual clothes are more or less the same."
"That won't do..." Althea looked at my clothes and began to frown.
"... Why don't we go shopping this weekend?"
"For your belt?"
"And your clothes as well!" Althea's eyes shone in excitement. "Don't you want to see how you look in nice clothes?!"
Honestly… I don't really care. I've never paid attention to my looks, and wearing luxurious clothes seemed to waste money and time. But...
I couldn't say no to those shiny eyes.
"If that's what you want..."
"Alright! Hehe, it's a date then!"
Althea grinned from ear to ear as her mind started to wander. Was she really anticipating my new look that much? Girls… They really are a mystery.