It took Ares days to find out that Eirene Queen and her assistant, Jaxon Easmon, left the hotel the day after the actress came to the bar, looking for him.
The way the boy was devastated was not needed to be said.
No twinkles were flying over him. His baby-like skin was not shining and healthy, instead looked dull and pale.
His friends found out about the actress from Quentin, and all tried to comfort him in their ways, but none succeeded in making the boy forget about that stunning woman. Who could forget her? She was a queen for a reason.
She was gorgeous, breathtaking, stunning, beautiful, mind-blowing, surreal, alluring, goddess-like, dreamy, sharp, smart, graceful, cool, hot, sexy, classy, fabulous and elegant to begin with.
Seeing her once was enough to have her face and name permanent in one's mind. And what's more, the charismatic aura she emanates was more powerful in person. Who could blame Ares?
-----
"You coming?" Karson tapped on the shoulder of one of the group's twin babies and asked softly as if he was trying to befriend a dandelion before the seeds flew away.
Because Ares wasn't moving from the spot even after the lecture ended ten minutes ago, Karson had to call the homies from the other class to get him moving.
Ares quietly nodded with a tiny pout and stood up from the chair, carrying his bag in the front.
Eric, Omar and Orion followed the two without saying anything and walked to one of the bars the DeRose family owned.
They got into the same, reserved private room, and ordered the same drinks but in silence. Most of the time, the atmosphere of the group was made by the little ones (Eric and Ares), but since one of them was clearly not in the mood, it couldn't be a chatty situation today.
"Do you want my juice? It's coconut today." Seeing his devastated 'twin', Eric slid his drink in front of him.
Ares curled up in his seat with his bag and replied, "No, thank you."
"Mmkay." Eric withdrew his hand and sipped on it while looking at the boy.
The boy just experienced love at first sight and heartbreak, but because none of them had been in a situation like that, there was no advice.
Karson looked around the group as he drank his cocktail. Others looked back with either a shake or breathless sigh in return. They also had no idea what to do.
"How about you drink something else today to change the room? Maybe try coffee milk or almond milk?"
"I'm satisfied with this milk. Thank you." The boy replied and leaned into the person next to him, Orion, like a big stone ball.
Karson wiggled the Aquavit spritzer in his hand, "Not even a sip?"
Ares shook his head again and just hugged the bag tighter.
Omal, who was sitting directly in front of Ares, took a bite of cheesecake a little aggressively and said, "You know what you need? A place where we can just let it all out and enjoy that moment."
The boy raised his eyes from his bag to his friend. "Where is that?"
He winked and answered, "Glad you asked. But before I tell you or take you, finish your drink. I'm not witnessing waste."
Omal was very strict on food. Because he was under an inflexible diet (Well, almost inflexible) where he couldn't eat what he wanted or when he pleased, he hated seeing people waste food that he could have eaten.
That was not only disrespectful to the food, but to the people who produced them, who delivered them, who served them and made them. And that was partially the reason why he didn't want to become a chef. If he saw people leaving food on plates, he'd feel like sh*t.
Ares looked at his milk for some time before deciding to finally reach out and have a taste. Maybe his friend was right. He just needed to have some fun so that the weird feeling in his heart, mind and stomach would go away.
Since baby number one was having his milk and was no longer in his sight, Orion winked at Omal and gave a thumbs up sneakily. The other winked back, and so did Karson and Eric, nodding with a smile. Finally, one of them succeeded in making Ares have an interest in things other than the actress.
"I'm done." Ares placed the empty glass on the grey coaster and announced.
"Let me finish my cake, and we'll go."
He nodded and went back to his previous position, leaning into Orion, finishing his ice coffee.
"Also," Omal swallowed the piece of the cake and continued, "You guys better tell your parents that we might be late or won't come back tonight."
Karson frowned, "Why?"
Instead of answering immediately, Omal removed his phone from his coat pocket and did some stuff. He then showed the screen for the answer.
"We are going there? I thought it was hard to get a reservation here..." Karson commented after seeing whatever Omal showed.
"Yeah, but I'm having a photo shoot here next week, so no. My mum has told me to do a investigation before I really go there and I think this is the perfect timing."
Eric, who was sitting on the other side of Omal, took a look at the screen and said, "I have to agree. I've been really wanting to go here, but my studies had other plans... It sucks to be a med student but can't complain. I'm the one who decided after all."
He then took the phone and showed it to Orion.
Orion just nodded as if to say, 'not bad.'
"Can I see?" Baby one asked baby two.
"No."
"Why not?"
"'Cause it's going to spoil the fun." Eric swayed his head in front of the now agitated Ares and gave back the phone to the owner. "You suffer there."
Ares was about to retort but was stopped but Karson, "Just call your parents since you are already done. I'll tell them where we are going so they'd know and feel safe."
-----
"This is the place?" Ares asked as soon as he stepped out of a bus. "Smells like flowers."
They were in front of a massive wrought iron gate heavily covered with plants in the middle of a mountain.
Omal winked and nodded, "Yeah," and knocked on the gate a couple of times.
Just seconds later, the gate opened to the inside and revealed one of the scenes from children's books, movies or paintings.
Flowers.
Thousands and millions of tiny yellow flowers were in an ark and made them feel like they were in a tunnel leading to a mythical land. Flowers blooming on top of their heads were draping beautifully and they had to use their hands to move them out of the way but it was part of the thing that made the garden interesting.
"They are jasmine." Ares said softly after inhaling the air.
"Winter jasmine." Omal turned to the boy and told him with a smile. He was soon struck with a string of flowers but moved it gently.
At first, all they could see was the yellow flower and nothing else, but soon, they were welcomed by another colour. Vibrant red. But their eyes didn't hurt as much seeing that.
Everyone turned back when they heard Eric question, "When did the colours change?"
Karson widened his eyes, "Holy cow!"
The tunnel of flowers had gradually changed colours into pink yet somehow none of them noticed that.
"This is awesome!" Eric exclaimed excitedly.
Ares approached one of the flowers and gently said, "I thought these were roses but they are camellia."
"You have sharp eyes." Suddenly a man wearing a three-piece suit without a jacket appeared from behind the Camellia flowers.
He strode towards the group with his long legs, elegantly with one hand in the trousers pocket along with a light smile.
When he reached in front of Ares, he continued, "Many people who visit here think that they are roses until we tell them. How did you know?" The man was quite tall. Ares appeared like a five-year-old in front of him.
"My grandmother taught me a few," Ares answered.
"I see," The man smiled and looked around the group. "Welcome to Garden of the Red Queen. I am Reid Guardian, owner of this place."
"Nice to meet you." Omal greeted him and held out his hand, "I'm Omal Genie and I'm here with my friends, from the left are Karson DeRose, Eric Pendergrass, Orion Meissa and this one right here is Ares Queen."
Eric waved his hand, "Hi."
Karson bowed slightly, "Hello."
Orion nodded, "Pleasure to meet you."
Ares looked up and murmured, "Nice to meet you."
"I've heard many stories about all of you from your mothers." Ronan told Omal and Karson.
"You know her?" Karson asked.
"Of course." He replied, "The three of us went to the same school. I still keep in contact."
"Oh." Then why did she send me here?' Omal thought.
Ronan chuckled seeing Omal's transparent expression. "Anyway, I know why you are here, so let me show you around."
----
"And this garden is our pride, Red Queen's Garden."
After Ronan showed around each of the themed gardens in the place, he came back to Camellia's garden and explained.
"From Alice in wonderland?" Eric asked excitedly.
"Yes. My daughter loves it." Ronan replied and brought them to the centre. "This place is usually off limits but since you are special guests, you can enter."
Eric was the first one to jump into off-limit space, "Wow."
Followed by Eric were Karson, Omal, Ares, Orion and lastly Ronan.
The inside wasn't decorated with camellia flowers but red roses, everywhere. Even the ground was covered with the fallen petals creating an ethereal sight and magical feeling.
"It feels like a waste for you to make this place off limits. Its basically a red ocean," Orion commented and others nodded and agreement, except for Ares.
Ares shook his head and looked around in wonder, "No, no. This place should stay off-limits. It's too precious. We shouldn't taint them."
Ronan who was listening to the conversation and let out a laugh, continued by heartly ones.
The five of them looked at the owner, confused until the man stopped after a full minute.
"I'm sorry. You said the exact same words someone told years ago. Come to think of it, you remind me of her."
"Really? Who is that person?" Karson asked, "Your lover?"
"No. One wise actress."
Omal questioned, "Harvey Williams?"
"No."
Eric asked next, "Michelle Rachel?"
Ronan shook his head.
Orion guessed, "Cassie Greenland?"
"No."
Omal tilted his head, "Hera Smith."
"No. Any more guesses?" Ronan asked and faced the only person who hadn't said anything.
Ares who was staring into the air blurted out, "Eirene Queen..."
Ronan looked impressed, to say the least, "Somebody has gotten the right answer."