Yesterday, after Hespar returned to his own quarters.
Unlike the recruits from other divisions, those from Medical Division were treated especially well to show appreciation for all the stressful work they had to do. Due to the differences in their closing time, the recruits from this division would only get to eat after their department's closing time.
This means there's more chance for Paul to see Selene after finishing her job.
But she seemed a little irritated when coming to the canteen to decide on her food. Coincidentally, Paul was the one attending to her dinner request. Hence the two had more opportunities to talk in between.
"Paul, do you think Hespar hates me?" Selene asked with a puzzling expression. She also looks confused when reminiscing about how Hespar gave her an entire box filled with lizard guts.
"Based on all these years I know him, that idiot is a fool, but not someone who would hate someone intensely. Tell this god of love about your worries, my dear. Let me guide you to your happiness." Paul eloquently replied to Selene. Every word he used seemed to have the magic to soothe people's hearts.
"Hahaha! God of love... I remember that you're the one in our class who got rejected fifteen times over the ten years we're studying in the same batch. When did you get that title?" Selene chuckled. She knew that Paul was joking, but that still didn't answer her question.
"Alright, my dear. You shouldn't overlook my goods just because I have fifteen rejections. The girls rejected me because they merely judged me based on my appearance. And with that hottie Hespar around me always, do you think I have a chance?" Paul continued.
"Hottie! Hahaha! Paul, stop making me laugh, please!" Selene couldn't help but laugh loudly. It felt like all her worries were gone from laughing them out.
"Here. Take this and have a seat. Let this god of love consult you when I'm done cooking my cupid's meal for the others." Paul placed the dishes he cooked on a plate and pointed at where Selene should sit.
After handling the remaining ten people, Paul made his way to the table where Selene was sitting on her own. Her four other colleagues accompanied her when she had her dinner, but they left first, as there was something else for them to do after dinner.
"So, what made you unhappy today? Did Hespar do something stupid again?" Paul asked and started chewing on a stick of jerky he made.
Selene immediately stretched her hand out and asked for one. As his classmates and a fellow party member during the finals, how can she be oblivious about Paul's trademark jerky meat?
"Eat them. Don't leave too much to that idiot." Paul took a few out and gave them to Selene.
"So?" he asked the question again, in a more stretchy tone.
"Hespar came to me just now and gave me something. I'm still thinking about how I should respond to him." Selene said. There was a hint of sigh in her words like she was unsure about the feeling she should have.
"Oh... My boy grows up. I knew he was either interested in you or Ashley. Congratulation, my dear. Hespar is a good man, don't worry." Paul started to behave wildly like a matchmaker after hearing what Selene said.
"But again, what did he gives you? Flowers? No... That's too romantic. That fool is someone who would give his mother a bunch of mushrooms for his mother's birthday, so that won't happen..."
"Jewelry? Impossible too. He's not rich to do that. I won't be surprised if he gives you something like a dagger or a chest plate, but as someone with a few spy worms inside his belly, I'm sure he had no money to buy them." Paul continued to guess.
"Food? Not possible. Impossible, impossible... He even has to rely on me to make the food since what he created is inedible... What about opening the answer? Just tell me what he gets for you." Paul got tired from guessing and asked for the answer.
"It was... A container full of..." Selene stuttered.
"Sparkling stones? Medicinal Herbs?" Paul continues to guess.
"Lizard guts." it was difficult to say, but she finally said it.
"WHAT?"
"WHAT THE F**K?"
Paul couldn't help but curse. He knew Hespar was a fool, but he had no idea he was foolish to this extent. Where did he even get the idea to give this to someone as sweet as Selene? An entire box full of lizard guts?
To Paul, Hespar's action was a blatant provocation to all men. If they didn't grow up together since they were babies until they were about to turn sixteen, he would definitely disown this fellow from his list of friends.
...
...
...
"Why are you so aggressive with me today?" Hespar wondered what made Paul look so moody today. But it never came across his mind that he was the cause.
"I'm the cook, so when you're here at my place, you do what I want, alright? Get the hell out and come back with a handful of flowers. There's something you need to do later." Paul tells what he wants Hespar to do but doesn't state why.
"But I'm hungry..." Hespar replied. Like the others, his belly has been growling since he arrives outside the canteen.
"Like I say, you won't be starving as long as I'm in the kitchen, so go get what I tell you. Also, get two handfuls with different kinds to ensure you don't ruin what I'm planning for." Paul added before turning around and opening the canteen.
With the people starting to rush into the building, Paul no longer had time to bother Hespar. And since there's no point for Hespar to run into the canteen to eat, he might as well go to do what Paul tells him to do.
He might be lacking in common sense, but Hespar wasn't stupid. Based on how much he knew Paul, there should be a reason for him to get the flowers. Of course, when it comes to who it was for, he had zero clue about it.
Hespar took nearly twenty minutes to complete what he was told. With two different bouquets in his hand, he happily returned to the canteen and queue for his food.
It was quite late by the time Hespar was almost done with his dinner. But to the people from Medical Division, this is precisely their turn to have their dinner.
Speaking about Medical Division, Selene is naturally one of the members coming over for their meal. She was surprised that Hespar was sitting at one of the tables. Still, after thinking about what she told Paul last night, it was normal that Paul would do something to clear the misunderstanding between them.
Selene naturally felt the need to tidy her hair a little and search for a reflective panel to check if she had anything on her face. After ensuring she had no imperfection in her appearance, Selene grabbed her food. She made her way to where Hespar was seated next to see what made him wait there.
She was greeted by the two bunch of flowers in Hespar's hand after placing her food tray down. But once again, Selene wanted to laugh at Hespar's foolishness.
Paul came minutes later, hoping that he could make the misunderstanding between the two go away. The instruction from Hespar's mother, Catherine, kept popping up in his mind as he tried to fulfill his duty as the cupid.
"How are you two doing? It was a surprise, correct?" Paul started things out with a smooth conversation. But he soon felt like spitting out all the saliva he had just swallowed.
"What the hell are you here with two stacks of wild herbs? I ask you to get flowers, not herbs!" Paul really wanted to smack Hespar's head again. Unfortunately, the ladle is resting near the cooking stove he used earlier.
Without a weapon in hand, all he could use was his powerful and wide palm to smack Hespar's head from behind. Paul had already tried his best to ensure Hespar didn't spoil his plan, but he still managed to get things wrong.
"How can Chrysanthemum, Ginseng Flower, Lotus Bulb, Dandelion, and Honeysuckle be flowers? I asked for flowers, but can't you pick something like the lavender and roses grown along with the camp?" Paul wrapped his arm around Hespar's neck and used his fist to drill Hespar's forehead.
The two made Selena laugh so much that it was hard for her to finish her dinner. But for the very least, it got rid of her moodiness towards Hespar and his odd gift choice. But again, it's not like she had no idea what Hespar meant by bringing all the flowers he had chosen today.
Although all girls prefer flowery words, they do not hate when they're showered with actions and things with a definite meaning. Hespar's choice was odd, but they're filled with good intentions from what he brought here.
The flower components from Hespar choice were a recipe to create a face cream for many women in Lavos Village. Paul might have not noticed it, but the same cannot be applied to Selene, a woman, and medical practitioner.
"Hespar..." Selene gently placed the cutleries down after she finished her dinner.
"Yes?" Hespar immediately answered her.
"The next batch of Anti-Inflammation Powder is done. Remember to come to my office and take them. Next time, try to dry the guts before bringing everything over to me. Processing wet ingredients will cost more of my time, and they smell." Selene continued.
Her words hinted to Hespar that it was fine for him to bring the guts to her if he's out of the Anti-Inflammation Powder.
"Ah... I will. Thank you." Hespar smiled after hearing Selene's reply.
"Silly..." Selene secretly smiled and left the two on their own.
"Hey, Paul." Hespar suddenly remembered he was actually here on an entirely different matter.
"What?" Paul irritatedly responded.
"I got six damaged carcasses from the Mountain Lizard. Do you want it?" Hespar continued.