Staying silent, I looked away from his bracelet and picked through several other trinkets. Soon, the store owner popped out with a little wood catalog. Passing it to me, she gave a short glance to Oliver and smiled at him.
"Dear customer, do you want to buy something?"
"...no, I'm just accompanying him."
Moving closer to me, Oliver took the other half of the catalog into his hands. In the corner of my eye, I saw the store owner narrow her eyes slightly before putting on a polite smile and tending to another customer.
"So? Any of the designs catch your eye?"
Returning my attention back to the catalog, I flipped the plastic page filled with thin blocks that had patterns engraved into them. On the corner of the page was the price for the engravings.
"Hmm."
Flipping directly to the page with the cheapest engravings, I scanned through the engravings. As expected, most of them were extremely simple, leaving a lot of spaces between them that made them look a little empty. However, for the price, they were all very beautiful.
Oliver reached out a hand to continue to the next page, which was priced a little higher. Looking through them, there was much less space within the designs, with some extra shapes here and there to fill up the blank spaces.
"This pattern looks nice."
Pointing to a block near the corner, I smiled at the cute little swirls near the bottom. Even though the top half of the block was filled with empty space, it didn't look awkward or lazy.
"Then, you should get it."
Handing the catalog to the store owner, I pointed towards that design.
"Alright dear customer! That would be this much."
Pulling out a calculator, the store owner quotes a slightly expensive price.
Digging out the note I received from that time we worked at the local cafe, I passed it over to the store owner.
"Then dear customer, please visit us again after one week with this receipt to collect your locket."
Handing me a little piece of plastic with a number printed on it, the store owner then waved goodbye to us as we moved on to other stores. Walking forward, I saw Oliver sneaking a glance at the store owner with his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Do you think she's suspicious?"
After walking a certain distance away from that store, I asked him as we stopped at a store that sold small booklets made of paper. Paper was incredibly expensive considering the type of wood required to make them. As such, paper products cost an arm and a leg, especially compared to their wood counterparts. They were definitely not something people in Middle street would buy on a regular basis.
Picking up one of their notebooks, Oliver gave it a quick glance before buying it.
"Suspicious is putting it lightly. When she looks at me, I feel as if she's trying to assess me. It's unsettling."
Taking out a small pouch from his pocket, Oliver took out the required amount of cash and passed it to the store owner. Then, slipping the notebook into his pocket, the two of us continued 'up' the street. Leaving the Big Loop behind, we entered the ascending area of the semicircle road.
"Do you think she's from the Pro-MDVA act faction?"
Passing through several food stores, we entered the straight road and headed towards Ivan's store.
"No. I didn't feel any hostility from her gaze. I think it's more likely she's from the Anti-MDVA act faction, but she doesn't like how the media has been saying that I am the faction's greatest hope."
Lips hiking in a self-deprecating smile, I heard Oliver mutter under his breath.
"How could a child be expected to be of any help?"
Reaching the Crystal ball, we saw Ivan handing out a bottle of his spices to a customer. Noticing the two of us approaching, he gave us a crooked smile.
"Dan and Ralph! Here to visit this old man?"
"Hi Ivan. Jasper gave us some vouchers for Crystal ball, so we're here to redeem them."
Digging the vouchers out from our pockets, we handed them to Ivan, who showed a fake hurt expression.
"So you only come here when you want something from me. And I thought we were friends!'
Turning around to place the vouchers in his store, Ivan gestured for us to grab anything we wanted.
"Just for you two, I'll change it into a 100% discount voucher. Don't tell Jasper I said that though."
Winking at us, he watched the two of us pick out two of his bottles and helped us pack it into a bag. Then, he took two small white spheres and passed them to us together with the bag.
"A free gift I got from High Street. Make sure to stop by when you have free time."
He winked at us as we wavered goodbye to him.
Holding the 'free gift' in our palms, I could feel it start melting into my hand. Quickly, I used my fingers to pick it up and gave it a lick.
"It's sweet!"
Exclaiming, I took another lick as I watched the candy melt on my fingers. Then, I hardened my heart and popped the whole thing in my mouth. Beside me, Oliver had also swallowed his candy, and was currently licking his fingertips.
Seeing that unexpected action from him, I chuckled and led us to the nearest toilet.
"Ivan's so nice. The sweets must have been so expensive, since he got them from High street."
Sighing as I remembered how the candy just melted in my mouth, I heard Olive give a small affirmative noise from my left. Glancing at him, I noticed he was lost in nostalgia, a slightly silly smile on his face as his eyes glazed over.
Seeing that smile, I couldn't help but lift the corners of my lips.
Andrew's house was in High street, specifically bottom High street, so Olievr and his sister must have eaten such candies at least occasionally in the past 2 years. And judging by his look of happiness mixed with sadness, these candies were most likely tied to some very special memories.
Observing the nostalgia fade from Oliver's face and his eyes turning back to their usual sharp look, I turned my head to see the two restrooms in front of us.
Turning right, we were halfway there when a familiar face exited the opposite restroom. That person, after wiping their hands on their clothes, noticed me and tilted her body to wave at us.
"Dan! Fancy seeing you here!"
Joel smiled as she approached us.
"I see you have a new friend beside you. Hello."
Flickering her eyes to Ralph, I saw her eyes slightly narrow as she recognized his face. But in a split second, she closed her eyes and smiled at him.
"Hello."
Nodding our heads to greet her, we saw her body unconsciously shift to face the men's bathroom.
"Are you waiting for Jade?"
Blurting out that question, she nodded her head and was about to open her mouth when a man in an all black attire exited the toilet. It was a little novel to see Jade dressed in something other than a skirt or dress.
"Well, speak of the devil and he will appear."
Standing up straighter, she waved at him as Jade reached us. As he saw us, he nodded.
"Hello Dan...and friend.'
Elbowing Jade, the two of them seemed to converse with each other with their gazes for a moment before returning their attention back to us.
"Well, since you are busy showing your friend around Middle Middle Market, we will stop bothering the two of you."
Laying a hand on Jade's arm, Joel gently pulled him away from the two of us. Walking towards the market, Joel let go of Jade's hand and the two of them seemed to be pulled into a conversation with each other. Waving her hand around as she talked, Joel would say something, to which Jade would say a short phrase back or just nod. However, while Joel's eyes would alternate between looking in front or at Jade, Jade's gaze only stuck to Joel. Like that, the two soon walked too far for me to clearly see their movements, and I tore my sight from them.
"Friends?"
Walking towards the bathroom, I caught up with Oliver as he used his clean hand to scoop up a little water to wash his hands with.
"No. I guess you could say we are acquaintances."
Picking up a scoop, I washed my hand and the two of us left the market.
"Is Ivan also from the Pro-MDVA act faction?"
Heading back to our apartment, Oliver asked casually as he took out his notebook to write on it. Stopping myself from peaking over his shoulder, I shook my head as I touched the small bottle I had kept in my pocket.
"As far as I know, I don't think so. But he may be, since it was my mother who introduced me to him. Same with Sky, Vicky and Jasper."
"Hm."
Keeping his notebook, Oliver seemed to be deep in thought.
As the two of us reached the apartment, I spotted a familiar figure waiting at the bottom of the staircase. Noticing the two of us, he stood up and rushed forward, slipping his hands in mine as he slotted himself between Oliver and me.
"Hi Ralph."
Smiling at him, I squeezed his hand as I introduced them to each other.
"Ralph, this is my new brother, Oliver. Oliver, this is Ralph. He lives a couple doors away from us."
At my introduction, Ralph moved his gaze towards Oliver. Narrowing his eyes, he seemed to raise his heels, lips pulled apart to show a small bit of teeth. Oliver on the other hand took a glance at Ralph and raised an eyebrow. Then, noticing Ralph's hostility, his gaze turned serious and he seemed to scan Ralph from the top to bottom before giving a small sigh. He then reached out a hand with a fake smile.
"Nice to meet you Ralph. I'm Oliver."