"Where should I put this, Vida?" Amara shouted, carrying a box full of books. She glanced over at Vida who was hanging a monochrome painting of some flowers on the wall.
"Just put it there!"
Amara did as told. She glanced around the new place. So far, everything was in place. It was early in the morning when she got dragged by Vida to another place. Only then was she informed that her friend had sold her flower shop and bought another – far from her former shop.
"Why did you move?" When she asked Vida, the latter answered, "I'm planning to expand my variety of flowers. I need a bigger place."
Amara didn't probe any deeper. She just accepted, knowing how crazy her friend for flowers was. Vida had real talent in flower arrangement, which was why some orders even came from nobles.
However, she only accepted orders for bouquets and baskets and declined any invitation and proposal for event flower decorations. She could save a lot of money if she accepted, but then she'd reason that decorating an entire place was tiresome, so she always refused.
"Why are all of your decorations in black and white? Add a little more color."
Vida leaped from the stool and dusted her trousers, "The flowers are already colorful. Besides, the place needs contrast."
True to her words, after all the dark color decors she fixed in the walls and corners, the interior became more pleasing to the eyes.
"Can you stay here for a bit? I asked for some things from the stationery store nearby. I'll just go and get it."
"Sure."
Vida quickly went out after putting the apron down on the table. Instead of just waiting still, Amara decided to sweep the floor. She was focused on wiping the long working table when she heard the door chime.
"Apologies. We aren't open yet!" She yelled in hopes the customer would hear. Did Vida mistakenly flip the open sign in the door? She lifted her head and glanced at the entrance, only to be surprised.
"Did you change your job now?"
Azer was there, standing by the door, smirking at her like he hadn't disappeared without sending any messages for four days.
"Are you buying flowers?"
His brow raised, probably wondering about her cold welcome.
"Yes."
"...Carnations?"
"Are you perhaps a mind reader?"
Amara's body stiffened. Red carnations. That was the flowers Laura said Azer gave to her. She glared at the man who was now standing across the table.
He stared at her, but she turned away. She didn't want him to see how wrinkled her forehead was due to irritation. She went and picked the red carnations and started arranging them on the table.
"I prefer white carnations, please."
Her hands stopped clipping the flowers. She slowly gazed at Azer and wondered, 'Why am I doing this? I don't even know how to arrange flowers.'
"Hey," Azer held her frozen hands and brought them to his lips without breaking their eye contact. "Why are you mad? Did I do something wrong?"
Azer was pouting. In other words, this handsome adult man was puckering his lips like someone about to cry and gazed at her like a whimpering puppy. She could even imagine those furry ears drooping down on his head.
"About red carnations…"
"What about them?"
"You didn't…give them to someone…?"
"No, I did not," Azer looked puzzled but his answer was quick and honest. He pulled her hands gently which made her upper body inched closer to him. If the table wasn't between them, she would have bumped into his chest. "I'm only buying the flowers today, and it's white not red."
She believed him. Although she couldn't help but frown after recalling that Laura knew his favorite color.
"What's this frown about?" Azer inquired, still unsettled. Something might have happened when he was not around. He fought the urge to kiss her lips and waited for her answer.
"Is your favorite color white?"
Azer looked more bewildered than ever, "No. I like black," his eyes drilled holes against hers and he added, "And purple."
Amara's frown turned into a smile. She felt silly, but her heart was giddy. After seeing her smile, Azer's furrowed brows relaxed and he chuckled. How he wished he could link her mind to his, so he could tell what was going on in her mind.
"Then why do you like white carnations?" She pulled back her hands and added, "Wait. I have to put this back. They will quickly wither if they don't get water."
She gathered the red carnations and immediately put them in the container back. Then, her eyes moved to the white ones.
"I like the meaning behind it."
Amara's heart throbbed rapidly. Azer was standing behind her already, enclosing her between the drums of fresh flowers of carnations and himself. Her breath hitched when his arms wrapped around her waist and rested his chin above her shoulder. His breath hit her earlobes, making her feel flustered and nervous.
"Presenting them to someone means conveying pure affection, innocence, and good luck. But thinking about it, I should ask the receiver which flower she likes most," he gazed up at her, "Which flowers do you like the most?"
"…Zinnias…"
Azer glanced around, looking for the mentioned flower while asking, "What do they mean?"
Amara whispered, "…I miss you."
Azer froze. He looked back and she quickly turned away, embarrassed. Not only her cheeks were red, but even the tip of her ears to her neck was flushed. Her fingers wrapped around his wrist, trying to break free. However, Azer only tightened his embrace.
He held her chin, turned her head to face him, and kissed her.
Amara gripped his wrist, not to push away, but to pull him tighter. Without Azer probing her, she opened her lips and let him in. His hand on her chin moved to her nape and inclined her head. He deepened the kiss and didn't let any wind pass through between them.
The scent of the flowers behind them made their reunion more romantic.
Azer opened his eyes and smiled between their kisses. The flowers mostly next to them were red carnations and other red-colored petals. He gazed at Amara whose eyes were still closed, her eyelashes trembling as though the wind was playing with them.
She was like a fairy surrounded by flowers. Like an image of a goddess sleeping on a vast and vibrant flower field. She lay there, waiting for her prince. Her luscious auburn locks sprawled on the verdant ground, and a small and soft smile was painted on her face.
'She's lovelier than flowers,' Azer thought.
Her eyelids fluttered open and he met those purple eyes – like irises in full bloom, they widened and her face became redder.
Amara was waiting. She was anticipating another kiss. She averted her gaze and slightly pushed him away. Now, that the kiss had broken, her mind became clear. They shouldn't do that in someone's store. She asked Azer to move away and if the door didn't open, he wouldn't even listen.
"Oh, you're back?"
Vida entered carrying three boxes. She quickly took a box from her and her arms almost snapped.
"It's heavy, you don't have to—
Amara looked at Vida with shock, "How can you even lift these boxes? I couldn't even—
"Give it to me," Azer took the box from her and frowned. The box was indeed heavy. He looked at Vida with suspicious eyes but the latter avoided him and went inside. She easily put down those boxes as though they contained nothing but foams.
"I still have a lot of things to do here. The both of you can go."
"I'm helping."
Vida rolled her eyes, "Really? You've been waiting for him all these days and now that he's here, you're not spending time together?"
"I'm not—
"If that's the case, then I'll be taking her out. I'm sure with that strength, you won't need help anymore," Azer interrupted, grabbing Amara's hand. "We're going."
Amara looked back at Vida. She waved her hand to him while the other only smirked and shooed her away. They were already outside when she remembered something.
"Aren't you buying flowers?"
"I was. But I've already got the prettiest flower I've ever seen."
"Where? You didn't take even a single—
Azer dropped his gaze to her, and her words got stuck in her throat after realizing what he meant. She turned away and bit her lower lip, trying to suppress her silly grin. Her ears were clapping in happiness and her heart could rival the pace of a racing horse. When will she get used to him? She always gets flustered even by the smallest things he does, while he's always calm and collected.
Amara wondered how he would look if he got flustered and embarrassed as well. She wanted to witness that. It'll be a rare moment for sure. She followed him, without asking where they would go. She just silently gazed at his back, ignoring the curious looks and murmurs in the street.
With Azer around, leading her like a knight, the surroundings became a mere distant and vague background. Nothing shines brighter than him, and her eyes never lose their focus, always directed to his light.