Diane woke up with a gasp. She sat up immediately, her heart palpitating. It was already dawn, and Diego had already left the room. It hadn't been too long though, because his side of the bed was still crumpled and a little bit warm. While she was still busy trying to recollect herself, The door opened and Diego walked in, already dressed up. "What's the matter with you?" He asked, as he buttoned his sleeve. "You look like you have seen a ghost." "Honestly, I don't know." Diane replied . "I think I had a dream that I fell into water, or something." She added as she stroked her hair. Diego walked up to her, and sat beside her on the bed. He then placed his palm on her forehead. Diane flinched and wanted to back away. "I am not going to eat you, you know?" He said, as he noticed her behavior. "No, you misunderstood me." Diane clarified. "Why are your hands so cold?" She said, as she removed his hand from her forehead. Diego shrugged. "How am I supposed to know? I am no doctor." Diego said. "Besides, you don't seem to have the chills or a fever. Wash up, the morning is far gone. I will tell Dorothy to get you something, okay?" He said as he stood up. Diane nodded at him. The bedroom door closed gently.
After Diane had washed up and had breakfast, she came to the garden. Not surprisingly, the three children were there. "Sister!" Morris called as he ran up to her, a petite lizard on his head. "Leonia and I were trying to teach scales how to do tricks!" He said, as the other two girls walked up to them. "Is that so? And how has it being going?" She asked. "Terrible." Leonia replied. "No it's not. Look, I will show you." Morris argued, laying the lizard on his palm. "Scales, roll over." He commanded. The lizard just nodded its head. "Scales, stick out your tongue." Morris ordered once more. Scales:(Nod, nod nod.) "All it knows how to do is nod." Leonia complained, a bit frustrated. "Um, Scales is not a dog, you know. Maybe you should give him some more time..." " Maybe we can ask my brother to get us a puppy!" Leonia exclaimed, then both she and Morris began to jubilate. Alice however, Tugged on Leonia's clothes. "Lady, you interrupted lady Diane. She wasn't done with talking." Alice reprimanded. "My bad." Leonia stuck her tongue out awkwardly. "Sorry Diane. I didn't mean to." She apologized, head lowered. "That's alright." Diane said, patting Leonia on the head, thinking how well behaved she had been recently. "Sister, you can sit on the grass." Morris said, patting the earth. "It's nice and soft. Your dress wouldn't get dirty, pinky swear." He added, with his child like demeanor. "Okay." Diane said helplessly. How could she say no to those puppy dog eyes?
The four of them had a good time, surrounded by lush scenery, a wondrous and pleasant fragrance which emanated from the neighboring flowers, and one extremely lazy lizard. The four of them had flower crowns on their heads, Morris was still trying to get a reaction from scales, while Leonia was braiding Diane's hair. "All done." She said, sitting next to Diane, exhausted. Diane couldn't see it, but if felt smooth to touch- extremely neat. "Wow, this is very nice." She praised, patting Leonia's head. "Since when could you braid Leonia?" She asked. "Alice taught me." She declared proudly, which cause a tinge of red to creep into the latter's face. "You are quite the teacher, Alice." Diane complimented. Alice responded with a little courtesy. "Sister, I am tired. Scales is a lost cause." Morris, who had been tutoring scales for the past ten minutes, whined, crashing head first into his sister's lap. "Well, you have to keep trying.." Diane began, but she got interrupted once more. "Diane... do you mind If I join you?"
The party became five after that. Morris had already fallen asleep in his sister's lap, while the others girls(and scales) were busy playing house. "I thought you had already gone home." Diane said, while stroking her brother's hair. "Don't be ridiculous, how could I possibly leave without telling you?" Lucille said, Albeit a little half heartedly. "Lucille, is something wrong? You have been a little- um cold to me lately." Diane said, with a serious expression. "No, not at all.. it seems like you are mistaken, cold why, I have no reason to be cold to you, why would I?" Lucille blabbered non- stop. "Then.." Diane said as she focused her gaze on Lucille without breaking eye contact. "Is there something you wish to tell me?" She asked. For a moment, she could see herself five years back, standing on that fateful evening, under that tree, while flower petals roamed about with no definite direction. "Is there something you wish to tell me?" The young teenager asked, his gaze unwavering. Lucille opened her mouth, but just like back then- "No. There is none." She said looking way. Diane sighed. "Fine. But if you feel over burdened, I am always around okay?" She said, giving a reassuring smile. Lucille's stomach churned when she saw that smile. She could only nod, swallowing the lump she had in her throat. A shadow was soon cast on the grass. "Diego?" Diane called out in surprise. "What are you doing here?" She added. Diego, failing to register Lucille's presence, simply responded. "I came because I missed you."