7

"No need to bring anything! I was more than happy when you decided to come..." Ivry's excitement is portrayed in her voice.

I smile as I stroll along the aisle of shops near my cafe. Since I decided to join the lunch, I think I should bring something as well.

"I should bring something since I inform you at the last minute. You know, as a token of apology," I reply.

I didn't mean to join the lunch, but since my issue with Jun kinda bothers me, I decided it's best if I find something to distract my thoughts about it. The lunch invitation happens to be the only agenda in my schedule. So, I have no other choice but to agree.

"I hope you like fish..."

"I'm a fan of seafood and fish. No worries,"

"Okay then... I guess... See you soon!"

The call gets cut even before I bid goodbye. I smile, shaking my head in tiny. Ivry seems a bit too excited about this. I don't know why. I guess maybe she feels lonely as she said she has no friends around.

I'm strolling along the alley, trying to find something that I can buy for her. I can just bring something from the cafe, but food is available. So, I decided to buy something else.

A flower bouquet is probably the best idea.

As I am about to cross the road, the rain starts pouring slowly. I quickly grab my folded umbrella from inside my bag. The weather is uncertain on this day. It's best to bring an umbrella or a pair of sunglasses. Just in case.

There is a flower shop just across the street. The distance is quite short so I decided to just stop by that shop and proceed to Ivry's place. I look around and notice the pink carnation looks pretty today.

"Excuse me, can you pack this carnation and combine it with some baby's breath?" I asked the florist.

"I'm sorry miss, but this man has already booked the flower..."

I notice a man in a black suit with a black umbrella waiting next to the shop. Maybe it's not meant for me today!

"Hm... Okay... What about this sunflower?"

"Certainly. How many flowers do you want?"

"Three will do..."

I wait for the florist to finish packing the flowers for the man in a black suit.

"Order's ready!"

The man walks towards the counter. The bouquet is gorgeous! I feel envious of the owner. Must be someone special for him!

He leaves the shop slowly, walking next to the road with his black umbrella. I don't why I keep looking at him. Maybe I still couldn't let the carnation go. I chuckle as I grab my order from the florist.

As I was about to cross the road, I saw a car coming from the opposite direction. There is a huge puddle next to the man.

I don't know why I care so much about him, I run towards him. I turn his body away from the puddle, with my body shielding him and my umbrella shielding my body.

When our eyes meet, I feel like the time stops. My surrounding falls into a deep silence. His gaze pierced deep into my heart. A familiar feeling sips inside me as his lips part away while our bodies draw closer to each other. His hand is on my waist, the other is holding the carnation tight.

I stutter as I slowly push him away from me. But, I forgot about the puddle behind me. I am this close to splashing myself into the puddle.

He quickly yanks me closer to him. My body slams against him, making us move a few steps backward. I can hear him puffing while my body hits him.

"I'm sorry!" I quickly apologize and step away from him. He doesn't reply to me, just freeze there.

"Here. Your sunflower..."

Wait.

His voice...

It's time...

Right now, it's me who got stunned.

***

"Karin!!"

I almost fly away when Ivry throws her massive hug at me. I smile as I softly pat her back.

"Are you really that lonely?"

"Don't ask! I feel like a lonely as fuck..."

Ivry puts her hand on my shoulder and drags me into the house.

The house is quite huge. There are more glass windows than the wall. Surrounding is calm and quiet. More like stranded, maybe! That is why Ivry whines about being lonely!

But, not gonna lie. The house is almost a perfect place to hang out and chill. There's a cozy living room with industrial concept; earth tones match with gray scheme and black. I can see the open ceiling, decorated with long lamps in a diamond-shaped frame. Here and there.

"Love the house by the way!" I told Ivry.

"Hmm.. My boyfriend likes this concept. Simplicity and minimalist. This is not my cup of tea!" Ivry subtly disses his boyfriend behind his back, I guess!

We enter the kitchen. It's an open-concept kitchen, with a huge ass stainless steel countertop. At the opposite of the cooking area, there is a huge dining table in light wood color.

"Wait, there's only us, right? What's with these..." I chuckle when I see a long ass line of food on the table.

"I know you like fish and seafood. But I don't know what kind of style you like the most; bake, stir fry, deep fry, or steam. So I decided to vary them all," Ivey replies.

The food is like a seafood buffet; there are raw oysters with lemon sauce, white fish in tomato gravy, grilled prawns with three different sauces, fried crayfishes, and more.

"I made it like a buffet so we can chill instead of eating like a 5-course meal. That's too formal! You don't mind, right?"

I shake my head and smile. I love Buffet! It's more casual. To mingle with people and have a good conversation, we need to be in the most comfortable situation. A formal lunch feels stuffy actually!

"Let's dig in now?" she smiles. I nod and slowly approach the buffet. I am too immersed in the assortment until I don't realize someone is standing somewhere closer to the spot where I stood.

"Oh, did you find the vase?" I lift my head when I hear Ivry's voice.

There is the guy. The guy that I met at the flower shop. He holds a crystal-clean vase with carnations and a baby's breath bouquet. He slowly puts the vase in the corner of the kitchen.

Ivry grabs my wrist and drags me towards the man. So, the lucky owner of the carnation is Ivry. I give a faint smile as I approach him with Ivry.

"Let me introduce you to my boyfriend. Dear, this is Karin. The owner of the cafe that I told you..."

He sticks out his hand for a handshake.

"Hi, I'm Karin..."

"Call me Khit..."