[32.5] Giving Love a Chance

The man smiled, flashing his pearly white teeth. I felt my heart skip a beat as his earthy voice touched my ears, "Sorry. Did you want this?"

I paused and nodded, "That's right."

I almost forgot about that paintbrush for a moment.

He held it up and over my head with a mischievous smile, "Oh, that's too bad. It seems it's in my hand."

I placed my hands on my hips and looked him up and down, "Why do you even need it? You don't look like you paint at all."

"That's not true. I paint quite frequently. Although I do prefer pencils on paper, I will use acrylics from time to time."

I smirked, "Oh yeah? Then prove it."

He laughed, "How should I prove it?"

"Show me your nails. Every artist has residues of their art medium under the fingernails."

He looked a bit confused and lowered his hands to look at them. I took advantage of the situation to snatch the paintbrush from his hands.

I waved the paintbrush in front of his face tauntingly, "I wasn't being serious."

He stared at me for a moment before breaking out into laughter that caused his eyes to curve, "Okay. I concede. You clearly are the true owner of the brush."

I nodded smugly, "I'm glad you agree."

He continued to smile at me, "So? What do you like to use?"

"Can you guess?"

"Hm… Maybe… Acrylics?"

"Ding ding ding."

He laughed, "And what do you like to paint?"

"Usually whatever I am in the mood for. Sometimes it's people, sometimes it's scenes that are stuck in my head. I don't really like to limit myself."

"Ah, that's a good mindset to have. Unfortunately, I only like to limit myself. I can't stand to paint portraits."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because I hate looking into the faces of people." I stared at him in shocked silence before he broke out into laughter, "It's a joke. I just don't have the talent for people as I do nature."

I smiled softly, "Well, even if you weren't joking, I would understand. I hate coming into town because there are far too many people here. It makes me sick."

His laugh tickled my ears, "Then I don't know why you're in the capital, Miss- Uhm… Sorry, what did you say your name was?"

"Oh!" My eyes lit up, "My name is Reika."

"Reika, huh? What a lovely name. My name is Moni."

"So what are you doing here, Moni?"

"I just completed my job for the day and wanted to spend my new paycheck. I work at the flower shop right next to this one. We make herbs and other plants in order to sell to people who can't create them themselves."

This man works in a flower shop?

He hardly seems like the type.

I looked him up and down, "Oh?"

He is tall and muscular…

Maybe he is a farmer or an earth element. His tan skin certainly looks like he spends a lot of time outside.

Maybe he is telling the truth.

He smiled at me charmingly as I continued to assess him, "Would you like to see an example? I have a few flowers in my pocket."

Hm… Why would this handsome man ever speak to me?

He seems to be interested in me.

But doesn't that seem a little far-fetched?

I mean… I know I'm good-looking and have an amazing personality, but it's not like there are a lot of people hitting on me.

…In fact, there's zero.

So what's his motive?

Is he evil?

I leaned over to smell him, but suddenly a flower was pushed into my face. I sneezed and looked past the flower to see the man smiling at me with eyes of admiration, "Here, take this black petunia. It reminds me of you."

"How so?"

"It's a lovely flower for a lovely person."

I took it feeling a bit embarrassed, "Lovely?"

He laughed, "Why do you seem so surprised to hear it? Hasn't anyone told you how beautiful you are?"

I averted my eyes, "O-Oh… A few people have mentioned something like that."

Like my mother…

"Well I was smitten with you the moment I saw you." His smile grew sweeter as he looked down at me with an affectionate gaze, "Actually, I would be honored if you would go on a date with me, Miss Reika."

Hearing his honey-sweet voice, I felt intoxicated.

A handsome man wants to go on a date with me?! ME!?

Ugh… But no matter how attractive this man is, I don't really know him.

I tucked the hair behind my ear shyly, "I don't go on dates with strange men I've just met."

He laughed, "Okay… Then what if we meet this Friday to share painting tips?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Painting tips?"

He nodded, "I know of a garden in town that's not too busy and not too empty. We can paint the landscape there and share tips with each other."

I thought for a moment.

That does sound… Lovely…

Plus, if he is up to no good, it will at least be in public.

"Well… I guess I am free that day…" I looked at him firmly, "But it's not a date."

He grinned charismatically, "If you say so."

___….___

I strolled through the kitchen humming to myself. My mother gave me a look and smiled, "Why are you so happy? Did something good happen?"

I walked over to the batch of lemon tarts and popped one in my mouth, "Oh! I decided to listen to what you said."

Her eyes lit up, "You did?"

I nodded, "I did. I was asked out to paint with someone this Friday and I agreed."

She was shocked, "A date?!"

I shook my head, "No, not really a date. It's more like… A painting date instead of a date date."

She raised an eyebrow, "So… A man asked you out and you plan on going just the two of you?"

"That's right."

She let out a large sigh, "I can't believe it. I thought he was too shy and would take forever, but I'm glad Prince Cyrus finally got the courage to ask you out. Even if it's not a date in your eyes, it's close enough. Now you can-"

"Cyrus?" I looked at her in confusion, "I'm not going out on a painting date with him. I'm talking about someone else."

She blinked in confusion, "Ah… I see… Then… Felix?"

I shook my head, "Not him either."

"Then… Who?"

I played with my hair shyly, "Just a handsome man I met in the art supply shop."

I skipped off with a handful of tarts, humming as I did.

Zephyr and my Mother both stared at me in confusion.

My mother narrowed her eyes, "You know what we have to do."

Zephyr nodded with determination, "Follow her on her date without her knowing."