26- Picnic

I had to do some stops when we were walking to the center of the park to try and hold my laughter after remembering again and again that fall.

After a titanic effort I managed to not laugh.

Mildred decided that it was a good idea to have our picnic under a tree that is near the lake of the park.

I, not knowing if this is even how a picnic goes, agreed.

-I think here is nice! .

She says as she lets her bodyweight loose and heavily falls butt first to the ground.

She sights like she just relaxed or finally took a sit after walking for hours, but I can tell that fall really hurt her back. Nonetheless she didn't make a sign of pain.

I slowly but surely sit giving my back to the big tree. Mildred sit a couple of steps in front, she looked at the ground dividing us and moved her butt back and forth trying to move closer to me. it was exasperating not seeing her just stand up, take a step and sit down again but I digress.

She opened the bag she had with her and rolled a little cloth piece with white and red squares on it. I Saw this kind of fabric when I looked what a picnic is.

From her basket she pulls out a medium size container. the top is covered in aluminum and I can see glimpses of vapor coming out of the little apertures in the foil.

She then grabs plates, knifes and forks from her basket. She gives me one and I take it. At this moment I'm both worried and excited, excited at the idea that I was going to eat something someone made and not some cheese/pepper flavored chips, Worried that this was made by Mildred, and even more worried by the fact she brought actual food and not some lame sandwiches like I did...

She finally takes the foil out and all the vapor comes out, after the fog clears I can see a REALLY tasty looking lasagna perfectly layered around that container.

The cheese is oozing, the tomato sauce looks incredibly tasty and the meat looks juicy and delicious.

My mouth waters down and my stomach starts screaming at me to give it what it truly deserves, my common sense comes back to me. I wait for Mildred to take a slice and start eating herself before I even grab a piece for myself.

The knife went through it like butter, the moment it separated from the container and traveled to her plate I could see strings of melted cheese larger than my hair, she even had to use the knife to cut some of those strings because they would never let go.

Her fork cuts through the walls of pasta in an instant while still spilling a little bit to the sides. I'm tempted to just grab her plate and start running until the cops, her, and even god forgive me for what sins I am going to commit to that lasagna.

She finally puts it in her mouth and she gives out a moan in response, her cheeks are stuffed and her eyes are closed, even still I can see the sparkles coming out of them even when closed.

-Oh sorry for taking the first bite, do you want me to serve you? .

-YES! U-uh I mean... sure, if you don't mind.

-Here. You. Go. Enjoy it.

The moment the fork enters my mouth, the gates of Valhalla open in front of my eyes, a thousand angels kiss my body to absolute ecstasy as the universe wraps my taste buds with cosmic rays of absolute radiance.

My ears are tearing up, the flood gates have been opened and I'm just letting it go without a remorse in my heart.

-A-are you okay? .

-*Sniff* y-yeah... better than ever.

I say as I clean the tears from my eyes.

-Did you like it?.

-I did. What did you do to this stuff? it's... amazing is getting really short to how I'm feeling right now.

-Well I used the recipe my grandma gave me for lasagna. I don't think it has something special to it.

-You didn't put anything weird in it did you?.

-What? nonono. I didn't add anything at all, and everything Is bought from the store so it's not like I did the ingredients.

-Is there a way you could show me this recipe?

-I don't see a problem with that, unfortunately I don't have it with me, it's in a paper in my kitchen, but I can show it to you if you ever come back to my house .

-Oh surely, I would lo-.

The realization comes like a spark to my brain, I wanted to have this talk for something important, and that is to set up things clearly.

Every muscle in my body doesn't want to but after an even more titanic effort I'm able to let the plate with a half eaten lasagna in the ground, carefully placed just in case I can finish it up if I don't die in the next 3 minutes.

-Mildred, I need to ask you something, seriously, by the way.

She lets her plate in the ground too and her face tells me she is worried.

-What is wrong? did something happened?.

-Nothing has happened... yet, and that is why I am worried. We need to talk about your... fixation...on me.

-What do you mean?.

-The way you oddly just act all nice and cute to me after what happened in the store. How fast you wanted us to hangout even when we just formally met that night, and worse of all, why did you even have the need to try and guess my phone number?. and that many times to be precise, I could have just given it to you if you asked if we met again but you had to go through all that trouble.

Why?.

-Oh... that... well it's just that I really want to be your friend.

-Excuse me to interrupt you but I HIGHLY doubt that is everything you have in mind.

-But it's true. I don't really need or want anything else, it's just that... I really don't know how to make friends and stuff. I thought that is what you were supposed to do.

-It's not about "knowing what to do" everyone with common sense would know to not do something like that, why did you even think that would be a good idea?, 80 phone calls...

-W-well it's just that I really was scared to never see you again s-so I really wanted to find you no matter what.

-But do you realize that you scared the hell out of me last night?.

-I-im so-sorry.

She grips her dress and tears come out of her eyes.

-I-i had a panic attack and I didn't know what to do s-so I tried t-to find you.

At this time I feel really bad, but still, I feel like this is nothing but a trick to make herself look vulnerable. I will try to make her feel good but I won't forget why I am here no matter how much she sobs or cries.

-Listen... *sighs* I kinda now how you feel, I'm sorry for saying it like I knew how you felt that night, I'm sorry for that.

I patted her head and cleaned her tears with one of the tissues she brought with all the plates too.

I give her space to breath and try to calm down, she was sobbing for some minutes while cleaning herself with her hands. After a while she finally stopped crying, her eyes where still red and from time to time she sniffs deeply to clean her nose.

-Are you alright now?

-Y-yeah I'm better, thank you.

-No worries...

listen I'm sorry for dropping it so harshly.

-N-no you're right I... guess I could have managed the situation better.

-I don't blame you, trust me I've had those before too. But having a panic attack over not having the phone number of someone you just met 20 minutes ago... I really can't say I relate to that.

-Yes... I know.

-And listen this doesn't mean I don't want to be your friend, frantically I do now after tasting that lasagna you got there, It's fantastic.

-Pfft thank you I guess haha.

-Also, just to be sure, and I want you to be as sincere as possible.

-Yes?.

-You're... not planning on killing me or kidnapping me right?.

-Wha-?! n-No why would I do something like that?!.

-You gave that impression last night you know.

-O-oh sorry, I didn't mean to. I swear I don't want to harm you or anything, I just want to be your friend, pinky promise!.

-... I'm gonna trust you for now but I'll be careful nonetheless, I hope you understand it's not something personal or something...

-Oh no worries I get why you were freaked out so much haha.

-Fine then. Friends?.

I Extend my hand towards her with a signal for her to give me hers.

-Heh, friends.

She takes my hand.

I can't stop feeling like we really didn't solve anything here. I only made her cry and she just ignored all that... but... I think this not her planning something nefarious or something like that. I feel like she is just too... naive, she clearly has no control over her emotions but also doesn't want to hold them on for long, if she feels sad she will do her best to just.... don't be sad?. I really think she just faking herself being happy can't be a good thing, but it's not like I can be her therapist. Although, hopefully I can send her in a better path in the next days, I still have plenty of my... "vacations" left.

-Can we go back to eating? I didn't really have breakfast before coming.

-Oh sure, take as much as you want. .

-Thank you very much.

-Oh by the way I wanted to know what did you bring for food?.

-Oh... I... brought some... *whispering* sandwiches

-Excuse me?.

-I said I brought some... *whispering* sandwiches

-Why are you saying it so softly? I can barely hear you .

-I SAID I BROUGHT SOME SANDWICHES!.

- Oh, that's cool, what are they made of?.

-....

-Cecile?.

-Just cheese and ham.

-And mayonnaise?.

-And mayonnaise.

-Oh, yummy, I want one!.

-You do?.

-Surely, why wouldn't I?.

-I mean you brought some really fantastic home made food and all I brought was some simple sandwiches. I'm sorry.

-There is no need to be sorry, even if you didn't bring anything I would have still enjoyed our stay here. we were here to talk after all, not eating. Eating was a bonus I guess haha.

-Well yeah, you're right, I still feel bad because I really don't now how to properly cook.

-Don't worry, I could teach you how to do it, it's quite simple actually.

-Would you?.

-Sure!, I don't see why not. Oh but that is only if you want, I'm not obligating you or anything, sorry if it sounded that way.

-Nono, don't worry, I would actually love to learn how to cook a meal. We'll settle some day for my classes after this haha.

-I can't wait!. Also, are those potato chips?!

-Yeah, I brought some with me too. You want some?.

-Yeeees, gimme gimme.

She is far from the girl crying just a couple of minutes ago, I'm starting to feel worry about how easily she just let things go.

-Also, did you bring anything to drink?.

She was about to put one chip on her mouth when I said that, she lets go of it and it falls to the ground as her face shows she is clearly shocked.

-I... forgot the drinks... I knew I was missing something but I couldn't make my mind on what .

- Oh, then I'll need to go and grab some from a vending machine, wait here while I go and grab some for us.

-Uh can I go with you?.

-Well... sure, why not.

-Yay!.

She quickly stands up.

-Wait what about the food.

-Oh don't worry I closed the container and the lasagna won't get cold, trust me.

-What if someone takes it?.

-Well i've never heard of someone doing that you know?.

-....True. Let's go.

On our way walking to the vending machine we stopped many times to look around the place as animals like ducks or birds appeared near our path, at some point she even stopped to feed the ducks on the pond. I don't know where she got that bread tho.

After a while we finally reached the machine.

-Augh finally, I'm thirsty .

-If we wouldn't have stopped 5 times we could have reached it way faster.

I said with a smile, as to not sound so agresive.

-Are you gonna tell me those dogs weren't cute?! .

-Ok I'll give you that, they were.

-See?, them being that cute means I'm legally obligated to stop and pet them in their fluffy head

-I'm pretty sure there is no law for that, but ok, sure haha.

-What do you want for your drink?.

-Cola is fine. Although I usually don't drink sodas, my tummy doesn't like all those bubbles.

A cola and for me... well I like apple flavored soda so why not some for now.

We walked to our picnic spot, It's easy to notice since the tree is quite characteristic.

-Waaaa finallyyyyy.

She says as she drops her can to the floor when she sits and puts her hands on the still warm container.

-Aaaaaaa~ so warm.

-You know, there was no need for you to grab the can with your WHOLE palm. Both of them also.

-I know but this dress is quite dangerous when it comes to falls ⁠.

-Hehe, yeah, I've seen it.

-Hey don't laugh, that actually hurt you know?

I laugh as I take a sip from my soda. As always, the flavour is fantastic.

-Heh. But still...

She says softly while looking at the pond right next to us. The clouds reflecting on the surface making it feel like there are 2 skies right in front of us.

-Despite some setbacks, this day was quite enjoyable don't you think?.

She asks me directly, smiling and looking all happy.

-I guess it was quite fine.

Quite fine actually...