The Wish Tree

Erika smiled brightly in front of the camera, and a beautiful picture of her and Sam was born. Ava took a lot of photos of them. Erika was like a professional model, kept changing her pose every second and made the photos even more extraordinary.

After taking photos for Erika and Sam, Erika offered to take some photos for Ava. Ava agreed with a smile thinking it would be a good way of keeping this trip memorable. Now that Oliver knows about it she didn't feel any pressure to be here and started to enjoy her time at the hill. However when Erika was taking her photos Sam stood behind her and the whole time he was smiling at her so Ava kept getting distracted, in the end, she decided to not look at the camera and suddenly a beautiful moment of Ava standing under the cherry blossom tree and looking at the distance absent mindedly was captured by Erika.

After done with Ava, Erika took some photos of Sarah, then she handed the camera to Sam and he took a lot of photos of the three women. The whole morning they spent taking photos of each other.

It was almost noon when they were tired of taking pictures and decided to have lunch. They went to the cherry blossom restaurant and found a secluded corner to sit down. There were a few scattered guests in the diner, other than that the place was deserted.

"I need to use the restroom." Erika stood up with a smile.

"Sister Rika, wait! I need to use the restroom too." Sarah also got up quickly.

Ava and Sam were left alone. Ava looked at the menu, but her mind kept running to Sam and Erika, finally, she put down the menu and looked at Sam who was also checking out the menu, "Sam, are you serious about Rika?" Ava asked seriously, she was really worried that Rika would be hurt if Sam was just passing his time with her.

"Ava, didn't you asked me to give it a try?" Sam said with a calm smile.

"Yes, I wanted that but I must warn you, she is a very simple girl you cannot play with her feelings."

"I know what I am doing," Sam said lightly.

"Sam, I hope you can face your feelings bravely. You and me, it's impossible. If you are sincere towards her then it's all good but if you have no feelings for her at all then please tell her clearly. I can see that she likes you very much." Ava's eyebrows were knitted together and her eyes slightly narrowed as she said that. She was unable to understand Sam's mind, one moment she thought his eyes look at her with longing but the next moment he was all over Erika.

"I don't care about others, Ava. But you have to understand that I will never hurt you." Sam looked at Ava sincerely.

Ava looked at him speechlessly, what does he mean he doesn't care about others? What is he doing with Erika then? If he keeps giving her hope that will only lead her to heartbreak.

"You don't care about Rika? Then why are you giving her hope?"

"Ava, Erika doesn't want me, she thinks she does, but she doesn't. As her friend, you should know it better than she has someone else in her heart. With me here she is just trying to run from her own feelings that's all. She will eventually realize what she really wants, so you don't have to worry about her being hurt."

Ava didn't know what to say, he was right about that. So she lowered her eyes and concentrated on the menu. Only time will tell who was right. Ava only hoped none of her friends get hurt in this mess.

Sarah and Erika were standing in front of the mirror and Erika took out her little make-up pouch to do her touch-up. Sarah saw that and thought Erika was already so beautiful why does she need to use make-up?

"Sister Rika, you are so beautiful then why do you have to do your make-up?" Sarah asked with a gentle smile. Her eyes were full of admiration.

"Really! Thank you, but I want to look my best in front of him." Erika said as she finished with her face powder and picked up her lipstick.

"But I think Mr. Evan likes a natural look on women, once he told us in the class that plain women were the most beautiful. In our class, many students like to put on heavy makeup so he once gave us a lesson. He said that as long as women have self-confidence, they can radiate a beautiful aura, they didn't need to make up to show their beauty. You are already so perfect even without makeup you will still charm anyone."

Erika who was about to put on lipsticks stopped and frowned. "Really? Is that what he really thinks?"

"Yes, Mr. Evan also said that there are harmful chemicals used in the cosmetics, which are not good for our skin."

Hearing Sarah, she quickly took out a wet napkin from her bag and wiped the foundation from her face then washed her face with a face wash and put on a light moisturizer. Without the heavy makeup on Erika felt really refreshed and more relaxed. As a celeb, she always had to have her make-up on when she was outside, so it felt good to be bare face at least for once.

"Sarah, thank you for telling me this." Erika tidied her make-up pouch and thought to herself that she will never put on any make-up from now on when she was with Sam.

"No problem sister Rika, you look very beautiful." Sarah couldn't help but exclaim. No wonder Erika was a superstar, her skin was so beautiful, even without makeup she was just perfect.

When Erika and Sarah came out of the restroom, Sam was a bit stunned seeing Erika's bare face, her skin was delicate and flawless and her lips were naturally red. For a second he thought Erika was beautiful, however, the next second he looked at Ava and thought Erika was beautiful but Ava was even more beautiful than her.

After lunch, they all sat there and listened to the stories about, hundred-year-old wish tree which was in the back yard of the resort. According to legend, if two people who loved each other, write their wish, put it in the wishing bottle, and hang it on the wish tree, they will be together forever.

Almost everyone knows this legend, Ava suddenly remembered she once hung a wishing bottle when she was in secondary school. They all came to the backyard to see the wish tree. The banyan tree looked very old, it was very big and its branches and leaves were all scattered taking a large area. There were different kinds of wishing bottles hanging on it making it look enchanted. Behind the wish tree, there was a natural stream, very narrow, only one meter wide, but it enhanced the beauty of the place even more making it serene.