Chapter 08: I Shall Go Back There Tomorrow

Amethyst stood just outside of Botanical Garden, the closest tourist attraction to where they are living.

This is the first place she decided to go because it is the closest.

She still has no idea what Scarlet was planning but she will make sure that she won't disappoint her at all.

"And…"

After looking up the entrance and the wall where it was engraved the name of the place. She looked to her side.

"Why are you here again?"

She asked looking at the poker faced Slate.

"I am joining you to make sure that you are able to get the right materials she needed," he replied before walking past her and entering the place first.

"If you are here to do that then she wouldn't have to go out of her way to find someone else to check the places. This only means that you are not really capable of taking what she needed," she muttered but decided to just follow him.

Botanical Garden as the name implies have flower all over the place but that was not only it. In the recent years, this place had been developed and now there were some Chinese themed places.

Like that of the twelve zodiac statues with a bit of information on them.

There was also a cave, where one would walk in a U shape way and would lead you on another side of the garden.

There were also Chinese styled gazebos and some short bridges.

It is an attraction one would want to take pictures of and at the same time have some picnic on to relax.

Amethyst took a deep breath as she took the scent of the pine trees nearby.

Despite the civilization and the amount of trees that were cut down over the years, the fact that this city was the city of pines still remained.

Amethyst heard that in the past, when one was to take in the morning scent, you would enjoy the scent of the pine trees. Even those who are coming up during the dawn of break on Marcos High Way or Kenon Road would say the same thing, the scent of pines.

When she opened her eyes, she saw that Slate was silently looking at her and felt embarrassed somehow.

She cleared his throat before walking ahead. Slate didn't say anything and just walked behind her.

Since Scarlet told her to enjoy it fully and not just look around, she did as she was told.

It took them three hours to look around but not even once did the two of them talked to one another.

After that they started walking back to the condominium which is about ten minutes walk away.

And since they went there during the afternoon close to dusk, the scenery is now that of orange color.

She shivered a bit after feeling the cold air of December but felt contented somehow.

Though what startled her was when a jacket was placed on her shoulder.

"I am… alright," she couldn't help but say.

"Just keep it, it is bad if you fall sick again and would be unable to do what my sister asked."

Amethyst didn't argue back and just left his jacket on her shoulder, "Thank you then."

"You should remember to bring your jacket when planning to go out in the afternoon," he suddenly said.

And his tone was that the tone of the doctor.

"I understand, I shall keep that in mind," she replied.

There is no point in arguing back to the doctor, for what he said was for her own good anyway.

*****

'In the end, I am once again eating dinner with them,' Amethyst thought as she sat on the living room with Scarlet while Slate was cooking.

She wanted to talk to Scarlet tomorrow about the things that happened today but Scarlet wanted to know now.

So with a sigh, she could only accept their offer.

"Talk after dinner," Slate instantly said when Scarlet opened her mouth after the dinner was served.

Scarlet side glanced Amethyst before giggling, "He is very strict, isn't he?"

Amethyst smiled and nodded her head.

Dinner was not as silent as when there's only the two of them left. Instead, Scarlet was able to raise the atmosphere into a jolly one.

She was talkative and does not allow Slate to not speak with them as well. So the three of them were able to have a three way conversation.

It was not deep and they would talk about their current day to day life.

"So you were really able to meet so many kind of customers," Scarlet said when Amethyst told them about her encounter with a drunk man on broad daylight.

"It was really a hustle so the moment that he stepped in, I already gave the police a call in order to ensure that he wouldn't do anything wrong. Just in time the police station was just around upper session that they came right then."

"He was escorted out just like that?" Scarlet asked again.

"No, he was already starting to cause problems and when the police approached him, he became angry and that's just it. Some books were thrown on the ground and some shelves almost fall down. Good thing some customers helped out and didn't allow it to fall."

"That was scary- Hey, did you open your store today? You can go and check the places when it is your off," Scarlet suddenly remembered and said.

Amethyst chuckled, "You don't have to worry, I have someone to open it. So I can go wherever I want just fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Don't worry, I am very sure," she nodded her head.

"And? How was it?"

This time, since dinner was already over, Scarlet started asking about what she tasked Amethyst.

Amethyst took out her phone and started talking about the place but soon noticed that Scarlet was thinking something else.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Hmmm, about the people, how do they look like to you? And other than the description of the place, what do you feel about it? I mean as you yourself enjoy it."

Amethyst stared at her but her mind was at work.

"Ah, I'm sorry, am I asking too much?" Scarlet saw this and wondered.

But Amethyst was still deep in her thoughts she didn't notice Scarlet's question.

"Amethyst?" Scarlet asked again but to no avail.

Slate who brought over some drinks looked at Scarlet who was waving her hand in front of Amethyst.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I asked her a few questions and she suddenly became like this," she answered.

"Miss Evans," Slate placed his hand on her shoulder snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Oh, what is it?" she asked looking up at him.

"We want to ask what had happened to you?" he asked sitting beside Scarlet.

Amethyst looked at the two of them before laughing with uncertainty.

"I'm sorry I was just thinking of something that I lost my focus."

"I'm sorry are you alright? Was I asking for too much?" Scarlet asked her.

"Ah, no, no, no, I am fine I was just thinking something. But I guess we don't need this," she smiled and tore the notes she had.

"You really don't have to do that," Scarlet was startled.

Amethyst shook her head, "No, I just want to do it. I was too naïve with what you wanted me to do. I should have done better."

Scarlet slowly looked at Slate and he too did the same.

"I shall go back there tomorrow," Amethyst then said.

"But that's…" Scarlet wanted to stop her.

"Don't worry since I have decided to do this then I don't want to do it half heartedly," she smiled and said.

"But…" Scarlet looked at Slate not knowing what to say.

"Why are you looking at me? She offered then just accept. Wasn't that what you were doing with her when you invite her here?" he instead said.

"You heard him," Amethyst added making Scarlet sigh and accept.