Go, August, Go! FS2 ENGLISH

ten: flower

The most hurtful words I heard were either from my parents or my friends at school. I barely had friends, and I hardly talked to my parents in a day. Most of their words stayed in my head for the entire day and disappeared overnight. My parents were frustrated about it because for them; I don't take matters seriously. Yet, it was a good thing considering I often was around Yuna and Shin around me at school. Their brutal honesty irritated the h*ll out of me. I was not really the type to foster anger in my heart for long. I wished to dismiss negative sentiments as much as possible.

But with August…

Another sunrise rose and his words still pricked through my heart. His voice rang loud and clear in my head like terrifying nightmares haunting me even in daylight.

It was hurtful… and disappointing to see him with the coldest, menacing eyes. How words came out of his lips with raging authority. I was disappointed because I knew it was not him and it was my fault that he was acting too harsh on me.

Messing up with the wrong person was gradually taking its toll on me. I must be punished! And his indifference was my punishment.

"You need to be home before dinner," Randy reminded me as we pulled on the street across the Bree Shop.

Sandro was not with us, which I was glad of. He was not required to stay around me since he also had jobs around the company and my father's errands. He only stuck around because of Levi, especially if I purposely ran into him again out of the school. After Levi's appearance the other day, I was worried Sandro would pick and drop me at school again. He must be convinced that the meeting wasn't intentional. I clearly avoided Levi that day.

Or else… I would have a hard time staying at the coffee shop because of his trust issues with me. It had been almost two weeks anyway. Even I was growing skeptical of my own behavior.

"I won't take long. I'll just finish my order and go home," I informed him after glancing at the books next to me. "It's late, too."

Because I had stayed in the school library to do the reading and take down notes. Randy had to get inside the school earlier and confirmed that I was indeed busy because it was such a rare thing for me to stay in the library. Unless, I was planning a secret meeting with Levi and his friends.

Had he not texted me and informed me of the time, I would have completely forgotten about going home! For the first time in my life, I actually witnessed the campus silent with a few students walking the hallway. Even the library was about to close. It thrilled me to see it all but when I remembered the reason why I was there… my heart dropped.

August's words disheartened me to the core. I would never wish to see anyone who dared talk to me that way, but then, it always came down to why? Why did he do it? Why did his words hurt? Why was he indifferent solely to me?

And the answer would always be: it's my fault. Which was the mere truth.

I sighed heavily as I stepped out of the car. I only had my bag now and left the books in the car. But my body was heavy. My feet wouldn't dare move towards the shop. Over my shoulder, the car drove away. For a moment, I wanted to stop it and just go home.

I would not stop persuading August until he conceded with my proposal because I was determined to help clear his name. The issue about him was still fresh. Some students were still talking about him and it took so much of my willpower not to scold them.

"Hey!" a familiar voice called from somewhere when I made my first step. The familiarity jerked me in surprise but also pushed my feet straight and towards the flower shop instead of the coffee shop.

"L-Levi," I called in a low voice and secretly peeked at him, out of instinct, and from countless times of experience, we had been together in public where Sandro might see us. "What are you doing here?"

His arm casually rested on the small of my back. He smirked as he glanced at the two people entering the coffee shop. I had to step in front of the flower shop to divert his attention. It was successful. When he stared at the buckets of flowers before us, I heaved a sigh of relief.

I didn't want him to know I was trying to be a patron of the Bree's Café. If he did, I was sure he would try meeting me here. And if Sandro found out, he wouldn't let me stay here again!

"What's with the face?" He chuckled after checking out the flowers with less interest and looked up at me. "Don't tell me you're still mad? Get over it now, Rox!"

"W-Why are you here? I thought you'd be away?"

He frowned, but the amusement remained plastered on his lips. "Do you want that? Well, my Dad found out and he demanded me in his office. He easily changed mind and who am I to deny the invitation?"

"Flowers for the beautiful young lady?" asked the male owner with the biggest eyes I had ever seen. Wrinkles were all over his face. He looked elderly but his body was straight and looked healthy.

I broke my eyes off him when Levi picked random flowers in front of us. It was a purple tulip. I absentmindedly accepted it while he paid the old man for the three pieces.

"What now? Let's get in the coffee shop?"

"H-Huh?"

"I don't know… You're not into flowers but you came here. You have nowhere else to go, right? Let's get inside the shop first and—"

"I'd like to walk around." Without waiting for him, I walked straight to the street and away from Bree's. I stared down at the flowers in my hand. It wasn't that I wasn't into flowers. Levi always had a tight budget despite the successful progress of their company, which had been featured in magazines and television countless times. But Levi took good care of his allowance and spent it mostly to his benefit.

I had to tell him then that I wasn't fond of flowers because I could see he wasn't satisfied when he once bought me a bouquet of roses. I was elated when I received it but I knew he wasn't. I had to lie so he wouldn't buy it for me again the next time.

And I had no idea what to feel with the flowers on my hands.

"Are you serious?" He walked beside me and put his arm over my shoulders. "Something happened at school? At home?"

"N-No. I… I just like to walk around."

I would be happy had this happened a month ago. I loved him. He was my first boyfriend. But that afternoon, as the sun was setting, I felt something strange. It was like being next to a stranger on the street and you forced yourself to feel something for that stranger but there was none.

I had memorized his face. His gestures and mannerisms. I had expectations of my reactions whenever I was with him. But at that moment, it was all nothing but strange.

Strange that I was not excited.

Strange that I was not giddy.

Strange that I don't feel… in loved… at all.

My feet halted at the realization. The flowers fell on my side.

"What's wrong?"

I gulped the urge to cry. For what reason, I had no idea. "I need to go home. It's… getting dark. I need to go back before dinner and—" I had no idea I was already turning away until I felt his tightening hold on my arms.

We both frowned at each other.

"Come on, Rox. You're not mad, aren't you? Are we cool now? I literally waited for you at school for hours and followed you though I knew I had no chance to meet you today until you came out to see the flower shop. Those flowers…“ He gestured and jerked on the flowers on my hand. It suddenly felt too heavy to lift and show off to everyone. "Or you want a bouquet?" His brows lifted with disbelieving amusement. I felt insulted for some reason.

"No…. it's, I…I just need to go home now. I'm sorry!"

"You're not leaving me hanging again, Rox. Grow up, babe! You can't be mad at me for a long time. I have plans where we will be next time. Let's just plan about that d*mn Sandro, okay?"

A lump was in my throat. "I told you, Levi. I'm busy with my reviews and—"

"Then let's have fun today while we're at it. I'll be busy with my friends, too. I'm here because I'm worried about you. I don't want this misunderstanding to last another week. Okay?"

I was still trying to pull away from his hold. The irritation was resurfacing on his face. I was ready to tug harder when a single headlight flashed before us. The sky was growing dark and some establishments had opened their artificial lights. The street was bright and beautiful, too.

But our conversation was halted by the blinding lights on us. Levi hadn't noticed when I got to free myself. My heart was in my throat when I caught sight of the familiar blue eyes after adjusting to the lights. It was August and his motorbike. He beeped on us twice, making me jump again.

“What’s wrong with you? There’s enough space for you,” Levi irritatedly spread his arms around him to gesture at the spacious driveway on the walkway. In fact, August could just directly drive towards the road. But he stood closer in front of us.

When his eyes narrowed at us, I had to step back away from August, leaving enough space for the motorbike.

“Do we know you?” Levi tilted his head to the side as he scrutinized August, who was not a bit bothered. Meanwhile, I was in panic thinking Levi could actually recognize him. August slowly drove in between us. Levi gaped at him in disbelief. He attempted to stop him but I quickly ran back to him to stop him.

“What’s wrong with him?” he exclaimed as August soon moved to the road and turned a corner. Was he going home? The coffee shop was still open. Besides, he had the shop’s compartment behind his motorbike. Perhaps, he was out for delivery? So the Bree’s Cafe always delivered orders? By August himself?

“He may be older than us, but I won’t mind teaching him some lessons. He has no idea who he meets around the street. He should be careful or I’ll ruin him,” Levi threatened to the air.

Shivered ran down my spine as though the threat was directed at me. “Don’t mind him. He must be busy.”

“And he has enough time to be rude? What’s this space around us?” He gestured his arms around again. Then he mirrored my heavy sigh. “What’s our plan, anyway? Let’s have dinner somewhere nearby? Do you know a good restaurant around here?”

“I don’t skip dinner with my parents, Levi,” I reminded him. He was already scowling before I could finish my words. “I…”

“Miss Roxette!”

Levi and I spun around to see Sandro stepping out of the car. He shut the door behind him and strolled towards us. Levi muttered a firm curse and when I glanced at him, he was already off on his way to escape Sandro. I was left on my own to face the disappointed look of my bodyguard.

“So much for keeping promises, Miss Roxette. You’ve met with him twice this week.”

I pursed my lips and simply went to the car as he jerked his chin towards it. He opened the door for me and gently closed it again. But when he settled himself in the front seat, he shut the door so drastically that Randy and I jumped on our seats. I firmly closed my eyes.

“She said she’ll have drinks—”

“It’s late. You should have known better now,” he scolded Randy.

My lips parted as I watched them. “Don’t blame him, Sandro. It’s true I’ll just grab my drink and finish it there. I didn’t expect Levi to be waiting for me there.”

“Unless you told him.”

“What? No! I certainly didn’t tell him! I was surprised, okay? He said he wanted to talk to me but I stayed in the library for hours after dismissal. He decided to follow the car instead. I guess he knew you were not with us.”

“You’re coming home late today. I need to make sure we’re not being too loose on you. Why are you with him? I’ll know when you lie, Miss Roxette. Please, tell me the truth or I would have to report this to Madame Rosie.”

“I’m not lying, Sandro! I know this is hard for you to trust me for the countless lies and excuses I have made since I met Levi. But trust me now that I don’t plan to meet with him. In fact, he was encouraging me to come with him but I told him I’m busy with my reviews which is true.” I bet Sandro wouldn’t find me if Levi had convinced me to come with him. Had it not been for August interrupting us, I was certain I would do as Levi told so as not to make the matters between us worse. I was grateful for the interruption though. I let out a heavy sigh and leaned on my seat. “I learned my lesson, Sandro. August is… I don’t think I could get to a normal life if he doesn’t forgive me.”

“August…” Sandro trailed off. “August De Gaisano? Why do you address him casually?”

I bit on the inside of my cheeks. I didn’t want to tell him but I had to prove that I wasn’t lying to him anymore. I had to do this to gain back his trust. The more often he saw me with Levi, the less his faith in me became. I couldn’t let that happen, considering all the plans I had to clean August’s name. I needed Sandro’s trust and support to make that possible.

“Please, don’t tell my parents. Especially my Mom,” I started and they both visibly stiffened. Oftentimes, when I began my confession this way, they knew it was something my parents would both scold them for letting it happen in the first place. They had assumptions after seeing me several times with Levi and his friends. When I admitted to them, he was my boyfriend; their life was doomed.

My parents would question how it had happened with them always around him. Especially Randy. It would be reasonable if Levi Suarez were from IHM, too. But he was not. He was out of school after being kicked out of every school, which made all my dating situations worse. Randy and Sandro knew it was best to pretend that they didn’t hear my confession. They worked extra hard to ensure I wouldn’t meet with Levi again.

“August is working in the Bree Cafe,” I continued and none of them moved a muscle. Randy’s hands on the steering wheel were as stiff as they could. “I learned it by accident and since then, I visited the cafe to check on him. To make sure I didn’t ruin his life with my lies or something.”

“Wait,” Sandro breathed and glanced at me over his shoulder. “This confession is about the innocent delivery guy? Not that Suarez?”

I frowned. “What else would I confess about Levi except that he was my boyfriend? I honestly don’t want to meet him again because except for my reviews, I felt so much responsibility for my mistake and wanted so badly to be forgiven! August is a different man. He is kind but also difficult. He wouldn’t accept my apology whatever I say--well, he did, accept it, I guess, but he wouldn’t forgive me. That’s all I wanted: his forgiveness!”

Sandro took longer to answer. “You don’t nag him in his workplace to demand his forgiveness, don’t you? Your guilt is not his problem. You caused it on your own. It’s not his responsibility to make you feel better.”

“W-What…?” I trailed off as I realized how true that was. Lost, I blinked and slowly shook my head. “I offered him a proposal to clean his name. He’s been a hot topic in school and it annoys me how people jump to conclusions and judge him without knowing the real story.”

“He’s been charged with the same count. Still on probation and, unfortunately for him, he met you…” I was glaring at him when he glanced at me. He shrugged and looked at the road again. “What’s your proposal, if I may ask, Miss Roswell? How will you be able to clean his name?”

I raised my chin and crossed my arms. “I’ll tell you once he agrees.”

“It’s almost a week. I assume he disagrees?”

“He’s difficult to negotiate with. He’s not interested in anything that I say. I’m being understanding because I know my mistake. It’s just frustrating that he always tells me to go and never return to the shop. Can't he see my sincerity?”

I almost heard Sandro’s chuckling. Even Randy glanced at him in wonder.

“What is it?” I probed.

“He tells you to go and don’t come back,” he enunciated the words.

I nodded. “Yes.”

“I only met him twice. He was something else. I wish to meet him again. How serious was he to demand you to leave, you say?”

I pouted and glanced at the window. “I know right? I couldn't stand his indifference. In his eyes, I looked far worse than the homeless or thief. His eyes were the coldest. I had never seen a man who was never swayed by my beauty until I met him. All I wanted was for his apology and to help clear his name. I won’t be this desperate to keep coming there if I don’t have a good heart. We bailed him out, right? That should be enough. But knowing how I had also ruined his reputation, I also wanted to help with that. All he had to do was agree but he’s making this hard for both of us… We could go back to our normal life if he just agreed with my proposal. Should sound tempting to him, right?”

“Should be,” Sandro absentmindedly replied as the car pulled in front of the driveway. It’s already dark but I could still make it to dinner in my school uniform. “Are you meeting him for weekends, too?”

“Yes and--wait, would it be fine? Is it really okay for you that I meet him? I just admitted I’m coming back to the cafe because of him.”

“Right.” He nodded and stepped out to open the door for me. I was gaping at him in disbelief while I stood next to him.

My eyes narrowed with mistrust. “You wouldn’t report this to my parents, would you?”

“We can tell them you’re there for self-reviews” He shrugged, almost nonchalantly. But I knew Sandro better. He was actually consenting to my plans. My eyes widened.

“It’s fine to you that I convinced him while I was there?”

“I doubted it would come as handy to you but, why don’t we give it a try? The proposal is a different thing, however. You should tell me about it once he… agrees.” There was amusement in his eyes as we stepped to the foyer. He knew I wouldn’t be able to convince August now. “Would this take another week or… a month?”

“Hey! Do you doubt me?”

He deliberately shook his head. “I wouldn’t dare now, Miss Roxette. But I’m thrilled with this man, August. It’s not every day we meet someone who disagrees with you. Remember, you always used your charm around just to get away and meet with Suarez.”

“Uh…”

“I wonder if he has seen lots of charming women to be swayed by you.”

“Hey, Sandro! You’re offending me!”

“I’m afraid, I’m not, Miss Roxette… You did gain a valuable lesson in meeting this man. I couldn’t wait to see how this lesson would end.” He halted to face me. We were already at the entrance to the dining hall. He slightly bowed his head. “I wish you all the good luck, Miss Roxette. Use your charm and convince that man, okay? But don’t forget about your studies while convincing him. It should be easy for you. Right?”

My frown deepened. I glowered at him and raised my brow. Looking him straight in the eye, I nodded. “Watch, Sandro. That August will regret ever ignoring my presence. I’ll make him succumb to all my wishes.”

A smirk almost plastered on his lips. He hardly smiled. I had never seen him laugh, either. But I had a feeling he would bark a burst of laughter if only we were not at home. Still, I grimaced at him and rolled my eyes before meeting my parents.