Pendulum || TAENNIE FF

⚔Chapter 48: When she goes around

A U T H O R

"Are you really okay with your decision? You can't just follow what your head tells you when you're mad. It can't be sincere enough." Firo said. Heather asked him to take her to Magus's Town to loosen up.

"I thought about it for quite some time with the help of someone wise. I wasn't mad when I made a choice. I had enough time to realize what I should really do," she answered and turned to a flower store a block away from them. "What are those odd-looking ones?" She pointed at a group of rainbow-colored flowers in a basket.

Firo turned his head to where her finger is pointing at. "Rainbow Gardenias. They're edible flowers." Heather's eyes grew wide and looked at him. "For real. They taste like chocolate." 

She quietly gulped and crossed her arms. "Buy me one?" It sounded like an order rather than a request or a question.

Firo also crossed his arms and breathed in. "Do you even know what those flowers mean?" Heather raised a brow. "Love confession." He said in a serious tone. Heather looked away and uncrossed her arms. "The king and queen started it when they were our age, according to my parents."

"Well then... It could always not mean like that. Can't someone buy it just because he or she is hungry?" She reached out her palm. "Give money and I'll buy it myself." Firo didn't hesitate and took a coin from his pocket. "I owe you." She smiled and ran towards the store. 

"Good day, miss! What can I do for you?" The vendor asked. She has white curly hair with a handmade flower crown on her head. She's clothed in a white, long dress with a brown leather apron.

"I'd like one of your Rainbow Gardenias, please. It looks very enchanting." The vendor smiled and pulled out one from the basket. "If you don't mind, why are these used to confess someone's love? My friend told me the king and queen started this little tradition."

"Ah, my mother was the one who sold Rainbow Gardenias to the king when he was younger. The poor boy wanted to show his love for the girl but she was in love with someone else. But, he was able to deliver the flower safely the second time around. Everyone began to believe that when they want to confess to their admired creature, they will give this flower for good luck. Do you plan to confess to someone you like, dear one?"

Heather quietly chuckled and shook her head. "I just wanted to know what it tastes like." She received the flower from the vendor and returned to where Firo stood. On her way to him, she noticed a white tag attached to its stem with a phrase. " Look closer." She read. "What does this mean?"

"What are you reading?" Firo asked and came to her. He looked at the white tag and furrowed his brows. "There's nothing there." Heather quickly turned to him with a confused look. "What is it? You look baffled."

"You said there's nothing on it?" Firo nodded. "Strange." She held the tag up to his face, causing him to lean back a little. "Are you certain that you can't see the two words written on it?"

"It's just a white ribbon to make it look prettier," he answered. Am I the only one who can see this? It's right here in black ink! "Are you unwell?"

"I might be delusional at some point..." she quietly said and shook her head. "No, I uh... I thought there was something. Maybe I'm just hallucinating," She took a bite from the flower and munched on it. "It tastes like cereal." Firo furrowed his brows at her review.

"Tss... Humans have peculiar tastes." He said and placed his arm around her shoulder as they take a stroll around. 

"Firo!" They turned to where the voice came from and saw Wendy running towards them. "I knew it. I saw the both of you pass by the pancake house." She looked at Heather and noticed the Rainbow Gardenia in her hand. "Does it taste good? I never had one."

"Don't expect too much. It's nothing special," Heather answered and took another bite. "Could use some syrup?"

Wendy chuckled and nodded. "I could give you a whole bottle but my older sister is taking charge. By the way, I needed to talk to Firo about something. Could you spare us a minute?"

"Sure! Take all the time you need. I'll take few strolls while I wait." She pushed his back to get him close to the other and waved goodbye. Firo and Wendy went inside the place and Heather went on her way.

She seemed like a high school teenager who is eating street food on her way home. She watched the townsmen make deals and complain about the products' prices. It's not so different back home. They're also like people who just happened to be a lot more special. "Thief!" A lady suddenly shouted. Heather turned around and found a young boy running away with a red pouch in his little hand.

"Hey!" She called and ran after him. The kid passed through a narrow opening between stores. Heather grunted in annoyance and followed him in there. "Give that back and I'll give you something in exchange!" She shouted but the boy still kept running. He climbed down the stairs and passed through another narrow opening. "For Pete's sake! Hey!" 

She attempted to follow him but she slipped on the stairs and fell on a puddle. She turned to her right and saw the young boy. She was about to go after him until she saw him sit on the wet ground and eat the crumbs of cookies inside that pouch. What's this? I thought the king and queen didn't let their subjects starve? 

"Mother!" The young boy stood up and called when a middle-aged lady went out from the wall behind. "I couldn't get your medicine. They said the money I brought could only buy me candy." He said and handed her a small gold coin. The boy's mother didn't utter a word and knelt to match her son's level. "I took this instead." Heather saw how the lady teared up and hug her son. 

"Why does this remind me of my mother?" She felt tears forming in her eyes. "I couldn't do anything but console her with such little things." She stood up and looked at the Rainbow Gardenia in her hand. The stem was broken and what's left is half of the flower. She looked at them and sighed. "Excuse me?" They turned to her in shock. The mother quickly picked up her son and attempted to run. "Don't be frightened. I... I wanted to share this. The vendor said this brings good luck." She extended her hand and waited for them to take it. 

"But that costs much. You spent a lot of money for that." The kid said.

"It doesn't matter. It wasn't my money anyway. Take it. You need more luck than I do." He carefully reached out his hand and took it. 

"Thank you." The kid said with sparkling eyes and left with his mother. 

Heather smiled to herself and climbed the stairs. Her eyes wandered around when she reached the top. "Where am I again?" She heard noises behind her--laughter and cheering. There was a cabin where yellow lights shined from inside. She sniffed the pleasing aroma coming from the place. Is that pie? She turned around and stood outside the door. "A quick peek wouldn't hurt."

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It might not look helpful yet but this chapter has something to do with the future chapters😊 I already finished organizing the rest and all I can say right now is the following chapters might confuse everyone again🙈 I'll try to take it slow so there won't be too much revelations at once🤍

Aaaand, I assume you guys remembered the Rainbow Gardenias from Hidden? I'm bringing up the past things because I miss them and we're doing a sequel for Hidden😆 Again, I'm balancing the scenes. Expect continuous Flake and Heather moments in the following chapters🤭

I hope you guys liked it!🥺💕