Yellowed

Chapter 8; The Absent Spark

"Alone?" I asked Paul while I walked toward the rectangular plot. I can see that Flavus' and Paul's detention turned this rooftop into something more. It has been clean and organized with the garden tools on the side of the plot where the garden was supposed to be. 

Paul looked at me. "Why are you here sir?" he asked instead of answering my question. I can't blame him, though, it was very late in the afternoon, but the sun was still up.

"I wanted to see your garden," I said, glancing at the plants sprouting in the soil. "I see there are sprouts already," I added. 

"Yeah, I thought they will never grow so I stopped going here, but Flavus always invites me to be here and keep the plants watered. And I'm kinda disappointed because it was the first time the sprouts appear and yet he was not here," he stated, pulling out some unwanted weeds growing. 

"So, where is he?" I asked again. 

"I don't know Sir. I've texted him but I haven't received a response yet," he said simply. 

"Is he always like that?"

"Like what?" He said, throwing an unexpected look at me.

"Not responding to message."

"No, he's not like that at all. He always messages me back, maybe he was just busy, and besides, the detention is done right?" 

"Yeah, but you still have to take care of this garden."

"We will, of course," he said, then looked at the sunset.

The setting sun cast tall shadows on the trees from the field, and the clouds were once again painted with an orange hue. Our faces were lit up by the warm orange light.

"I think we have to go now, shall we?" I suggested since the reason why I came here isn't present.

"I think I'll stay for a little more," Paul said, not looking at me.

Then I came to think that he wasn't here just for the garden. He was here for something else. 

"You're not here just for the flowers, right?" I said, and he looked at me, confused. 

"What do you mean?" he asked, arching one of his brows. 

I walked towards the rooftop's edge and lined my arms on the railing where I faced the setting sun. 

"I can see it in your eyes, Paul. The garden isn't the only thing you looked forward to when you get here," I said. 

I can hear him walking toward me.

"Is it that obvious?" he asked, looking down. 

"Hmmm, no. I guess not," I retorted. "Maybe it just happened that I have this ability to look into people. I can tell when something was off."

"And you see that now?" he asked, almost sounding like sarcasm.

"No," I simply answered. 

"Then what do you see making you say that?"

"I see other reasons. If the garden was the only reason why you get here every day, maybe you'll decide to be here earlier and not waste your time waiting for the sunset right?" I said matter-factly. "But you didn't, you wait till it's almost sunset before you got here and stay even if your duty is done."

He looked at me and then glanced back at the garden before letting out a contented sigh, then looking back at me frowning, but with a hint of departure in his eyes.