When the Flower Falls (Fitzmael 7) - COMPLETED

07: Are You Okay With This?

"YOU'RE MAKING MY HEART FLUTTER," Elimae said as she set the food beside me, then wrapped her arms around me from behind. "I never thought happiness could feel like this."

I closed my eyes to feel her embrace more deeply. After a few quiet seconds, I looked up at her. "This feels nice."

She kissed the top of my head before letting go. "Let's eat?" she asked. She opened the plastic bag she'd brought earlier, pulling out fried chicken packed in another plastic and two servings of rice. "I know you don't usually eat food like this—you're too loyal to Bloom Restaurant—but since we're far from any of your branches, this is what we're eating, okay? Fifteen pesos for fried chicken, ten pesos for rice. Whenever I'm here, this is what I always get."

I accepted the plastic she handed me. "What's this for?"

"Wear it on your hand so you can eat like this." She showed me what she meant, so I followed. The wind was blowing, and her hair kept getting in the way. I knew she was struggling, so I took off the plastic from my hand and looked at her. "Give me your hand," I said gently.

She stared at me, confused. "Are you proposing already?" she teased. "I'm still studying, sugarplum." She pouted.

I chuckled softly and took her hand. I grabbed her scrunchie, stood up, and tried my best to tie her hair. "I noticed you were having a hard time, so I'll tie it for you."

She stayed quiet, so I kept going. At first, I struggled. It's been a while since I tied Catmint's, Lilac's, or Serene's hair—we've all been busy with our own lives—so I'd forgotten how.

"Your wolf-cut hair really suits you," I muttered. "Everything about you is perfect to me."

She didn't respond. Then I heard her sniffle. My heart jumped, and I immediately turned to her. She was crying.

I wiped her tears and cupped her cheeks. "Do we have a problem, my Eli?" I asked softly. "Did I do something wrong? Please, tell me..."

She sniffled again, then looked up at the sky and smiled. "What did I do to deserve you?" she whispered. "You always find ways to tell me how much you want to be with me... You—" She pointed at me. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me. Do you know why I like you?"

I shook my head slowly, still looking at her. She was crying, and she still looked beautiful.

"You're my safe haven, sugarplum. When we were in danger, you protected me. When I had anxiety, you comforted me. Do you know why you're different from others? Because you never did any of that to impress me." She smiled through her tears.

I smiled wide and looked away. My chest felt warm. "L-Let's eat," I said, flustered.

"You're so handsome," she murmured.

While we were in the middle of eating, my phone suddenly rang. I was about to ignore it since it was an unknown number—everyone in my contacts had a custom ringtone. I didn't want anyone disturbing my time with Elimae.

"Sugarplum..."

I looked up when Elimae finished drinking water. She stared at me seriously, then pointed at my phone.

"Answer it. It might be an emergency."

I obeyed. I sighed before answering. "Yes? Who am I speaking with?"

"Diane Elizabeth Parsons," a woman's voice said on the other end.

"Parsons? As in Parsons Motors?"

"Yes."

"What do you need from me, Diane?" I glanced at Elimae, who was frowning. I swallowed and put the phone on loudspeaker so she could hear. I didn't want her to think the wrong thing. I was terrified of hurting her.