Differences

Chapter 18 - Alaina

New chapter!!!🥂

Mother-in-law, daughter-in-law bonding time ❤️❤️❤️

Enjoy your reading time🥰💝

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It's been just over a week since our last mission, and it was the first time I have felt some degree of satisfaction. More often than not, I was ordered to annihilate people without any sort of reasoning, so having an understanding of why I needed to get rid of certain people gave me the reassurance I desperately needed.

The reassurance that what I did, was to a degree acceptable.

Or at least in my mind that was. There was no chance in any world, or universe, that what I do is acceptable in anyway.

Like any other evening, I decided to take my usual walk around the gardens. The spring weather does wonders to a garden like this. All kinds or flowers were blooming with a variety of colors that made me want to do a little dance of joy. It was absolutely breathtaking.

Apart from the rose garden that I have looked over religiously for the past three months, I absolutely adored the Asian garden. At this time of year, the peonies, azalea's, lilies bloomed to it's full size and they were all so elegantly beautiful.

But the Sakura's were my favourite here. They only bloom for a maximum of two weeks, then fade away. And then, bloom new flowers in another years' time. Just like their lifespan, they symbolise, life, death, and renewal. And I had loved what they represented, it held on to reality; you live, you die, and you repeat. Although the latter is still up for debate.

"Alaina?", I hear my name being called.

I turn around, the owner of the warm soft voice being Mrs Taylor.

"Mrs Taylor", I acknowledge as she walks towards me.

"Oh please, I've told you to call me Juliet. Gorgeous aren't they?", she beams nodding towards the Sakura trees as she stopped to stand next to me.

"Indeed. It's a shame they only last a handful of days. But I suppose that is part of its beauty."

"You're quite right. You could say it's their charm. But if we're lucky, and tend them well, they can last lots and lots of years. I've heard that a Sakura tree in Japan is approximately 2000 years old according to the tree trunk's circumference.", she shares enthusiastically, her blue eyes glinting with interest, just like Luke's when good news come in. Like his new project that he was entrusted with by Mr Taylor.

"I've heard that as well. I believe it was called the Yamataka Jindai Sakura. It is quite fascinating how tree could live that long. Imagine the history it has seen. If I could listen or see what it has, I would love to."

My mother-in-law nods in approval, "It seems we think alike. Do you like history?"

"I do, I love history. It was... it was my grandmother's favourite too. I guess I stole her interest aha.", I share, unsure why I trusted this woman enough to share stories about my grandmother.

"Funny, it was my mother's favourite too you know. Indeed, we are alike.", she shares but doesn't push me to talk about my grandmother. And I was grateful. I've heard that mothers tend to have some superpower instincts when it comes to their child. She definitely seems like someone who would have that. Although it was clear my own mother never had. Or at least not for me.

"It seems I have taken too much of your time, my boy is going to drill a hole in my back. If it were for some other reason, I would have smacked some sense into him, but I'll have to let this one slide. Have a good afternoon, or rather a good night, Alaina.", she says with a knowing smile on her face and giving me a wink just before she turns around to see her said child and starts walking back to the mansion. Which left me confused and staring at those eyes that never fails to bewitch me. If drowning in a sea wasn't bad enough, I was also held captive in a forest at the same time. Those eyes were very unfair.

"Was my Mom bothering you?", he breaks the silence walking over to me.

"No, actually we were talking about the Sakura.", I say turning around to face the tree, avoiding those eyes.

"And what do they mean? I'm guessing they have meaning right?", he asks, and I laugh. I wasn't sure if he actually cared to know or just filling up time. Either way, I liked it.

"Transience of life. It lives, it dies, and it renews", I answer still facing the tree.

"Can't tell if its inspirational or depressing. You seem to like things that are quite mid."

"Mid?", I question, feeling slightly offended and I didn't know why.

"Like the blue roses, they have double meanings from what I've been told by my Mom. And the uh. . . I'm not gonna butcher the name, um the cherry blossoms, life, and death. Double meaning. Mid.", he explains.

Well, the sakura has more than two meanings, if he was listening, but he was right. I never really liked things black and white. I tended to like things gray. Perhaps that shade sums up my life in general. Not perfectly correct, but neither perfectly wrong.

"I didn't mean to offend you, shit, sorry.", I hear him apologise. Except I had no idea why he was apologising.

"Why? Why are you apologising? You didn't say anything wrong, and I'm not offended.", I question now turning around to face him.

"You're not?"

"No.", I reaffirm. Certain that I'm not offended, but uncertain as to why he thought that way. But my reply seemed sufficient enough for him to relax his shoulders that was apparently tense a few seconds ago. Something I failed to realise.

"Oh good. I thought I fucked up. Haha. I have the tendency to jump to conclusions. It's not a quality I'm proud of, seeing that I'm gonna take on this world, I really need to work on that.", he explains himself, something in between of embarrassment and fear flashing his expression just for a second, only to be replaced by his usual composed expression. One I wasn't particularly fond of.

"But you're already amazing at leading. Sure, acting irrationally can sometimes meet bad ends, but sometimes, acting fast can be the key to survival. So, I don't think its completely a flaw.", I say hoping it could bring some reassurance.

"Another mid idea.", he replies with a grin on his face. If looks can send someone to a coma, it was that one.

"Perhaps my favourite shade is gray."

"Not your favourite color?", he teases, one of his brows arching down.

"Gray is not a color.", I shoot back.

"Well to me, they're all the same. And so from now on, gray is my favourite color and shade."

"If you say so.", I say a smile working its way out, but I suppress it. "So, why did you make your way over here. You only come over with a reason. Another mission?", I ask

"Nah, not a mission. I uh, I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to one of the clubs we look after. You know, the monthly check up.", he explains, somewhat looking, mmm, I don't know. Sheepish?

"Oh.", I reply with an audible surprise. Obviously this was common task, a responsibility that he had to do. But I didn't expect him to ask me if I'd like to go.

"If you don't want to, don't worry about it I–"

I cut him off before he has the chance to say something else. "I'd love to."

"Yea ok, wait what?"

"If it's alright with you, I'd like to go. To the club"

"You sure?", he questions, still looking as though what he had heard was wrong.

"If you are", I reply, affirming my choice. I was sure about this one.

"Great. Uh, I'll meet you downstairs a little after eight?"

"Sure. I'll meet you then."

"Yea, ok. I'll see you then.", his eyes lingers on mine, and I couldn't break away. I was entranced by them. He broke our staring contest first and slowly made his way back. Turning around a couple of times before I couldn't see him anymore.

Now, what was I supposed to wear to a club?