fℓσωєяѕ fσя уσυ 💐 | Ongoing 🟣

Orchids

Orchids are beautiful and delicate flowers. Appearance-wise, they look almost like an anti-flower with their geometrical shaped petals, which makes them even more desirable and exotic. These highly coveted, ornamental plants represent love, luxury, beauty, and strength and are the 14th wedding anniversary flowers. Pink Orchids convey pure affection while cattily Orchids signify mature charm. Pink and white Orchids can also be sent as a gesture of sympathy.

— — —

October yawned as she got out of bed while scratching her head, which sported a bedhead. She still wasn't used to waking up early. Before, her grandfather would normally wake her up around noon to help him with his work as he took a nap, but he was no longer here. Remembering how he scared her with insects to wake her up every day and their lively yet calm high-tea times made her eyes water.
     It had been almost a month since he died of pancreatic cancer, and everything was left to her, for her parents were no longer in the picture. They left her in his care to do what they wanted, whatever it was, and she never saw them again. Her friends and boyfriend, however, did help to set the funeral and cremation for him.
     Even then, her parents did not show up, and she couldn't find their contact number anywhere. She didn't even know whether they stayed in contact with her grandfather; probably not, from the looks of it. She took a shower, brushed her teeth, combed her hair, and changed into some autumn-worthy clothes before fixing herself a nice breakfast of Eggs Benedict with watermelon juice on the side and some pancakes topped with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, strawberries, and blueberries.
     After breakfast, she went outside the rather large cottage she now owned and walked to the greenhouse with a gentle smile on her face as she took in the warm sun yet chilly breeze that blew over ever so often, carrying a few orange-red leaves along with it.
     Once inside, a burst of color came into view; it was as if all the orchids were greeting her. She caressed the petals of a nearby row of pink ones as she walked along the path, all the way down to the end where the gardening tools and materials lay in waiting. She picked up a medium-sized spray bottle and went to the water pump outside to fill it with water so that she could quench the flowers of their thirst. She hummed a melody her grandfather often sung while she jauntily watched him spray the flowers as she was doing now; it was called 'The Merry Go Round of Life'.
     As she was finishing up what he usually did to take care of the flowers, someone came to visit. The sound of the squeaky, murky-white, fence gate and ringing, rusty bell brought her attention to the entrance of the greenhouse—waiting for the visitor to make their appearance. "Where's my little orchid?" A lean guy dressed in a hoodie and sweats came in with a cheeky smile plastered across his face and a brown paper bag in hand.
     "Tony, what are you doing here?" October stood up from where she was previously squatting and watering more flowers rooted into pots lined up on the ground.
     He set the bag down on a table and pulled her in for a peck on the lips then wrapped his arms around her waist as they swayed side to side together. "So I can't see my girlfriend when I want to?" They had been dating for almost a year already; however, the time they spent together was rather short-lived since he lived in the city and worked as a mechanic while she lived in the countryside with her grandfather—caring for the flowers and him—up until a few weeks ago. Although their relationship sort of resembled a long-distance one, there had never been any problems or lost feelings.
     "You should inform me beforehand so that I can prepare things for you," she responded.
     "Things like what?" he asked as he nuzzled his nose into hers.
     "Food and the house. I can't have you visiting a dirty house with nothing to snack on." She backed away to look at his face and pouted.
     "The house is never dirty as observed from the several times I have been invited in and visited."
     "That's only because grandpa kept it spotless."
     "And I'm sure you're taking care of the house just as well as he did."
     "Whatever you say, love."
     "Also, I got you your favorite donuts from the bakery you love in the city!" He raised the brown paper bag up and shook it a little. Her mouth gaped open.
     "Oh my gosh! Really? That's so sweet! My mouth is already watering."
     "Let's go in and enjoy some right now."
     "Hold on, let me just finish watering the orchids first." She spritzed the delicate flowers as fast as she could.
     His hand dropped beside him, and he frowned a little. "Do you have to do that right now? Your lovely boyfriend is here to visit you for only a few hours. Can't the flowers wait for a little?"
     "Tony, you know how precious these flowers were to my grandpa and are to me. I need to take utmost care of them. Going off schedule might throw off their cycle."
     "They're just flowers, October. They can regrow anytime." He looked a bit annoyed.
     She stopped what she was doing and stared at him in disbelief. "How can you say that? These flowers are my grandpa's blood, sweat, and tears. I thought you knew how much they meant to me..."
     He sighed and scratched his head. "I know, October, but are they more important than me?"
     He looked at her expectantly, and she pursed her lips as her grip on the spray bottle tightened. 'Why does he always make it seem like I'm putting something non-human before him? Of course, I care for him, but these flowers have become such a big part of my life. Ever since grandpa passed away, I promised myself I wouldn't ever treat them any different than before. These are some of the most important proofs of grandpa's existence,' she thought. "Okay, let me put the tools back, and I'll come to join you..."
     He smiled in satisfaction. "Awesome, I'll have them ready on a plate." Soon, she joined her boyfriend at the dining table by the window with a beautiful view of the yard filled with huge trees, bright green grass, and patches of other flowers.
     "Mmm, this tastes just as good as the first time I had them!" she exclaimed delightfully.
     "Well, duh! You haven't had them in months. The taste is always new after a while."
     "You're so right." She chewed happily, and he chuckled when he noticed the icing on the corners of her mouth then proceeded to wipe it off with his finger. She swallowed and grinned. "Thank you, love."
     He smiled and put his half-eaten donut down. "Um, October, I've been thinking about this for quite a while now, and don't you think it's time for you to move in with me?"
     She stopped eating and looked up at him. "Like in the city?" He nodded, and she shook her head quickly. "I can't do that. I'll have to leave this cottage. Who will look after this place and grandpa's orchids? My orchids."
     "You won't have to worry about that. You can sell the house, and the new owner will take it upon themselves on whatever they want to do with the flowers," he replied.
     "Are you hearing yourself right now, Tony?" She knitted her brows in shock.
     "Loud and clear, October. We've been together for almost a year now, and it's been long-distance the whole time. We rarely get to go on dates and have fun because you're here in the countryside taking care of these flowers. It's time to move on to the next chapter of your life; a new life with me in the city where you're not cooped up in this cottage without anything to do but watering flowers every day. You can leave now! You're grandpa's not here to keep you here anymore, Octo—"
     Before he could finish his sentence, she had abruptly stood up and slapped him across the face in anger. "You know, I thought you'd understand the situation between me and this place where I was born and raised in! I love this cottage and the greenhouse filled with orchids. Grandpa had little to do with the reason why I stayed here and didn't want to move into the city. I decided I wanted to stay here because this place means everything to me even if it doesn't to you!" She pointed at him furiously.
     I am everything with this place and nothing without it! My whole life is here and always will be right here. I promised to look after this place, and I will absolutely not break it for someone as insensitive as you. Not now, not ever! Now, if you'll excuse me, my orchids need my attention."
     She started leaving, and he stared at her in disbelief. "T-T-Then we're breaking up!" he shouted back.
     She stopped in her tracks and said, "Do as you'd like then. I won't be showing you out." Then, she continued on her way, leaving him in a stupor.

— — —

"Are you kidding me?! That's what he said?!" asked Summer, October's best friend. "He deserves a good beating!" She rolled up her sleeves in anger.
     "Calm down, Summer. We don't need you causing another scene again," said Austin, October's childhood friend.
     "He's right. Don't even bother wasting your energy on Tony. He's not worth it," October stated.
     "Well, I'm glad you guys broke up. I never liked him, that city boy. Ain't that right, Austin?" Summer nudged him.
     "Y-Yeah, you two barely knew each other anyway," he replied, rubbing his neck.
     "That was because we lived so far away from each other." October picked at the cake sitting on the porcelain plate in front of her as the three of them sat at a table in the yard behind the house. "But that's in the past already. I didn't forgive, but I will most certainly forget."
     "That's right. You won't need anybody like him as long as you have m— us here!" His face instantly turned red.
     "What's wrong? Is the heat too strong? Your face is all red."
     Summer snickered into her hand and patted his shoulder. "He's right, and I agree!"
     "Thanks for the support as always, guys." October smiled warmly at her beloved friends. She then looked at the window to her room and saw the pink and white orchids Tony had given her—when he had found out about her grandfather's passing—sitting in its vase on the windowsill; the petals had started withering, making it brown and all shriveled up.