The Black Queen Card

chapter one - khrav

Khrav's father taught him to hate flowers.

If his dad had known that he was out buying flowers, he would have disowned Khrav faster than he could even step out of their threshold.

Tiny pebbles that had once been corals and seashells and dried up Bermuda grass scrunched underfoot as Khrav made his way through a slightly rough terrain towards the farm at the mountain peak. A low-hanging orchid with azure highlights and white pollen on a strong mauve chlorophyll on a nearby branch caught his attention as he entered a towering brick arch.

He was wandering about the Mountain Blossoms Farm when a middle-aged woman dressed in denim overalls and a buri hat approached him.

"Don't you give a girl sunshiny roses and random sunflowers when she's worth the darkest and rarest of orchids." The gardener's voice carried over the wide courtyard overflowing with flowers Khrav couldn't even begin to give names to.

"Do you need something for a girl, young man? I would normally recommend tulips and roses, but I had a feeling your girlfriend is not into those kinds. Are you courting someone?"

"No." Khrav smiled faintly and placed a hand in his pocket.

This place was immaculate.

The glass walls of orchidariums reflected the lingering sun rays as the leaves of some plants retired to their own terrariums from the sunbeams.

The ten-hectare farm was surprisingly not swarming with people, at least not at this hour. The farm spread looking over the terraced mountainside.

A couple at the view deck was enjoying the lush vegetation spread out below them. Kids sat around succulents and shrubs admiring their exciting shapes and exquisite colors. Teenagers are being toured by another gardener. Fruit-bearing trees get ruffled with the occasional whisper of the wind.

"We offer the freshest, highly organic hybrid blooms here, including the favorites. Underwater rosas, aerial lirios and rainbow krisantemos. Ninety percent of the flowers we raise are transported in Imperial Metro, of course. While the remaining ten percent are sold in the local market here."

The woman walked Khrav through the winding gravel paths.

"Aren't those Pitayas?" Khrav asked the woman when they passed by the part of the farm where long and thorny cacti appendages are attached to iridescent poles.

"Yes."

"Do you sell the fruits?"

"No, their flowers. The experience." She motioned to the small bulbs of clouds curled inside blushing tendrils. "They are special because the buds only open gracefully at midnight and withers before the dawn kisses the petals. You have to be patient enough to wait before you can witness their true beauty and enjoy their unique scent."

She caressed a small puff.

"They are not called Queen of the Night for no reason. People who have the flowers of this cacti-orchid as their favorite have exquisite taste."

Khrav stared at the buds with piqued curiosity. He never thought of its flowers, never thought it was something special. He thought these plants were only needed for their bland fruits.

"I just needed to pick some get-well-soon gift for my Nanay, she's in the hospital."

The woman took off her hat and glanced back at Khrav.

"Your mother is sick?"

"Yes, she's sick. But she's not my mother." Khrav replied looking down at his loafers then meeting her eyes. The woman regarded him for a moment.

"Oh. I'm sorry dear. I should stop asking you questions."

Khrav waved it off. He was glad for the conversation.

"It's fine, Auntie, I was thinking of something yellow. Plain old Mansanilyas or mirasols? I'm sure she'll love them."

The woman inclines her head. "Come along."

They passed along kiosks beside stone staircases wrapped in vines and invasive ivy. Evergreens littered around makeshift lounges, stone benches, and wooden sets. Swinging hammocks clung between proud palm trees.

She beckoned Khrav to where the mirasols were in full bloom. The woman, who was also the owner of the farm introduced herself as Yuliya, pulled a pair of Ikebana scissors from the back pocket of her overalls. The clipping of the tender stems sounded quick and firm. 


"So, tell me anything interesting about you," she said.

There was a long stretch of uncomfortable silence.

Yuliya waited patiently for him to reply. Khrav picked stray petals off a flower head.

"I have never disobeyed my father."

She gave him a quizzical look and handed him the stalks.

"Now, that's a good boy."

Khrav felt a muted pat on his back. He didn't mind, he was so used to these kinds of regretful looks from strangers.

The sunset finally hit the horizon while a sea of clouds adorned the sky above thousands of breathtaking blooms. When darkness started to curl, the hover lanterns made the place look like paradise. Spike lights kissed the rose cabbages. Slender alstroemeria and clustered snapdragons glowed with floodlights.

~~~

"Nay, I'm here!" Khrav announced while opening the door of the private room at St. Matthew's where his Nanay Selma lay in the hospital bed. One of the many amahs of the Vyenareses, Rina, was there taking care of her.

"Guess what I got you." He cocked his head and hid a smile. "I got you these chrysanthemums and sunflowers. Look."

He pulled out the flowers concealed from his back.

"This kid! I told you not to bother, I'll be out tomorrow." Nanay Selma laughed and tousled Khrav's hair.

"No, really, look!" Khrav giddily pointed to the flowers.

He had stuck small googly eyes and charcoal felt paper to resemble smileys on the center of the sunflowers.

"Don't they look great?," she says. Trying to keep her tears at bay but then she asks him the question he was apprehensive about. "So, when will your classes start?"