Chapter Three: Flushed Cheeks
It was about noon, and the trade depot's busy crowd was starting to diminish. The tourists had done their business, and the locals were finishing up their shopping. Fritz was able to get enough money to pay back all his IOUs to his local townsfolk and purchased what little he could afford for his summer crops. He was on his way out when he noticed Akiko by Silk Country's booth, finishing up her orders and selling the remainder of her crops and other goods. Her cart now full of seeds, animal treats, and other assorted goods.
Excited, Fritz started to make his way to her direction when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. Licorice had walked up to Akiko's side, both girls started laughing. His palms became sweaty and his knees weak as he watched her flip her dark hair over her shoulders.
As he just stood there, he swallowed a large lump in his throat. He was lost at what to do next, then Akiko noticed him, smiled, and waved. He mustered the strength to stiffly walk in their direction as she guided her horse and cart to greet him, Licorice by her side, still giggling at whatever they found amusing moments ago.
"H-hello, gals," Fritz stuttered, feeling the sweat on his forehead, "How's it goin'?"
"Hi, Fritz," Licorice replied with a small smile. She noticed his small hand cart, not even half full of sacks of seeds. He saw her looking down at his cart.
"Heh, I guess I'm goin to have another slow summer," he laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head, feeling the sweat running down his neck.
"It would help if you didn't spend so much of your money in town," Licorice retorted, slightly irritated, "You would save more money if you cooked your own food."
"Ya know I'm not good at that kinda stuff.."
"It's never too late to learn."
Akiko could feel the tension building up. Licorice wasn't very tolerable with incompetence, especially for something as simple as cooking. For this reason, she saw Fritz as a fool. He was never able to grow many crops because he always spent what money he had on food or entertainment, making his seasonal revenues small, which made it irritating to listen to him complain about his 'budget.'
"Uhm, you know, Fritz," Akiko started, trying to avert the tension, "I did buy a few extra bags of tomato seeds. I don't think I'll need them."
"R-really?!" Fritz exclaimed as his face lit up from being given a chance to prove himself. "Ya really don't mind?!"
"Nah, tomatoes will give a bit of a boost with your revenue. Just rethink your budget, alright?"
"Yah, yah! Wow, Kiki! Ya truly are the best!"
"Uhm, yeah, no problem, Fritz," Akiko said with an uncomfortable smile. She really didn't like it when he called her 'Kiki.' "You know, if I remember right, you still owe Raeger for those-"
"Oh, that's right! Thanks for the reminder, Kiki!"
Licorice's face lit up with an idea.
"HEY, Fritz," Licorice butted in with a large grin on her face, "We're going to grab a bite to eat at his restaurant, so we wouldn't mind dropping off the money for you."
"Uh, yeah?" Fritz was confused by her sudden change in attitude towards him, "That- that wouldn't be-"
"Oooh, c'mon," Licorice threw her arm around his shoulder and pulled him close, "this way, you can go get your crops started, without any distractions."
Fritz blushed as he looked back to Akiko. She shrugged her shoulders then winked at him with a cheeky grin. He looked back at Licorice.
"Ya would really do that for me?" he asked in a shy, nervous tone.
"I don't see why not," Licorice replied, giving Akiko a teasing eye. Akiko blushed, she now caught onto what she was trying to do now.
Fritz nodded in agreement and handed Licorice the money, who then walked back to her friend. As the now confident farmer walked out of the depot with his now full cart, Akiko confronted Licorice.
"What exactly are you up to?" she asked with a demanding voice.
"I'm going to show you that spark I was talking about earlier," Licorice replied, flipping through the money before she folded it into her pocket.
"I was just there a couple of hours ago! I didn't notice any spark!" Akiko felt a lump in her throat, her face turning redder.
"Then maybe you need to open your eyes. You just choose not to notice it because you're so stuck on thinking that he might like someone else."
"What?! No! I've already said that we're just friends!"
"Your tomato face says otherwise." Licorice's cheeky grin was growing as she started laughing.
The two girls went back and forth, Akiko's face getting more flustered and Licorice's laugh getting louder. They just walked by Jonas' desk when they were stopped by Kamil, who was just making his way into the depot to look for Akiko.
"Akiko!" He exclaimed with glee. "I'm so glad I found you!"
"Kamil!" both girls shouted as they were caught off guard, both at a loss for words, worried how much he had heard. Luckily, he didn't hear a word of anything.
Blushing, Kamil held out the bouquet of daffodils. "These, uh, are for you!"
"Oh, thank you," Akiko took the flowers, "you really didn't have to."
"Yes, I did," Kamil insisted, suddenly gaining confidence and changing his tone, "A beautiful girls deserves beautiful flowers."
Akiko just smiled as she put them on top of some of the items in her cart. Licorice looked at Kamil with a disgruntled look, but he just nodded because he took it as 'Are you going to ask or not?' When Akiko came back around to the front of the cart to her friend's side again, Kamil suddenly grabbed her hand before she could say anything.
"Akiko, I must ask you something important," he started, looking deep into her purple eyes, "Will you go on a date with me?"
"A d-date?!" Akiko exclaimed and looked at Licorice. She was right! "I, uh, don't know what to say, Kamil..."
"I'm not sure if you've been noticing my infatuation with you lately, but it grows more and more everyday."
"See, the thing is, I-"
"Yes?" Kamil's eyes were shining with hope. Licorice was also curious to what Akiko was going to say, though she had a vague guess.
"I just bought the seeds for my summer crops, so I'm going to be busy for the next little while preparing them. I just don't know when I'll even have the time to go on a date."
Her answer caught the other two off guard. Wow, nice save, Licorice thought, sighing with relief.
"Oh," Kamil said quietly, before taking in a deep breath, "well, I guess that's not exactly a 'no.'"
A nervous smile grew on Akiko's face. He's taking it better than expected, she thought.
He gently released her hand, keeping the confident smile on his face as he asked, "So, maybe a time when you won't be busy with work?"
"I guess it all depends," she replied, shrugging her shoulders, "I have a lot of new orders to fill with vendors, not just with my crops, but my milk, eggs, and wool, too."
"Then, I suppose I'll have to keep asking until you're free," Kamil stated with a flirtatious tone, making her blush.
Determined, isn't he? Licorice thought, slightly rolling her eyes.
Before anymore could be said, Kamil turned around and headed back towards the inn. Don't worry, my precious flower, he thought, I'll wait for the perfect time.
"Sooo, what are you going to do when you are free?" Licorice asked once Kamil was out of earshot, folding her arms.
"Well," Akiko sighed, "I'll just have to find another excuse." Both girls started giggling and made their way up the stone steps.
Suddenly, Akiko remembered the money Licorice had in her pocket.
"Are you just going to go give that to Raeger really quick?" she asked, trying to get out of Licorice's little plot.
"Ha! Nice try," her friend laughed, reaching into her pocket for the money, "we're still going. Aren't you a little hungry?"
Akiko felt her stomach rumbling.
"I guess a quick lunch couldn't hurt..."
In front of the restaurant, the reins of the horse was secured up to a post before the girls headed inside. There were a few customers already seated, all from the trade depot. The small roar of chatter filled the air. Looking passed the front counter, Raeger could be seen cooking in the kitchen. The girls helped themselves to a table in the back, away from the warm sunlight. Before they knew it, Raeger had served the waiting customers and made his way towards the table, pen and notepad in hand.
"Afternoon, ladies," he greeted them cheerfully. When he looked at Akiko, she couldn't help but blush and give him the sweetest smile. He felt a little more relaxed as he returned her sweet smile and flushing cheeks.
"Lunch rush already?" she asked in a sweet tone, which Licorice noticed she only uses for him.
"You know it," he replied with a similar tone, adding a wink, "but having you here makes it more enjoyable."
The tiny flirtatious tone sent a tingly feeling through her body and her eyes widened. She let out a small sigh as she stared deep into his emerald eyes.
A spark, huh? she thought, remembering Licorice's theory about their 'friendship.'
Licorice smiled with content as she watched them gaze at each other while their orders were being taken. Raeger then made his way back to the kitchen to get started and she looked at Akiko, who was still floating in the clouds.
She noticed the content grin and blushed as she played with the straw in her glass of water.
"Yeah, okay, I admit it," she whispered, still in slight denial, "I guess I can feel a small spark..."
"Oh, is that so?" Licorice whispered back, trying not to giggle. "From where I'm sitting, that spark is only a few degrees away from being aflame."