Date - Part 2

"That's a Grand Rose. It means 'promiscuous love.'"

Wrong. It's p for passionate. Vivi wondered how long it will take before Fie realizes.

Grand Roses were still hot on the market, probably because it was early-July. The end of classes lurked just around the corner, meaning loads of free time to spend for young and aspiring couples. To say nothing of the summer festival in Heimdallr. Love confessions were at an all-time high. Sparkly-eyed lads and ladettes hoping for that fervent and fulfilling summer vacation bought roses by the truckloads before they would officially be out of season.

It was also the flower she tricked Rean into buying once. How can she forget? The look on his face was one-in-a-million.

Fie pointed to another flower. Also a Grand Rose, in a different hue. Roses came in many colors other than red, after all. Her favorite was blue edging into sapphire; it went well with her rosy hair.

Now back in their uniforms— plus one clothes bag each — the two of them stopped by the flower shop to buy some new seeds. Edel wanted to grow violas for the academy festival, and it so happens that Jane's had a sale today.

"What about this one?" Fie asked as she poked the curious plant. The round flower heads were attached to a tall, thin stalk, and alternated between yellow, red, and pink colors.

Hollyhocks. They were like string confetti except upside down. Having them around made your garden look like it was throwing a mini-party.

...Come to think of it, pink hollyhocks stood for beauty and appreciation. More profound colors implied a deeper love. "Want one, Fie?" she asked. A purple hollyhock would suit the mysterious girl quite nicely.

"...No. I don't think I have the space for it."

A lie.

Vivi knew it was a lie. She smiled anyway. If Fie didn't want to, she couldn't force her. Although, it did spark an idea to help the quiet girl open up. Eyes scanning around, she hoped that Jane's would have just the flower she needed.

"Yes!" They did, almost hidden in one corner of the shop. Pulling Fie by the arm, she crouched in front of a potted shrub. "Here, take a look at this one."

The plant was less of a bouquet and more of a fountain of jagged leaves. Lobed, like a maple's, with milky pink flowers dotting all around it. Though they appear spherical, the flower heads were actually made out of tinier florets clustered together.

What made it special though was it's dark ebony gloom.

"Pretty, right?" Vivi asked. "They're called ninebark. I can't believe Jane managed to get one. They're rare in Erebonia."

Their foliage tends to fade to green depending on the climate. This cultivar, called Monlo or Diabolo, were more common in the Far East and grew rich burgundy leaves. Vividly dark ninebark like this one though was special even there.

Suffice to say, it's quite expensive. Vivi shrugged when she saw the price. "Maybe someday…"

"...I know these flowers," Fie said. Her eyes were lost in thought as if she was remembering something. "They're more common in Calvard, right?"

"Out further east, near the border," Vivi answered to the best of her knowledge.

A metaphorical light-bulb lit up on Fie's face. "Oh, so that's why. We infiltrated a mansion once. It had a garden filled with these."

'Infiltrated'. "You mean… jaeger business?"

"Yeah. Didn't know what they were called though."

Vivi sweatdropped. Typical; she should've expected that. "Still… a whole garden full of ninebark…"

It would have been a dream come true.

"Do you like them, Vivi?"

There wasn't an easier way to explain, so she nodded in response. 'Like' might not be accurate. She admired them, that's all. Though, if she were asked, her favorite flower would indeed be it.

Why?

That was a difficult question. It's sometimes hard to tell why a person was strangely attracted to something. Maybe it was the color? She liked black.

"I think it's because it reminds me of me."

"Hm?"

Did she say that out loud?

"Look. The leaves are black, right?" she said as Fie gently brushed her hands against the stems. "And the flowers are bright pink."

"I don't get it."

"Two wildly different colors. Two wholly different identities. All part of the same shrub."

Vivi leaned down and smelled the aroma. It was an unpleasant stench. A mix of citrus and mild acid. Ninebarks were used more for ornamental decorations and hedges rather than for their allure.

She didn't mind. "Do you know what they symbolize, Fie?"

Fie shook her head.

"Nothing," Vivi answered. "They don't mean anything on their own, but…"

"But?"

"Ninebarks are related to both hawthorns and roses. Do you remember what those symbolize?"

Hawthorns symbolize hope. Roses symbolize love. Two meanings, both parts of the same whole. A stark juxtaposition, yet complementing each other while joined at the hip.

Hawthorns and roses. Hope and love. Milky pink and black burgundy.

Linde and Vivi.

"...Vivi, why did you join the Gardening Club?"

Well, she's been growing flowers ever since their mom first bought them a miniature garden. Simple as that.

They weren't exactly the richest of families. When their dad died in a construction accident, their mom busied herself with work trying to make ends meet. To accommodate that, their family moved from their old house in Jurai to a small apartment in Saint-Arkh. Linde handled all the housework by herself while Vivi focused on studying.

A wasted effort, though. Her brain was just too dumb. It's a miracle she managed to pass the entrance exam. It wasn't like she could help with the housework either; she wasn't coordinated enough to do it properly.

That little garden of theirs was like a sanctuary— a place where they could all get together and relax while talking about the silliest of things. She would water the flowers every day and then Linde would paint whatever she cultivated on a sheet of paper.

You see, the two of them had always been good at reading a person's feelings. They can't really explain how they can, they just know when someone wasn't acting like they normally would. Stuff like that. It's why Vivi loved to tease people so much, whereas Linde preferred to paint those feelings on a canvas.

When people lie, they were usually lying to themselves. Pranking was Vivi's way of making them admit to their honest thoughts and emotions. She'd goad Rean into flirting with her, for example, because he was checking her out, plain as day. He'd get flustered and wondered why she would, but by then, the gap between them became smaller ever so slightly.

If she hadn't broken the ice first, Rean would have kept his distance from her. Now, they were bosom friends. She'd keep teasing him, and the goody-two-shoes Rean would fall for it every time because it was fun. He never once got angry over it.

It was the same with her sister.

Linde was the shyest person she knew, but Vivi knew she wanted to make lots of friends. If she caused trouble for someone, Linde was forced to apologize on their behalf. Then that would lead her into talking more with this person— if only to ask about what sort of prank her troublesome little sister had done to them.

Vivi pointed to another flower. It was yellow, pink, red and tubular in shape. "That's honeysuckle. It means happiness or devoted affection based on how tight the petals are formed."

Then another. "Lilies. They also mean devotion, but we usually consider them as symbols for purity and innocence."

A blue lacy, star-shaped one and a blossom that looked like a yellow pom-pom. "Hydrangea, sincerity. Below it is yellow carnation which means rejection or disappointment."

And last, a small leafy branch with blackberry-like fruits. "Wineberry. They're tasty like tarts and are closely related to roses. Put them together and they mean 'a sweet romance.'"

"Huh…" Fie said mutely.

Flowers were like people. Just as humans come in all shapes and sizes, flowers come in different colors, petals, stems, and smell, each one with a meaning unique to them. Every bouquet held a wondrous mix of emotions and sentiments, depending on what kinds the florist used.

Vivi was a curious individual. She also loved snooping around for rumors and judging them if it were true or false. Whenever she felt like someone was hiding their emotions, she'd fuss over why they would choose to do so. And like how she would stop at nothing to get an honest reaction out of a person, she would search and study the meaning behind a flower she hasn't heard of before. That tenacity was one of her proud talents.

"Pretty weird reason to join the Gardening Club, huh?"

Fie shook her head again. Her lips stayed the same but her eyes were sparkling. "Not really."

Did Fie… smile?

"Anyway— " Vivi said. She made to stand up but flinched when the blood rushed back to her legs. They had been crouching for a long time. "A-anyway… as your technical senior of one month, I think, feel free to ask me anything about flowers."

Her database may not be as comprehensive compared to a nut like Edel, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Fie gazed at her with a serious expression. "Vivi…"

"Yes? What is it?" she beamed, eager to impress her cute junior.

There was a seconds-long silence before Fie asked her question. "...bug."

Bug? What flower was that, again? Weird name. It almost sounded like—

"There's a bug on your shoulder, Vivi."

Bug. Shoulder.

Her shoulder.

Vivi shrieked.

Kinda loved gardening, but also kinda hated bugs. Vivi sighed Zemuria's heaviest sigh. "I hate this."

Even the great sunset view of the school rooftop did little for her mood. At least the summer afternoons were still cool. She leaned on the railings, letting the wind blow on her messy tresses.

The bug jumped from her shoulder and hid inside her hair, or so Fie said. Cue massive panic attack. Her clumsiness had struck again when she broke a pot or two while flailing around.

Vivi felt as empty as her wallet, even though it was only a thousand mira lighter. "I'm sorry, Fie."

"..."

"Sorry you had to see that. I'm not usually that dumb." She was. "Sorry I ruined our date even though I said I'll show you a good time. It was such a mess, huh?"

"..."

"...It's fine if you never want to talk to me again." It'll hurt and it'll make club meetings awkward, but she couldn't even look at Fie without feeling embarrassed or ashamed.

Why did she have to be so stupid? She could've planned ahead more. Conversation topics, places to go, shops to visit— everything. What the heck was with that bug reaction, too? She was the cool senior member of the Gardening Club. A bug like that was nothing. Edel grappled with insects and pests every day. She should be able to handle one or two, not freak out like a drama queen.

Too late now. The tears beaded in her eyes. It stung with painful regret. She prayed for the Goddess' mercy that Fie would leave so that she wouldn't see her cry.

Absolutely pathetic.

"You can go on ahead, Fie," she said, forcing her voice to not appear strained. "I'll see you tomorrow." Probably. Most likely not.

She didn't hear footsteps, but Fie had cat-like tread. She could've walked away long ago without ever making a sound. Guess she should wait until dark. She didn't even have the energy to turn around.

...

"I'm sorry— "

...Huh? Sorry for what?

" — for ruining our date," Fie said. The words came out strained. It wasn't emotionless like it usually was, nor was it sharp. They sounded remorseful.

What?

"No!" Vivi shouted. Maybe it's the time they spent together, but she noticed a droop in Fie's eyes. Like a dulled blade to a knife. She was honestly thinking that it was her fault. "I-I mean, no. It's not your fault. It's mine…"

Was Fie really that timid? She didn't know.

Fie shook her head. "I should've told you from the start. I kept it to myself again. I didn't mean to ruin your plans. I'm sorry," she muttered in a rush.

"Stop— stop— stop!" This was getting awkward. "Don't apologize, geez…"

Seriously, what's she going on about? Botching a date wasn't that big of a deal. It happens, more so when it's the first date.

And it wasn't like it was all bad. Their ice cream lunch was delicious. Their shopping spree had been an incredible joy because they got to try on so many outfits together. And of course, the giggle they shared among the flowers was something she'd remember forever.

Throughout the day she learned small tidbits about Fie too. The clothes she fancied, what she usually talked about with friends, her preferences for flowers— cute stuff. Fie was cool. Learning about her cute side was a new experience.

It was a tough day to be sure, but if anything, Vivi really did enjoy their date.

"I had fun today," she said, grinning as wide as her cheeks allowed. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure— "

"I had fun too."

"Wha?"

Like flipping a switch, Fie's troubled expression vanished. She smiled impassively.

...Oh.

Vivi chuckled. "You got me…"

Yeah, that's right. They DID have fun. They DID enjoy their date. So what if it didn't go as planned? Plans were boring. Botching a date wasn't that big of a deal; they'll just go an even better one next time. Why should she get depressed over that?

"Thanks, Fie."

"You're welcome."

Speaking of their next date, they should invite Edel. It'll be the three of them— kinda like a club field trip. Oh, and they should definitely get together for the summer festival in Heimdallr. Maybe they'll ask Instructor Sara.

"Sounds fun," Fie said with an unironically bored voice. "I'll tell Mr. Stalker that he can't come, too."

"...Huh?"

Stalker?