Two girls carried their food trays to one of the tables in the school cafeteria.
"Anya is so excited for next week!" Anya exclaimed.
"Oh, the tree-planting activity? Yeah, I haven't been to a forest! But I dread the heat and the soil," Becky said.
"Yes, but Mr. Henderson said we only need to plant twelve per student right? That'll be a breeze! Anya thinks it's fine!" Anya replied. She took a bite of her omurice.
"I don't know. But I look forward to going to the Midori after that!" Becky said excitedly.
"Midori? It's a restaurant, right? Are there peanuts there?" Anya asked.
"Well, I'm not sure about peanuts, but it definitely serves the freshest and most nutritious foods in Ostania!" Becky announced.
"So we're going to eat lots of leaves?" Anya said looking glum.
"Not really! It's just that every food they cook there has something fresh and nutritious! There's meat so no problem! The last time I ate there, my steak had a few colorful spectacles on top. It tasted different but it's definitely delicious!" Becky said with a yummy expression on her face.
"Wow!" Anya exclaimed. She then saw Ewen pass by with his food tray.
"Ewen, have you eaten in Midori too?" Anya asked out of the blue.
"Uh, yeah, quite expensive for common folks but really delicious. And the ambiance is great!" he replied. Becky nodded as he spoke.
"Wow!" Anya exclaimed again, now with sparkling eyes. "I'm so excited to go there, Becky!"
"Yup, me too!" Becky replied. "So let's see... We'll be meeting at 5:30am, then we'll ride the bus until 7am, we'll plant until 9:30am, then we'll go to a cabin to rest and change until 12nn, and have late lunch at Midori at 1pm. The bus leaves for school at 2:30pm. We're back on campus at 4pm."
"Wow, that sounds like a tiring day," Anya said.
"Yeah, but it's a nice change of pace compared to the usual classroom stuff, say, after a school-wide party," Becky said after taking a sip of her drink. She turned to Anya.
Ewen proceeded to walk to his table with Damian and Emile. Damian asked what he and Anya talked about. Ewen told him that Anya asked him if he's been to Midori.
'Why didn't Anya ask me instead?' Damian thought as he looked at her.
Anya heard Damian's thoughts so she looked in his direction. Both were startled to see them looking at each other. Damian panicked and looked away.
Becky noticed this. She poked her friend's cheek to tease her.
"I must say, I didn't think you have it in you," Becky said teasingly.
"Er? What?" Anya wondered.
"The candlelight, the cupcakes, the stargazing — everything was perfect!" Becky exclaimed.
"Really? It wasn't much actually but that's the best I can do for him. I'm glad he was better afterwards," Anya said.
"What are you talking about? I saw everything that night! I saw how his face changed from when we were at his party to when he slept beside you," Becky chuckled.
Anya tossed a peanut in her mouth. "Yeah, it seems that week was quite heavy for him. I'm glad things worked out fine. Anya would do it for you too, Becky! When you're down or if you're having trouble, Anya will be there for you!" She said with a sincere smile.
Becky forgot how much she wanted to tease her about Damian. She hugged her friend. "Aww thank you, Anya! Let's go shopping tomorrow! Let's buy something to munch on the bus. Oh, maybe we can buy some nice clothes too for the Midori lunch! We can also hang out in the arcade, I'd like us to have our best friend photo!" Becky said beaming.
Anya looked at her friend. "Anya will ask Papa and Mama later if I can come with you, Becky! Anya also wants the 'best friend photo' thing!"
"Yep, hihi! I'll fetch you by ten o'clock tomorrow morning. And don't worry, I'll treat you to lunch!" she replied.
"And peanut cake dessert!" Anya pointed out.
Becky laughed. "Alright, and peanut cake!"
The two walked to class happily planning their shopping spree the next day when someone blocked their way.
It was Damian Desmond and his friends.
Becky took her hand out as if blocking the boys from harming her friend, to the boys' surprise.
"Oi, Blackbell, we're not doing anything to you!" Emile said.
"Then what do you want?" Becky asked.
"Bossman," Ewen looked at Damian.
Damian's teeth were clenched as if he struggled to say what he wants to. Anya tried to listen to his thoughts.
'I want... seat... tree-planting group... help... I can't... eat... Midori... walk around...' Damian's thoughts were so jumbled that Anya's head began to ache and she suddenly swayed while she stood.
"A-Anya!" Becky exclaimed as she saw her friend sway in dizziness.
"Oi, Shrimp!"
Damian worriedly held her right arm to keep her steady, pushing Becky aside.
"I-I'm fine! Hehe... Is it okay if we walk back to the classroom already?"
"Okay," Damian replied, letting go of her. The two girls walked to the classroom as the three followed from a distance.
"That Desmond! He's just finding an excuse to touch you," Becky said while she giggled.
"What?" Anya replied. Becky sighed at her friend.
When they were finally inside, Damian continued.
"We'd like to team up with you," Damian said.
"Oh?" Becky said. Damian glared at her while she giggled again.
'You better say yes to me, Shrimp,' Damian thought. Anya froze.
"Friends team up, right?" Damian said to Anya.
Anya saw a vision of her helping Damian plant and becoming his friend in the process. Damian then invites her to their house so they can plant in their garden, Loid comes too to help and persuades Donovan to end the war. World peace. Anya made a smug face.
"Anya wants to team up with Sy-on boy! For world peace!" she exclaimed.
"There you go again, Anya." Becky turned to the boys. "See, we want peace, so no fights with us, you understand?" Becky told the three.
"You're the only one bickering here, Blackbell!" Emile exclaimed.
Damian turned to Anya. "Alright, see you next week, shrimp. A-About the seat assignments—"
"Anya will be sitting beside me," Becky said as she hugged her friend, "Right, Anya?"
Anya nodded excitedly.
"Ugh, suit yourself." Damian left the two girls and went to his desk.
"I'm so excited for the tree-planting activity, Becky!" Anya told her friend.
Becky nodded. "Don't forget about our shopping tomorrow!"
"Hmm-mm!" Anya replied.
~~~~~
As Ewen and Damian played their favorite arcade racing, Emile spotted two familiar faces leave the Age Up Photobooth.
"I'm glad they also have regular shots there! These photos are so nice!" Becky exclaimed. "I look really pretty, and you look super cute, Anya!" Emile overheard faintly.
"I'll post it in my room too, Becky!" Anya replied. Her face turned to wonder when she checked the final photo. "Er... Haha..."
"Why?" Becky checked out the picture. "Ooohhh our aged-up photo! Didn't you like it?" Becky asked.
"Anya doesn't think I will look like this," Anya said.
"But you look so stunning too! Let's just see how right this 'age up' is, shall we? Let's put it in our treasure box and check it again in 10 years, Anya!"
"A treasure box?" Anya asked.
"You should have one, Anya! It's where you put the things that are precious to you," Becky explained. "My treasure box has some of my favorite family pictures, pictures with Wiesel, my first extracted tooth, my parents' letters to me, and now, our pictures!"
"Of course, it doesn't have to be fancy. Just any sturdy box would do! Just label it 'My Treasure box' maybe, or put a few designs, so that your parents won't end up suddenly dumping it."
'A treasure box...' Anya liked the thought of one.
"Mmm! Anya will have a treasure box too!" Anya said to her friend.
"Great! Now then, let's shop for more clothes!" Becky ran to the next branded clothing store nearby. "Anya, check if we have two copies of each picture." Anya checked the pictures again before putting these in her pink bag.
"Okay, but haven't you bought enough clothes?" Anya ran after her.
Surprised, Emile hurriedly told his friends about Becky and Anya. After hearing it, the hazel brown-eyed young boy quickly went to the Age Up Photobooth with Emile and his other friend. 'I need to get a copy of Anya's photo.' He thought to himself.
He spoke to the woman in the photo booth.
"Excuse me," Damian told her. "I want a copy of the pink-haired girl's photos earlier." He hastily announced.
The woman looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Why would you think I will give my client's pictures to just anyone? Is that how boys behave now? Tsk. Go and ask her nicely to have a photo with her here instead," the woman lectured.
Damian was flustered after listening to the woman's response. Does she think it's that easy? It isn't! How could he possibly ask Anya to have a picture with him, especially with Becky around? There is no other way!
"Old woman, we're asking nicely here," Emile said as he stood up for Damian.
"They're our classmates so there should be no problem with it," Ewen said.
"Oh, and what if you weren't really their classmates? Do you think it's right for me to give it?" the woman replied sternly.
'Certainly, if any other person would do this to Anya, I would want the old woman to act like this.' Damian finally accepted that they are asking for the impossible.
Damian turned his back to the woman. "Forgive our rudeness. Thank you for doing this." He motioned Emile and Ewen to leave with him.
"Bossman..." Ewen said sadly.
Damian was about to hold the sliding door when it suddenly burst open. Anya came in, hurriedly stepping on the elevated platform and bumping her face onto Damian's chest. Damian's face immediately fired up bright red. Ewen and Emile gasped at the sight. Anya was slightly bounced off by the force, so Damian's arms flew around her to prevent her from falling back. He caught a whiff of her hair as he held her close. His heart thumped uncontrollably.
Finding her face buried on someone's chest, Anya quickly moved away. She apologized profusely, her eyes closed in embarrassment until she opened it and realized it was Damian who held her.
"S-Sy-on boy! T-Thank you!" Anya stuttered. She blushed.
"Y-you're too clumsy, Shrimp!" The red-faced Damian also stammered as he spoke. He noticed Anya's face.
'She's blushing too!' Damian said to himself. His heart pounded some more.
"S-Sorry again, I was in a hurry," Anya sincerely apologized.
"I-it's okay. Just— be careful next time," Damian took his hands into his pockets. He looked away trying to find something to calm himself.
The woman looked at the two blushing little heads. She turned to Anya and said. "Little girl, do you know him? This boy earlier was asking me to—"
"Cut it out, old woman!" Damian exclaimed with a scrunched face.
"Ohohoho," the old woman chuckled, her left palm slightly covered her mouth.
'What's wrong with this woman now? She should know she musn't tell her about the picture...' Damian thought. Ewen and Emile were also surprised. 'Is the old woman teasing bossman just now?' They thought.
Anya read their minds and thought Damian and his friends were being teased for the pictures they took.
"I see! Did you take a picture too, Sy-on boy? It's so fun, isn't it?" Anya said.
"Of course! Here, I failed to give you the copy earlier," the woman said. She then handed to Anya her and Becky's picture.
"Thank you!" Anya said.
"Look!" she showed the boys the picture in her hand. Both girls were beaming at the camera, but only Anya's face caught Damian's attention.
The woman, delighted at how Anya spoke about her business, decided to give her a treat. "Young girl, since you spoke kindly about my photo booth, I will give you two free photos with your friend. Would you like to call her back?" The woman said.
Anya's eyes glimmered. "Really?! Thank you, old woman!" Anya pointed Damian. "Can I have a picture with Sy-on boy?" She asked her excitedly.
"Ohoho, aren't you lucky, little boy?" The woman teasingly spoke to Damian who kept blushing before her.
"I-I am her friend, didn't you hear her?" Damian stammered.
The old woman beamed. "Very well," she said. She moved to the back of the camera and screen.
Anya took Damian in the arms and pulled him in front of the camera.
"O-oi Shrimp don't touch me so casually—" he said letting himself be taken by her anyway.
"We'll have a picture with you too after this, Ewen, Emile!" Anya shouted.
"Sure!" The two beamed at Anya and gave a thumbs up that was really for Damian.
"Alright, 3-2-1, smile!"
Anya kept holding Damian's arm in the camera. Damian struggled against his embarrassment at how Anya touched him that it caught him blushing hard and sneering instead. Anya, on the other hand, had her signature carefree smile.
"Alright, let's have the second photo!"
Anya motioned Ewen and Emile to come. The two joined them and patted their friend on the back. "It's okay bossman," the two whispered. Damian took a deep breath.
Still feeling shy, Damian folded his arms and moved closer to Anya. Anya smiled sheepishly while Damian finally let out a sincere smile. Ewen and Emile made peace signs around them.
After the picture-taking session, the old woman gave Anya and Damian a copy of the pictures.
"Please come again, little girl Anya," the old woman said. The pair of emerald eyes sparkled like starlight at the three pictures she held (including her and Becky's).
"Wow! Thank you so much, old woman!" Anya told her. She turned to Damian, Ewen, and Emile, her happiness was so contagious, it lit up the faces of the three boys. But Damian felt like he received her brightest smile.
"You know what? I will put these pictures in my treasure box, Sy-on boy!" Anya clutched the pictures to her chest. "See you in school!" She left the photo booth and ran back to Becky.
The old woman turned to Damian.
"You seem to like the little girl Anya, but you're hiding it... Ah, youth!" she teased Damian. Damian crossed his arms and turned his head sideways.
The woman continued to speak to the three boys. "You never know what can happen in the future. You should cherish your time with each other," she spoke to all of them.
"Th-Thank you, old woman." Ewen and Emile replied. "Thank you," Damian also said. He gestured for the two boys to leave when the old woman called him back.
"Wait little boy Damian!" She said. She stretched her arms and handed him another photo.
"Come back to me if this really happens in the future," she said, "although depending on the circumstances, I might not be around by then anymore."
Damian's eyes widened and his heart leaped at what he saw. The old woman gave him an aged photo of his picture with Anya. While they hold different expressions on their faces, they looked like what he saw in his dream!
"You will grow into a fine man... and the little girl Anya into a beautiful lady," the woman blissfully commented.
The young boy's heart happily fluttered. He thinks so too!
"Thank you very much, old woman," Damian faced the lady and made a proper bow to show his sincere gratitude.
"We'll have another picture by then so don't close this business up until the time comes," he continued.
"Hmmm, I will wait then," the woman smiled as she waved at him.
Damian left the store carefully holding the picture in his right hand, his smile from ear to ear.
~~~~~
"Anya! What took you so long?" Becky asked her friend. She saw the picture Anya held.
"Did you have another picture taken?" Becky grabbed it. Her eyes widened in surprise. She smiled at her friend.
"Aren't you and Desmond getting along too well now?" She winked.
Anya just smiled as she scratched her head and blushed. When she lifted her head, a teal floral box caught her attention.
"Becky, I found my treasure box!" Anya exclaimed. She ran to the store and purchased the box which used up all her money.
"It's so pretty! I'm very happy for you, Anya!" Becky said.
That night, Anya put pictures of her and her friends inside her treasure box.
Damian, on the other hand, slept with the pictures beside him on his bed.
~~~~~
Next Chapter: The Tree Planting Activity (Ch 18)
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