Episode 19: Flowery Bouquets
The next morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn. I needed to do something for Mito-san and her mother after everything that they had done for me. Providing me with food, buying me clothes and bringing me out for the Festival. They had done so generously that I felt obliged to do something in return.
They cared so much for me…
I gazed at Mito-san's sleeping form and then at her mother and smiled softly.
I know that I have no money to buy them anything…
But…
The least I could do was to do something that only a girl would ever do…
And I'm going to do just that…!
Being as quiet as possible, I tiptoed past them and towards the door, hoping that they would not wake up.
I opened the door just enough for me to be able to squeeze through the small space provided for me.
Success…!
Both of them were still sleeping soundlessly.
I managed to sneak out…!
I closed the door behind me, carefully, trying not to make a sound. I smiled triumphantly and immediately raced downstairs.
I have to do this quickly…
Before all of them wake up…
And find me missing…
Then, it will not be a surprise anymore…
I ran towards the forest, still in my night shirt and shorts, feeling the fresh and cool breeze tugging at my wayward tresses, messy from sleeping.
Mito-san and I had argued about buying a nightdress yesterday afternoon when we were in the nightwear section.
" A nightdress is more feminine! " Mito-san told me.
" But, it's hard to sleep in! A nightdress will only get in the way! " I countered back.
" Yes, but you are a girl, for goodness sake! You should wear something…girly! " the woman shot back.
" I may be a girl but that doesn't mean that I have to wear a nightdress! " I argued.
I smiled at the memory of it.
But, in the end…
I won the argument…
I got my way…
Since I was the one wearing it…
" Hikari, what in blazes are you doing here? "
My eyes widened in shock as I looked up.
Kurapica was standing on a tree branch, looking down at me, oddly.
Why in the world am I always meeting him…?!
I didn't expect him to be here…
What's more, at this time and hour…
" K-Kurapica-san! " I cried out.
" Hikari? "
I felt myself blushing.
" Uh, well…I-I thought that I would pick some flowers for Mito-san and her mother. "
With a swift leap, he came down.
" Flowers? " he echoed.
I smiled at him sincerely and nodded.
" Inside the forest, there are several white carnations, forget-me-nots, irises and yellow roses. I've seen them around before. I wanted to give them each a bouquet before we leave. They've taken so much care of me that I needed to return something back or I'll regret it, " I explained to him, voicing out my thoughts.
" I see, " was all the seventeen-year-old answered.
" Do you want to come along? " I asked him ingenuously.
" If you don't mind, I would like to see those flowers. "
My smile grew wider.
" Sure, I don't mind at all but please don't tell anyone about this, okay, Kurapica-san? "
My question caught him off-guard.
" Uh, yeah…I mean, sure, " he stuttered.
" I want this to be a surprise for them, " I told him and began walking again. " It seems the least that I could do for them. "
" Well, maybe it's the thought that matters? " Kurapica suggested, from somewhere behind.
" I guess so, " I answered.
I noticed that Kurapica would also lag behind me and not walk beside me.
I wonder why…?
" Kurapica-san? " I called. " Why didn't you tell me about your departure when we were talking two nights ago? "
He did not answer me, at least not at first.
" Kurapica-san? " I pressed.
I turned back to face him, walking backwards.
" Hikari, you are going to trip over something and fall, "he warned me. " Don't do that. "
" It's okay, I don't mind. But, you have yet to answer my question, " I said.
Kurapica realised that I was not going to allow a change of subject.
" I guess I forgot about it, " he mumbled, loud enough for me to hear.
I could hardly keep from giggling.
" Why did you forget such an important thing like that? " I pressed on, amused.
The boy shot me, an annoyed look.
" Hikari, don't keep asking me questions which I don't want to answer. "
I stuck out my tongue at him and turned back round, walking properly this time.
" Well, we're here, " I announced.
All around me, was the many different flowers that I had described to Kurapica earlier. It was like a secret grove, deep in the forest. The leaves were lush and green, growing in wild abandon. They were almost as high as my knees. There were many varieties of butterflies flitting from flower to flower.
There was also a waterfall, not far from where I was standing. The sparkling and unpolluted water seeps into the soil and keeps the flowers and grass, fresh. It was all Mother Nature's work.
" It's so calm here, " Kurapica remarked.
" Yes, it is. Before I met all of you, I used to come here and sort my thoughts out when I'm distressed about something, " I told him, kneeling amongst the grass, setting to work.
" It's amazing at what Mother Nature can do, " Kurapica said.
" Yes, I agree, " I answered, picking the flowers which I wanted.
" I think that we need to get back now, Hikari, " Kurapica replied. " The sun is starting to rise already. "
" Just give me another minute, Kurapica-san, " I said, tying the flowers up to make them into bouquets.
Kurapica waited patiently as he watched me, putting on the last touches here and there to the two bouquets.
" There, I'm done! " I declared, exultantly.
" Let's go. "
Kurapica began striding from whence we came, retracing our steps. I ran after him, trying my best to keep up with his stride.