To breathe and to think about the next possible word you can say. But what I can do for now, is to breathe. To stare to the person beside me who’s smiling happily.
I glance, prying a bit into observing his next action. He looked very happy to be here once again. His eyes went back, staring at me with the same twinkle I once saw back then. Another memory came in when I saw his expression.
“Do you think when the heavens favored us back then when we were younger, do you think we could be together?” His eyes looked serious. But he was looking down, leveling his face. Bringing it a bit lower to have a better stare of her face, he showed her his widest smile. Putting a sudden distance to their close faces, he removed his head to turn it to the other side.
“You don’t need to answer. I am just kidding.” His eyes turned a bit cold. He began to remember the incident that happened. It left bitterness in him. But he couldn’t blame her.
He couldn’t. Forcing himself to smile, he moved his head to turn to look at her again.
“Do you remember when we first went here right after your photoshoot, Aiah?”
“I don’t know what to say but this place deserved all those praises I’ve seen in the feedback section of their website.” She stared at Alcuin whose eyes never left.
She knew the guy’s been staring at her, continuously been staring at her back when they were inside his car, when he opened the door to help her out with his extended hands, when they were walking in, and now he’s still looking at her like she was something that is fitting to be stared at for a long period of time.
“Alcuin. I said this place is amazing.” She said. She almost wants to repeat the words she said when she saw him blink his eyes. She began to feel that she wanted to be thankful that this guy in front of him is now blinking. She’s a bit concerned when he was staring at her with wide eyes that don’t even look creepy to her. Maybe it’s because of the way he’s staring at her.
Alcuin started grinning. Showing her his full smile with a few of his teeth in display, he began to show her his expression of being amused. “I know, Azaiah. I know.” Looking at her, he started to laugh still having that looked of amusement plastered all over his face.
With a knotted forehead, she started frowning upon seeing his expression. “Was there something funny, Alcuin?” She deepened her frown. Her eyes are now looking at him with a detached look.
She doesn’t find the situation between the two of them pleasant. “You’re goofing around. Did you even take a look of what’s in front?” A huff of a tone of displeasure came from her.
Alcuin stopped laughing, and pulled her closer to his side. Giving her a side-nudge with his shoulder, he pulled her wrist. “I’ve been listening to you talk, Azaiah. I heard everything that you said.” His hands are still on her wrist, not wanting to pull it away.
He began smiling secretly. “Let’s go inside. Prepare to be more amazed with what your eyes will see inside.” He excitedly pulled her wrist before walking through the door that is already opened for them.
Azaiah had this reluctancy. “But, we still didn’t have a better look of the view outside. You saw those woven baskets right? The hydrangeas?” She infirmed it before pulling him back to towards the door wanting to exit.
Alcuin just laughed at Azaiah’s actions. “You’re really adorable. But no. We can admire the florals and we can talk on how it’s designed to fit on the entrance of the shops doorway later, Azaiah before we leave. After you’ve feasted your eyes adoring all of these flowers that are in here, take a look.” He pulled her from going towards the opposite direction. He spun her around to see the beautiful selection of cast displayed on the front desk.
“Amazing isn’t it?” Alcuin leaned, letting his chin rest on Azaiah’s shoulders.
Shock with the sudden advancement, she stood there and began to put an immediate distance between them. Taking a step away she began nodding her head. “These carved stones are beautiful.”
“Hi, I’m Estelle. How can I help you?” A lady popped in. Bringing with her freshly-cut carnations in her hand, and a blue container. Her demeanor is peaceful, expression neutral. She stared at the two of them, before she started smiling.
She looked at Alcuin with a liven stare. “You brought yourself today a company.” She walked, making paces towards the reception area. She bring something out of her drawer. The lady pulled out a shorthand pad and a pen her hands flipped it with enough carefulness. Her eyes searched for what’s written in it, closing the thing her eyes went back at them.
“I need you to sign here.” She handed it to Alcuin. “You are Azaiah, right?” She inclined, in a voice with enough maturing.
Azaiah admires how well-composed the lady in front of her is. Her stature, and the way she showed them her movements. She lady has this aura of being immovable. Azaiah stared to meet her eyes, and she saw some mysteriousness in it.
With a stabling gaze, the lady smiled at her. “Welcome at Nantucket Hill House. I hope you’ll enjoy your time here.” She received the pad from Alcuin, didn’t leave Azaiah for a moment. She handed the thing to her.
Azaiah signed the reservation with both of her name and Alcuin’s name in it. She ignored the lady’s gaze and focused on reading every word, still choosing to ignore the gazes being exchanged between Alcuin and the lady. She handed it back to her.
“I’m glad you didn’t bring Thea in here.” The lady stated.
“You know her. You know her well-enough. If I bring her here…” Alcuin added.
“She would surely ruin the moment.” She added. A crisp laugh came straight out of her mouth. “Ahh, you two. Sometimes I cannot help but think that you and Thea act like siblings more than us. Completely acting straight with impulsivity of annoying each other.” A vacillating laughter came from her again.
“She is.” Azaiah whispered, muttering her word to Alcuin.
Alcuin nodded her head. He smiled at her. “She is Thea’s older sister.”
The lady managed to give her a full smile. Prepping the supplies that’s been laid out she snapped her fingers and gave Alcuin another stare. “Take her with you to tour her around, Alcuin. And Azaiah.”
Her stare lingered on her. “It’s nice meeting you.”
They walked to look around. She went to the table filled with a variety of succulents placed on it. She couldn’t believe what she is seeing. “It’s a sapient arrangement to put different kinds of succulent in just one cobblestone container.”
“It was all on her. These are all her ideas that came to life, Aiah. Elle is that brilliant.” With a purse lip Alcuin checked her something on her face. “You don’t want to look to the other side of the room. The flowers were in there.”
“Later. I want to look at these first. I think I should buy one for Mom.”
A shrill sound came, from wind chimes hanged on the window sill caught her attention. She began thinking of giving it to her as a surprise.
“You don’t want to buy your Mom some flowers? She’ll love those too.” Alcuin inserted with the thought that the flowers were better than the succulents.
Shaking her head she remembered why her mom made that promising announcement that she’s allergic to pollens. Her lying about being having that kind of allergy, it took her back into thinking that her Mom still had this moment of immaturity that cannot be erased that easily.
“She has pollen allergy.” She said, wanting to be honest in that area. At the same time, eliminating the reason behind it at the same time, eliminating it would be the best idea whenever someone ask her for a clear answer why her Mom hated the idea of having flowers around her.
“Sorry. It sucks that she couldn’t enjoy them.” Alcuin was cool enough to say something even though he wants to convey better words.
“Yes.” Azaiah’s lingering stare is now fixated on Alcuin.
“Do you want to go now? Let’s look at what’s inside the other side.” Azaiah pertained towards the florals that Alcuin stated, that were placed on the other room.
They walked inside. Alcuin walking lamely, he is a bit slow in his face just to match with Azaiah’s steps. He wanted to savor the moment, the time they had together. Azaiah’s mind began drifting away from the reality. Her mind started to wander. She caught herself thinking about something she doesn’t want to think again, she started pushing the thought to stop it from developing further.
“The containers are fully stuffed with the flowers. The signage that was written, it was written with honesty. No lies indeed.” She stared at the statement, “Fully stocked and ready for you!” She read it, making deep inhales to smell the mix of fragrance in the air.
“One can place an order, from a small bouquets to a beautiful tablescape. Estelle’s shop got it covered.” Alcuin was proud to say his words.
Azaiah’s let her lashes flick, looking like she is thinking about something deeply. “Is she the only one who facilitates on working a whole day in this shop, alone? Does she have her own helpers?”
“She has. But I don’t know why they’re not physically present right now. I don’t know where they’ve been too.” Alcuin affirmed, wanting to add more but couldn’t think of words to add. He ran out of informations aabout his cousin’s workers.
“The flower arrangements, they are all pretty.” She described, her eyes not leaving the floral display.
Alcuin couldn’t stop himself from being too open, he just couldn’t bring himself to look away from her. And whenever Azaiah opens her mouth to speak something, his ears seemed to be automated. Automatically ready for anything that Azaiah can say into existence.
He smiled at her. “Want to take a look to the other greens in here?”
Azaiah nodded her head in return to Alcuin’s question. Both took their time to look around. They went down the stairs were the succulents are put on each side of the staircase, looking a bit drenched with moisture. The planted shrubs that surrounded the fountain, instead of having water in it can be seen outside. The stoned chairs with clay pots sitting on it, it was neatly arranged. The stoned dogs that are placed on each side of the chair looking comfortable. The tiny little bird cages that were hanged with the bird baths below it. Azaiah was mesmerized. The garden style is uniquely exquisite for her.
Alcuin handed her the wrapped carnations. “For you.”
Azaiah’s eyes widen. She was surprise to receive the flowers that were strap on Estelle’s arms a while ago. The carnations were beautifully presented, the added greens made it even looked better. “Thank you… Alcuin.

They both stared at each other. Both are now standing silently. Both are unable to shy away from letting their gaze meet. The voices outside interrupted them, that their eyes are turned away from being too engaged on having their staring contest.
“Do not, do not tell me to calm down! Stay away from me for a few centimeters before I’ll strangle your neck with my bare hands, Erinoi. You’re so annoying!” Haughtiness and anger are of prominently obvious on the woman’s tone. She looked at the guy with madness in her eyes.
Raising his hands while backing away, the guy opened his mouth. Hesitating to say something, his movement is stealth. “Alright. Alright. Just stop shouting. Look, they are people in here too. It’s not only the two of us for you to let your temper on the lose.”
“Don’t mind the two of them. Sunny and Erinoi are just like that.” Estelle but in, saying it with outmost ease as if the shouting is something that is considered normal.
Alcuin and Azaiah head out the door, still hearing the bickering inside…
“There is another hill house installation that is under construction. I didn’t know that these infrastructures are all connected to the original shop. This is wonderful.” Azaiah’s eyes fixed on the spot they happened to be in.
“A sight to see ehh? The drive is worth it.” His diction focused on his words with enough asserted tone. Alcuin followed her eyes.
Both are now looking, standing in front of the place theyonce visited. A gushed flashing memory appeared like a whiffing scent. It appeared like the wind that just passed by. Enthralled by the look of the Nantucket Hill House, they both caught each other’s gaze. Meeting it enough to have an agreement, that the place is still beautiful as ever, they both smiled.
“I was used to see hydrangeas around.” Azaiah simply cannot let it passed by, the thought she had in mind about the floral wreathes she saw hanging.
“And now they got roses to welcome us.” Alcuin said in a warm voice. Reminiscing what Azaiah also remembered.
“The transition is clearly on display.” She always thought that Estelle will stick into having hydrangeas in front of the shop to welcome her visitor. It came into Azaiah’s mind that Estelle is the one who’s self-disciplined, that Estelle is well-disciplined enough to stick to her own way of handling things.
“From blue to red... She clearly had a changed of preference.” Alcuin added, recalling the taste of his cousin’s and the color Estelle once favored. It changed. His eyes went back on Azaiah. He still looked at her dearly, still having the look of high-appreciation in regards to the all grown woman in front of him.