Chapter 15: Jade Vine

I massaged my aching head.

I just started writing my report today, after inspecting the plants yesterday. I ended up staying until after midnight even though there were only about 20 varieties of plants in my section.

It was mainly because some of the plants are in tricky places, and I have to be careful not to destroy the terrain as I inspect them. Not to mention the annoying bugs and the rain that made everything slippery!

I asked Professor Palmer for some help, and the only thing he said was to figure it out yourself. My blood boils every time I think about it.

"What are you writing?"

"Aaah!" I yelped when someone suddenly spoke behind me. "Mr. Handsome Guy!" I blurted out when I saw the handsome creature standing elegantly behind me when I turned around.

I bit my lips when I realized what I just called him.

"You refer to me as Mr. Handsome Guy?" He asked with an eyebrow raised, obviously amused. He was wearing black Jagger pants that accentuated his extremely long legs and a plain white T-shirt today. "Well, I'm really handsome, so it's not a lie."

"..."

I wish I could disagree with him, but I can't. I mean, he really is handsome anyway.

"Wait, does that mean you still don't know my name?" His brows furrowed.

My brows furrowed as well. "If you haven't realized it yet, during the three times that we met, including today, we've never really introduced each other properly," I deadpanned.

He looked even more confused after what I said. So I also looked more confused.

'Am I supposed to know him? By any chance, is he someone famous?'

"You don't watch television?" he asked.

I couldn't help but laugh sarcastically. "Ha, ha, do you really think I'd have time to idle around the TV with all this?" I said, gesturing at all the papers scattered on the table. "What are you doing here anyway? Are you even allowed to come here?" I asked back.

We are currently at the rest area on the 300th floor. I came out here because I felt suffocated inside the office. So I decided to continue my work in the resting area's open space.

Mr. Handsome Guy did not respond to my question and instead showed me an I.D. card that looked similar to mine.

"How did you get that?"

"By respecting plants," he coolly answered.

I tried to control the desire to roll my eyes at him. "So this is where you came when we met on the elevator last time?"

"Yes, I was sitting on a lounge chair behind those grapevines." He pointed to one corner of the resting area, where a lot of grapevines were growing.

There are indeed three lounge chairs hidden behind those grapevines. But I only found it on my second day here, while I was looking around. The grapevines bear fruit all year and are free for picking. If he indeed was sitting behind those grapevines, then it's no wonder why I did not see him that day.

"Well then, I should get back to my work. I needed to pass this tonight."

I began continuing from where I left off. So far, the plants are all doing well. I'm really thankful for it in more ways than one. If they keep growing well, then I wouldn't have to worry about being labeled as a species killer. Also, if there isn't any problem, that means fewer words to write in my report and less work for me all together.

"I guess you're really a genius." I jumped from my seat when he suddenly spoke from behind me.

I couldn't control my eyes this time, and I glared at him. "I thought you left!"

"I would have said something if I did leave. I'm not impolite."

"..."

"Anyways, I'm not a genius," I disputed.

"Then what are you?"

"A studious person who happens to have gained a cheat skill," I answered as I kept writing my report.

"What is that?"

"I remember everything pretty well."

He fell silent for a while.

"That must be hard." His words made me stop writing.

I was a bit surprised. He's the only person who said that to me. Everyone who hears about my photographic memory is always thrilled about it. People who hear about my abilities are either jealous or amazed. He's the first one to be emphatic.

"Well, it has its pros and cons," I said, shrugging.

I stopped writing when I realized that he'd been silent for quite a while. When I look behind me, there isn't even a soul around.

"..."

…...

I did a little stretching after I finished compiling my written report. I then checked the time on my wrist watch.

5:56 pm

A smile formed on my lips. "Right on time!" I exclaimed.

I quickly gathered my things, carried the thick paper on my arms, and ran inside.

"You're done?" Rebecca asks as she pokes her head out between her computers.

"Yes," I happily answered.

"Very well, just put your report on the table, I'll hand it to Professor Palmer later."

I quickly did as she said. After removing my watch and leaving all my gadgets behind, and wearing the appropriate gear, I hurriedly walked towards the capsule.

Arriving at the first section of the Dragon's Garden, I was surprised to see that I wasn't the only one there. There is already someone sitting on the grass with his back facing me. It was already getting dark, and there isn't any light illuminating this area so that the Jade Vined can fully show its luminous beauty. But there is only one person with such an elegant posture here, so it was really easy to tell who it was.

"Yow, Mr. Handsome Guy," I called to inform him of my presence, because I'm polite.

He looked up, and our eyes met, causing me to be stunned for a moment. Even under the dim luminous light coming from the Jade vines, he still looked handsome. From this angle, his proud nose looked perfectly good.

Lucky for me, I don't need a camera to capture this moment. My brain had perfectly retained it. Now all I need is a paintbrush and a canvas.

"Hello, little miss scientist," he said in a low, husky voice that jolted me out of my trance.

I sat at a distance from him and looked at the shining Jade Vines. They looked unusually beautiful today.

It had become my habit to come here during this time of the day, to appreciate its beauty. I'm a lover of anything beautiful. So it isn't really a wonder why I fell in love with these vines.

Among the thousand species grown in this garden, I think it's one of the most beautiful.

"Do you come here often?" I asked.

"Hmm, whenever my schedule allows me to," he answered.

He looked so solemn while looking at the beautiful vines above. I couldn't bear to disturb him anymore, so I began to stand.

"This place, is the only place where I feel free and at peace," he said with an extremely lonely voice that made me sit back on the ground. "My life has already been written for me ever since I was born. All I needed to do was follow the script they'd already prepared. But, is that scripted creature really me?"

I guess being handsome doesn't really exempt you from the cruelties of life. Mr. Handsome Guy looked really sad and vulnerable at this very moment. The lights coming from the vines made his entire face look even sadder.

"When I came here, I was given the chance to be who I wanted—to choose my own path. But I was afraid. So in the end, I still ended up going back to the path they had been forcing me to take," he chuckled with a hint of sarcasm.

I've never encountered this kind of situation before. I also have not read a book that might be helpful in such a situation. So I simply said the line a classmate of mine said to another classmate of mine who was heartbroken. "Wanna go for a drink, I know a good place that sells really good alcohol."

Mr. Handsome Guy gave me an incredulous look. "Do you even know what happens every time I go out in public?"

I shrugged. "Do you get mobbed? Are you someone famous?" I curiously asked.

Mr. Handsome Guy suddenly burst out laughing. It was the first time I heard him laugh.

His laughter echoed throughout the entire first section. A soft wind blew across the area, and all of the plants around us swayed in the rhythm of his laughter—as if they too were enchanted by the sound of his voice.

"That's probably the first time I heard someone say that," he claimed with an amused smile on his face.

"I guess you're really someone famous," I confirmed. No one would ever say something like that unless they were well-known.

I wonder what he does, but I'm too afraid to be called nosy to ask.

"Should I bring alcohol next time?" I asked.

He fell silent, as if thinking.

"We're not allowed to bring anything that could contaminate this area," he pointed.

"I'm not saying we drink it here," I said in a "duh" tone. "We can drink it in the resting area. The reception area is a good place as well. No one comes there except us anyway."

He fell silent once again. It's beginning to annoy me as my overthinking brain is trying to analyze what was wrong with what I said. But I couldn't find any.

Is it because I am acting too familiar? But he just told me a part of his dramatic life. Doesn't that make me a bit familiar with him?

"Are you even allowed to drink?"

"I'm 18."

For the third time, he fell silent.

"My schedule is fully packed for this month. I don't think I'll have time for a casual drink," he said more to himself than to me. He then turned his attention toward me. "Later, when we get down, let's exchange numbers. I'll call you when my schedule is free. Also, I'm a bit picky when it comes to food and alcohol, so I'll prepare everything myself. You just have to come."

Wow, he's really into this.