Ch-5: 45 million roses

The morning had been beautiful.

The calm and serene atmosphere of the garden was soothing and the gardener felt at ease.

The big man had left for a few days for a business trip.

That meant no more extravagant bouquets.

For now.

Her mind was still going around the date.

"Need any help?" asked the flower seller, suddenly appearing behind her.

He did not have much work to do for now.

He did create a few to place in the manor, for the big man mandated that one should always be there, whether he was at home or not.

But that didn't tie his hands too much.

The two had came to speaking terms now.

She responded to him actively.

"Oh, yes. If you want." she said as she handed him the hose with which she was watering the flowers.

"So, how is it going nowadays?" she asked awkwardly.

"Nothing much. I don't have to make very large bouquets for now. So things are a little easy, I would say"

She nodded as she sat down on a stool, looking at the flower seller as he sprayed the water around the garden.

He actually looked as if he thoroughly enjoyed it.

That made her a little embarrassed.

She clearly had the wrong impression about him all these years.

"Do you have any plans?" she asked suddenly.

"Huh?" he said, he hadn't heard her quite well.

"I asked if you have any plans." she repeated.

"No. Not for now." he said immediately.

Did she want to go out again?

If yes, he wasn't going to complain.

He liked spending time with her after all.

"How about we go for a ride?" she asked meekly. "If it isn't a problem." she added quickly.

"Oh, no, not at all. Sure. When?" he asked.

"How about now?" she suggested.

The flower seller nodded and closed the tap. Setting aside the hose, he came back, wiping his hands.

"Do you want to drive?" he questioned.

"Oh no. Not me." she said shaking her head.

She didn't want to cause any accident. Something like that would be troublesome.

The two left for his shop.

He brought the bobber out and revved the engine to life.

She quickly wore the helmet he had offered and sat behind him.

This time facing his back.

Both didn't even take the time out to change.

They didn't need to.

Things had warmed up between them enough.

He started driving.

This time, she mustered to say what she wanted to earlier.

"Can you drive faster?"

"You sure?" he asked. He hadn't expected her to say that.

Sure, he could drive much faster, but he had controlled himself last time. He didn't want to scare her. Thinking she would be unwilling to ride with him again. He hadn't really taken her to be a lover for speed.

That was new information.

He liked it.

"Hold tight." he suggested.

She did.

Not the handle behind her, but his waist.

It was a delirious feeling.

He hoped she didn't put her hand on his chest, for his heart was thumping wildly.

The bobber was fast.

Wind gushed through their sides.

They hadn't really planned on where to go.

They didn't need to.

Even this much was enough.

Quickly zooming past the Beginnings cafe, she just hoped that this empty road would never end.

She didn't want anyone else besides them.

It was all strange but felt just right.

Until a few days ago, she wouldn't even speak to him properly.

But now, things were different.

She wanted to spend time with him.

Get to know him better.

He kept driving until they reached a sign which read, 'Nearest city straight ahead. 2 kilometres.'

"Do you want to go?" he asked her.

She thought about it for a while.

They had already travelled for over an hour. They really didn't have the liberty to just continue for today. Even if the big man wasn't there in the manor. They still needed to be back on their jobs.

"Let's just head back." she said sighing.

The ride back made her feel frustrated, she didn't want to return. She wanted to go further with him. She wanted to explore. She buried the side of her face in his back.

She heard the loud thumps of his heart.

Was she imagining it?

Perhaps it was due to the thrill of the ride?

Or maybe because he was so tall that his heart naturally beat that loud.

She stopped guessing, she just stayed like that. Listening in to the continuous rhythm. Not knowing any better that she was the cause of it.

The two reached the manor after about an hour.

"Well, thank you." she said.

"No worries. I liked it as well. We can go whenever you like." he suggested as he parked his motorcycle.

Whenever?

So he would always make time for her?

She gazed into his eyes.

The sharp hunter eyes were busy making sure that the cloth covered the entire bike.

She had slowly came to fall in love with them.

She didn't realized it just yet though.

"Oh here you are. Here, a telegram. From the big man." said the security guard suddenly appearing behind the two.

He handed the flower seller the telegram and left.

The flower seller raised an eyebrow as he read the short message.

'Grander bouquet. By tomorrow.'.

"I would need 45 million roses." he said quietly looking at the gardener.

'45 million?' she thought.

That was too much.

These numbers were just becoming bigger and bigger.

"Can I have 45 million roses, please?" he repeated.

She nodded absent-mindedly.

It was his job after all.

She couldn't blame him for it. Or give him a hard time. Especially since she now knew that he took no pleasure in cutting those roses.

It was still difficult for her, as he left to collect them. It still made her heart ache.

Can't the big man not want a bouquet for once?

Why was his obsession for them so incessant?

Would it ever end?

She didn't know. It wasn't her job to know that.

For she was only a gardener.