I could only frown before finally giving in and going with Maxson. I knew he wouldn’t stop pestering me until I agreed. Besides, I didn’t have anything else to do at the hotel we were staying in anyway.
"So, what do you think?" he asked with a grin.
"About what?" I raised an eyebrow.
He sighed, smirked, and then grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the flower stalls. But that wasn’t what bothered me—it was…
I glanced down at his hand holding mine and felt my face heat up.
W-Why is he holding my hand?!
I tried to pull away, but he just tugged me closer, pretending to be completely absorbed in the flowers as if he didn’t even realize what he was doing.
"What do you like?" he asked, looking at me.
I blinked, not realizing I’d been staring at him. My thoughts were—
"Me?" He grinned and leaned in. Startled, I cupped his face and pushed him away.
"I told you, I'm off-limits." I pulled my hand back and looked away.
He just laughed and rubbed his cheek.
"You said that, but I never agreed."
"My decision doesn’t depend on you, so you have no choice." I grumbled and picked up a blue flower.
"So you like this color." Maxson paid for it before I could stop him. Then he pulled me toward a performance area where dancers adorned with flowers twirled gracefully, scattering petals over the audience. Everyone was smiling, thoroughly entertained.
I didn’t even realize I was smiling too.
When I turned, I caught Maxson staring at me—as if mesmerized.
"What?"
"You look even prettier when you smile like that."
I fell silent and looked away.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
I glanced over and saw Lieutenant Ren, Eisha, Leigh, and Zeid watching the performance. Lieutenant Ren had been the one clearing his throat. He looked at me, feigning surprise even though I knew he’d already noticed us.
"Oh! You’re here too! Watching the show?"
"No, maybe they’re here to listen, Ren," Eisha teased before elbowing him. "We’ll go ahead! Just buying something—Captain Zeid, stay here!" She then dragged Lieutenant Leigh and Ren away, the latter winking at Zeid before disappearing.
Zeid didn’t respond, just kept watching the crowd. Now, the three of us were left standing awkwardly between the performers and the audience.
"S-So, how’s your wife, Captain Chen?" I asked, trying to ease the tension.
His brows furrowed as he looked at me.
"Who?"
"Huh?" Was he asking which one—the first or the second? "How’s your second w—"
"I only have one wife."
Right! Wait, I never said he had two!
"That’s not what I meant, Captain Chen. I know you only have one wife. I meant… how is she? The woman you married recently—or whenever that was. We couldn’t attend because Maxson and I had already left."
"Ah. You mean her."
"Yes, her."
"Aina."
I frowned. Right, that was her name. Wait, had I forgotten? Or did I never actually know?
"Who told you the wedding went through?"
"Huh? It didn’t?" I blinked, staring at him. His expression turned even more serious—if that was possible. Ugh. His face is so hard to read. For a second, I wondered if he was constipated or something. Hahaha! Just kidding.
"Tsk." That was all he said.
So, no. Got it.
I didn’t know why, but something in my chest loosened. I looked away. From the corner of my eye, I saw Maxson’s expression darken.
What’s wrong with these people?
The performance ended with all of us wearing unreadable expressions. I almost felt bad for the dancers—they gave their best, and here we were, looking like we hated it.
We started walking away. Zeid was about to leave, but I stopped him.
"Just come with us, Captain Chen. The lieutenants aren’t back yet anyway."
I couldn’t decipher his expression when he turned to look at me.
"Why would you invite him to our date?" Maxson asked.
"Huh? Who said this was a date? Ugh, Maxson. Don’t lump me in with your women. Come on, Captain Chen. Let’s wander around, the three of us."
I dragged them both toward the stalls, ignoring the sharp looks they exchanged. Maybe this would help them make up—whatever their issue was.
We explored the festival, playing games and winning prizes. In the end, we had way too many stuffed toys.
"Should we just give these to the kids?" I suggested. Most of them were plushies anyway. The only useful things were the moon pendant necklace Zeid won, Maxson’s bracelet, and my thick black scarf—perfect for winter.
"Sounds fair." They answered in unison before glancing at each other and looking away.
Like children.
We handed out the toys to the kids playing outside before continuing our stroll. Eventually, we got hungry and stopped at a flower-themed restaurant.
Please don’t let the food actually be flowers.
"Pfft. Don’t tell me the food is made of flowers?" Maxson joked loudly, earning a stomp on his foot. He yelped and covered his mouth.
"S-sorry."
Zeid just shook his head and sat down first. I took the seat across from him while Maxson sat beside me. Zeid picked up the menu, and we followed suit.
Then we all froze.
"I-It’s actually flowers—BWAHAHAHA!" Maxson burst out laughing, so I stomped on his foot again. "O-oww! Sorry! What’s with this place? Why flowers?!"
"It’s just the names," Zeid flipped to another page, showing pictures of actual food. The dishes just had flower-themed names.
"Oohh." Maxson nodded.
"Well?" I called the waitress and placed our orders. The two of them exchanged glances again, as if sparks were flying between them—not the romantic kind.
We made small talk while waiting for our food. Zeid wasn’t much of a conversationalist, sticking to one-word answers. Annoying, but I’m used to it. Thankfully, Maxson had plenty to say.
"Why didn’t the wedding push through? If you don’t mind me asking."
Our food arrived, and the waitress left.
Zeid looked at me before taking a sip of his drink.
"What do you think?"
"I don’t know. You like her, right?" I took a bite.
"You bet." Maxson dug in too.
"Yes." Zeid said. "But not romantically. I like her because there’s no reason to hate her."
Ah. Right.
If I were still living my old life, maybe his words would’ve stung. Maybe I would’ve wished to be that woman—someone he at least liked, even if not romantically.
"Fair enough. So what was the reason?"
He stared at me for a long moment before I looked away and kept eating. "Mm, you don’t have to answer. It’s fine."
He ate in silence while Maxson and I kept talking. After paying—I paid, by the way—despite Maxson’s protests and Zeid’s obvious disapproval, we stepped outside.
"It’s getting late. Should we head back? Or—what are your plans?" I adjusted my scarf.
"I’ll have to go the other way, Nyssa. I have to stop by the advertising office." Maxson glanced at Zeid. "Make sure she gets back safely. Even though I really don’t want you to go with her. Tsk."
I elbowed him. His tone was weird.
"Sorry about him, Captain Chen. He’s been neglected too long—his screws are loose." I shoved Maxson away. "Hurry. If it’s important, go before they close."
He left, leaving just Zeid and me staring after him. I looked up at Zeid.
"If you’re heading to the station, Captain Chen, you don’t have to escort me. I’m just in the next district."
"I’m going home." He started walking but paused when he realized I wasn’t following. "Let’s go home."
Let’s go home.
My face burned as I looked away.
"Then, we can walk back to the other district together." I caught up to him.
The walk was awkward, with neither of us speaking. "You really don’t have to escort me. I can take care of myself."
He didn’t answer, lost in thought until we reached the district border. At the corner where our paths diverged, we stopped.
"This is far enough. Thanks for your time, Captain Chen." I smiled and bowed slightly in respect.
But when I looked up, he was suddenly too close.
"Why didn’t I notice before?"
I stared at him, confused.
"Captain Chen?"
"You..." He leaned in further, tilting his head slightly to meet my eyes. I stepped back.
"W-What is it, Captain Chen?"
He held my gaze for a long moment before straightening.
"It’s nothing."
Then he turned and walked away.
I stood there, watching his retreating figure, my heart pounding violently.
I pressed a hand to my chest and bit my lip.
"Mira—no, Nyssa, get a grip!"