Bab 5: Five
The flower shop is closed on a Sunday morning for cleaning and maintenance. It is also the only day that Gaia can go out and have fun. She picked up her purse and bid her parents farewell, telling them that she will be back before sundown.
She stopped by the bookstore and went inside. There were not many people in the store like during weekdays. She went to an aisle that has books about plants and flowers until she came across a book that was out of the ordinary. She took the book out from the shelf and read the title, "The Flower Smeraldo".
"How can a novel be placed on a shelf that is filled with books about gardening?" Gaia thought. She opened the book and started reading the first few pages of the book. She realized she got immersed in the story. The main character is also a florist. She grew curious and she decided to add the book to the basket as she looked for other books about gardening and planting. She went from one shelf to another while she picks the books that she wanted to read. She went to the counter and paid for the books that she picked.
Gaia saw familiar-looking figure walked past by her when she stepped out of the store. He was wearing a white shirt and jeans with a girl with long wavy beach hair wearing a baby blue blouse, jean shorts, and a cardigan clinging into his arms
"That's Harry!" she thought. Gaia didn't understand why her feet suddenly moved as she followed them behind from one block to another until they arrived at a fancy restaurant. Luckily, a cafe was beside it. Gaia thought it would be a good excuse if in case Harry notices. Gaia went to the cafe and ordered her favorite pastry, cheesecake.
"Would you eat it here or to go?" the cashier asked.
"No, I'll eat it here. Thank you," Gaia said.
"How about a beverage?"
"Creamy latté, please."
She sat down beside the window and took out the novel from her bag. She started reading the novels while she waited for her order. It was about a florist who discovered the Smeraldo flower in Northern Italy. The florist told about a legend that an illegitimate son of the duke planted the Smeraldo flower for the girl who steals flowers from his garden and sell them for a living. He fell in love with the girl and decided to make a flower that is out of this world for the girl to sell it for a higher price. This was his way to show his feelings for her because of his grotesque appearance. He waited for days and months but the girl never returned. The man went to the city and found out that the girl died from sickness. Heartbroken, he went back to his tower and locked himself there for the rest of his life.
She was completely taken by the story until she grew curious about this flower. Gaia never heard of the flower before and she wanted to know more about it. She pulled out her phone and searched for it. She was amazed by its beauty. It has a crystal blue flower with a hint of purple. Sadly, it was only fictitious. She would love to have it in her store if it was real.
Gaia's order finally arrived and took a bit of the cake using her fork. The cream cheese melted in her mouth with a hint of the graham crackers made a crunchy texture. The glazed strawberry on top gives a sweet and sour taste that is just right.
"Gaia!" Harry said. Gaia went in his direction.
"Hi!" she greeted.
Suddenly, a girl that has a face like a doll came up to Harry and clung on to his left arm.
"Who is she?" the girl said.
"This is Gaia," Harry replied. "She owns the flower shop where I bought the flowers for you."
"Really?" she asked. Harry nodded. "I'm Cleo. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Gaia said.
Gaia's mind was filled with questions before on what he found in her. Seeing her right now finally gave her an answer. Cleo is beautiful like a model on the cover of a magazine and, possibly, has a great personality. It aches Gaia's heart to see them together. She continued to eat the cake, pretending that she is not hearing anything.
"Is there anything that you like?" Harry asked.
"I'll take the chocolate cake," Cleo said.
"Okay. You stay here with Gaia. I'll be back," Harry left Cleo and went to the counter and started ordering. Cleo sat down in front of Gaia as she continues to eat the cheesecake. Gaia noticed that Cleo is giving her a death glare.
"Stay away from him," Cleo said.
Gaia choked on what she just heard. She stopped eating and sat back right up.
"Pardon?" Gaia asked as she raised her right brow.
"Didn't you hear? I told you to stay away from my boyfriend," Cleo added.
Gaia grabbed the napkin beside the plate and wiped her lips. She looked back at Cleo with a glare. Oh, how much she wanted to slap her face!
"Cleo," Gaia said. "I have no intention of stealing Harry from you. What we have is pure business."
"I know your look," Cleo stared at her like a sharp knife that is about to pierce Gaia's heart. "You like him too. Sadly, he's not yours. He's handsome and a son of one of the prominent families here in South Korea. Also, he's a fool. Too foolish enough to make me his girlfriend. I agreed to date him because he can give me anything I want and I can give him sex. Now, I ask you, Gaia, what can you give him?"
Cleo's remarks angered Gaia. She wanted to throw the latté at her face but she thought of what Harry will think when she does it. She will never see or talk to him again.
"I gave him the key to happiness that he wanted," Gaia answered calmly. "And that is you. You should thank me for that. If it weren't for the flowers he bought from my shop that day, you wouldn't be able to dig into his gold," Gaia smirked. This angered Cleo as she clenches her fists and ready to hit Gaia.
"Think of it as a 'win-win' situation," Gaia added. "He is happy to have you. I'm happy that my business is growing because he is my regular customer at the shop, and you're happy because you're able to get a sugar daddy for a boyfriend."
Cleo was annoyed. She wanted to hit her. Gaia smiled and stood up from her seat so she can leave. Harry arrived and stopped Gaia from leaving.
"Wait, Gaia," Harry said.
"Please take this," he stretched his hand towards Gaia and gave her a box of cupcakes. "Thank you for everything. I will continue coming back into the shop more often."
Gaia accepted the box of cupcakes and looked at Cleo. She glanced at Cleo to see her reaction. She found Cleo watching her with disgust. Gaia smirked and looked back at Harry.
"Thank you. You can come back anytime. I must be off then. Goodbye!" Gaia smiled, left the store, and went back home.
Hadiah
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Power 
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