Funny how I accepted her offer where I myself came to Island Elysian after years. I can obviously say that I remember some places that I used to go to and I'm sure that those places haven't changed much or at least that's what I hope for, since the authorities don't take notice of this Island twice or even once by mistake. It is a neglected Island surely for them. Now, the problem, what I might come across, is I accepted the offer without even giving it a second thought because that I know if I gave it a second thought, it would've been difficult for me to confirm to her that it is possible for me to be her guide and explore Elysian with her. I should probably take her to the Entice Garden which might be the most beautiful garden I've ever found. If I try to envision the way to the garden, I think I remember it clearly or almost clearly. It's fixed then, that I'll take her to the Entice Garden today as I, personally, also want to visit that place after a long time.
"How long can you stay with me?" I asked her when she finished her last sip from the strawberry milk tea. I don't know if she liked this drink or not. As she is a tourist, I would suggest their signature drink more than the strawberry milk tea. It tastes too sweet sometimes.
She put the cup on the table and met my gaze and looked at me for a few seconds without speaking. There was a strange nervous feeling going inside me when those dark coffee color eyes met mine. I've always adored brown eyes but hers. Her eyes have something that is unexplainable yet gorgeous which is mysterious yet beautiful.
"How long do you want me to stay?" she asked me after a few seconds.
"Forever." The words came out of my mouth without my permission.
What have I just said?
I slightly cover my face with my hand and start thinking of how to die right now. That's what happens when you are so drawn into the eyes that you don't even rethink about the sentence you're about to let out of your mouth.
She frowned slightly but didn't say anything. I looked at her despite being so embarrassed and came up with another statement to cover up the first one, "I mean…You…of course… can't stay forever with me and you must have a time limitation. I'm local here and I can go home even at 3 am but the same doesn't go with you, right? So, how long can you stay?"
This time, I didn't even look at her eyes because they are dangerous and I'm not going to look at her at all as I don't want to repeat what I have just done, which I am still shocked about. I never appeared as a tubelight to any single person, or in particular to any woman but her. It was a failed experiment at first and now a human who can't control his own mouth while talking to a specific woman. I will blame everything on her and it's all her fault anyway because who told her to have these magnificent eyes that are mysterious in their own way. Not only her eyes but also she herself in a kind of property that seems camouflaged.
She listened to my sentences and stayed quiet. Oh, would you say something because the silence that you are putting me in right now is unbearable and despicable at the same time.
I looked outside the window, at the sky or the view which was not interesting but seemed to be interesting to hide the inconvenient situation I got myself into.
She let a low slight laugh out that was almost unheard of if my attention was not on her. She said, "I don't have any detailed time limitation about my return to the log cabin but it would be great if it is not too late at night."
"Oh, sure that I will return you to your place before it's too late. At night. So are you ready to go?" I almost choked my breath as I replied to her within seconds before she finished her statement.
"Ready? That's why I came here. To explore.", she said. The corner of her mouth slightly had a distorted shape, and she looked down.
It really made me sound stupid because it certainly is the reason otherwise why would she be on the Island in the first place? If I go on being this dumb in front of her, then soon the vast enemy of mine that I'll ever have, will be none but me.
"Yeah. You're correct.", I nodded a little and looked at the exit door after returning my glance back to her.
We both took our stuff and were about to head to the way which I was leading. I paid for my order and tried to be a gentleman paying her check also but she refused and said, "I am here to spend. You really don't need to."
A man should pay whether it's a first meeting or a date because that's what a real man does, not only a gentleman. Moreover, it's indeed odd for me to find a girl who is not applying the girl's math which Mac told me before going to Germany. I would've assumed that he was conveying me the wrong message but I saw most of my friends' girlfriends doing the 'Girl's Math' theory.
Whatever. Girls are such an incomprehensible vital force that will make time to ask for more time, before jumping into their topics. It would be better for me to think less about their ways in situations.
I followed her on the way to the exit and then stood outside of the bakery thinking about the place we're about to go. Entice Garden it is but the way is between the mountains and if we walk to the garden then it might take 20 minutes.
"Will there be trouble for you if we walk to the place I'm taking you?" I should assure whether it's more than bearable for her.
"To answer that, I need to know how far?", she asked. A rational question though the answer might be veiled but depends on the way I perhaps acknowledged through my past experiences.
"About 20 minutes. How long is your capacity?" I replied to her.
"20 minutes. That's okay with me." but she didn't tell me her limitations.
"Alright then. Let's move on." I started to lead the way.
It's been 30 minutes since I had talked about reaching in 20 minutes. I partially doubt my own thinking ability but more than that, I'm sure that the way I'm leading is mostly right. "Where are you taking me, Sweven?", she didn't look at me while asking. All of her focus was drawn to the path which I suppose must be new to her. She is looking at the oak trees and bushes. The bridge we are walking on is made of stone bricks. It looks ancient since the bridge is too old and for construction, it depends on the authorities.
"That…you will know soon.", I don't want her to know about the garden. It would be great if she sees it with her own eyes rather than creating an image after my description then seeing it.
"And how soon will it be?", this time she looked at me.
I made eye contact with her, "If something happens then I am blameworthy for it. That's it for you to know." I again started leading the way while she, after a few seconds of progressing my words, followed me.
What I can see is all trees and trees and why not as we are going through the road which is between the forest. Taking a ride would've been better though it's too late to feel remorse for it. The place is enthralling with its own beauty that if our Island was a tourist spot then it would've been famous owing to the glorious garden we have. It once was famous for its particular excellence but who would know that fame would not last forever. Only if the authorities were devoted to the Island and were conscious about the security then that incident might not happen. Who's going to tell them that it's their fault of why we, the residents, are getting lack of supplies and chances to improve our lifestyle? I might get to go to Germany and a higher level education but that's not the same for everyone. Their one mistake can be unseen but the one mistake is making hundreds of people go through something they don't deserve.
"Sweven", she called me, "Where are you going? The sunset is taking its place but the place we were about to be has not been seen yet."
I fixed my concentration on her and she is not wrong. I think there is some problem which was veiled but now is being unveiled.
"Well, Riley. I think I see a complicated matter.", I looked at her.
She is stunned, "Oh, do you? After walking for hours?"
Yes, I do, and I hate it that I know I do. I looked away to avoid eye contact, but I noticed a floral shop. A Floral Shop.
"The matter", I looked at her, "which I found complicated is that I don't bite."
She is confused, "What?", with a little frown on her frons which was almost unseen due to her hair.
"You are irking me enough. Now follow me." to let the truth be known, she wasn't irking me but her questions were. There are always points in her questions which can't be answered. I went to the floral shop and before going inside I looked at her, "You stay here. I go inside."
She gave me an eye roll, "And now you're leaving me alone? How generous of you!" I shook my head in disbelief and went inside the floral shop.
"How can I help you?", a young lady asked me. I looked around the place and there were fresh flowers. Flowers that were newly arrived. A small floral shop which is decorated nicely with only a dark shade of coral pink.
"I'm looking for a location. It would be very kind of you if you help me.", I looked at her.
"And what is the location you are asking about?" She tried to make eye contact but then looked at the flowers.
I found that a bit odd but that's nothing to make me concerned about. What I should be anxious about is the way and the way only.
"I would like to know about the way to the Entice Garden. It would be great if you could tell me the direction." , I said with a polite voice.
"Are you that new tourist? I heard it was a girl. I never knew it was a fine looking boy.", she looked at me from head to toe with enthusiasm.
"I think you clearly-"
"No wonder why I was thinking that a man like you was never seen on this Island before. Sure I would let you know about the direction. If you would like then I would even lead the way." , she said without letting me explain it.
She told me the directions and said that it would take only 5 minutes to walk from here. I hope that it's only 5 minutes.
"Thank you for the help. It was indeed very benign of you." I replied to her.
She came with a few roses and smiled, "Take this with you. It's from me. We can also meet again if you want to. I will help you to visit the Island."
I don't think I should take the credit of being the tourist where the real tourist is waiting outside for me. She was going to give me her number but I stopped her. "I think you've mistaken me. I am not a tourist.", I told her softly. She was puzzled for a minute, "then, why do you not know the way?"
I took a sigh, "Because I came to this Island after a long time. I was in another country for education. Now I forgot the way and almost got lost. But found it due to you. Thank you." I ran outside after giving a smile lest she should insist on giving me her number.
Riley looked at me and was puzzled also, "What took you so long?"
I tried to say something but a voice came from the shop, "It was nice knowing you. Please come again to our place. " She looked at the floral shop and then me.
"Let's start moving." I, without any more delay, took her to the Entice Garden.
It indeed took us 5 minutes to reach there.
"So this is the place you were taking me to?", she asked me as we entered the garden. It looks just like those gardens which were only explained in the fairytales.
"Yes. The Entice Garden. The heart of beauty which I call it." This garden is the largest garden on the island Elysian. Every floral shop is connected with this garden for why their knowledge about the path is more trustworthy than my memory about the path. I have a separate fondness for this place. The endless rows of flowers are looking beautiful and the golden light of the sky due to the sunset is letting them portray their beauty more majestically.
"This place is truly breathtaking.", Riley said looking at the sky. The sunset and the garden is looking golden just like a painting in which we are living. The large field is only filled with flowers and us. The caretaker might be inside the cottage which is at the end of the rows as the visiting hour might be closed. The cottage can barely be seen from here since this side of the mountain is only covered by the flowers. Despite all the appealing view, I looked at her, into the eyes.
There is a strange pain and I can't identify what it is which is so concealed to fathom. I want to be enlightened about her not because of her beauty but for the way she is making me feel. An unexpected melancholy which I never found before. I love to stay lively and zestful which is also in my personality. A life that can't be gotten more than once should be used fully. That's not something selfish if you use it for yourself because everyone has gotten a life. Everyone has freedom and can make their way out of it to make it memorable. Melancholy is supposed to be the least thing to be wanted.
"Riley" I drew her attention "what is it that has occupied your mind?"
She looked at me and I realized I was looking at her the whole time without her along with me realizing I was looking.
"The sunset is over, Sweven, though it was beautiful." she replied.
I looked at the sky and she's right. The golden rays start to fade slowly after the sunset is at an end. I looked at her again but there were no words that I could say to her. "What is it that has occupied your mind, Sweven?", she asked me.
"Why are you not excited or carefree?" I didn't beat around the bushes. I wanted to know about her and everything that's connected to her. I helped many people acknowledge the happy side of life that people most of the time avoid to notice. But it looks like this time, she is convincing me to come across the dejected side, an woebegoneness which we have in our life though we try to evade or replace it with amusement, it is still there.
"Define your question.", she asked me.
"Everyone has free will and using that, everyone can enjoy the happiness we get in our life.", I tried to make sense but why does it look like an idiotic sentence?
"What are you trying to imply?" she asked me.
"I am talking about freedom, Riley. You have it in your own way but there still is a shadow of sadness which is hidden.", I think I made a point this time.
"What type of freedom are you talking about, Sweven?" she asked me. What sort of question is that even?
"Freedom. Where you can be yourself. A time where you can't be led by anyone but you. Where you are creating your own future and where you are making your own life. That's what I mean by freedom. Where you are no longer caged.", I hope my reply to her question is enough to define the freedom she asked for.
"Sometimes, you feel caged although the freedom which you defined has been earned long ago.", she didn't break eye contact, not even for once. I wasn't expecting that reply from her.
"It's all about perspective. The positivity and negativity is all about the way you look at it. If you acknowledge the bright side of your life and enjoy it, there will not be any harm, rather you will make an unforgettable moment.", I replied to her reply.
"Looking at only the magnificent rose will not make the thorns an illusion. If everyone had been the same then none would've had any scar from the thorns." she looked genuine while saying this.
"What are you trying to imply?", I asked her.
She took a few seconds and replied, "You will acknowledge the only bright and carefree side of life doesn't mean that there is no unfavorable side of life. The more you try to ignore it, the more it will be seen. Your perception won't change the fact that there is a side you need to face which is horrendous."
She is strangely right.
Strangely bitter but honest.
A cold breeze blew away and gave me a slight shiver. Her eyes, her way of talking along with her perception…It would be either I might change her or she might change me.