Chapter 11: Chapter 11

As before, only one room was there. So, the young man did nothing but lie in the small living room of the hut just to sleep. The couple even insisted that the girl sleep next to him especially since it wasn’t new to them but he refused so he just persevered on the bed.

It was early morning but the young man's eyes remained wide open. He couldn’t sleep; many were running through his mind one of which was to peek at the girl in her room. He couldn’t rest until his two eyes could see her face. When he arrived earlier, she was already asleep so he just didn't peek at it. Mars decided to get up and go to her room. He just needs a single peek at Lavender's face and after that he can finally be at peace. He just wanted to know if anything had changed in its appearance. He has not seen it for several months.

He carefully turned the door open in order to avoid making a noise. There the young man saw the sleeping girl. As usual, her face is still very innocent, the skin is still very beautiful and very smooth. He sat on the floor and stared intently at every angle of her face. He won’t be tired of looking at it. Either way nothing has changed here, maybe it's just her hair has become a bit curly.  Apart from that, her nose was still sharp and her lips were still red, the lips he claimed before was right inside this room.

Mars wasn’t satisfied with just staring. Gradually, he touched her smooth hair, radish-like skin and sharp nose. The girl's cheek also didn’t escape his rebellious hands and it seemed soft. He felt it in closeness. He touched it once and he will do everything just to touch it again. He was still not satisfied. He touched her hand to her soft lips, and shit, it was delicious to kiss. He can almost imagine kissing it again. He quickly withdrew his hand as it moved and turned away from him. He hurried out of the room and returned to lying down. It was enough for him to peek and touch the girl for a while. He was glad that she came back and they met at an unexpected time.  Now he sees a glimmer of hope to say everything to her. Now a light was forming in his heart.

The next morning, he woke up at noon. The first thing he thought of was to peek at the girl in the room but she was no longer there. According to Manang Tess, she left early and wasn’t told where she went. He felt sad again. When he would have been ready to tell her everything, then she still left.

After eating, Mars decided to go to the plantation. At four o'clock they talked with Mr. Imperial to meet so his remaining time was free.

When he got there, the fresh breeze greeted him; fragrant flowers and a quiet place were the first to burn his longing feelings. But that was not the young man's surprise. Lavender was  among the flowers, she was bent over and it was as if something was being picked up on the ground. He slowly walked closer to it until she noticed his presence. She turned her attention to him but immediately withdrew and returned her attention to picking flowers.

“You know, I don't pick those flowers anymore."

He didn’t want to say that but just came out of his mouth. It stopped her from what she was doing. She put down the flower and sat down. He approached her and stepped aside. He stared at her but she ignored him.

“Lav, can we talk?” She didn’t turn to him and just continued playing with the flower stalk. “I know you're still not okay with me until now. I can't blame you, but I hope you listen to what I will tell you. Even just now. I just want you to listen. After that, you can leave me. Now please listen to what I have to say.” He unhappily said. “That night we broke up, Lav. Did you know I was really hurt? I couldn't stop you from leaving, I couldn't fight for you. I couldn't even say your name because I was scared. I was afraid that if I did that, I would forever lose you but I regret that. That's when I realized that I really love you. That's when I realized that I would have fought for you. We wouldn’t have gotten into this situation today.” He sighed and looked sadly out of nowhere. "The truth is that Alexa threatened me. She warned me that if I went with you, she would kill you. The day you found out Alexa and I were engaged was not true because that was the day of her Mommy's death anniversary. So I brought flowers that day because it was for Alexa's Mommy. Trust me, Lavender. You never know how much I want to call and approach you during those times.” The young man paused. Their eyes met.  Mars took the girl's hand and placed it on her chest. "I love you for a long time, Lavender. Since we were in elementary until now, you are the only woman I loved. I felt the true meaning of love for you. Love that even if it hurts, you can still cope because you love."

"But how do you---” She stated, confused.

“I didn’t tell you before that I love you because I’m afraid that the day will come when you will leave me. I’m afraid that you may run away. I’m used to you always being by my side, teasing me. And I’m afraid that you might get bored. So the day you wanted to give me a potion, I had a way to get closer to you unknowingly. The truth is I didn’t drink the potion you mixed with coffee, in fact I saw you on CCTV while you put something in the coffee you brought me. In other words, I pretended to be under the influence of your potion to be with you for longer.” The girl sobbed when she heard that. She didn’t know that that was what happened because she thought the young man hated her.

“I thought you hated me, Mars. I thought you loathed me so much that you didn't talk to me. Did you know I was really guilty of what I did?”

“Lavender, I can never hate you. Yes, you’re annoying at some times, you always warm my head. But without those, my life would be incomplete. Without you, I feel my life is boring. So when you leave for Japan, I repent so much. I couldn't even hug you.”

“Mars, I didn't know that's how you feel.”

"Yes, Lavender, you don’t know and you still don’t know much. One of these is these kisses.” The young man kissed her on the forehead, cheeks, eyes, nose and on her lips. “That night we were in Baguio, I whispered something to you."

Lavender's eyes spoke as if she wanted it to know.

“I whispered that I love you dearly, but now I don't want to whisper that again." The young man suddenly stood up and shouted loudly. “Lavender, I love you!”

That echoed in the vast plantation. The girl cried at what she heard. Mars quickly carried Lavender and locked it in his arms.

“Lav, sorry." A worshipful look he hurled at her.

“I’m sorry, too.” The girl pinched the young man's nose. He laid her down on the flower, their faces close to each other.

“Now, Lavender Guevarra, soon to be Lavender Santillan, stands up for my eight months of longing for you.” The girl stared at him before she kissed him.

“I love you.” She seductively demeanor him.

“I love you too, my sunshine. Your love is the sweetest side effect of that magic I never had.” He smiled and kissed her passionately.. He slowly took off her body covering. There they both felt something that couldn’t be matched by any potion - and that was love.

Their love for each other is stronger than any magic. . .