Chapter 8: Chapter 8

The girl's tongue twitches when she hears that from the young man.

"Sorry, Mars, but can I think about it first?" She could not answer. So far she has not been able to find an answer.

"It's okay, Lav. I'm ready to wait." he gave her a pure smile. "What are you going to tell me anyway, Lav?"

"H-Huh? Just about our trip to Baguio. Thank you for including me." She captured her own mind. Fortunately, she immediately found an excuse. Coincidentally, she even ruined tonight.

After they ate, Lavender decided to go home. He took her to the mansion. She sluggishly went upstairs, everyone was asleep even her mother was asleep on the sofa. Maybe she got bored while waiting for her. She lay down on the soft bed, unable to get dressed. She was sleepless, very tired. That night was very quiet and sad for Lavender. This would have been the time for her to celebrate because she was finally offered to be the girlfriend of the man she had long wanted. But how could she celebrate if it was a lie again?

Gertrude greeted her with a peck of kiss. She will be going to spend her time in the shop for another long day. That was the first time she got tired of going in the shop, she was usually excited to go in, especially to see the man. Her friend hit her when she saw her in front of a customer.

"What's your problem?" Her friend whispered a question behind her.

"Nothing." Lavender replied quietly.

"Are you sure? Just tell me if you're tired. I can replace you in your seat first so you can rest." It insisted on her. She just nodded and continued wrapping the flowers. After that, the other staffs of the shop agreed to have lunch outside. Mars usually misses every 30 minutes of their break, but this time they haven't been able to find the man since this morning.

They chose the mall to look for a cheaper restaurant. Not only is she able to relax in life, she also has the right to spend, at least she also saves and uses it to volunteer for some charity. She is also constantly reminded by her parents to save especially when it's not easy to make money.

Gertrude sat next to them. Their group is the noisiest in that fast food chain. Lavender's sadness was relieved even a little during those times.

They were about to return to the flower shop when Lavender noticed the familiar figure behind. It caught her eye as she stared at a stall of clothes. She can't be wrong, it's Alexa. Again.

"Lavender, come on." Her friend calls her.

"All right, you go first." She said without hesitation. Her eyes were fixed on Alexa who was now talking on the cellphone.

Later, Lavender was surprised to see him arrive. That Mars was carrying a bouquet of red roses. Lavender's knees trembled at what she saw, she was blindfolded when she saw Mars move his eyes at where she was, she quickly turned away. She did not want to see what would happen next, because she might just faint. Her world collapsed as she and Alexa were probably together. Severe pain cut through his heart.

"Shit!"

She was disappointed. Has the potion disappeared? Fluid leaked from her eyes.  She can't help but cry.

Lavender couldn't be bothered by what was happening, she could not sleep well last night. When she came home, she thought of nothing but what she saw in the mall. She needs to know the truth. So now she's dressed and in a hurry to get down. Sge intends to go to Mars' house to find out why the young man didn't enter the shop for two days. She wanted to know the real reason, she could not sleep well when she did not know its real situation.

She kissed her mother. She had a lot of questions in mind and that was one day when Alexa and Mars were together at the mall.

When she arrived at the fancy mansion, the elderly lady greeted him.

"Young lady." Aunt Cynthia approached her before guiding her into the house. Uncle Joaquin was also there.

"Why did you visit, lady?" He asked her as he watched her sudden appearance in the mansion. Mars's parents were a close friend of hers so it cannot be denied that she is also treated as a child of Tita Cynthia and Tito Joaquin. This is also the reason why Mars and her were childhood colleagues.

"What's the matter, Lavender?"

"Auntie, did Mars tell you anything?" The girl asked shyly.

"Told anything?" She thought for a moment. "Yeah, he told us about your trip to Baguio. He said it was quite extraordinary raw. For two days that was his only mouthful." Aunt laughed.

"Is that so? But, Auntie, aside from that, doesn't he really have anything else to tell you?"

"Nothing aside from that." she shook her head.

"Auntie, that's why I really came here because I wanted to ask something." Aunt just listens to what she has to say next. "Mars hasn't been in the shop for three days. I also called the other branch in case they have the same answer; they said they aren't reporting there. Didn't he say where he was going?"

"Well, actually, yesterday Alexa took him home. I thought he would stay there in his condo unit even though he only comes home every weekend, but yesterday Alexa rushed in and took him. I heard they were planning on their engagement."

"E-Engagement?" She was startled. She never expected that for a reason, did she think the two were separated even before they left for Baguio?

"Yes, young lady. Mars decided to put their relationship into the next level."

"Why?" She did not know why that was asked as long as it voluntarily came out of her mouth.

"I also don't know, lady. I thought Alexa and him were separated as what he told us, but his Daddy and I were just surprised when he said that. But what choice could we have? If he would be happy then we will support him." Lavender's heart ached even more at what she heard. She was offended by the fact back and forth entering her ear. She was very hurt. But what Lavender wonders is why this happened even though the potion has not yet been removed, so basically she is still remembered by Mars and not Alexa. She needs the presence of the old man to be enlightened.

Lavender transformed into an angel again, like the first meeting she almost ran over it again. She got out of the car crying and headed to the old man.

"Grandpa, I need your help. I don't know what's really going on. Didn't you say that if the person who drank the potion just said that he loves me, then the magic will disappear? But why is that not what's happening to me?"

"Young lady, there are things in the world that are very complex to think about. Just like love. We don't know the same meaning of love because we have different experiences. But in yourself, you know your own definition of love. You are the one who will know if he really loves you or not."

"What do you mean?" She sighed.

"Love has different ways of showing. Different forms of how to express true love. In love, we don't sometimes see and hear from the person we want, but feel like we have that."

"Grandpa, I'm confused. I can't understand what you mean."

"You'll soon understand. Just wait." Then the old man disappeared all of a sudden.

Lavender was left crying. She sat on the side of the road and cried incessantly. Maybe she can't really get through everything. Mars' memory will return and will return - where he loves Alexa and not her.

She dialed the young man's number.  Fortunately, someone also picked it up right away.

"Hello." That was the fourth time but no one answered, just hung up the phone but Lavender knew someone was listening on the other line. "Mars please don't put down your phone. Listen to what I have to say first." Her suppressed sobbing could be heard on the cellphone. "Mars, I want to tell you something. Let's meet tomorrow. I don't know if you already know what I'm going to say or not, but I can't be at state until those words come from my mouth. I hope you come. No matter what happens, I will wait for you." That's all and Lavender quickly put down her cellphone and ended the call.

Tears welled up in her eyes. She's determined to put an end to all her lies and obsession for the man.