Elijah paced around the floral design room. He pressed his phone against his ear and listens to the shuffles from the other side of the call. He’s worried, to say the least, and have accumulated enough amount of regret to set aside his reluctance. He delayed the inevitable and from the lack of a text message, it seems his ex-wife hasn’t known about Christian either.

“Elijah?” He whooped, quietly. Elijah simply sat down on the stool he’s been eyeing and massaged his forehead, pessimistic at the situation he’s about to tell his ex-wife. “What’s wrong? You rarely call me.” And he never does.

Text was fine and all but he’d rather have Lisa initiate the phone call. He has reasons, which are sadly vague and irrational. So, for now, he lets go of the comment and focus on the issue.

“Our Matteo finally found a friend,” Elijah announced, anticipating for the cheer he usually hears whenever the news breaks out. His ex-wife has always been enthusiastic, hopeful - pining at the reality that could never be. However, silence was all he could listen to from the other side.

Lisa just stuttered. “O-oh, that’s nice… I’m sure Matteo would like a friend,” she added, “and perfect timing too. The two would enjoy spending time at the beach.”

Elijah frowns at the hesitation clear from her tone. She did try to sound happy but he knew more that the reaction she displayed was a façade worth pointing out.

“You don’t sound happy,” he said to his ex-wife and noticed the sigh she had let out.

“I’m trying to be happy,” she explained, “but it’s tiring to be constantly happy for a moment you’d know the ending to. It’s a depressing cycle, Eli, and I’m not so sure if I’m willing to wear a mask for my baby.”

“I feel the same too,” Elijah expressed his concern and massaged his forehead, easing out the throb of an upcoming headache. He has an event to go to but all he could think of was the never-ending disappointment Matteo always felt whenever his friend leaves him for someone else. Or leaves to be alone instead.

“Make sure he eats ice cream before coming home,” Elijah tells her, “I’m planning on having him stay late in the night just to watch that movie he’s been talking about.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll probably stop by his favorite sweet shop and buy him a bag of chocolate,” she reassures him.

“I’ll schedule the dentist appointment ahead then before he’ll start complaining about his teeth.”

“Then, I’ll have to remind him to brush his teeth and floss them daily. I’ll probably have to do something to make sure he limits his sugar intake too.”

“But, no matter what, we’re both worried that he’s going to rely on food when it comes to rejection,” Elijah admits, for the both of them.

His ex-wife intervenes, “It’s an issue we’ll have to inevitably face.”

Elijah hears the sound of the curtain pulls to the side and looks at the person entering the floral design room. It was Iris who was carrying the bouquet he had made earlier. The red roses have their thorns cut off and was wrapped with a red ribbon since the client didn’t want a plastic wrapper.

Iris points at the bouquet then to the clock hanging on the wall. She mouthed the name written under the order too.

“I gotta go,” Elijah said to his ex-wife, “going to deliver a bouquet since the customer couldn’t come to the shop.”

“Oh.” Elijah listens to the disappointment from her tone. “Well, it was nice talking to you, Eli. I’m glad you gave me the heads up but I think it’d have been nice if you have told me earlier you know, like last night or this morning. Why now?”

Yes, why now. Elijah can’t say the truth, unfortunately. His ex-wife would’ve been crushed at his reluctance to face her, even with a simple text towards the subject. Besides, despite his insistence with the texting, she’ll call – she always will. She always preferred to talk rather type her words on the screen and Elijah gives in to her request.

It was the first time, in post-annulment, that Elijah to initiate the call.

“I got busy and Matteo can’t stop talking about Christian,” Elijah explained, mixing in the truth with the lie. “Even though they had only become friends since yesterday.”

She chuckled and Elijah quirks at the soft sound of her voice. He yearns for more and he pressed his phone closer to his face, trying to ward off any noise to disrupt such melody.

Elijah missed her and he hates that he does. The pain his heart had to carry and the burden from coming out of the battle, defeated – all of it has yet to dissipate entirely, maybe they never will. The wounds were still fresh, new.

Iris cleared her throat, loudly. Disrupting his attention from his ex-wife and into the order of a client he has to meet somewhere. Iris raised the bouquet over her head and jumps, the roses almost reach the clock above her and Elijah sighs at unfinished business.

“I-uh, I have to end the call now, Lisa,” Elijah tells his ex-wife and stood up from his chair. He began to make his way to the break room and took his bag from the coat rack.

“Oh, well, bye E – “

Elijah ended the call before Lisa could and placed his phone inside his bag.

“Geez, boss, I’m sure Lisa’s hurt from the cut,” Iris intervenes and hands him the bouquet.

“I know, and I hate that I did it,” Elijah admits and ignore his heart clenched at the moment. His mind was plagued at the scenario, echoing the sounds of his ex-wife saying his name but ends it with a whisper.

The two exited the floral design room and waves to Oak who stood on the counter. “Good luck, you guys!” Oak exclaimed.

“Next time, it’s going to be you, Oakey,” Iris tells Oak who gulps, loudly, and was tensed at her words. Elijah does have Iris accompany him with most of his meet-ups and external consultation but Oak needs to garner exposure of work-related activities outside the shop. Elijah was ready to hand out the flashcards for Oak to memorize.

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