The visit was unexpected – a surprise, in short.

“It’s an emergency!” Lisa exclaimed, trying to grabbed onto Elijah’s shoulders but failed at the quick evasion from her actions. Her lips thinned at the gesture, more so at the disbelief on Elijah’s face.

Shock wasn’t an emotion he’s feeling at the moment. He couldn’t fully comprehend at the visit made unannounced and with a person he is the least excited on meeting, face to face. Elijah looks at him and Adam did the same, both of them pursuing the confrontation with forced smiles and nods.

As it ended, Elijah brought his attention back to his ex-wife. “Um, what kind of emergency?” The confusion received a huff from his ex-wife. Adam merely shrugs as a response and Elijah was left sighing, annoyed at the lack of a clear answer to the supposed problem the fated couple are dealing with.

“Not now, talk later,” she said to him, attempting yet again in laying her hands on Elijah. The disappointment was present all throughout. Her actions were slower than before and, as he dodges her touch, she immediately hides her hands behind her.

The smile she presented couldn’t hide the frustration from her failure. And the blank expression on Elijah’s face couldn’t mask his satisfaction.

“It’s getting hot,” Adam said out of the blue, loosening his ties and unbuttons the first few buttons of his dress shirt. Elijah was sure the man would’ve complained less if Adam wasn’t wearing a suit. His ex-wife began assisting Adam from undressing his blazer and rolls the sleeves of the dress shirt.

She wasn’t wearing her scrubs and is wearing a floral dress and sandals. Her wavy hair wasn’t tied in a ponytail, letting it all flow down on her back. Make-up was, as always, minimal. She’s beautiful, Elijah thought.  

Immediately, he looks away and crossed his arms across his chest. Jealousy was an emotion he rarely entertained before his marriage. In the midst of his matrimony with his ex-wife, however, had led to him planting the green he never knew he was capable of. Making their relationship official in the eyes of the law has been a challenge mocked by everyone, despite a recent implementation for non-soulmate couple to wed. Since then, Elijah has seen things he’s been ignoring.

“Let’s continue this inside,” Elijah suggested, gripping the short sleeves of shirt, and noticed that the couple nodded as a response. Their hands intertwined with one another, their string floating around them; tangling Lisa’s leg and Adam’s abdomen.

Elijah abruptly turns around, quickening his pace to the door and felt the stares from his guests.

The bell jiggled as he opens the door to his shop. He breathes out his discomfort, letting such emotion die out from the presence of his flowers. Unfortunately, the place wasn’t brimming with the customers like Elijah had thought during his commute. Yet, he wasn’t hopeless and strides to the doorframe that separated the two biggest rooms of his shop.

It’s still hours away before the shop closes, Elijah thought, and hold onto his optimism.

“Mister Ocampo?” Oak was the first to call him out. The taller man tilts his head in confusion. But his eyes suddenly widens and his postures stiffens as the group walked by him. Elijah noticed the finger his employee had aimed at the fated couple, it protrudes from the inside of his apron and the stutters Elijah had listened to almost resembles the names of the pair.

Elijah paused his walk near the counter, nodding to his employee as a greeting before uttering another, “Hello Oak. You can take a break, if you want. Just have Iris take charge in the counter for a moment. My... guests and I are going to the floral design room to talk.”

Oak shook his head and shrugs at the offer. “It’s fine, Mister Ocampo. I like it here – really, no joke. It’s nice to have a full view of the shop. Besides, Iris said her feet are hurting for a bit and might need a moment to massage her feet.” 

“I see,” Elijah simply responded. He didn’t remember Iris complaining about her feet and she’s only wearing her favorite sneakers. “Well, tell me if there’s anything you needed help with, okay?”

“Of course, sir!” Oak nodded, sounding eager despite the obvious fidgets of his fingers on his apron. His stutters were subtle but Elijah can tell at the hesitation on Oak’s speech.

“Hello, Oak,” she intervened the conversation, crowding the air with her excitement. “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it, yeah? You used to cower behind Elijah whenever there’s a customer or two and now, you’re enjoying your stay on the counter.”

Oak shrinks and looks down on the floor. He hasn’t stopped fidgeting with one side of his apron has been severely crumpled from his behavior. She tries to approach him, putting a foot forward from the other but stayed put since then. Oak hasn’t made any sort of attempt to back away but he flinched at the sound of her heel tapped on the floor.

“Tha-thank you, Miss Lisa,” Oak replied and bit his lip afterwards. He inhaled then exhaled, counting numbers under his breath and Elijah steps in to calm the man down. Elijah rubs his employee’s back, observing the closed eyes and slow breathing – a technique the man had been taught to soothe his anxiety.

“It’s okay, Oak,” Elijah whispers, “it’s okay.”

“I’m sorry for feeling this way, Mister Ocampo,” Oak said to him, “I’ll try harder.”

“And I know you will.”

“Um,” she, then, entered the conversation. She hesitant but persist, “I’m really sorry for making you comfortable, Oak. I know you have boundaries and I entered without asking you.”

“It’s okay!” Oak straightens his posture and shouted his assurance. “I’m not used to being a part of a conflict, that’s all.”

Silence. Discomfort. All of those were felt by Elijah and his guests, leaving Oak to chuckle at his answer. The employee was unaware at the atmosphere he had created for them.

The door, then, opens along with the jingle from the bell to signal someone entering the shop. Oak goes back to his place in the counter and Elijah motioned his guests to the floral design room. The curtain was pulled to the side and let his guests enter the room before him. He stayed in the main room for a couple of seconds, witnessing Oak entertaining someone with the lines he had memorized from his flashcards. There was the occasional questions Elijah hadn’t input into the cards but Oak did as best as he could with his answers.

That alone reassured Elijah in leaving Oak behind for a moment and deal with the people he wasn’t keen in being alone with. He finally enters the floral design room and gazes to the couple sitting on one side of the table as the other only has a stool for him to sit.

Elijah sighed, and went to his designated area.

“So,” he starts, watching the fated couple huddled close from each other. Their attention was on him, interested to what he’s about to say. “Obviously, I have to ask what the emergency is about.”

“We want Matteo to come with us to the beach this weekend,” she answered, holding onto Adam as she explained further. “He’s not really eager towards Adam so it’s best to have you with us.”

Elijah looks at her then to her soulmate. The man looks away, his lips thinned at the attention and slouches. Elijah’s composure didn’t falter nor did his posture. Instead, he wonders at the thoughts of Adam concerning the proposal. They have yet to formally introduced each other and were forcibly thrust in engaging in niceties to divert the dilemma.

“What about you?” Elijah asked Adam, “are you okay with this? Matteo would rather cling to me than be with you if I’m there.”

“I’ll think of a way to get his attention.” The man has its doubts and he’s trying to hide it with a smile. She was the only one convinced from the group and her eyes glints at the emotion Elijah can feel from the other side of the table.

Petty, that’s what he’s trying to evade from and yet he attempts to break through the barrier between him and them.

“And what will that be?” Elijah suggests the alternative, “I’m sure that a man like you can easily afford the best clothes and toys for him to enjoy – basically buying his trust and all. But I suggest to avoid that route.”

“I understand,” Adam replies then nodded. The man looks determined, the tone of his voice indicated the same as well. Elijah’s intentions were never innocent but never to an extent to being malicious, and the reaction he expected wasn’t the one Adam had shown.

He gulps, tasting the bitterness of his failure. It was his fault for being petty. Nevertheless, Matteo will be treated better.

“I’m glad you’re helping us, Eli,” his ex-wife expresses her gratitude. “I can’t wait for the four of us to go to the beach. It’s been a long time since we went there, Eli!”

Together, Elijah point outs. It’s been a long time since him and his ex-wife have been to the beach together. Lisa had travelled to better beaches and resorts with Adam on her side. The most luxurious experience that Elijah had shared with her was when a new resort has its soft opening and had offered a large discount for their first fifty customers.

“And what makes you think I accept the invitation,” Elijah retorts.