Whoosh~
The wind blew gently as I opened my eyes to see a familiar back.
'I'm...outside?'
I saw myself standing outside of the school
"Haaaaah"
I exhaled, happy to not be In Gardenia any longer.
'practical exam...'
I repeated those words in my mind, mentally carving It and searing it in my memory as I started to walk towards Catrina and follow her.
"so which Café are we going to?"
"huh?"
"?"
we stare at each other for a few moments and I opened my mouth to answer her.
"Shouldn't we just walk around and find one we like? or we could just go to the closest one"
"..."
"what?"
"No effort In choosing whatsoever"
"No effort? thinking something like this on the spot Is effort enough no?"
Catrina opened her mouth to rebuke my statement but she closed her mouth and covered it with her hand, pondering on what to say. I noticed this and opened my mouth to speak again.
"I mean, no ones chasing us? so why should we be Impatient when we have all the time In the world"
I turned my head away, my eyes turned dead at the realization that while everyone had all the time In the world, I didn't. Time was ticking and I even got warned that If I don't do anything and just laze around. I will die,
I didn't know what will exactly happen to me when I die In Gardenia. Gardenia goes against all common sense by merely existing after all.
"..."
"..."
We stayed silent, Catrina seemed to be thinking on how to rebuke both of my statements but couldn't seem to find any way. I on the other hand was lamenting and cursing myself for touching the Envelope.
***
"Why did we come to the park?" Catrina asked
"to see kids fighting over the swings" I answered her jokingly
Catrina looked at me with eyes as dead as fish.
"I was just joking..."
"Your humor needs a software update"
I was stunned, genuinely surprised by the comeback she made.
"That's a good comeback"
"thank you" she held her head higher, put her hands on her hips and pouted slightly. It was an adorable sight.
Catrina then clasped her hands together behind her back and looked at me asking
"so where are we going?"
"to a Café"
"where is it?"
"It's close by"
"how close?"
"just pass through the park and you will find it. It's usually somewhat crowded there though. well the good thing is that we won't have to find a seat since we won't be staying there for long."
Catrina widened her eyes In astonishment. Then she narrowed her eyes realizing.
"wait is the Café we're going to"
"It's the one my mom works at"
"Ah...got it"
She didn't remember the Café because it's been a long time since she last went there, thus it took her a long time to remember
We stopped talking and started heading to the Café, leaving the park.
"You know where it is?"
I answered her, curious if she remembered where it was.
"Yeah I remember where it is"
Catrina answered with a beaming smile glued on her features.
I considered that smile to be one of schemes, so I started getting anxious and nervous.
***
We finally reached the Café, it wasn't huge but it wasn't small either and it was in a pretty noticeable spot, not far from the park.
"So what are you getting?"
"Something to drink"
"..."
"I was joking..."
"I thought it was sarcasm"
"Alright I'm going in"
Catrina stepped forward, going through the open doors with me following right behind her.
"Hello there, how can I help you?"
"Hello, I would like a milkshake, strawberry flavor"
"I want a smoothie, also strawberry flavor"
"Okay, one milkshake and one smoothie both strawberry right?"
a woman then came from the side and spoke.
"Martha, there aren't any available tables"
"?"
The woman named Martha looked confused and asked
"what do you mean by that?"
"There aren't any free tables...It's full..."
Martha's face turned into a bewildered expression, She then turns to us and spoke
"Well.. you heard her, If you want to get a table you'll have to wait"
Catrina then spoke to Martha who looked to be a new employee
"no, it's okay we were going to get a takeaway anyway"
"ah... I see, well then please wait for a few minutes for your drinks"
We went outside to wait for our drinks, talking In the process out of boredom of nothing happening.
"Still, where is your mom? she still works here right"
"she still works here, her shift might have ended or she is doing something else"
Cale's mom has worked at this Café for many years and has not been fired from her job or did she ever resign from it.
'Still...It's too crowded'
Even if the Café Is a popular spot, It's full? at this time no less.
'well I'm not one to talk since I've never worked at a Café before'
It could've been an ordinary occurrence for all I knew.
"Ugh! It's taking too long!"
Catrina got frustrated after 15 minutes of waiting.
"can't you have a little bit of patience?"
"No! I mean I'd get it if we ordered a lot I'd get that, but we only ordered a milkshake and a smoothie! and we can't even sit anywhere because there is nowhere to sit!"
She was right, there really was nowhere to sit unless we went further away from the Café, not only that but Catrina's legs were sore since morning. Of course I was also sore all over my body but not as much as Catrina whose legs were trembling like a vibrating phone.
"Ah... wait"
Catrina looked at me with a face that looked like it got a bright Idea, She then reached Into her pocket to get something
"here"
"?"
'She is giving me, her money?'
"I'll go sit over there, once you get the drinks come to me and also give back my change"
"..."
Catrina then walked to the bench she pointed with her finger which wasn't too far away after giving me her money
'I feel like an errand boy...'
***
After taking our drinks after Martha kept apologizing for the unexpected delay, I came walking over to Catrina and gave her the Milkshake she bought and her change, I then took a seat next to her, my entire body melting at the sensation of sitting down after a long time of only standing up.
Slurp!
I took a sip of my smoothie and Catrina also took a sip from her milkshake.
The smoothie tasted impeccable as it touched my tongue and came slushing down my throat. It tasted incredibly refreshing, I didn't know how good the milkshake was but seeing Catrina have a similar reaction to me, I judged that she also felt Incredibly refreshed.
"It's so good~"
Catrina answered with her face melting under the scorching heat that the sun emitted while sipping on her milkshake
"I agree~"
It was bliss, truly blissful and a relaxing moment, so much so that I completely forgot that my survival Is at stake and might not live to see days like these.
'well it doesn't matter since I'm now outside of Gardenia'
as long as I finished my classes and left School safely, I wouldn't die and be safe.
'so let me just bask in this blissful, Intoxicating moment~'
I continued basking In the sun with it's scorching heat burning me, Catrina did the same and we both sat there our faces melting like Ice cream.