"You're so old and still making faces. Just drink already, this herbal tea is good for your body."

Hearing my words, without giving much of an acknowledgment, he finally picked up the cup of tea and bring forward it to his lips to take a sip. Like a child, he closed his eyes and his face twitched while drinking it, but he still persevered. I also held my cup of herbal tea and sipped it while keeping notice that Jackosn finishes his. He hates drinking tea, any kind, he's much of a coffee guy, but caffeine is not good for jet lag, so, he has to bear herbal tea.

Taking advantage of his haggard state, I continued my teasing, "I know you're an old man now, but move around a little, it'll help your body recover soon."

Narrowing his eyes from behind the cup, he didn't say anything at me calling him old, and with another cold humph continued to sip his tea. We have become used to calling brat and old-man to each other, so, he has gotten used to his title as I'm used to mine. Jackson and I alone are seated here on the couches, after dinner, Elijah took the boys on a drive -who will be back anytime now. Thinking about Elijah's gift, I can only just stand aside and shake my head. As it's between Elijah and Kai, they have their own thing, I don't like myself indulging between it.

Elijah bought the car he drove in the race, Salvadge Manufacturer's latest car. He likes a lot of cars but he rarely buys any, unless he truly and wholeheartedly loves them. I know, although he loved this car, the partial reason behind his decision was Kai's influence. Well, because they didn't enjoy a ride on it, which Kai wanted so bad. I truly don't have to intervene in between them, because Elijah himself knows to what extent I can accept things, and I will definitely reprimand him if he decided to gift the car to Kai. That car is no simple thing that could be just gifted like this, Elijah knows this too, still, peeking at me he affirmed my over-excited brother, that whether it belongs to him or Kai, both are the same thing.

Seeing the car at our threshold, Kai fell into shocked silence, the glee and smile on his face brightened to the hundredth degree the second time in just an hour. The first was when he saw Jackson's gift. He arranged and bought VVIP passes to World Cyber Games that will be held in Seoul (South Korea) next month or so. Yeah, Kai was over the moon, no one could wipe off that gorgeous smile over his face, and his excitement was at the peak.

Thinking of this, I asked Jackson, "How long will be your excursion to Korea?"

Placing the cup on the table, he leaned against the sofa comfortably and lazily looked at me, "Three to four days, I guess."

Humming along with his words, I added, "I'll try to arrange my trip around yours."

Although the whole purpose of requesting Jackson to stay with Kai was that I don't have to disrupt his studies and bring him on a business trip. But, then again, this is Kai's gift from his uncle and I have no say in it.

"I heard you scored a deal with Carlocles, how did it go?"

Raising my gaze toward the lethargic man, I subtly grinned, "As usual, kinda smooth."

"Look at you, same obnoxious brat."

Instead of ignoring his compliment, I provokingly shrugged.

Slightly rolling his weary eyes, he inquired after a thoughtful pause, "Did Nicholas came to the meeting?"

"Yeah."

"Even after his retirement?"

I nodded, and recalled Mr. Salvadge's words, "He stated that he has retired from doing business but not from everything and will attend the board meetings."

"Didn't his company, or now his son was also aiming for this project."

"He was, Mr. Nicholas Salvadge even joked about it," My mind drifted back to this Tuesday's board meeting, how he was making fun of his own son in the board of meeting, creating a lively environment in the room. Saying, perhaps he should have let his son stay in manufactures and not in the corporation, how he will ruin his hard build business. With this, Mr. Salvadge's inquiries about Jackson also came to mind, so, I continued, "He was asking about you a lot."

Suddenly, Jackson straightened a little, and looked at me in alert sharpness, "You didn't tell him, did you?"

"Yes, of course."

With a smile, I shrugged, which made Jackson fall back on the couch and look at me with annoyance.

"Now, that annoying man will irritate me with his calls."

I smiled a little and didn't say anything. Even though Jackson has left the company long ago, he always happens to know what's occurring in the business society, "Tell me honestly, what spy have you left in the company."

Hearing my words, he unhesitantly mocked, "Nayla and Ben."

"Yeah, right," If he said some other name, I might have doubted it a second, but not these two. In response, Jackson nonchalantly remained silent and was trying hard to keep his lazy gaze steady while keep leaning further and further into the couch.

"Well, if you're planning to visit the company, I'll tell Ben to make sure your office is clean."

"No need, I'll just stay in yours."

"It's not like I can stop you."

"Damn right."

I could notice Jackson almost closing his eyes, so, I urged him to go back to his room to continue his rest, but not before putting a word in his ear to move around a little more and not just lay on the bed all the time. And my words were successfully ignored by him as he stood up and walked away to his room.

I was left in silence, so utilizing the time I started scrolling through my emails while waiting for Elijah and Kai to come back.

"It was so good, a hundred times better than anything I have imagined!"

After twenty minutes or so, Kai's loud voice filled with excitement, and exaggerated words reached my ears, subconsciously my eyes moved toward the time on screen; quarter to one in the morning. Pulling my gaze off of my phone and placing it aside, I stood up and walked toward the Kitchen, but not stepping inside and simply saying to the helper still on duty, to prepare half a glass of warm milk for Kai and one coffee for Elijah.

When I walked back, Elijah was already seated on the couch and Kai was excitedly blabbering while standing or almost jumping.

"How was it?"

At my inquiry, he turned toward me and brightly rambled, "It was so good Allea! The drive was amazing. You should have seen Mike and David's faces. Elijah and then that Car, they might not sleep tonight!"

I smiled at him and moved my eyes toward Elijah, he looked tired but still attentively heard every word of Kai, why our eyes met, I could see the way he smiled, he was satisfied that Kai liked his present. Finally, after Kai calmed down a little, I told him to get fresh and go to sleep, it was already too late. And for the first time, without any reluctance, he left and even agreed to drink milk without any resistance (might be the exhilaration that overcame the irksomeness of these minor things) but not before giving Elijah a huge thank you.

Sitting beside Elijah, "You look exhausted," I asserted.

He moved his head toward me and nodded, "I'm, I had a few extra photoshoots and interviews with some magazine."

"Wanna stay the night?"

"I have an early morning appointment, it won't be convenient."

"Yeah, would you like some coffee?"

"Gladly."

I didn't speak further, and let the comfort of silence surround us. He too got relaxed and leaned further into the sofa, his styled hair was messy, and scattered all over his forehead, giving him a soft touch and enhancing his tired look.

Seeing Beth (the house managers) walking toward us with a cup of coffee, "Well, here it is," I exclaimed as she placed it on the table.

As she left, I turned toward Elijah and failed to hide my anticipation in the tone as I spoke again, "You should go home to rest. Until your coffee finishes, say what you wanted to tell me."

Avoiding my eyes, he suddenly sobered up. Elijah picked up the cup and took a sip from it, sighed, and hearing my words, he dubiously mumbled, "Yeah..."

"Why are you so hesitant?" As I noticed his reaction, my brows frowned a little.

Giving me a subtle glance, "I'm not hesitant to tell you, I'm not just sure about myself," he affirmed.

"Just say it."

Taking another sigh, he ducked his down a little and begun, "Um...in Boston, I wanted to get some fresh air, so I left the hotel alone, there I met...someone. At first, the other person didn't recognize me, considering it a one-time thing we talked for a while," I was left expressionless hearing his words and when He took a pause, I still was processing his words, but without moving his eyes from his coffee cup, he continued, "And then we met on the plane too, and yeah, exchanged numbers. I know it's too soon to say, but I...I think things might take off between us."

As he finished his words, after a second of deep pause, I weakly started, "Wait...you like someone?" The uncertainty and ambiguity were clear in my deduction, and without waiting for his assertion, I proceeded, "And take off, meaning relationship?"

He looked at me, and I could see my startled face filled shinning in his hazel eyes, he blinked, and coughed a little, to make his voice clear, "Um...I don't know, I'm not sure."

Elijah has always been a decisive guy, quite rarely one would see him confused over things he wants to do. But I know how big this is for him, I could never imagine Elijah would have this to tell me, I thought maybe some company offered him a partnership with his future manufacturing company plans or something alike, but this, that Elijah has someone he likes and they probably date.

I know the reason why he's not so sure but I still asked, "And why's that?"

We have never dived into this kind of discussion, relationship, and such, but in these years, what I have observed was enough to tell me that, Elijah has difficulty in choosing people, he's very cautious. He's not afraid of relationships but the consequences they may have on his life, on him. He's a simple guy, one could say in the word of colorful things the way he prefers classic movies, his wish to gather a collection of antique cars present in the world, or in the world of giving fresh flowers, he'll be the one to keep dried roses hidden in his books.

For Elijah, feelings are precious, even sacred, and he's afraid to waste them on the wrong person -that's why he's not sure.

"I...I want you both to meet, will you?"

He looked at me expectantly, but I outright declined, "No."

The reason for his request isn't hard to seize, he wants me to become a reason for his surety. Which I obviously don't want to. I know how much influence my words have on Elijah, same as his on me. We both can depend on each other for a lot of things, but this is his life's important decision. I don't think I should intrude in this, this should be his decision, solely his. He should decide whether he wants that person to be in his life, not on my yes or no. And besides, this is just too soon to meet, if they met in Boston, then it has only been almost a week.

As if he expected my refusal, there was no shock on his face, so before he could respond, I continued, "Elijah, you gotta give this a chance on your own." Perceiving it as not enough of a persuasion I tried more, "Just get to know each other a little, and see what your... heart says, I guess."

For me, talking about random things and business is a lot easier than feelings and philosophical words. And Elijah knows this too well, because seeing my disoriented expression at the end, a light chuckle escaped his lips.

Holding the coffee cup strongly, from which he was occasionally sipping, and suppressing his laugh, exclaimed, "Why do I feel like our roles have reversed?"

Usually, it's Elijah who is the one persuading and I'm on the receiving end. So, I agreed with a light laugh, "I do too."

After another pause, when he didn't say anything, I added, "But, I'm happy for you. I thought you'd die alone like our old man."

He knew I was referring to Jackson, that over-bearing old man, who's utterly content with remaining single forever and being a part of the crowd but still so far away from people.

Giving another light laugh, he after a few minutes, urged, "So...you think I should give this whatever a chance?"

I wanted to tell him to ask himself this, but I didn't, as his friend, I have to give him a little assurance, maybe, a little enclosure is what he wants. Recalling the way he laughed so freely when earlier he mentioned telling me something, the shine of expectations and hope in his eyes, the harmony in his laugh, so, I simply affirmed, "Do you want to? I can see you do."

His eyes moved away from me, and turning his head away deep in thoughts, I kept silent and let him think.

After about five minutes of utter silence, I heard him say, "I think I should."

He once again looked at me, and smiled, giving me his special Elijah-cheeky smile, I too subconsciously smiled seeing him happy. A silent prayer left my heart for him: I hope he never has to see anything he fears, he has seen enough, I just wish him a lot of happiness and peace in his life.

...

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//The act of drying flowers dates back to ancient times. Pressing flowers was a quintessential Victorian pastime. Flowers were often slipped between pages of a book as a remembrance of a particular person to preserve the memory of a special event.//