Chapter 59: A Date

I sat up on the bed still feeling sleepy with the sunlight from the  window reaching my face. With half opened eyes, I roamed my eyes in my room that was suddenly filled with colors.

Flowers. There were hundreds of them. Buckets and bouquets of  different flowers of radiant colors occupied the floor as though my  room had turned into a flower shop. There were roses and daisies, wildflowers and tulips. I stared at them blinking, wondering if I was still dreaming.

I almost had no space to walk with all the flowers surrounding me. I touched the soft petals of one of the tulips. Napakaganda nilang pagmasdan. Ito ang unang beses na makakakita ako ng ganito kadaming bulaklak.

I washed my face and changed clothes to go to the breakfast hall. Paglabas ko sa kwarto, naka-abang sa'kin si Anabeth sa hallway. She  was smiling giddily nang makita niya ang mga bulaklak sa aking  kwarto.

"Do you know about this?" I asked her.

"I just know that they were delivered early this morning and the staff tried their best not to wake you up while preparing them. Looks like the alpha wanted to surprise you."

"Nanggaling ang mga ito sa kanya?"

"Romantic, isn't it?" hagikgik niya sabay kurot sa aking braso. "I didn't know the alpha has this side." Her giggles were almost transferable.  "And oh," dagdag ni Anabeth. "He wants you to dress warm and comfortable today. He told the staff he'll be here after lunch to pick you up."

"Why?" tanong ko nang maglakad kami papunta sa breakfast hall.

"Who knows? Maybe a date?" Muli siyang humagikgik ang pinalo ang braso ko.

A date with the alpha?

Umiling ako. I shouldn't be hoping about such thing when I know he's busy, especially after the commotion at the party a few days ago.  Madami siyang inaasikaso ngayon.

Before heading to the tower after breakfast, instead of the flowers withering alone in my room, I placed most of them in the vases in the hallway, inside the offices, in tables in the breakfast and dining hall. It made the apothecary looking like spring that even the senior staff couldn't help but smile seeing the colorful flowers.

By afternoon, I waited for Zackary in the drawing room in a floral dress under a warm cream coat. I informed one of the senior staff earlier that I would take the rest of the day off but I wonder what Zackary had planned.

Is there another party that we needed to attend? Is he having a hard time?

One of the orders assigned in the apothecary informed me that Zackary had arrived. Agad akong tumayo para salubungin siya sa driveway. He was casually dressed when he stepped out of the car. Black shirt and  denim jeans under a long black coat.

I walked to him and immediately searched his face for something that might be wrong. But there was no negative expression that can cause  me to worry. Instead, his face looked pleasant today as if he had a good rest.

"Is there something wrong?" tanong niya nang mapansin ang pag-aalala ko.

"I was thinking of an important reason why you want to see me today."

Kumunot ang noo niya habang nakatitig sa'kin. "Do I need an important reason to visit you? Or do you want me to shut down the whole town to have a date with you?"

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata sa kanyang sinabi. "Just tell me and I will-"

I reached for his mouth to clasp with my hand. "Zack!" I exclaimed.

I could feel him smiling against my palm. Holding my wrist, he flipped my hand and place his lips on my knuckles to kiss. "I'm kidding. Alexander took over for the day."

"He agreed to it? You spending time with me?"

The question made him chuckle. "Not necessarily. It took a lot of verbal and physical warning from him. You know how overprotective your brother can be."

Napangiti ako sa kanyang sinabi. It was so like Alexander to do something like that. Marahang hinila ni Zackary ang aking kamay. The weather had been chilly lately and most people in town were bundled in warm clothes. Nang yakapin ako ni Zackary, ramdam ko ang init ng  suot niyang damit.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" tanong ko pag-upo ko sa passenger seat ng kanyang sasakyan. He doubled check the seat belt on my side before starting the engine.

"I'm going to show you something," he told me. "But before that, do  you have somewhere you want to go?"

Napaisip ako sa kanyang tanong. "I want to buy pastries in downtown for Alexander. I don't want him to worry."

Zackary raised his eyebrow. "You know him better than me now, huh?" he teased.

"He's my brother."

We drove out of the apothecary to the road leading to downtown. It's been a while seeing him driving beside me without a specific event or  occasion to attend to.

"Are the flowers from you?" I asked, even though the answer was as  clear as day.

"It's my way of saying thank you for what you did at the party. Do you like them?"

Tumango ako. "They're all lovely. But... a few pieces should be enough?"

His free hand reached for my hand. Hindi ko napigilang mapatitig sa kanya habang nagmamaneho. "Eleanor, believe me when I say you're worth more than that."

When we reached the downtown, I told Zackary to wait in the car for  me. Muling umarko ang kilay niya at alam ko na agad ang kanyang iniisip.

"Are you still not comfortable being seen with me?"

Agad akong umiling. "No," I mumbled. "It's just that... you're an alpha and people might wonder about your visit, especially in a random afternoon."

Despite my statement, Zackary stepped out, walked around the car, and opened the door for me. "You have a special talent of worrying for  other people's convenience," he muttered. "Today, I'm on a date with you as Zackary, not as an alpha randomly showing to oversee the  town."

I bit my lips to hide my smile. I found his persistent side adorable.

We searched for the pastry shop in downtown where Alexander bought the apple dessert that was my favorite. Every store we passed by,  people and owners will go out of their way to greet Zackary and I by bowing their heads.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapansin na halos lahat ng kanilang tingin ay nakasentro sa kamay ni Zackary na nakahawak sa aking kamay o sa  aking beywang. It was the first time that the two of us appeared in this state and I understand the people's reaction.

"Zack..." I whispered while walking. "You can let go of my hand for now."

Pero sa halip na bumitaw, lalo lamang humigpit ang kanyang hawak sa'kin. "You don't have to be conscious about it, Eleanor," he said, walking without missing a beat. "They're gonna be your people and  you need to get used to them watching you with either respect or judgment."

Finally, I was able to find the shop and bought a large amount of  pastries. Zackary and I ate some, with me shoving pieces to his mouth while he was driving.

We arrived at the Arden Hall, a place I considered as an order headquarters. I saw it for the first time with Senior Violeta when I was still new at work and we were asked to stock up their small clinic with supplies from the apothecary. It was a large cabin with dozens of dorm-type rooms, two dining halls and several offices where town  leaders held their meetings. The building was located just outside of downtown and it was where most of the orders in service resides, especially those from far-away villages.

The orders around the area immediately approached to car to open the doors for us. Once Zackary and I stepped out of the car, they bowed  their heads to greet us. I tried to lower my head to greet them back but Owen, who was one of the orders who regularly guard the apothecary, motioned for me not to lower my head. But I did it anyway and he  ended up scratching his head.

We walked inside the building with a drawing hall large enough for a hundred people. Our eyes were greeted by exposed beams from the ceiling and heavy wooden furniture. I've heard once that Lady Laura's family funded the hall as an appeasement to the town, thus the name Arden Hall.

"Alexander's probably in his office."

Arden Hall was his residence since becoming a beta. And just like Zackary, I was quite aware how they constantly study the laws surrounding the town with the help of advisers. But I didn't know he  has an office here.

In the dimly lit hallway, Zackary stopped in front of a heavy wooden  door. Before he could even knock, the door burst open and Alexander stepped out.

"Elea," he greeted me. "What brought you here?"

I showed him the large paper bag full of pastries. "I brought this."

Napangiti siya nang makita ang laman nito. Alexander purposely  nudged Zackary out of the way nang kunin niya ang paper bag sa aking kamay.

Zackary shook his head, smiling. "You're being an ass, Alex. You're supposed to thank me for bringing her here." Alexander gave him a  glare in return.

Hindi ko napigilan ang ngiti ko. I knew all of us had come a long way from the first time we encountered each other, and seeing them comfortably being themselves despite the position they hold was something I've always wanted to see.

I roamed my eyes around my brother's office. By the window was a hardwood desk and seats and attached to the walls were shelves brimming with folders and files. So they also deal with paper works. There's a lot of things I didn't know about their jobs.

Napansin ni Zackary na nakatingin ako sa mga papeles na nakapaligid sa'min.

"These files are from the community office who compile information before they send it to us for approval or dismissal," he patiently  explained. "On a regular basis, we receive complaints and incident reports. Files like taxes, projects and trade with other towns are in a separate office."

"Why?"

"They are something we don't approve on our own. They usually  require discussion and it takes time to come up with decisions that can benefit the parties involved."

Both Zackary and Alexander seemed please to witness my interest in their line of work. I checked the folders about the reports on taxes from months ago.

"Those are files about taxes from income and profit of businesses and domestic goods and services in town. It's a decent source, but the  biggest source are still from trade and transactions with other towns, properties and lands."

I was aware of it. That a large reason Van Zanth remained prosperous was because of its land and trade. There's a lot of towns wanting a connection with one of the most reputable hybrid towns and people wanting to acquire land here. Van Zanth's a safe place because it has everything a hybrid needs. A well-funded apothecary, secured borders  and premises, and a well-established town.

I watched Alexander sigh and mutter under his breath while going through endless files knowing he's the type of person who hated being confine in enclosed places. I always thought being a beta or an order require them to be in the physical side of maintaining a town, like  chasing outsiders from the borders, or constantly on field work. I  realized this side of them also exist.

Not wanting to disturb my brother further, I bade my goodbye. I only intended to bring the pastries to him but I got too immersed in his working environment.

"I'll treat you to a nice meal soon," Alexander said to me.

I nodded with a smile. His expression made a complete turn the  moment he faced Zackary. "Hurt her the slightest and you will have to deal with me," he warned. "And don't do anything I won't allow." Maging ito ay sinabi niya sa'kin.

Zackary only smiled like this type of conversation was a regular occurrence in this office. "Save your blows, Alexander. That wont happen."

Zackary and I left the office with Alexander's glare following us until  we reached the end of the hallway. They indeed have a strange relationship. They understand what's meant without saying much, but they also give away glares and warnings like great enemies. Knowing they're both the leaders of prestigious town only made it even more amusing.

***