Chapter II

"Sorry Caroll, I shouldn't have dragged you to ride that with me", I heard Reighly say outside of my cubicle's door.

We're not alone in this restroom. I heard the banging sound of the closing of the other cubicles and the opening of the doors. Which means, it's not only Reighly that is witnessing my pain right now.

The sound of disgusting vomit activity echoed the whole sides of the women's restroom. This is the reason why I don't like riding that kind of ride, it honestly made me sick and nauseous.

"Are you okay?"Reighly asked worriedly.

"Y-yeah I-I'm fine", I assured her and got up from the floor feeble after I double checked that the disaster won't happen again on the mouth of the basin. I opened the cubicle's door, the anxious face of Reighly greeted my pale ailing face.

"Are you really okay now?", she repeatedly asked, so I just nodded for a response. My mouth's still in the process of recovering from vomiting earlier.

"I'm really so sorry Caroll I thought if you would try again and be familiar with the ride your motion sickness will slowly fade away", she explained.

"No Rei. I don't think that's the right way but, I'm really fine. I can guarantee that", I reassure her.

"It's obviously not Caroll. Look what I have done. I was oriented yet I still choose recklessness", she firmly said and look down at other direction. I faced her and use her shoulder to turned on my direction.

"Listen, I am the one who dragged you here. What happened to me earlier is not entirely your fault I know you just want to have some fun and you want to include me on that but, Reighly this is your time to have some fun. Forget everything and most especially forget what you saw before and let's just enjoy fun, okay?", I said. My statement finally convinced her but, I can still see worriedness on her face.

"Fine, but are you honestly okay right now?".

I nod and give her a relieving smile, "absolutely fine".

"Good", she said and sighed for a second. "Let's grab something to eat first before we continue", she cap her back pocket for a sign of wallet but apparently no indication of wallet in any pockets she slip into. She must've drop it regardless anywhere on this park.

"Is any important ID or credit card included on that wallet?"

"No, just my money"

"Let me go back to the car I left my wallet in my bag. Lets just use mine".

"Okay I'm gonna wait for you on that fountain over there", she said and pointed out the wishing fountain in the middle of the amusement park.

"okay", my final word before I finally walk out to go to the car.

The air started to feel cold and the lights in every stall every time I passed through them got even brighter and brighter. Vibrant colors of lights keep changing every second of time, driving every individual I run off smiling or either laughing. The place was kindle with beautiful lights and beaming faces of all the people.

I was knocked off on my way down the path when suddenly a man estimated 5'7 suddenly appeared out of nowhere and bumped into me.

"Ooof! Sorry! I didn't see you there coming", he apologizes right after and help me to stand up on the ground. I immediately saw the disaster after he help me perch. He's now picking one by one the photographs that was apparently lying all over the place because of that accident.

"Gosh! I'm so sorry", I quickly said and swiftly went down on my knees and started picking every photograph my both hands took over. I'm busy picking up the rest of the photographs when I feel something familiar about an image that was on a photograph not far from where I was positioned. I crawled towards the picture and saw the man who bumped on me earlier pick it up from the ground. I lifted my head at him, I felt immediate shame after realizing I was still on the ground looking up to him as if some kind of unnatural set-up. I quickly stand up on my own and hand him over the photos. The photos were actually images of all the popular spots of the amusement park. The rides, food stalls, the mystique garden and many other hot spots that are all included on the photos. I wonder if he is a professional photographer or he's just making a blog about this place.

"I'm sorry again about earlier", I apologize once again. He took the photos in my hand and joined it with the rest of the piled pictures.

"It's unavoidable. Let's just be careful next time", he just said and turned his back from me to walk away, embracing those photos on his arms. Confoundment strikes on me right after my brain remembers the photo. The photo did really strike something in my subconscious that drove my curiosity wild.

I left my position bewildered about the encounter and went back to Reighly, still in the same state.

"What's wrong with your face?"I immediately looked at her and doubted whether I should tell her or not about that incident.

"N-Nothing", I lied. I don't have clear thoughts about what happened earlier so maybe I could just leave it like it is . Might probably my mind playing dirty tricks on me.

She seems unconvinced. "Okay, I just bumped into someone when I'm on my way getting my wallet in your car", her eyes started to grow just like a shoot plant around the meadow.

"Who?", she excitedly inquired.

"I don't know he was carrying-", I stop immediately after I realized I was about to tell it to her. Maybe my half guess is right, I should just tell her and to see what she can say about it.

"carrying what?", she looked intently and eager.

"Photographs of the amusement... and me", Reighly slowly turn from excitement to shock. I know, kind of creepy right?

"Of you? how?", she asked bemused.

"I don't know if I mistook it for me or if it was really me. The image was so familiar but I can't recognize where it was'', Reighly is very condensed listening while uneasily looking back and forth from my eyes and lips while I'm finishing telling to her the whole event.

"Why aren't you so sure? you saw it right?", the compelling question corroborate Reighly's interest in my story. Even me I'm more than confused and curious about what I saw either.

"Yup... from a little bit distant from me". I talked. "I don't know why and how but my minds keeps telling me that it was really a picture of me taken by a stranger somewhere rather than the possibility that I just mistook it somehow and somewhat because of the settings'', I step back a little from Reighly's position and look upon the night sky while both of my hands are on my nape.

"Yeah I can agree. There's a higher percentage of probability that you just mistook it somehow due to its settings and resemblance", she response and slowly walk towards me. "I think we better get home".

"Are you sure? how about the rides?", I seriously look at her with so much guilt. I know I ruined this night for her.

"It doesn't matter, I know your tired so let's hop on now and earn some sleep", she squeezed my hand while rubbing my shoulders slowly.

"But how about that-".

"Forgot that bastard. He has nothing to do with me and neither my whole life the moment he set foot in that disgusting hotel", she firmly uttered while gritting her teeth due to anger. I chuckled. Even though she said it, I know there's still pain constantly tearing her heart into smaller and smaller pieces.

"Okay", I only said and we both headed our way to her car and earned some sleep for tomorrow.

"CAROLL! Your mom is calling!"I heard Reighly shout from the living room and I was in the bathroom trying to clean the basin.

"Tell her to wait a second, I'm about to finish cleaning the toilet", I shouted back and finished scrubbing the basin and mapping the floor one last time. I immediately left the room and directly headed towards the phone.

"Hello Mom?", I excitedly greeted. "What's up?".

"Caroll, it's Lex's birthday this weekend. I hope you didn't forget that", she said on the other side.

"Of course! I didn't forget it", I honestly said. Basically, I almost totally forget that it was Lex's birthday coming this weekend if it wasn't for my activity calendar prompt on my phone this morning. So, technically, I didn't totally forget it.

"Don't make it so obvious dear. I know you forgot it and thanks to me I reminded you about this", I rolled my eyes as a sign of annoyance. I didn't know how she came up to this point on not even trusting what I say about reminders.

"No! I'm telling the truth Mom. I do actually remember it", I desperately utter and put down the gloves that I used from cleaning earlier on the table. I started walking towards my apartment's window located on the right side of the living room and watched as the people mindlessly passed through each other on the sidewalk of Polmir, along with their different styles of garb. It suddenly went silent on the other side. "So how's Lex?", I asked after I realized I haven't contacted him since the last time I visited mom's place.

"He's fine", she said and took a deep sighed from the other side. A troubled sighed to be specific. I took a deep sighed as well on my side before leaning my back to the windowsill, where Peon was sitting peacefully, before I responded to mom.

"Okay, I'll absolutely be there", I comfortably said and got back to where the phone stand was.

Lex's been in a hard state right now and mom totally understands that and helps him get in track of his life somehow. I assume after deliberating our last call with mom something still isn't better for him I believe. Lex's been in trouble for over a year now, starting when our Dad died in an accident. I'm feeling so much guilt right now for not giving him the companion he deserves and the care and the reassurance from a sister that I should have offered 1 year ago. Now, I don't know what to do to pay all my missed guidance to him.

"Okay. We'll wait for you here", she said with her sweet voice, and for a second's interval she eventually hung up the phone, leaving me troubled by our conversation earlier. Reighly noticed, so she eventually asked me about it.

"What did she say?"I turned my head to her. She looked worried so I immediately smiled.

"She just wants to remind me about Lex's birthday, that's all", I answered. She slowly nodded and for a second someone knocked on the door. We both look at it.

"Are you expecting someone?"Reighly confusedly asked since it's friday afternoon and no one except Reighly knows my address.

"Might be Mr. Lo '', I muddled. I'm not so sure that it was Mr. Lo since knocking on someone's door is not his thing, except only it was payday. Another impatient knock was coming from the door, "I'll get it", I inform.

I turned my back and walked towards the door and opened it to see he was standing there and was about to deliver another knock.

"I have to speak to her please", his first words after she saw me open the door. I can see the sadness in his eyes. The heavy pants that he emancipated guaranteed that he actually searched everywhere. I can see his sweat slowly falling down from his temple down to his cheeks and jaw.

I didn't expect him to find this place, MY PLACE.

"Who was it?"I turned my back after I heard Reighly's voice approaching the door entrance. I stare at her worried and shocked. She sees him.

"It's-",

"Patrick?", she disturbingly pronounced after recognizing who it really is.

Reighly's been here for 4 days already since that day happened. No engagement to Patrick, no response call and neither replied text yet, still she manages to attend to her job without Patrick catching her in any way. Now, I think this is the right time for Reighly to explain why she took 4 days to hide all the things she saw 4 days ago.

"Oh! I forgot I had to buy something from a store nearby. I should just go", I tell them my lame excuse and gently get out of my apartment with only my ragged clothes and slides. I slowly closed the door and quickly recognized Mr. Lo from the upper staircase confusedly staring after I closed the door.

"Who was it?", he asked.

"Reighly's", I answered and he already understood the idea that it was Reighly's boyfriend.

"Okay", he finally called and started going up the stairs.

"I apologize about that Mr. Lo '', I gently shouted and saw how he waved his left hand for a response and finally disappeared on the stairs. I know he was disturbingly annoyed by the large bang of Patrick on my door. He's not that hard as a forgiver, I just really hope somehow the situation for Reighly is also the same. Even though it's obviously shown that the mistake is way too broken to fix.

Now, I think I should really buy some tissue paper for this hapless night. Maybe two or five boxes of tissue paper will be enough. I started descending the stairs and finally hopped on my bicycle to start paddling down to the nearest store looking and mindfully observing every person and cars I run past today.

I should expect tears from now on after that unexpected meeting at my apartment. I know it needs a lot more time for them and I'm very willing to give it to them if I have to.

I just ran past a flower shop and I suddenly stopped after noticing they have so many beautiful and unique flowers displayed outside of the store. I couldn't resist so I finally parked my bicycle on a post and started walking towards the dashing colors of various species of flowers in the shop. I scan the display and everything is truly magnificent. I picked a daisy from amongst the flowers and adored it.

"Daisies? That's a wonderful predilection", I quickly lifted my head and immediately noticed a man in his late 40's wearing a gardening apron and carrying a small shovel on his right arm along with, I assume, a plant that he had to put on a pot that I just interrupted somehow. He must be the owner.

"Ow! I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to interrupt you with your-", I quickly said. The man just immediately laughed and left me bemused about my position.

"No, please, your not interrupting anything", he said while chuckling. "As a matter of fact I was waiting for a customer", he put down his plant and the shovel on the flower rack and started walking towards my position. "Do you like daisies?", he asked.

I came from my senses after realizing the daisies that I just observed earlier were still in my hands. I immediately put it down, "Actually, I was just admiring the colors of your flowers". He looked at me for a couple of seconds before looking away and started searching among the flowers displayed.

"What about tulips?"He picked up a strand of tulips from the display and slowly handed it over to me. I'm confused since I don't know if he just wants to know my flower preferences or if he is somewhat giving me this tulip.

"I do like tulips, before, but right now I prefer more on peonies", I answered. "I do actually have one in my apartment", his expression turned into excitement after I said I had one.

"What kind of peony?", he asked.

"A moutan. I just actually brought it so I don't have enough insights about that kind of flower but I do really love its fluffy flower and her color as well", I explained. I don't know why but I'm feeling comfortable conveying my thoughts to this man even though I don't know anything about him yet. "I-I didn't notice there's a flower shop over here", I redid the subject.

"Oh, yes, we just recently decided to open since some certain circumstances happen", he said and I nod quietly transmitting a thought through gesture that I totally understand. "Do you want anything from the racks? I can give it to you as a present", he suddenly offered. I felt immediate excitement after he said it but a little ashamed cause I was just looking for it for my eyes satisfaction and neither for a desire to buy.

"Are you serious?", I said with so much excitement in my voice. "That's so generous of you sir but I think it's already enough to myself to just watch your flowers", I humbly convey. The man just smiled at me and slowly nodded after hearing my insights. "However, is it alright for you sir if I can come by your shop and watch your flowers?", the man just stared at me blankly. I felt an immediate alarm after I realized that I wouldn't get any response from him, "Oh! sorry that was a rude request-". I eventually stopped on my sentence when I saw the man chuckled.

"No! its totally fine. It's really be a delight if you could visit this place more often. That could be more fun if you are here", the man said, which brought clarity and excitement on my part. "I'm Polar by the way, Polar Humming", he introduced and stretched over his right arm for a handshake. I stretch mine as well and receive the introduction.

"Caroll, Caroll Singch", I declare and shake his hand for a formal encounter.

I pressed the brakes and parked my car across from a flower shop. I get out eventually and walk towards the store to buy some flowers for somebody. Polar was already outside talking to a girl in tattered clothes with brunette hair, riding a colored utility bike. Moments later the girl eventually left paddling down the road. Polar turned to my direction and saw me approaching, so he immediately smiled.

"Good morning!"He greeted me and hoisted one palm for a sedentary wave after I drew nearer. I smiled back at him and nodded gracefully.

"Same old flower? Wait me here I'll grab it for you", he said and turned his back to go inside.

I didn't say anything and let the man pick the flower. As I waited I settled on the flower display that was outside and admired their own beauties. Their colors are vibrant and truly are magnificent up close. I picked out some tulips from the rack and decided to buy some.

"Here it is. Some roses", Polar pronounced and showed me the bouquet. A smile emerged from my face. She truly loves this.

"I'd like to have these tulips as well, Sir Polar. Can you join this in the bouquet?', I asked.

"Sure. Give me a second".

He took the tulips and went inside once more. Few moments passed and Polar handed me finally my order. I smelled it and smiled pleasantly.

"They are truly wonderful", I commented.

"Indeed they are. I bet the reason why the lady earlier picked it up. What a wonderful woman", he informed me.

"The woman earlier?", I asked and he nodded.

"I just met her just this day. A lovely woman. Her name was Caroll. Caroll Singch, she lived at Louise's apartment down General street".

A sudden joy surprisingly grows inside of me. An exciting smile slowly emerges out of my lips. I conceal the overflowing emotions and start to pay Polar for the charge.

"Caroll Singch", I whisper to myself after joyfully walking to my car.