The Evening Primrose
Chapter 2

It was shocking to see something so terrifying, a knife coming out of his hand. What am I supposed to do? I was so scared that my heart was beating so fast.

"Do you know what I mean, right? If you don't exist tomorrow, then..." He dropped the knife and fell to the ground. "Maybe it could be more cruel than you imagine." Touching his chin and raising his head until he looked at each other.

That's what he said before he pulled out the knife and left him alone. What the hell is going on with them? It's true that I heard all of their words, but unfortunately none of them were absorbed by me at all.

They talked about love, so I didn't understand the problem. I'm sorry if I don't understand love, because I've never felt it in my entire life.

"What am I supposed to do?" he nodded while bowing his head.

I didn't want to get involved with their problems, so I planned to leave her secretly.

"Wait!" I stopped my steps after he called me. "I knew you were there earlier."

Wait, how did he know I was here?

Does he have an inner eye so he can see something behind the wall? What can I do, I came out to show myself in front of him. He stared with teary eyes, as if to ask for help from me.

"I can't help you, so don't expect more from me."

"No, I didn't expect that..." He stopped his speech.

Alright, maybe I'll be a little good to him for now. I helped her up and cleaned the dust that was stuck to her clothes. This might be something scary for him because it was bullied even to the point of being threatened like that.

"If it was me, maybe I would have fought him a little bit" I said.

"You don't know what kind of trouble I'm having, so you better shut up."

It turns out that quiet people seem to get emotional, huh? I feel guilty for him.

"sorry. Then, what are you going to do after this? Aren't the three of them still wandering around here?"

"I don't know..."

Is this a dead end for him? Again, I couldn't help him because I didn't want to be minced meat in their hands either. He kept his mouth shut, so I didn't know what to do.

Maybe I'll take her to my house first, so there she can calm herself down for a moment.

"How about you stop by my house right now?" I pulled his arm.

"But I don't want to get you into my problems."

"Forget your trouble, just come with me."

I pulled his arm and walked towards my house. I think she was so scared, I could tell after holding her trembling hand nonstop.

Why would you care this way? Am I really this stable? I myself do not know what is strange about my thoughts and actions.

This is the first time I've done it. Before, I had always avoided any problems that would likely hurt me. Is it because I am beginning to grow up?

But that doesn't change anything about me. Then I will always be my usual self.

I kept holding her hand until I arrived in front of the shop. It's a little embarrassing considering we do it along the way, let alone in a crowded place.

"So this is your shop?" he raised his head to look at the name of our shop.

"Have you ever come here before?"

"When I was with my mom when I was in elementary school."

"That means we've met even before Junior High, huh?"

"I'm sorry?" Tilted his face.

From her reaction, I'm sure that she never remembered that we knew each other. It's true, we don't even know each other's names. I don't know why the atmosphere is so absurd.

I invited him to enter the store, and I saw that Mom was still in her seat with a cigarette in her hand.

"A big chunk of home? And who's next to you?"

"Mom, he's my friend." I could only say that because I was confused about what to say to Mom while pointing my hand at her.

So her name is Zahra, huh? His name is very much in comparison to his situation.

"Take him in there." Mom left her place to go to the kitchen.

"So your name is Zahra? I know, my name is Emma. I thought you forgot we were one school."

"Huh? We're one school?"

I don't know why I've been so upset lately, all the conversations I've had with everyone just don't make any sense at all. I pinched her cheek in a fit of annoyance and dragged her to the living room.

"What the hell?"

"I know, I'm Emma. And I really am one school with you. Understood?"

"Ah, sorry. I just found out you're in school with me."

"Eat, don't read most books in the library!"

Arriving in the living room, I made her sit down and took some bread and tea I made myself from the kitchen. I thought Mom would take it, but she just moved her seat.

"Please."

"Thank you."

After that I sat right in front of him. There was no chatter at all, not even we looked at each other. It's a shame that my childishness comes at such an inopportune time. I'll be careful next time.

"Why don't you just drink the tea?" I said with a smile.

"Can I? Isn't this expensive?"

"Just this time I let you drink this for free. Besides, the tea's not that expensive, anyway."

"But, I feel a little bad because the tea is purple." Stare cynically at the tea.

"This herbal tea is perfect for relieving the anxiety you're experiencing right now."

He took the cup and drank it slowly.

"Hows it? are you calm now?"

I hope he can calm down now. The tea I was brewing was an herbal tea made from lavender flowers. It was very suitable to eliminate excessive anxiety as he experienced.

"Sorry to get you dragged into my trouble. Maybe I'll go home now."

"Wait, how fast? Why don't we have a little chat here?"

He fell silent and turned his face away as if He was really trying to keep me from getting involved in his problems. Actually, it is dangerous to go out at night, especially if the house is far from here. It's better if I offer him to stay here until the situation improves.

"If you want, you can stay here for a while. I don't know what your problem is with them, but, I'll help you as much as I can."

"No, I can't accept your offer more than this. In fact, I don't know what they're having trouble with my family either."

"Wait..." Don't know what the problem is between them? "Why are you coming with them tomorrow?"

"I don't know! If I don't come tomorrow, my mother will be in trouble too!" And she cried after saying it.

I tried to calm her down by hugging her from the side. Actually, what happened to him? It is rare for a quiet person to seem to get this complicated problem.

If he doesn't come, does his mother get in trouble too? Is he in debt, or something else? So what does this have to do with the love they were talking about?

Mom heard all our conversations from behind the door. Actually, Mom was about to go talk to us, but there was no chance at all.

Wasn't her mother... Mom thought of something in her mind.

She leaned against the door and smoked a cigarette while staring at the ceiling.

"So the problem hasn't been solved until now, huh?" ogre.