The Hard But Easy
Chapter 10

Jonathan Darrel enters Carlos's painting studio with a guitar bag on his back. The cold air did not cover his steps to meet Eliza. After Eliza's unexpected last visit, Jonathan begins to put his trust in Eliza. He wanted to say something that he had kept all by himself. Jonathan believes, perhaps by telling Eliza about her secret, the girl can trust him. At least trust each other as friends.

Jonathan didn't see anyone in the studio. The place looked quiet, there was no sign of life. Then he went deeper again⸻saking often here, he already considers the studio like his own home.

"Carlos?" Greet Jonathan when he sees Carlos coming out of hiding. Carlos was surprised by Jonathan's sudden presence.

"When is it here?" ask Carlos.

"New to." He said, "Eliza is there?"

Carlos opened the apron and placed it in the chair. "He went to Amelia's place."

"Amelia?"

Carlos nodded. "Um-hm, why?"

At first Jonathan wondered why Eliza could go to Amelia's place, then he remembered that Eliza and Amelia had not met until recently and even went to Amelia's place.

Jonathan hurriedly shook his head. "No."

"By the way, why look for Eliza?"

"Just talk."

"Chat or pdkt?" Temptation Carlos. Geez, Carlos sometimes likes to be right when he talks.

"Basic of the meddler!" Jonathan Ledek.

Carlos responded with a laugh, then he led his friend forward, near the reception desk.

"Why bring all the guitars? Don't you do a song for Eliza, will you?"

"Huh, I'm lazy to talk to you." Jonathan complained, not responding to Carlos' joke. He is lazy when asked this question.

"Surely, just kidding." Cibir Carlos's. "Would you wait for Eliza or follow her to Amelia's place? It'll be lunchtime soon, I'm planning on going there to take them out."

"Can." Joshua said quickly. "Where do you eat?"

"At the end of the street near Amelia's flower shop, Italian cuisine." Said Carlos.

"I don't want to eat Italian food. Does Eliza have a food problem?"

Carlos shakes. "No. He is difficult to eat. He'll eat anything, but it's hard to tell."

"Huh? Is he so?"

"Yes!" Carlos Exclamations. "Either he was so thin, I became worried about his health."

"Sure he was sick yesterday." Jonathan says.

"Oh yeah, by the way, did you take Eliza ice skating on Christmas Eve?" Carlos switched the conversation while playing his phone⸻messaged Amelia.

"Um, yes. You wanna come?"

"Unfortunately, I have another appointment with Amelia. We're going to Broadway."

"Well, that sounds like fun. Do I need to take Eliza there too?"

Carlos shrugged his shoulders, hesitating a little. "I'm not sure, but Eliza definitely won't."

"Why? Must be boring."

"No. He does not want to meet his friends. He used to be a theater boy and decided to get out of the hangar, before going to New York. I don't know why he's out, but he's a prime candidate for the Christmas Eve show."

From Carlos' story alone, everyone can guess, Eliza Fern hid something from people closest to her. The mysterious girl. Jonathan was curious, what made Eliza Fern turn down the offer of the main cast⸻and wait, Eliza the theater boy? Well, Jonathan just found out. The girl has a good voice.

"He's got a problem?"

"Maybe. He never told me further, nor did I dare to force. I'm just saying that he can tell me anything at any time." Carlos said, "hm. by the way, Amelia said we could get to where we are now, so would you like to come?"

"Of course!" Jonathan exclaimed, "going now?"

After Carlos leaves, Jonathan begins to think about Eliza. What happened to the girl until she got out of the theater?

Eliza also never said anything about theater to Jonathan. Jonathan can read that something Eliza is hiding, may have something to do with her departure to New York.

A few moments passed, Carlos returned from his hiding place and had already changed his clothes. He was shocked to see Jonathan pensive himself, as if thinking of something. Carlos decided to approach his friend.

"Dam!" Carlos patted Jonathan on the shoulder, the man jumped, making Carlos laugh. "What are you thinking, huh?" tanyanya still laughing.

"Nothing funny. You've been too long, you know!?" Jonathan.

"Yes, I'm sorry, I'm going on a date." Carlos is still giggling. "Come, leave! Amelia's been waiting."

...-οΟο-...

Eliza Fern placed a pot of anturium flowers near the shop window, after serving the last customer. Today the store is quite crowded, fortunately Eliza came and helped Amelia. You can imagine how tired it is so Amelia who has to serve customers from starting to find the flowers that customers want to get to packing them into a bouquet.

Eliza asks why Amelia isn't looking for someone to help out at her shop, and Amelia says she doesn't trust anyone else, except the people she knows.

But honestly, for a few days working⸻help in Amelia's store, Eliza felt comfortable, she would rather be in this flower shop than just staying in the room all day or sometimes helping Carlos. The girl is more free to talk to others, sharing smiles and laughter.

Eliza has a mood that goes up and down, sometimes she also feels alone. Fortunately, Eliza quickly meets Jonathan. Jonathan's presence makes Eliza feel like she has another friend.

"Thank you, Eliza." It was always that word spoken by Amelia, when the store was already quiet. "By the way Carlos took lunch and he's on his way here."

"Eh? That right?"

Amelia nodded happily. "By the way you like Italian food?"

"Pasta?"

"More than pasta."

"But I don't seem to want to eat heavy food right now."

"Then what do you want to eat?"

Eliza shakes. "My digestion hasn't been good lately."

Right at that moment, the sound of bells on the door rang, the sign of people entering. The two girls turned towards the door at the same time. It was Carlos and....

"Jonathan?" that's Eliza. He was rather shocked to see Jonathan suddenly appear behind Carlos' back.

"Hi!" Greet Jonathan while raising his hand briefly.

Amelia, who had been behind the counter, walked straight towards Carlos. "Darling, it looks like we have a problem. Eliza said she was sick."

"Seriously?" Carlos looked at Eliza worriedly, as well as Jonathan.

Eliza waved her hand and shook her head. "No, no. Just not having an appetite. I'll taste your food later."

"I'll go with Eliza." Jonathan interrupted the conversation between the three of them. "I'll take Eliza to eat." Said.

Eliza looked at Jonathan with a questioning look, and Jonathan responded with a smile. "We go wherever you want. There's something I want to talk to you about, too." Jonathan said again.

"O-okay." Eliza was confused. Although she doesn't understand, Eliza will follow Jonathan. Looks like the man wants to talk to Eliza about something important.

Eliza looked at Carlos, as if telling him she wanted to go with Jonathan. Understanding the gaze of the younger brother Carlos sighed.

"Okay, I won't force." Then Carlos looked at Jonathan, "I'm taking Eliza, yeah." Afterwards Carlos and Amelia got ready to leave.

When Carlos and Amelia were out of the store, Jonathan approached Eliza with a smile. "You hungry?" tanyakanya.

"Not really." Eliza's voice shook.

"Fish and chips?"

Eliza did not reply, she just smiled. And Jonathan understood what that smile meant.

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