Rose by Paul Asaran (i am malala young readers edition .txt) 📕

Chapter 2: Unfortunate Coincidence

The scent of Spring was all about Rose. Flowers bloomed brightly, releasing their wondrous aromas in hopes of attracting pollinating insects. Birds were singing, the sun was shining between the sparse clouds, and a cool breeze blew her short white hair across her eyes. She brushed it away gently, the soft gloves on her hands cool against her skin. She had chosen a jungle-green dress for today; she thought it fit the weather impeccably.

It was such a fair day that she didn’t mind taking the longer route to the Family Manor. Her father would worry about her tardiness, but it would be worth it for the exquisite scenery she knew was available along the dirt path through the forest. Of course, her father also disapproved of her walking to the Manor from her home. He worried so much about her; it would be charming if she wasn’t so determined to be independent. And she didn’t really care for cars, either: they made it harder to enjoy the weather. Only in bad weather, or in rush situations, did she ever take a car to work.

She paused at the top of a hill to smell a vine flower. It was a trumpet vine, a rather peculiar flower in this part of the country, but it had been there for so long that she had stopped questioning exactly how it had come to be there. It was a delightful flower; not for the first time she considered having a gardener plant some in her yard. Trumpet vines were actually among her favorite flowers, next to the Scarlet Knight rose; it was a sturdy and strong plant that could survive well in this place of warm summers and cold winters.

She admired it for a few more seconds before finally turning away from the flower to make her way onwards. She paused, however, when she heard a voice behind her calling. She frowned at that; she didn’t recognize the voice at all. Had her father sent one of his uncultured goons to find her? She sighed unhappily; she had been truly enjoying herself, too.

She heard the man’s footsteps slow to a walk behind her. “You are Rose, are you not?” She recognized the voice now, though she couldn’t place it. Still, that just meant that it had to be one of her father’s men. Honestly, wasn’t her hair a dead giveaway?

“Can you not tell by just looking…” she began, but the words died on her lips as she turned to face the man. He was a little taller than her, with green eyes that coincidentally matched the color of her dress and neatly combed brown hair. His attire included some dark brown pants and a white, buttoned shirt. She recognized him immediately, and his presence shocked her.

“I thought it was you,” the man stated with a smile. “As if the white hair wasn’t enough, that tone of voice is easy to recall.”

“You are…” she muttered slowly, “…Phil?” He grinned in pleasure that she recalled him. How long had it been since she’d seen him on that rainy day? Some six months? Yes, shortly before Mr. Jacobson was arrested for illegal business practices. What was it, weapons dealing?

“I never thought in a hundred years that I’d see your face again,” Phil stated, repeating that same slight bow he had made the last time they’d met. “I must admit, I’m very pleased by it.”

She frowned and turned away from him. “I am afraid the feeling is not mutual.”

In truth she didn’t know how to feel; her feelings towards their last meeting were rather mixed. She recalled, however, that he had been very eager to learn about her the last time. She wouldn’t let down her guard for anyone, let alone this unfamiliar man. She would treat him as a danger, as she did to anyone whom she didn’t know. Judging from their last encounter, however, she suspected that he wouldn’t be removed from her presence easily.

Her expectation proved correct. “That’s the kind of response I was hoping to get out of you,” he noted cheerfully, and she was annoyed to hear his steps following behind her. “You don’t seem to have changed much in six months.”

“If such disturbs you,” she replied plainly, “you are free to take your leave.”

Phil wouldn’t be dissuaded so easily. Soon he was walking beside her, which made her bristle with frustration. “Unfortunately for you,” he responded pleasantly, “I happen to be going in the same direction.”

“That is unfortunate,” Rose countered in as harsh a tone as she could manage. “You are not traveling a distance too grand, I trust?”

Phil gave her a wry look that added to her annoyance even more. “I’ll tell you my destination if you tell me yours.”

She grimaced and turned her eyes from him silently. He was toying with her! He knew perfectly well that she would agree to no such thing! She wouldn’t play into this man’s hands; she was going to present him the cold shoulder. Why had the fates placed him in her presence for a second time? And now she was so worried about her personal image that she couldn’t take pleasure in the weather. He was such a burden…

“So, is this a shortcut or do you simply enjoy nature’s embrace?” he asked conversationally. He was at it again, trying to find a flaw in her guard just like last time. Was this all a game to him? Or perhaps he had an ulterior motive? She wasn’t one to trust easily. He would have to learn that the hard way: she remained mute.

She realized that his eyes were upon her now. She tried to ignore them, but she felt herself growing anxious under his studious gaze. Just what was he after? She had initially assumed that he had been after her body, but the manner of his departure before suggested otherwise. So if he wasn’t the common weak-minded male, what could he possibly want? Perhaps he was after the Family. Could it be that this man knew of her connections, her pedigree?

“Where’s the danger in this?” Phil’s question seemed honest, and it caught her off guard. She didn’t respond, however, and tried to avoid looking his way to show that it hadn’t gotten to her.

“I mean,” he continued calmly, “if I want to talk with you about any old thing, what’s the harm? You treat me as if I were a lifelong enemy.”

She looked at him with only one eye, tilting her head slightly. She had learned long ago that this was an effective way to avoid revealing her thoughts. She considered his question, and how to respond, cautiously. “My motives are my own,” she stated simply, looking away as she did. “And yours are in question.”

“Touché.” He actually seemed satisfied with her response. She was perplexed; she wanted this man gone so she could be at ease again, yet any attempt she made to repel him appeared only to attract him! Just like before. She simply couldn’t comprehend this man, and if anything irritated her it was that. She was so accustomed to being able to read a person, to understand someone, but she had clearly been wrong about his motives on their first meeting, and today she was completely at a loss for them.

“Alright then,” he stated suddenly, “I’ll give it to you.” It was all Rose could do not to snap at him to keep silent: she had wanted to discern it for herself. But she kept her tongue still, and he explained. “All I want is to learn more about you. I never expected to meet you for a second time, and this suggests the possibility of more meetings in the future. And so I wish to crack that shell of yours, beautiful as it is, and get to know you a little better this time.”

Rose was pleased to see the main road up ahead, for it meant that she was getting closer to the Manor. She was careful not to hasten her step, though: she mustn’t let her eagerness show. “A foolish endeavor,” she told him severely, “and I still do not see why you are here.”

“Ah,” Phil responded as if making a revelation, “I had forgotten that such was in question. Regardless, that is information I cannot reveal. Sorry.”

“And you expect me to trust you?” she asked him blatantly, again without looking at him. “That, sir, is a rather poor attempt at breaching this shell.”

“Touché, again!” He laughed. He actually laughed! What did he find so humorous about her response? “Still, it’s not information I’m at leave to give away. So I guess we’re both going to be in the dark, hmm?”

They reached the road simultaneously, and Rose spoke harshly as she turned to the right, away from him, and continued walking. “Then surrender now and leave me be.”

“And leave such a beautiful lady to wander all by herself by the road here?” he asked, and to her dismay he was walking beside her again. “That’s a little dangerous, isn’t it?”

“I can take care of myself,” she snapped angrily. How dare he propose otherwise! She was not going to have some man thinking she might want – or worse, require – his protection! Did he have absolutely no notion of who he was speaking to? Nobody ever drove down this road anyways: it was private.

“Well,” Phil responded to her anger calmly, “nobody can determine that as well as you, I suppose. You’re still going the same way I am, though.”

Rose was cross, and anger led to mistakes. She would ignore him again, at least until she relaxed. But by then they would be at the Manor… good, then she would no longer have to tolerate him. She refused to give any indication that he was getting to her: she maintained her pace and remained silent.

It appeared Phil was finally satisfied to keep quiet for a little while. Had he given up? She didn’t risk glancing at him to analyze him, however. Such would give her curiosity away, and probably only encourage him. She wasn’t all that interested, anyways.

But it suddenly dawned upon her that, in