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I. The Language of Flowers
Gray opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling for a few moments while his eyes focused waking up. He wondered what time it is. He smelled the early morning rain from his window on his right side and the warmth of the sun must've told his body it's time to wake up.
He felt parched and he reached for the glass of water on his bedside table. Beside the pitcher was a clear vase with a bouquet of fresh red and striped carnations. There were tiny water droplets on the petals and it shines under the sunlight. It was beautiful.
With the glass on one hand, his other reached to read the note that was resting beside the flora.
Hello Gray...or Graham. I heard you're doing better. I really regret about hurting you and I'm sorry I still can't face you.
- Red
"Oh, Carmen."
A knock sounded at his door.
"Come in."
It was Agent Deveneux. He wore his usual ACME attire. Blue suit and black tie with his work insured glasses. He straightened his tie and greeted him with a little lightened expression.
"Mr. Calloway, I just dropped by and see how you're doing. I see you're already sitting up and about."
"Uh, hey Agent Devineux. Yeah, supposedly I was to be discharged tomorrow. I'm excited about it. I don't know where to start once I did."
"Ah, with a skillset like yours I'm sure you're going to be fine. Err--I mean your non extra-curricular skillset not that uh we are always watching ehehe."
"I think it's really time to put all of that in the past."
"Absolutely."
"So...are you here in business or just really visiting?"
"Mm well, you are part of ACME's investigation once and I'm just here to make sure..."
"No loose ends?"
"Noo...no no no. Nothing like that. Well, I have been guilty of some things and I think going here is how I make myself feel better."
"You and me both, mate. Say, are you still in contact with..."
"Carmen San Diego?"
"Yes! Uh no! Uhh forget about it..." He sighed. "I just--wanted to see how she's doing."
"My partner Agent Argent is close friends with her, if I was Jules I would think she can take care of herself. And I for one can say she as elusive as ever."
Gray laughed nervously. "Thanks."
"Ohh, those are some pretty flowers." Deveneux went over and made a move to smell them and exhaled. "Ahh freshly picked. Did Carmen send it?"
"Yeah," he sighed again and whispered to himself. "I miss her."
"What was that? Did you say something Mr. Calloway?"
"Oh uh nothing."
"Well well, you are right! She is the type of person that you would miss...in a heist. I know I'm not a position to suggest you anything but if it is in your heart that it wants to chase La Femme Rouge then you go for it! Like I did!
Gray thinned his lips and looked down on his hands.
Deveneux looked concerned. "I infer it is a different kind of chase?"
"I..guess."
"Oh?" He blinked twice at him and narrowed his eyes. "Oh!" his eyes went wide in realization. "Say no more, mon ami. I will keep your secret. Are you sure you don't want us to contact her so you can see each other?"
"Not for now, thanks."
---
In his last day at the hospital, when he opened his eyes until a few minutes till he checks out, no one visited him. He expected that but it still hurts that no one was there for him at times like these. There were new flowers though, and those are Red Chrysanthemums. It couldn't be more obvious. Carmen had sent it and her gorgeous handwriting can be seen from where he was sitting.
Parched, he reached for a glass water and the note:
I hope I can see you soon.
- Carmen
A nurse and a med tech came by to help him out of his dextrose. And the nurse was chatty and mentioned the flowers.
"You must've love those flowers. Are you going to take them home?"
"I guess not."
"Oh, it's a shame. Those are high quality Red Chrysanthemums. The person that sent them must really cares for you."
"Unfortunately, she can't see me at the moment."
"Oh, but those flowers says she loves you."
Gray knitted his brows to the nurse. "They do? I didn't know that..."
"Yeah, I hope she sees you soon Mr. Calloway. I bet she misses you so much."
"Thanks.
Gray ended up taking the flowers back home and he waits until the day he could see his oldest friend and the one who stole his heart.
---
II. Sunset, Sunrise
Carmen sent those flowers in hopes that the distance will calm everything down and to give Gray time to recuperate. He still feels guilty about everything especially when she thought she killed the person she has feelings for. After two successful capers, in the South East and Central Europe, she visits her mother in Buenos Aires.
She was sitting at the veranda in the newly bought Spanish-inspired house she gave her mother in the countryside. It was sitting on a small hill and the view was amazing especially the sunsets and the weather is just perfect. But everything was nulled by her current feelings.
"You look down, sweetheart. Is something troubling you?"
Her mother who was a very sweet woman, carried a wooden tray on her hand
"I still have regrets about what happened in my past just before I met you."
"Is your friends? Zack & Ivy?"
"No, we're good. We've came back successful and we just celebrated."
"How about the Player? I never did get his name."
The red haired daughter chuckled little. "He prefers to keep his privacy and we respect that. All of them means the world to me but still my heart feels something's missing. Even thought I already have you now. I think I shouldn't be like this, at peace."
"Hija, you know I kinda know how you feel. Whenever your father is always away I surround myself with different things I enjoy but still there is this space that my heart feels lacking. I think your heart thinks you're in love, mija."
"What?!" Carmen, well that is the nickname that both of them decided to use from now on, recoiled back and blinked incredulously at her mother. "That's not possible. I can't--I shoudn't--what?"
"Listen, who are you missing the most right now? Who comes to mind?"
Gray. Her eyes widened.
Her mother continued, "It's not Zack and Ivy. Not the kid Player since he's always talking to you. I bet it's an old friend you really missed talking to."
Carmen let go of the breathe she was holding defeatedly. "I didn't realize he was that important to me. He...was willing to sacrifice...almost everything."
"Brings back memories to when I was with your father. You know, if that's what you want to do right now, I will tell you to go. Be happy for once, mija. I'm not anywhere. And if you decide to pursue it with him, I want to meet the man who caught my daughter's heart."
"Thank you, mama"
---
III. Red & Gray
Gray was in his usual spot drinking his favorite coffee. People watching and waiting for the sunset and the moon and stars to appear.
Among the walking civilians on the street was a young woman wearing her favorite red hoody jacket, Carmen.
She held a finger in her ear. "Hey Player, I'd be out for a while for coffee."
"Sure, Carmen. Good luck. We'll notify you in case something's come up."
"Thanks, Player."
Carmen ended the transmission, turned the earpiece off, and put it on her jacket pocket.
On the other side of the call was Player. He knew what's going on and he values his dear friend very much that he knew that if he ever had feelings for her, it could either change their working relationship or complicate things but he knew that he has a good thing going on so he let Carmen choose. And besides, they're like a family to him Zack, Ivy, Shadowsan, and Red. She's always been the Red thief to him. She also means the world to him, like an older sister. So he hoped that finally she can finally be more happier with him.
The red hooded woman silently sat beside Gray who was enjoying sipping his coffee. He jumped in his seat and his coffee splatted a little on his pants when Carmen suddenly appeared.
"Carmen! I was just thinking of contacting you."
She smiled so warmly. "Hi Gray, consider this me formally accepting a second cup of coffee with you."
He chuckled. "It's so nice to see you again."
"Same here. So how're you doing?"
"Well, ACME got me my old job back. And they said it's for my own good to not see them again but--why are you here?"
"I just wanted to see you. Why, am I not allowed to reconnect with my oldest friend? Besides, I wanted to apologize, I almost killed you."
"Yeah, I bet that might've happened so I re-calibrated my tool."
He glanced at her hand resting at the side of the table. He wanted to put his over hers, to feel her touch. Instead, he only touched their hands together. "I'd be lying if told you I didn't miss you."
They look eye to eye a little longer than they both intended then Carmen looked away shyly.
"Me too. You know, Gray...walk with me?"
They walked along the bay. The seagulls still squawking at the sky, the cold sea breeze blowing to their way but it doesn't feel cold at tall. Carmen feels warm inside, she feels safe, and content. Gray on the other hand still feels giddy and though he feels excited by what he's feeling, he kept his hands on his pockets.
For the first time in a long time, it feels like they're two people who doesn't have a care in the world. Like her mother had told her, she needed to let herself be happy if not happier. She feels like she can share her thoughts to Gray without being taken seriously or having second thoughts. She feels like she can connect her child-like self whenever she's with him. And he loves it when she allows herself to trust him again. He feels he wanted to protect her even though he knows she's capable of dong that herself.
"I want to tell you something, I was really worried that night you weren't going to come back."
"And I thank you for that. If it weren't for you I this Carmen wouldn't be standing with you right now spending this..." she turned to the sea and a breeze blew on them. "Ooof, brr chilly..."
"Let's go back, I think it's better to be inside than here."
"Yeah...but wait. I also wanted to tell you something, Gray."
"Yes?"
"I wanted to see you more. I'm happier than I was before when talking you and that's thanks to you. I know it's selfish since it's going to be an issue with your safety...but..."
"Carmen...actually...when you appeared in front of me earlier I was so happy. And I could think of is how can I make you stay. So I think this is where we ought to be."
Carmen smiled delightedly and her lips quivered. Her eyes teared up and Gray was smiling and opened his arms for her embrace.
"Ohh, how I wish I could stay. But I promise I'll do my best to visit a lot."
Gray laughed. "Don't worry about me, I'm going to be perfectly fine. I'm ex-Vile remember."
"Speaking of, please do not involve yourself anymore in them in the future. I worry."
"Yes, luv. I won't"
"Can I kiss you?" Carmen asked.
"I should be the one asking you that and he leaned down to give his lover a soft, and as the kiss goes longer, a passionate kiss. They walked back hand in hand and Carmen close her eyes while she rested her head on his shoulders.
As they walk back, Gray thought about how ACME is still looking for their La Femme Rouge and he suddenly mummed a song while they were walking.
"Where in the world is Carmen San Diego..."