Next to each other, the two ladies stared into the thin air. Benni's green hair strands clung to her tear-ridden cheeks, making her appear like a lost girl inside a mall. While Mavi seemed uneasy about how things are (smelly, cramped, chaotic), she saw it as something novel and fun.

At least, for now.

"Ah– I'm sorry I invited you to this mess," Benni broke several minutes of silence. "There's a clean room for you, don't worry."

She wriggled just as she helped herself stand and led her cousin to another black wooden door, which Mavi presumed to lead to her own room.

"My boyfriend and I used to stay here but— he just disappeared," her voice trembled. "He’s dead."

"Dead?!" Mavi cried out. "Why? I mean— "

"He took his own life,” she stated in a quick, dissociated manner. “I… I hope it’s alright if you accompany me for the meantime?"

Stunned at everything she had said, Mavi made no further comments and nodded her head energetically. Benni’s eyes lit up upon seeing that she was eager about it, and she led her further inside the room, where an apple green duvet covered a bed. Lined up beside it were also tall glass windows similar to ones at the halls.

"Mm- it's a pretty room," Mavi spun around, extending her arms in gaiety.

"It looks pretty much empty." Mavi added, "I hauled out all the garbage here yesterday, hehe."

Mavi fixed her eyes on the pastel yellow tiles while ambling towards an elongated desk on the far left side. Dragging the stool underneath the table, she sat on it, facing the large windows, which let the room bathed in natural light.

"Can I paint here?" Mavi asked, glancing behind at her cousin.

"Ye!" Benni assured her. "You can do anything, just don't paint the walls. Or the windows!"

Hearing those words, Mavi jumped up on her seat. "Perfect!" She then rushed outside to grab her things and added, "I'd buy a large canvas. D'you want to come with me?"

Benni cocked her left brow and stared at herself, "I haven't really dressed yet."

Together, the young women strolled through Owl street where their apartment building was situated. Some residents of the streets ogled as they passed by, noticing Maveth’s unusual appearance. Her white locks glimmered despite the shadow of her umbrella, and her skin was a bit disturbing with how pale it was. She’s albinic.They thought.

“Look over here, it’s a popular florist shop.” Benni pointed at a store as soon as they made a turn to 4th Avenue. “Want to look around?”

Without much thinking, Mavi agreed to her cousin and entered an entirely different space.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Inside, flower bouquets dangled in a single wave line from the ceiling. Some were within her reach while others were too high that people looked up to get a good glance at them. On the left wing of these hanging florets, rows of appealing arrangements were displayed. One that caught Maveth’s eye were blue flowers oddly placed in the middle. They seemed otherworldly to her that she wished to purchase them right away.

“I’ll buy that one,” she told her cousin who looked just as pleased as she was.

“Go.” Benni replied.

When she came close enough to see the flowers in their entirety, she noticed that they were placed on top of a separate platform, which popped up from the floor. She then laid her hands on its round vase, thinking of putting them in her room.

Yet just as she was about to lift it, a singular hand grabbed her fingers, forcibly pulling them away from the item.

“Those aren’t for sale,” A male voice resounded in her ears, making her flinch. "Can't you read?"

The man pointed at an inconspicuous signage in a small block. It was placed on the wall, just right above the platform.

Maveth looked at the stranger. He wore an orange suit, and his sharp eyes looked at her unaffectedly.

"Uhh- uhm," Maveth stuttered, overwhelmed with embarrassment. But she failed to utter any word, and she made a beeline for the exit.

"Whoo-" She exhaled.

Absorbed in watching the wings of the butterflies flutter, Benni hadn’t noticed that her cousin had left the shop. And when she glanced around, she laid eyes on a man with soft wavy locks, cut right before his ears. He looked through the storefront glass where Mavi stood at a corner with her back towards them.

Ehhhh? What’s up with that girl? Benni thought, and immediately, she made her way to the exit.

Seeing her hands fidgeting, Benni grabbed her wrist and led her to an adjacent establishment, which was a coffee shop.

“What happened?” she queried her cousin.

Mavi, now more relaxed, lifted her head and looked at Benni. “I… I thought I could buy it,” her voice trailed off.

“Oh, the flowers? Why? Why not?” Her face looked puzzled. “Those lavenders are for sale!”

Maveth threw her a quizzical look. “No. Not the lavenders,” she protested. “The ones next to it.”

Trying hard to remember what those flowers were, Benni gave up and let out a sigh. “My bad, my bad. I shouldn’t have trusted your eyesight. Look, how thick are those lenses?”

Mavi only shrugged, saying nothing more.

“Alright, what d’you want for a drink?” Benni stood up.

Her cousin shook her head, “None. I’ll have water.”

In front of Maveth, her little cousin sipped happily on her iced cappuccino. Passersby constantly glanced at the pair, one with green hair and one with white milky hair. What an odd pair, a grandma whispered under her breath, amused at the sight. Yet Mavi was far from amused, she held her umbrella almost right on top of her head, in order to block her face.

“We’re almost there, hehe.” Benni mumbled as they walked. Unbeknownst to her, her cousin almost tripped many times, even when she was walking slower than her.

“Let’s head home after this, okay?” Mavi’s voice quivered.