Yuna's fingers coated in dirt as she worked the soil. Her silky brown hair had come loose, stray strands falling around her face. Her brow furrowed in concentration, but beneath the surface, frustration simmered. Occasionally, she’d glance up, eyes flashing with barely concealed annoyance. A sigh slipped from her lips, barely audible, as she struggled to maintain her calm facade.

In her mind, Yuna was practically begging Victor and Zack to leave so she could focus on her work. Instead, she was plagued by four pairs of eyes like cats eyeing a dangling toy. They were squatting on the dense Bermuda grass, resting their chins on their hands, and wearing the same white cotton pajamas they’d had on since morning—something Yuna knew would be a nightmare to wash later.

Yuna’s garden was a breathtaking masterpiece, a lush paradise born from her tireless effort and Zack’s generous black card. The garden was a symphony of color and texture, with vibrant greens of flourishing veggies and an array of flowers in full bloom. The card had given her the freedom to select the finest plants and materials, transforming a simple lot into a botanical haven.

Finally, she halted digging and leaned on the shovel, pleading with them to go.

"Perhaps you two failed to realize how busy you both are?"

Yuna said, her tone strained with barely concealed exasperation. ‘These two are driving me insane,’ she thought to herself. Seriously? Do I have to remind them about the charity auction that is coming up?'

Victor’s dimple deepened as he shot back with a smirk, his tone dripping with mock cheerfulness. “Oh, You mean for the heist?"

As Yuna fell silent, her face softened with a flicker of guilt. Her eyes, previously sharp with frustration, now cast downward, shadowed by a wave of regret as she recalled their weeks of effort spent on a product that had turned out to be a misunderstanding of a product launch that hadn’t been as crucial as they’d previously believed.

Zack scooped up a mound of soil from where Yuna had been digging, shaping it into a neat circle. As he leaned in closer, still seated, his eyes were drawn to the colorful, vibrant leafy vegetables surrounding the area. He examined them with a mixture of curiosity and admiration.

He hopped like a rabbit and asked, "Is this a vegetable?"

“That’s beet greens,” Yuna began, “which can be eaten raw or added to—”

She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as she saw them chewing on the leaves like a pair of oversized worms, clearly enjoying the taste without waiting for her to finish.

“Spit it out, you pests! What are you doing?”

Despite her outburst, they continued munching on the leaves, their heads tilting to one side as they cast subtle, innocent glances up at her, as if they were completely unfazed by her irritation.

"You can eat it raw but, I put a little pesticide on it because there have been too many looper larvae since I planted the beet green. Just so you know, though, all the other vegetables are organic.”

'Not to mention they didn't wash their hands!'

"Then it's guaranteed they don't have worms."

"Poison was my daily coffee growing up," Victor said, nodding in agreement with Zack and continuing to chew contentedly.

Yuna shook her head, amused by how their minds were in sync perfectly at times.

As she caught a glimpse of their faces, she silently prayed, recognizing the exact look they wore when genuinely intrigued by something trivial. It was the same gaze her sisters, the twins, would adopt when their curiosity was piqued.

'Please don't ask...'

"Why bother doing these if you can swipe at the card whatever you want?"

As Zack spoke, Yuna's attention was riveted on the dirt in his hands. He carefully shaped it into a circle and lined it up. She could practically see the mischievous thought forming in his mind—he was thinking of hurling the dirt at Victor like snowballs.

"Yeah. You don't need to put in the laborious work. And on the other hand, isn't it bothersome to wake up early to water the plants, pull out the weeds, check to kill some looper worms..."

Yuna peeked towards Victor's hand while talking, where there were previously no stones the size of a fist. She then understood what was stopping Zack.

"Because I wanted to become a productive member of society."

She shrugged her shoulders and replied.

Come on! That's different than the answer we want to hear. Their gaze and face said it all.

She drove the shovel into the ground and said, “Well, gardening offers more than just the nutrition or food you get from plants. For me, it’s a way of life here that gives me a sense of purpose. It keeps me physically fit and burns off all the food I eat. It helps me unwind and relax. And, you see, it attracts the cute creatures I love to see in the garden.”

“Like us?” Victor asked with a playful tone.

Yuna gave Victor a cheeky smile and replied, “Definitely not! My garden’s idea of ‘cute’ doesn’t typically come with a six-foot-tall height requirement.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“How about a regular workout? Or you could hang out with your friends if you’re idle,” Zack suggested.

Yuna tilted her head as if preparing to respond. ‘Is this an indirect question about my personal life?’

"I have no..."

Before Yuna could finish her sentence, the automatic irrigation system kicked in, splashing water all over Victor’s face and soaking his shirt.

“PFFT.” Yuna quickly turned away, trying to hide her shaking shoulders as she burst into muffled laughter.

Victor’s reaction to the sudden splash of water was a sight to behold. He let out an exaggerated yelp, his eyes widening comically as the cold water drenched his face. His arms flailed briefly in a failed attempt to shield himself, and his usually composed demeanor crumbled into an expression of bewildered surprise.

“Sorry. I forgot to let you know about the sprinklers...” Yuna turned around, ready to apologize, when she caught sight of Victor’s impressive physique, partially covered in tattoos as he removed his shirt.

“Beautiful,” she said, genuinely.

Victor, slightly puzzled, asked, “You mean the tattoos?” he pointed to the intricate broken clock tattoo on his broad chest.

Yuna shook her head, a soft smile on her lips. “No.”

Victor followed her gaze, noticing how her eyes lingered not on the ink, but on the scars beneath, faintly visible through the faded lines of the tattoo. His expression shifted—just for a moment—as if the weight of his past began to press against the present. He glanced away, almost reflexively, as if he’d forgotten the scars were there, or perhaps wished they weren’t.

"The scars?" His voice was lower this time, more vulnerable. There was an unfamiliar softness in his usually guarded tone as if he was allowing Yuna to see a part of him he'd kept hidden.

"No."

She shook her head again, then without a second thought, Yuna casually lifted her shirt just below her breast, revealing a scar etched beneath her chest.

"…"

The air around them shifted. They stared in stunned silence, their eyes wide, caught off guard by her audacious yet unmalicious gesture. Yuna, seemingly unaffected by their reaction, let the shirt fall back into place, her expression calm, as if she’d merely shown them an ordinary part of herself.

"I had it," Yuna said, her tone steady as she rested her hand on the shovel’s handle, her left foot pressing firmly on the blade. "It reminds me of a dumb mistake I made once."

She glanced down at the ground before meeting their eyes again. "I couldn’t turn back time. And if I could, wouldn’t I still do the same thing? Do you know what the funny thing is?" A faint, almost mischievous smile played on her lips. "I couldn’t help but be thrilled whenever I saw it in the mirror."

"It was a difficult time, sure," she continued a distant look in her eyes. "I made an unwise resolution. But... I also had an unforgettable and exciting past. And it’s not something I see as a lesson I had to learn, because I don’t regret it."

Yuna’s gaze flickered with something deeper, something untamed. "Although people labeled me a psychotic psychopath—" her voice dropped almost to a whisper, the words laced with a strange amusement, "—this is how my life advanced in mystery and intrigue."

Yuna smiled and continued, "The scars are like chapters in a book—each one contributes to the larger story of who we are. They remind us of our capacity to overcome, heal, and move forward. And I know that your scars tell a beautiful story of how you endured pain and gained strength."

Victor's thoughts raced as he processed Yuna’s words. Is she trying to comfort me? How did she notice the scars I’ve tried so hard to conceal, even from myself, hidden beneath these tattoos?

As Victor’s eyes lingered on Yuna’s delicate face, deep in contemplation, Zack scrutinized him closely. Zack knew that for Victor, the scars beneath the broken artistic watch tattoo were a dark and painful subject. He shuddered at the thought of Victor’s reaction if anyone other than Yuna had brought them up.

Yuna continued her work with focused diligence, while Zack remained quiet, his mind occupied with thoughts of her. He had met countless individuals of various statuses, ranks, and professions, but Yuna's disposition was unlike any he had encountered. She was genuinely kind yet difficult to read, a paradox of understanding and honesty paired with a detached indifference. She was firm and stubborn but maintained a remarkable politeness, never displaying any trace of inferiority despite her profound humility.

Why am I dwelling so much on her? Why does it matter so much to understand a pawn in my plan? Isn't she just a tool for achieving my objectives?

Zack grappled with the inconsistency in his curiosity, struggling to reconcile his growing interest in Yuna with his calculated view of her as merely part of his scheme.

"Can I ask? "Uhm... What are you digging for, by the way?"

Victor's attempt to change the subject came across as a natural effort to deflect, yet there was an undeniable curiosity simmering beneath his calm exterior. He was intrigued by the story behind Yuna’s scar, despite knowing she might not reveal it. This internal conflict was evident in his gaze, a mixture of respect and unanswered questions flickering in his eyes.

“Glad you asked. It implies that you are ready to help,” Yuna replied with a hint of sarcasm. Her tone lightened the mood, but the underlying message was clear.

Zack and Victor exchanged a mutual glance, their expressions shifting to one of unease. The realization dawned on them: they were about to dig a hole for a septic tank. The gravity of the task and its implications caused a momentary pause, highlighting their discomfort with the unexpected turn of events.

...

After taking a long, soothing shower and slipping into her nightgown, Yuna climbed into bed, her thoughts swirling like a tempest as she closed her eyes. The fading remnants of a distant memory surfaced, vivid and haunting. A fist-sized rock, lodged perilously close to her temple, seemed to throb in her mind.

"Scary," a child's voice echoed, trembling with fear. "Mommy, I’m scared of her. She’s scarier than her crazy big sisters!"

The little girl’s voice cracked as she clung desperately to her mother’s side, her finger trembling as it pointed accusingly at Yuna, who stood like a ghostly figure in the corner of her recollection.

Yuna’s hand traced the scar on her forehead, her touch gentle yet laden with a lifetime of echoes. Her eyes glistened with sorrow and nostalgia as she murmured, “Hahaha. Of course! My sisters are all angels. How could they ever be scary?”

A heavy sigh escaped her lips, laden with longing. “I miss you, my two angels,” she whispered into the quiet darkness, her heart aching with a poignant blend of grief and love.

Note: After digging for the septic tank, Zack, Victor, and Yuna took an unexpected detour. What began as a serious task quickly devolved into a hilarious dirt fight, with clumps of earth flying through the air like snowballs.