Bouquet

ㅤ Reid rarely saw the strange girl in the village; he often encountered her while hunting, staring emotionlessly into the distance or observing nature with an equally indifferent expression. The only thing we managed to find out from the locals was her name: no one knew who she was or where she was from, only that she was a strange non-local girl named Shenhe. But she's incredibly beautiful! The aura of mystery added to her charm. 'She's in the wilderness so often—she must be a good hunter,' Reid suggested. 'If she cooks meat well, too…' he thought. 'I should try to get to know her.' Reid didn't know the point of courtship, but he did think of putting together a simple bouquet of wildflowers. He went to the place where he'd seen the girl most often. That's where he found her. They gazed at each other in silence for a while, until Reid handed her the bouquet. "Hello. I'm Reid. This is for you," he began simply, unable to say anything complicated. Shenhe looked at the gift, smoothly reached out, and calmly said: "Thank you." Not a shred of emotion crossed her face. But Reid experienced a whole range of emotions as the girl bit off half the bouquet, as if it were natural. Then another bunch, and another, until there was nothing left. "The yellow ones are slightly bitter," she assessed emotionlessly, "and the white ones remind me of my homeland." "Homeland?" Reid latched onto the word, not quite coming to his senses. "Mm," Shenhe nodded. "The teacher sent me to explore the world, so I haven't been to the mountains in a while. Perhaps it's because I'm homesick, but I just thought they tasted similar. But that doesn't make them any less delicious." "Oh," Reid breathed out, trying to digest the information the same way Shenhe had digested the flowers. "And when was the last time you ate properly?" A suspicion crept in that the girl was starving, unable to buy or cook proper food. However, Shenhe quickly shattered this theory. "Just now. Although," she mused, "it was more of a snack. But I saw a field where there were enough flowers to fill my stomach." "What, you only eat flowers?!" Reid couldn't help but look shocked. The mere thought of such a diet made his stomach churn. "Yes. I tried regular food, but it wasn't as familiar as flowers." 'Familiar...?' "Then..." he wondered how to keep the conversation going with this strange woman, how to establish rapport. "I'll bring more white flowers next time. So you'll feel more at home." "I doubt flowers alone will be enough," Shenhe answered bluntly, recalling her native land. But at the same time, she reassured him: "My teacher taught me to repay good deeds with gratitude. Tell me, how can I repay you? Perhaps with a bouquet in return?" "No, thank you," Reid laughed awkwardly. "I like meat," he admitted, eager to share his preferences, having inadvertently discovered his new friend's peculiar tastes. "Especially grilled steaks! Or dried eggbear—perfect for a long hunt." It was Shenhe's turn to think. She looked like a goddess, still enchanting despite her herbivorous tendencies. However, it was precisely these that were disappointing. A healthy meal was the key to a successful hunt, and nothing could be expected from a girl who ate only flowers. 'Well, at least we met.' "I'll continue hunting," Reid announced. "Farah promised to throw a feast for the whole village if I manage to catch a big game. She made it sound like she doubted me," he muttered resentfully. "See you later." Reid waved his hand. The expected common ground, as well as the possible joint hunt, hadn't materialized. And wasting time meant wasting food. ㅤ A week has passed since then: Reid had already managed to forget about the fleeting meeting, having satisfied his curiosity. However, one day while hunting, he caught the enticing scent of charcoal-grilled meat, seasoned with spices. He couldn't resist—he followed the fragrant scent. And what a surprise it was to see her. "Shenhe!? What are you…!?" He covered his mouth just in time, remembering his promise. "I completely forgot about the flowers! But I can show you a clearing where you can pick plenty!" he tried to correct himself. "No need, I found them myself—there's nothing left to pick there. But when I saw them, I already knew what to expect. Sit down," she pointed to an old fallen log she was using as a bench. "I didn't know which one you'd like best…" Shenhe continued speaking calmly, "so I prepared several." The girl pulled out an impressive roll of paper and delicately unwrapped it, creating a unique bouquet of pink, red, and burgundy "petals". She handed it to Reid, who nearly drooled, looking at the gift like a happy little child. It was the best bouquet he'd ever seen! Thinly sliced ​​pieces of various meats in the center, surrounded by a frame of denser pieces. He could have devoured it right then and there! "It's not all yet," she returned him from the meat paradise, while choosing skewers with the most delicious pieces of juicy meat, perfectly roasted. "I learned this recipe from a traveler, a good friend of mine. His companion highly praised this dish, putting it on par with chicken in honey sauce. I hope you like it too." "I'm delighted with the sight and smell alone!" Reid happily admitted, eagerly anticipating the moment the coveted "bouquet" would fall into his hands. "Enjoy your meal," Shenha managed to wish him before Reid took the first bite of the barely-cooled piece. "Mmm!" Reid nearly howled with pleasure. "So delicious! You're a goddess!" "Not quite right," Shenhe corrected, unaware that her companion was too engrossed in greedily devouring the exquisite delicacy to hear her. "I'm just a goddess's apprentice." "You're the best," Reid continued to praise her nonetheless, between bites. "I'm in love! Seriously! If you marry me and cook this every day, I'll be the happiest man in the world." The unexpectedness of the proposal forced Shenhe into a long silence. She watched Reid eat, pondering her own past, present, and possible futures. Before the proposal, everything had seemed so simple and obvious... She spoke only when Reid had finished with the first "fresh" bouquet: "I'll think about it." Reid also wondered what he had said. He sort of understood, but then again, he didn't quite, perplexed, rummaging through his pleasure-clouded memory. "I'm returning to the mountains tomorrow morning. When I come back down, I'll give you my answer." Reid merely nodded, agreeing to something unknown. However, the girl evoked only warm feelings in him; not a trace of his former disappointment remained, so he eagerly awaited their next meeting.

* * *

Time dragged on slowly and drearily. Several years had passed since their last meeting. Reid hadn't tasted such delicious meat since then; not even the creations of Farah's capable hands could compare. Recalling his goddess every now and then, Reid recognized what those white flowers were. He planted a whole field of them, hoping to attract Shenhe. And no one… Looking at the seeds of an old woman he knew, he thought: "Perhaps not enough flowers? Need some variety? I wonder which ones she'd like best?" Thus, he planted an entire field with a variety of flowers, carpeting the ground like a colorful carpet. 'I haven't seen these before,' he remarked, holding new seeds from a traveling merchant, an incredibly beautiful woman with long hair, dressed in green and black. She looked at him appraisingly. She bargained, not wanting to part with the goods so easily. In the end, she recognized Reid as worthy of the seeds. 'She's crazy…' Reid tried not to meet her gaze. Reid arrived at the field with the new seeds—his hand loosened, releasing them to the wind. Having lost not only the seeds but all his words, Reid gazed enchanted at Shenhe. As if only a few days had passed, not years, she approached and replied: "I agree…" ㅤ