Will had remained at the spot where Raven had left him. He didn't get tired of waiting. He was always able to find ways to distract himself. His eyes were fixed on a couple distance in a distance. Trying to figure out what kind of relationship those two had. The moment he shifted his gaze, he spotted Raven in the crowd, walking to him.
"Where is Jaden?" she asked as she stood beside him.
Will took a bite of the steamed bun in his hand. "I would provide you an answer if I had any."
Annoyed with the answer, Raven smacked the back of his head. Will subconsciously held his head and cursed at her with only his eyes.
He casually smoothed his hair. "All you do is ruin my perfect hair."
"It is better to deceive yourself than depress yourself." Remarked Raven. Will frowned with a lazy smile.
From a distance, he spotted Jaden calmly walking towards them. He crossed his arms to his chest and gave a few taps to her arm. He nodded towards him.
"Look at that grandma walking as if she owns the world."
"I bet she forgot her stick somewhere." Raven added.
By the time Jaden reached to them, they were already silent, giving him strange looks, with their arms crossed over their chests.
"What is wrong with your eyes?" Jaden asked them calmly.
"They are too pretty." Will and Raven stated at the same time. Jaden only slightly shook his head.
"The person who told you that, lied to you." Jaden informed them.
"Oh, I never lie to myself." Will joked with laughter. Raven and Jaden smiled at his words. They were silent for a moment.
"Follow me." Jaden ordered them walking away. He had this commanding spirit within himself, that most people in the pavilion found both attractive and annoying. Raven and Will glanced at each other and followed behind.
"I swear this way is to 'sweetness in bitterness'. They have a good wine." Will stated.
The atmosphere in the wine shop was warm. Wine lovers like Will wished they could spend their lives in the shop.
"Two rice wine bottles." Jaden stated.
Raven and Will opened their eyes and mouths wide.
"We are three friends." The two friends reminded him. "One, two, three!"
"I understand. He is not going to drink." Raven stated with a knowing nod.
"I am drinking. You two will share one bottle." Jaden calmly told them.
Will clicked his tongue.
"Too bad I didn't bring my own money."
"There is no money to waste. You are also too young."
"Just admit you are too stingy and stop lying about our age." Will carelessly spurted out rubbing his belly in preparation to receive something precious. "Thanks, by the way." He added.
"MAY God never empty your pouch." Raven said with her hands cupped as if in a prayer. In no time, the waiter was back with three wine bottles and three cups. The waiter noticed the confused look on their faces, and gave a small smile. It was that smile that made Will and Raven believe that it was just a bonus. They involuntary started to smile.
Carefully, the waiter placed the wine bottles and cups at the table. He politely gestured at the second floor. The three of them raised their heads. Their eyes fell on a handsome man in a dark green outfit. He was calmly watching them from above. Smiling at them with only his eyes.
Raven had a sense of discomfort.
Jaden only frowned. He poured wine to himself and raised a cup to his lips. Before he could drink, he noticed the unfocused look on Will's face. His hands clenched so tight as he struggled to control his expression. His expression swiftly changed back to normal that Jaden almost believed it was all in his imagination.
He sneakily glanced at Raven who was at the moment staring at the wine bottle placed in front of her. He realized that she hadn't caught a glimpse on Will's change. Finally, he put the cup to his lips and drank.
Will then stood up.
"Our honorable selves really appreciate your kind action. We hope there is no poison in it." Will told the man with a simple bow.
"There is none." The man replied lazily.
Will nodded his head at the man. His lips slightly curled upward in a so-called smile. He sat back in his seat and put the wine bottle to his lips.
'Why?' His hand clenched tight on the bottle. 'That bastard.'
Jaden snatched the bottle from him and poured him a cupful of wine. Without a word, he pushed it to him. Raven on the other hand, felt worry that they were going to drink from a stranger.
"I really don't like taking things from strangers."
"He is just a rich man who want to spend money." Will assured her with a clap on her shoulder. Raven scrutinized the man. 'Trusting too lightly is what kills most people.'
Will caressed the bottle in his hand. "He is quite stingy too. What is one wine bottle going to do for us." He shook his head, at the same time clicking his tongue in disappointment. He poured a mouthful of wine into his mouth.
"Why does that man seem familiar?" Raven wondered out aloud.
Will nodded, "He usually comes to the pavilion."
"Oh, I remember… what is his name ?"
Will had no will to answer. Jaden provided an answer.
"Lance. He is popular around here."
"Whatever; let's just drink and get home."
As they drank, Jaden and Raven realized Will's words were lesser than the usual.
Afterwards they returned home. The lights were already off at the time they reached there. Their light footsteps were the only ones that could be heard.
"I don't like this kind of silence." Raven confessed.
"Not the same." Jaden clapped both of them on the shoulder and strode away.
Raven's and Will's eyes followed him until he was out of sight. They then turned to each other, and tapped each other's shoulders and then said goodnight to each other at the same time. As they parted ways, all was silence once again. Will stopped walking and turned. He stared at her figure until he couldn't see it anymore. He shifted his gaze to Jaden's room and slouched towards it as they stayed in the same room. Wasn't he too lucky to have these two as friends?