Purple Romance

The shutter sound made her turn and he was able to capture her surprised expression. She looked cute with her bangs rising up due to the wind.

''What are you doing?'' she asked him.

''I'm capturing and preserving the moment. I will send the pictures to you later''

''Then, take more pictures'' she posed with two fingers lifted. Andy chuckled and took a lot of pictures before she went over to his side, ''let me also take you some pictures''

''Let's take a group picture first'' Andy went closer and placed his arm on her shoulder, pulling her closer to himself as he lifted the phone upwards to take the picture.

Paula knew it was an unconscious act but still, her face burned and she couldn't help but looked at him. His side profile was closed to her cheek.

''Look towards the phone, Miss'' he said to her after noticing her distraction. He smiled and took a few pictures before letting her go. ''Here, take me one picture''

''Huh?'' Paula looked at him and blushed.

''What are you thinking of?'' he opened her palm and placed the phone there before going to stand beside the pond.

Paula looked into the phone, staring at his face. He had his hands stuffed into his pocket and his lips curved into a smile as he looked towards the camera. She found his pleasing to the eye. She shook her head before taking a few shots and handed the phone over to him.

''Here, it's done'' she said to him, ''it's getting late. I need to go and prepare for my trip tomorrow''

'You are travelling tomorrow?'' Andy looked at her surprised. She nodded her head and stuffed her hands into her pockets of her light yellow knee levelled dress that she paired with white sneakers.

''En, I'm going on a self-healing trip. I need it to clear my head and also think about the future''

''I see, where are you going then?''

'Secret. You don't need to know'' she said and started walking away and he caught up with her.

''Even I am going somewhere tomorrow too, but it's work related. Going to be there for a few days and then return''

''What kind of work do you do exactly? You don't look ordinary to me''

''Define ordinary''

''I am ordinary. A fresh graduate with no job after completing my mandatory service to the nation''

''Now define not so ordinary'' Andy looked at her, taking in her every expression and gesture. He loved to watch her speak. Her voice soothed him somehow and always brought warmth to his heart.

''You drive a really expensive Porsche car, the first time we met, you drove a Bentley. The second day we met you came in a vintage car which isn't common and today, you are driving a blue Bentley. Are you a car dealer?''

''A car dealer?'' Andy chuckled, ''the way your mind works is kind of refreshing''

''Uh?''

''I am not a car dealer but I have a friend who owns a car company''

''So, you test drive for him?''

''Not really? There are four cars that my brother and I use interchangeably. My own cars that I have are two, the vintage car and the one we came with. The other one that day belongs to me and my brother. That reminds me. When you saw me at the subway today, how did you know I was the one and not my brother? A lot of people can't make out the difference between us''

''I don't know but I think the vibes you two give is different. I just knew you were the one right away. Your hair is not that grown compared to your brother. The first time I saw the two of you, I realised that your choice of hair cut was different. You also have this, how do I put it? A unique way of speaking. In any case, I can just tell who is who between the two of you''

''You are quite observant, then''

''That I am, but the most distinctive factor is in the way you smell. You have a sort of like… you know the kind of scent that comes from a mixture of…'' she furrowed her brows trying to figure out the particular scent.

''Purple lavender mixed with mint'' Andy helped her out and her eyes lit up.

''Yes, that one. Oh, so you do know how you smell?''

''It is my body. Won't it be weird if I didn't know I smelt?''

''I don't know how I smell. Sometimes I feel that I smell like my shower gel. Other times it feels like…'' she didn't complete her sentence when he stepped closer to her and leaned over her shoulder closer to her nape. Her body tensed up and she blushed.

Andy wrapped his fingers around her neck and sniffed her before stepping back, ''you smell the same from the first day I met you''

''Huh?'' Paula's face reddened.

''When I shook your hand that day, your scent stayed on my hands. It is still the same. Mint choco''

''I use mint cocoa shampoo and gel'' she responded.

''That's how you smell on daily basis. I won't forget this smell'' he said and started walking away.

Paula touched her face as she looked at him. She didn't know why but she kept having the feeling that he was flirting with her. It didn't make sense to her either.

''What are you still doing there?'' Andy turned and asked her.

''Coming'' Paula ran towards him. He waited till she got to him before he turned and they walked side by side with each other.

When they returned to the orphanage, the children had finished eating and were playing outside with the toys that Andy brought them.

''You are back so early?'' Sister Bernice asked them.

''Yes''

''Andy, come with me'' Sister Bernice pulled Andy away and Paula went over to join the kids.

Sister Bernice took Andy to a distant away from them and looked at him curiously. it was like she was expecting something from him.

''Sister Bernice, haven't you still given up on matchmaking me with Paula?''

''How can I do that when you are not taking the initiative? Tell me, have you asked her how she feels about the age different between you two?''

''No, I didn't ask her. Sister Bernice, is that really necessary?''

''Listen to me child, this is very important. Women are very sensitive about age. You need to know her age preference first. If she wants younger men, then you will be able to do something about it''

''If she doesn't like older men, what can I possibly do to change that? I am already ten years older than her''

''Then, you can just seduce her'' Sister Bernice said and Andy frowned looking at her. he wondered if it was appropriate for a reverend sister to say such a thing?

''Sister Bernice, is it appropriate for you to tell me to seduce a woman?''

''I can just ask for forgiveness later. Don't change the topic. Go and ask her right away''

''Sister Bernice, we are just friends''

''If you don't win her heart over when you have the chance, someone else would do it in your absence and snatch her away from you''

''Alright, I will ask her, but it doesn't mean I am going to ask her out or anything. Don't have your hopes too high''

''Alright, go ahead'' Sister Bernice pushed him towards Paula and looked away.

Andy sighed and walked towards her. His heart was suddenly beating fast. He knew it was a crazy idea but he couldn't also help but want to know her type.

One of the children fetched mud and threw it at another kid who messed with her toy and the mud unfortunately hit the car.

''Oh, look at what Anna has done?'' one of the children shouted and Paula turned towards them. She stood up and looked at the car.

''Go and get the water hose, we can wash it away. Anna, it's alright, don't cry'' Paula said to the little girl who was about to cry. She was about to walk towards her when her hand was pulled back. She turned to face Andy with a confused and question mark expression on her face.

''Paula'' Andy mentioned her name.

''Yes?''

''Do you think I am…'' Andy was about to ask when he felt a splash of water on them and Paula sneezed as the way sprayed on them. The last part of his sentence was drowned out by the water that came upon the both of them

Paula looked at the moving of his lips but couldn't make out what he was saying. She sneezed and he wrapped his arm around her head, pushing her face into his chest as he shielded her away from the water.

''Lewis, put the hose away'' Sister Bernice quickly turned off the tap and snatched the hose from the boy before turning to Andy and Paula. Andy stepped away from her afterwards but his body stiffened at the sight before him.

Paula's yellow dress was now plastered to her body like a second skin. Her blue black bra could be seen and so was her black undergarment. He could clearly see her curvy body outlined in the dress. His Adam's apple throbbed up and down and he quickly looked away.