By the time the three friends arrived at the pavilion, they were already late. All workers were in the rehearsal room for a meeting. They walked there in total silence.
Slowly, Will pushed the rehearsal room's doors. Madam Wang wasn't looking in their direction. He nodded at them. Then, they all entered.
Their steps froze.
Madam Wang was glowering at them. Her arms crossed over her chest. A black rose in her hand.
They immediately stood straight.
Raven looked down. Jaden looked indifferent. Will, gave Madam Wang a bright smile .
Madam Wang secretly rolled her eyes and nodded to where others sat. Jaden, Will and Raven went to sit.
Madam Wang cleared her throat.
"I have already reminded you of the rules of the pavilion…" she glared at Will, Jaden and Raven.
Her glare pierced their hearts, "Follow them. Strictly."
There was a brief moment of silence. Madam Wang's eyes swept across all faces.
"You." She pointed the rose at Liza. Liza's eyes widened as she stared at the black rose.
Madam Wang waved her hand to her. Liza staggered up. She felt countless piercing eyes on her.
She secretly took in a deep breath and walked over. She stood beside Madam Wang, her head hanging low.
"What are you hanging your head for?" Madam Wang sneered. "Look at them."
Liza slowly raised her head and looked at her colleagues.
"How many of them do you know?"
None.
She shook her head. But then her eyes fell on Raven.
She was staring. At nothing.
She seemed to be drowning in her own thoughts.
In her usual exaggerated tone, Madam Wang went on.
"This is Liza. These are all my children. Your brothers and sisters. You. Are the last born."
Madam Wang pulled her closer to herself. Liza's body stiffened.
"If anyone bullies you, your WONDEROUS, brave strict mother. Will whip them."
Will sniffed, struggling to keep a straight face.
Liza pursed her lips. Saying nothing.
"Being too quiet doesn't make you the Virgin Mary. Try blending in with your peers." Remarked the wonderous mother.
Will lost it. A laugh escaped his throat. Realizing all eyes were on him, he cleared his throat awkwardly.
'I shouldn't have laughed.'
He stood up, as her look commanded to him.
"Since you think your teeth are as white as snow so as to laugh at me;"
Raven and Jaden glanced at him.
Jaden quickly looked away. Sniffing. He rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers.
Raven coughed to hide the laughter. A loud laughter escaped her mouth.
She blinked a couple of time. Slowly, she turned her head at Madam Wang.
She wasn't glaring. But her gaze wasn't soft either.
She smiled.
Their eyes widened.
"Remain here when this meeting is over."
"Yes."
Before they could sit, "Go stand in different corners."
Raven: "eeh!"
Will: "eeh!"
Jaden gave a muffled laughter.
"You, join them."
Jaden glanced at his aunt in surprise and then at his two friends.
They flickered their eyebrows, a devilish smile drawn on their faces.
All sisters and brothers feigned cough. But then laughed.
Her lips curled into a smile. Almost unrecognizable. Her eyes swept over their faces. But then, the person next her was not smiling. Liza was staring at the air, her hands tightly clenched, that her veins popped out on her tender hands.
Madam Wang only patted her shoulder saying nothing.
Soon after, the meeting ended with a round of applause.
The three soulmates remained there with Madam Wang.
Cleaning the pavilion pond was their punishment.
Will and Raven dipped their woven nets in the pool.
Jaden came and from behind holding a stick in his hand. He pointed the stick to the pool.
Raven: "???"
"What are you doing with a stick?" Will asked.
"A stick? Hmph. This is Moses's staff." Jaden replied with a straight face.
The other two shook their heads.
Seeing that nothing was happening, Jaden withdrew the stick and threw it into the pool.
Will and Raven glared.
"What?"
"We are cleaning this pool here." Raven reminded him. Jaden nodded and picked up his woven basket.
There was a garden at the other side of the large pool. There was not a rule that stopped people from going there, but they naturally didn't.
"How is it like there?" Raven asked Jaden out of curiosity.
Jaden stared at the place in silence.
Will and Raven noticed the look on Jaden. They also stared there.
There were a variety of beautiful flowers in the garden. It was like a little paradise hence the name 'Little Paradise.'
It had once belonged to his parents. That, he heard from his aunt Madam Wang. His father died of an illness when his mother was still pregnant with him. And his mother died while giving birth to him.
He grew up unsocialized and always went in the garden to avoid people. Jaden's first friendship was in that garden. Will was still new then.
A curious youth who almost everyone in the pavilion instantly took a liking of.
At that time, Jaden was sitting on a wooden chair in the garden, carefree spinning the metallic ink brush. He heard unfamiliar footsteps, and slowly turned to its direction.
A carefree boy wore a wide grin. Carelessly plucking and smelling every flower he thought was beautiful. He then saw a person glaring at him, clenching on a metallic brush where he sat.
Will approached him, but he quickly stood up and stepped back.
"Get out of here." Jaden told him calmly. Instead of going away, Will took one of the plucked flowers and shoved it to him.
Jaden snatched all flowers from him and walked off angry.
Will then lowered his voice to Raven, "That flower I gave you when we first met…" Will closed his mouth, seemingly in hesitation.
He continued, "Was from there."
Raven gave a small smile. Both Raven and Jaden were aware that Will was the precious bridge to their friendship. And deep inside they were grateful.
"Ahhh!!!"
Raven fell in the pool with a splash. She glared at Will who had just pushed her. Will ran his hand in his hair giving a proud smile.
"Eeh!" He fell in the water. "You!"
He and Raven got out of the pool and took Jaden's hands and legs by surprise and pulled him in the pool.
Liza happened to be passing by. Their laughter made her stop walking. She glanced at each of their faces and then expressionlessly on her hand. Slightly clenched it and then unclenched it.
She walked away. But all of them had noticed her.