Falling for you-

"Ashton Philip Pov.

"Are you not coming with us?" I looked at Uncle Henry when he spoke on my side. He's carrying a basket of flowers. Winter's dad.

"No, Uncle, I'll stay here..." Uncle Henry nodded before looking at the girl who walked towards us with a big hat.

She took it off and lowered the empty basket. She was sweaty before wiping her forehead due to sweat.

"You finished it all?" Uncle Henry chuckled while looking at his daughter. Winter nodded. She glanced at me but also avoided eye contact before lifting the empty basket again.

"I'll get another one; I'll join you..." Uncle Henry nodded.

"I'll wait for you..." Winter turned, carrying flowers. She's wearing black pants and a long sleeve to cover her arms. But even so, her style looks different to me.

"I'll go with you, Uncle..." Uncle Henry looked at me. It's better to join them since Trixie and her parents are busy. I stayed here with Uncle, who cleaned up before helping on the farm.

"Okay. You might get bored here; it's better to explore around." I nodded with a smile. Just right, I noticed Winter approaching with a basket of neatly arranged flowers.

I stepped closer to her. She stopped and looked up at me.

"Hi..." She turned to avoid me. But I blocked her way to take the basket she was carrying.

"Let's go, Uncle." I left Winter with a puzzled look. Uncle Henry laughed before walking ahead.

I'm not sure if Winter followed or not. She's been sulking since the night I kissed her behind their house. I couldn't help it. How many nights have I been thinking about her soft lips when I also kissed her in the restroom? Until now, it hasn't left my mind.

Our walk only took ten minutes, reaching the flower farm. It looks like a beautiful resort surrounded by flowers and designed cottages.

The surroundings are clean, and there's a separate rest house for the flower farm where we placed the basket.

Some customers were waiting there, attended to by Winter. They were buying flowers while taking photos around.

"He's handsome."

"Is he from here?"

"Looks like a city guy, so smooth."

The women whispered while pointing the camera at me. I tried to smile, but Winter handed the bouquet of flowers to cover the camera.

"Have you paid?" The girl asked Winter. She nodded, and one of them glanced at me.

"We've paid. Can we take a picture with you guys?" Winter turned to me as they pointed. She avoided eye contact.

"Up to you..." She went inside. Even the other girl laughed and said, 'She's so snobbish,' before approaching me.

Uncle Henry was on the side, attending to new customers trying to enter the flower farm. I could only look at the camera because of its sudden flash in front.

"Are you a visitor here?" I smiled before nodding.

"No wonder you give off a different vibe. Can we take a picture? It's just for Myday." I agreed. I smiled at the camera while noticing Winter on the terrace of the rest house.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

I shook my head to the question. They were thrilled with my answer. I noticed Winter subtly tilting her head before deciding to come out of the rest house.

I kept my eyes on her as she walked away. But before she left completely, I answered the girls again.

"The girl I like already has a boyfriend."

I saw her stop for a moment when I told them. Even they raised their eyebrows and showed disappointment on their faces.

"What a waste, brother. But you can confess to the girl you like..."

Winter walked away before I could respond. I just smiled at the three before saying goodbye and claiming I had something to do.

I followed Winter to where she was heading. She was walking on the straight path surrounded by tall sunflowers."

I could feel it from where I stood, observing how the wind carried her long hair. Her simple walk echoed in my heart. She paused by a large rock, surrounded by grass and beautiful sunflowers.

She sat there. Few people around, only the chirping of birds could be heard.

I walked gently, stopping at the edge before joining her on the rock.

That's when she looked at me. I noticed surprise in her eyes, yet she didn't move away.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

I chuckled lightly. Unchanged as ever. More gangster-like than a gangster with her questioning.

"I followed you. I got bored over there."

"Are you still bored despite that smile earlier?"

I furrowed my brow but couldn't help laughing. "I'm just forcing a smile. Honestly, I prefer sitting here with you now."

She grinned before averting her gaze.

"If I drop you there and you roll down..."

"I fell a long time ago, Winter, but you didn't catch me."

She stood up, glaring at me. "Why can't you stop saying those things?"

"What's wrong with what I'm saying?"

"Your actions, I don't like them. Leave me alone."

I sighed before standing. "What if I don't want to?"

"I told you, Ashong. You can't have feelings for me; your desires won't come true. What you feel will pass. It's not real!"

I didn't respond. I kept staring at her, my heart beating unchanged even with what she said.

"I want you. Not Trixie."

She squinted at me. "Why are you still talking like that?"

"What's wrong with what I'm saying?"

"What you're doing. Your behavior, I don't like it. Stop it."

I sighed before standing. "What if I don't want to?"

"I already told you, Ashong. You can't like me, your desires won't come true. What you feel will pass. It's not real!"

She turned away. I followed, persistent.

"I know you feel something for me, Winter. I feel it."

She stopped walking. Still facing away, she spoke. "You won't let me kiss you. You won't close your eyes; you won't delay if you don't like it."

"Come on!" she faced me, angry. "I was surprised; I didn't know what to do, so that happened. So please, I'm begging you, don't mention it again, someone might hear you!"

I didn't reply. My gaze remained on her, my heart beating unchanged despite what she said.

"You're the one I want. Not Trixie."

She blinked. She ran her hand through her hair before turning away. But she didn't move far. I held her hand and turned her back to face me.

"Let go of me!"

"Do you know that I prefer your attitude now?" She tried to snatch her hand away, but I didn't let go. I grinned. "Just be tough with me. I like that."

Her eyes narrowed at me. Instead of getting scared, my heart leaped even more.

But she moved away from me due to Trixie's voice approaching our spot.

"Philip!" I looked at her. She ran towards me, smiling. She wore a beautiful dress with her hair neatly styled.

She hugged me tightly when Trixie reached me. I couldn't move immediately because of surprise.

"I'll study in the States next year. In the school I want." I couldn't react. I didn't feel disappointment either because she would study in the States.

I just smiled before she let go of the hug, but her hand remained on my neck.

"I want us to be official, Philip. Mommy likes you so much; she agreed to let me be with you."

I couldn't do anything but stare at Trixie. But my mind was on the girl standing beside us, watching.

"And Winter is the witness for my answer. My answer is yes. I'm your girlfriend now."

I swallowed. Trixie had a beautiful smile before she looked at Winter, who was also smiling.

"Congratulations to both of you." I looked at her when she said that. She didn't look at me, but I witnessed the fake smile she gave to her cousin.

I wanted to appeal. I wanted to express my feelings, but I didn't want to hurt Trixie. But I didn't know it would come to this. I had no idea that Trixie would respond to me in this situation.

"I'm happy for you too, Winter. I know Calix has liked you for a long time. Congratulations to both of you."

Winter smiled again.

"I don't know how to express what's on my mind. I don't want her to think I'm just joking about liking her.

"I-I'll just go back to the rest house. You can show her around the farm..." Winter turned away. I wanted to call her, to stop her from leaving.

But Trixie faced me with a big smile.

"Hey, what happened?" I quickly smiled at Trixie.

"Nothing. Shall we take a walk?"

She frowned. "I'm not in the mood to walk; I wanted to rest at the rest house..." I nodded. I forced myself to step away before taking a deep breath.

I noticed Trixie's gaze on me. She seemed puzzled, and I couldn't read her thoughts.

"Are you happy, Philip?" I chuckled before laughing.

"Am I happy?" I held her hand to calm her. "I'm happy, of course."

"Are you no longer opposed to me studying abroad?"

"Of course, I support you for what you want."

"Are you really not against it? Are you sure?"

I nodded. "It's still next year, right? We have plenty of days to be together, and besides, this is for your future."

She smiled at what I said. If it were just for today, I wouldn't allow Trixie to leave. But now, there's no objection in my feelings. All I could think about was how to talk to Winter again.

We returned to the rest house for Trixie to rest briefly. Her parents were already there, happily looking at us.

Trixie shared the news about us, making our relationship official. The rest house was filled with teasing before I glanced at Winter, quietly sipping coffee on the side.

She looked distant, not even paying attention to the conversation.

"Ma'am Wen!" a young man entered, calling Winter's name. He's a worker here who approached Winter. "You have a visitor."

Winter stood up, curious, finally letting go of the cup she held.

"Who?"

The young man didn't answer as Calix suddenly appeared, holding familiar flowers. I've seen him give those to Winter twice before.

"Wow. Our lady has tulips..." Aunt Raquel teased the blushing Winter.

But upon hearing what she said, I couldn't help but wonder.

Is that tulips?

Purple and red tulips.

"Good morning, love..." I wanted to laugh at Calix's words. Love?

What's so special about love?

Everything with endearment like love ends. Much better if it's baby or babe. Tsk.

Winter just smiled. Calix handed her the flowers before kissing her cheek.

I wanted to explode.

I felt jealous, even with Trixie happily beside me. I couldn't stand seeing them being sweet. I excused myself, telling Trixie I'd go back home and take a quick shower.

She agreed, saying she would wait. But the truth was, I just didn't want to see how Calix would claim the girl I wanted to be mine.

I entered Winter's house alone. I went to my assigned room and changed into my boxer shorts. I lay on the bed, not even planning to shower.

I stared blankly for a few minutes before falling asleep. I woke up when a mosquito bit my face.

I jolted awake because of the sun's heat. I looked around to find the wall clock, and it was already past twelve.

Sh*t. Did I fall asleep?

I rubbed my forehead. I stood up and glanced out the window. But my disappointment deepened when I saw Calix there. I didn't know why he was under the tree. He was on the phone, but I couldn't hear. He wiped his face before abruptly ending the call.

Later, he got into his car and took something. It was a box, just a small one. He placed it inside before I went out.

I was on the second floor, observing his actions. He entered the kitchen with the box. Due to curiosity, I went downstairs. No one was in the living room, and it was evident that everyone was still at the rest house. But what was this guy doing here?