He got himself together and put down his bag. He got out his tools: a trowel, some paper for labeling, and a watering can.
He pressed his palm flat against the soil. Feeling the dryness, Lloyd tipped his watering can, letting the soil soak in the water. Next, he held the trowel firmly and pushed it into the soil at a slight angle then gently lifted the soil to loosen it. He continued this movement in small sections.
He created small holes with the trowel in the soil and planted a few seeds. One section was Red Russian kale, the other section was spinach, and the last section was cabbage. He marked each row with a split twig and a torn corner of his paper: R.K, S, and C.
Lloyd looked at his grimy hands covered with pieces of earth clinging to it. The brown contrasting with his paleness. He was planning on washing it off using the hose outside the greenhouse, but as soon as he turned around, he flinched.
In front of him was an older man with brown hair gone silver at the temples. The man was tall, nearly a half of head longer than Lloyd. There was a pair of white-rimmed glasses resting on his nosebridge, hiding his dark-brown eyes. The fine-wrinkle on his otherwise charming face betrayed his youthful look.
With curved, friendly eyes, he smiled at Lloyd.
"Good day, my boy." The Doctor crossed the distance between them before Lloyd had processed he was moving, and landed a palm hard between Lloyd's shoulder blades. The smack rang out in the quiet greenhouse.
Lloyd's vision got blurrier, his eyes dilating.
He cleared his throat. "I-It's been a while, Doctor." He mumbled.
The Doctor was someone Lloyd used to well-acquainted with. Well, everyone in the village knew who he was. He owned the only pharmacy in town which also dueled as a health clinic. No one knew his real name, they only called him the Doctor, as if it was his only identity.
"Hasn't it, hasn't it." The Doctor stepped back and looked at the plot with his hands clasped behind him. "Your mother's plot. I haven't seen anyone in here for some time."
He turned to Lloyd with those curved, pleasant eyes. "How are you managing? You look thin."
Lloyd's jaw tightened. "I'm fine."
They made awkward small talk, mostly the Doctor reminiscing while Lloyd nodded and feigned smiles. The small talk stretched longer than it should have. The Doctor had a way of doing that, filling silence so completely that leaving felt rude.
"Hah" The doctor exhaled. "It was good catching up with you my boy." Lloyd felt relieved. He could feel his heartbeat going back to normal. Was the conversation finally over?
"Ah" He grabbed both of Lloyd's hands. "I send my condolences once more. It must've been so difficult without Jihoon and Emilia around. They have and will always be important pillars of our small community." He smiled, rubbing his thumbs over Lloyd's soiled palms.
Lloyd immediately took his hands back, not violently, just…with haste.
"Thank you. It's getting late. I have to go back to Nora. Can't have her staying alone for too long." Lloyd exclaimed flatly. Ignoring his dirty hands, he started packing his things up.
"Of course, of course." The Doctor stepped aside, hands now folded in front of him.
The older man walked away then stopped.
"One more thing. Lloyd, you haven't refilled your pills in a long time. Make sure to stop by soon. Your mother wouldn't want to see you like this, she would want you to be healthy, right?" With that, he left. The old hinges of the door creaked on his way out.
Lloyd stood still, legs refusing to move. Eventually, they gave out.
"Hah, hah." He dropped to the ground, his heartbeat hammering.
Inhale
Exhale
Inhale
Exhale
He hovered a palm over his chest with closed eyes.
One minute passed, then two, then three. Some time had passed. His heart slowed down.
He finally got up, washed his hands, and left for home.
With his head clearing up, he wondered. Why was the doctor in the greenhouse to begin with?
…
Lloyd unlocked the door. He was immediately greeted by Nora who bumped into him like a small projectile.
"Woah there buddy." He caught her, hoisting her up against his hip. His almond eyes curved despite himself.
"Loin! I'm hungry"
"That's the first thing you say?" Lloyd clutched his heart with one hand while the other held up Nora.
"Yes!" She answered him genuinely with a nod.
He stared at her for a moment. "You greedy little bunny. No thought for your big brother, hm?" He pinched her thin cheek with a light force.
"Let me shower first and then I'll feed ya. Got it?" He placed the child down and went to his room.
Pushing open the door, he noticed a bump under his comforter, pink hair spilling across his pillow.
"Silvia?"
A moment passed before the comforter was lifted up. The pink-haired lady rubbed her eyes and stretched, both arms above her head. Her shift lifted, revealing a toned, slender waist. Lloyd gulped, blinking hard.
"You're back" She smiled, the sleep still thick in her voice. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed with her bare feet hovering above the cold floor.
"Stay down, it's cold." Lloyd walked towards the bed and took off his slippers. He kneeled on the cold wooden floor, placing them down.
The goddess slipped her feet into the oversized slippers naturally.
Staring at the man kneeling before her, Silvia's gaze softened. She smoothed out his hair, stroking every strand between her fingers slowly.
"You look tired." Her voice was low, almost husky.
Lloyd felt tingles throughout his body. A weird, but pleasant feeling.
He felt tired. He was so tired his bones felt hollow. He didn't say anything because saying anything would require him to form a thought and he couldn't locate one. There was only the floor under his knees and the warmth radiating off her legs inches from his face and her fingers moving through his hair with a patience he didn't deserve and hadn't asked for.
Time passed by slowly.
Lloyd could feel himself getting drowsier and drowsier. His knees were hurting, but he ignored the feeling to focus on the pleasure.
"You can get up you know." A soft, amused voice broke the silence. He opened his eyes and got up. His legs shaked.
"I-I have to shower."
What's wrong with me?! I'm so dirty and disgusting. Her hands were so comfortable though…AHHHH
"Without me?" She teased him. The words landed lightly, a half-smile pulling at the corner of her mouth, her emerald eyes holding his with an ease that suggested she knew exactly what she'd said and exactly what it would do.
A string snapped. Lloyd's face heated up. He was burning. He felt something throb between his legs. Without another word, he ran to the bathroom without even picking out his clothes. A decision that surely wouldn't bite him in ass.