Chapter 202 - A Date After Class (5)

The quiet place that Edward found ended up to be a small and quaint bookstore that also sold aromatic drip coffee. While he did plan to bring Scarlet out for a shopping trip after playing at the arcade, he wasn't quite expecting the girl to choose such a place. They ventured the less crowded areas of the city and stumbled upon this old gem that Scarlet immediately fell in love with.

The lady of the bookstore had cataracts and seeing difficulties. However, she still welcomed the couple, more than happy to have customers.

"How can I help you?" she asked and ushered them to a seat.

The bookstore was rather tiny because of how many books there were cluttered in the small shop. There wasn't even a menu to offer, just an option of coffee with milk or sugar or tea. Edward wondered how such a place was able to sustain until now and the old lady hobbled back with the order of two black coffees.

"Scarlet, are you feeling better now?" he asked.

The writer nodded with a small smile. Normally, she would feel claustrophobic in small enclosed spaces but now, the tiny shop cluttered with books made her feel at home. As a writer, this was like a dream come true to be surrounded by books and coffee. However, she couldn't tell Edward that yet. 

"I'm fine," she smiled to reassure him but Edward wasn't thoroughly convinced. It wasn't because Elfie told him not to trust a girl when they say that they're alright but because he was still genuinely worried about her.

Even though she wasn't able to see clearly, the old lady brewed the drip coffee with practised ease, her body remembering just where everything was. Edward and Scarlet glanced back when the air was filled with a delicious aroma. As coffee addicts and appreciated, they knew that this old lady's skills were top-notch. No fancy machines, no fancy beans. Just pure skills and a touch of motherly love.

When the two steaming cups came, Scarlet offered her gratitude and told the old lady that she loved her shop. Edward could see the true joy and enthusiasm as Scarlet talked about the books that the old lady collected. Her collections were a little out of taste for the younger generation so she was pleasantly surprised when the bookish lady started talking about them.

"You must be a true lover of the old kind of literature. Most young people prefer to glue their eyes onto phone screens. Back in my days, getting our hands on any one of these would have been considered a luxury. I used to flip through the same book until the pages were worn simply because I couldn't afford new ones. We traded books with friends so that there was a healthy variety to go about. Young people nowadays are too privileged but they don't treasure it."

Edward sipped his coffee and didn't know how to ease himself into the conversation between the ladies. He knew that Scarlet was a little bookish. According to Elfie who studied with her for a brief period of time, the girl was not only smart but also hard working. He knew that Scarlet liked reading because she had a bookshelf in his guest room. The books on her bookshelf were very diverse so Edward didn't know what Scarlet liked. She didn't seem to be collecting anything in particular but after hearing her talk about books with the old bookshop owner, he now understood her better.

She wasn't simply collecting them. She was a true master when it came to books. Those books that she kept must have been special. Scarlet's memory was incredible. Edward knew that he had better memory abilities than most people because he was trained as a spy. He had a photographic memory but Scarlet's abilities surpassed his own. She didn't just remember things quickly. She was able to analyse them quickly as well.

For every book that Scarlet read, she remembered the names of every character, every scene and could even quote their dialogues to the old bookshop owner. Her analysis was very different and her opinions about each masterpiece were very detailed almost as if she was giving it a critique. If Scarlet could remember everything from just glancing through a book once, why would she need to keep any physical copies of books with her? Now, that made him curious. Learning new sides to Scarlet was always something that excited him. For everything new he found out about her, Edward couldn't help but fall for her more and more.

"You have not read it? What a shame," the old lady sighed when she brought up a book that Scarlet never had the chance to read before.

Hobbling over to one of the tall but overly tall bookshelves, she started to climb a wobbly stepladder and Edward quickly stood up and offered his assistance. Scarlet watched as her boyfriend played the role of a gentleman and blushed. How was it possible that she was able to get such a thoughtful boyfriend like Edward? She still found it hard to believe that they were dating and just the thought of calling him her boyfriend made her heart seize up so fully that she found it impossible to breathe.

Impressed by the courtesy of this young man, the old lady nodded in approval. The young lady was delightful and this young man was kind. They made a good couple and even though they were strangers, the old lady was starting to treat them like her grandbabies. She had taken a liking to them and decided that she would gift this book to Scarlet as part of their fated meeting.

"Is this the one?" Edward asked from the top of the stepladder.

The old lady nodded. "It is. Thank you, child."

The teen climbed down carefully with the book in his hand and Scarlet watched as her boyfriend suavely delivered the book into the shop owner's waiting hands.

"This is the book," she said and pushed it into Scarlet's hands. "You should have it."

Scarlet took a look at the dusty hardcover and dusted it lightly. "How much is this?" she asked.

When Edward heard that, he quickly reached for his wallet but the old lady chuckled and shook her head. She saw what the young man was about to do and she couldn't let him do that. University students should save their money for more important things. Books like this hardcover would be very lucky to have an owner like this young lady. Finding a well-read youngster nowadays with an old-fashioned sense of manners and respect for the elderly didn't come by every day. She liked them very much and thought that this would be a lovely gift to commemorate their meeting.

"It's not for sale, it is a gift," she smiled. "A gift with a prayer that someday you'll come by again to keep this lonely old lady company. I used to be able to talk to my husband about books but ever since he passed away, I talk to walls. My children aren't interested in good literature, what can I do? My grandchildren prefer playing Boxcraft over picking up a good read."

With a sigh, the old lady grabbed Scarlet's hands tightly with a strength that one wouldn't expect from a frail woman like her. Her eyes might have been covered with cataract but they reflected clarity and wisdom.

"Take care of it. Someday you will come to understand it the way I do. I know that you are a very intelligent lady but don't let your heart be clouded by logic. Listen to it sometimes, love can save you when everything else fails."

Scarlet looked at the romance novel and blinked. It wasn't the kind of genre that she usually read simply because she preferred to read about a character going on an adventure to accomplish something. It didn't matter if they were doing it to fight noble battles or if they were doing it for revenge. Scarlet liked to read stories that inspired her to be stronger, smarter and better. There was an insurmountable wall by the name of Anastasia and Scarlet had always felt weak and small whenever she was reminded of reality. It was only in books that she could find the courage and borrowed the bravado of heroes to face her fears.

If there was anything being an actress taught her, it was to fake it till she made it. With her talent, Scarlet knew that it wasn't easy for other people to read her. Yet, this old lady who she had only met for less than an hour could see right through her, all her vulnerabilities, flaws and insecurities. The fear that she suppressed like a monster locked in a vault was threatening to break the chains of control and Scarlet's heart trembled upon hearing the words.

Edward didn't know what it was that caused such a reaction but he knew it when he saw that flash of fear in her eyes. It was there for only a brief moment and anyone would have thought that it was their imagination because Scarlet reigned it in very quickly and thanked the old lady politely before making payment for the drinks and leaving. However, Edward knew better. He has been watching Scarlet for a while now and that smile wasn't fooling him. It was the fake one that Scarlet gave to the camera. Still waters run deep and what he saw might only be the tip of an iceberg, waiting to be discovered.