4. Absurd Message

Siena read the attachment of Adalfo’s testament for one more time. Every flower name written was found in Adalfo’s greenhouse, except for one. What was Drumbrazil? She creased her brows again.

It was Saturday, one day after Damien handed over the testament, and Siena was in the greenhouse now. Determined to solve the riddle given by her adopted grandfather, she observed the flowerpot one by one according to its name written on the paper.

She lifted the first stone flowerpot, it was Amaryllis. Was there a message on the bottom side of the pot? There was nothing.

She turned the pot from side to side. It was clear, nothing written on it, except for the carving which was the part of the pot design.

She exhaled sharply. Did she have to pull out the whole plant one by one, to see inside the pot? Was it possible that Adalfo hid something in the soil? Her hand reached out in hesitation.

“Grandpa, I wonder what kind of game this is all about,” she complained.

Eventually she decided to pull out the Amaryllis plant. Her delicate fingers scraped the soil inside the pot, going faster and faster, until finally she poured out the whole content of the pot onto the greenhouse floor. There was only black soil in it.

“Oh my gosh! Not fun at all!” She felt as if she wanted to slam the stone pot onto the floor at the same time. What an absurd message!

Siena crouched, gazing at the soil scattered from the pot. “If only I had not promised Grandpa to take care of everything he left to me,” she murmured. “I wouldn’t have had to do this ridiculous thing.”

Massaging her temples with her fingers, she mumbled, “Think, Siena, think…! What exactly did Grandpa mean? There must be a clue….”

Had Adalfo ever given her any clue or hint? She knew Adalfo loved planting flowers, but it seemed that there was nothing special with every flower planted by Adalfo in this greenhouse.

She rubbed her hands onto her jeans, trying to brush the dirt off. Then she took out her cellphone from her pocket.

“Amaryllis….”

She typed the flower name into the search engine. The results were various definition and history about the red and white-colored flower, but what was the correlation to Adalfo’s inheritance?

“Let’s try this one, Drumbrazil….”

The results appeared were all about music instrument, a Brazilian samba drum!

“This is ridiculous!”

It suddenly crossed her mind, what if Adalfo was just trying to prank her? With her mind full of assumption, she turned her body around. She was just about to step out of the greenhouse, when she heard a loud voice familiar to her.

“Siena Chan…!”

“Imelda?”

Siena was surprised to see her two best friends, Imelda and Brian, walking toward the greenhouse. She immediately hid the attachment from Adalfo’s testament behind one of the big pots, the closest one to her. Damien had warned her to let nobody know about the testament and the attachment.

“Why don’t you guys tell me that you are coming?” Siena greeted her friends.

“Woo…. So now we must ask for your permission before coming?” Imelda protested.

 “That’s not what I mean….”

"Wow! Look at the garden, it’s so large!” Imelda screamed all of a sudden, admiring Adalfo’s garden. “Tsk, tsk, tsk…. You are the luckiest person ever, Siena Chan. Suddenly you become a billionaire!”

“Don’t say so, Imelda…. Come on, let’s sit there,” Siena suggested, pointing at the gazebo.

“Cheers Café misses you, Siena…,” said Brian, as they sat on the sofa.

Siena smiled wryly. Ever since she stayed in Adalfo’s house in Beverly Hills, she could no longer go to Cheers Café, the café where Brian worked. She had also resigned from her job at Angels Daily online media, all because of Adalfo’s last wish.

“I miss your green tea latte too, Brian….”

“Only my green tea latte?” It felt like Brian was trying to tell her about something else. He raised his brow.

“I miss both of you,” Siena added. Her hazel eyes locked into Brian’s eyes.

“No, it really doesn’t matter. I like it more when you stay here. So I can come here whenever I like. I saw a swimming pool over there. Next time, remind me to bring my swimming suits. Please tell me that I can swim here, Siena, please?” Imelda kept on babbling, ignoring Brian who was staring at Siena intensely.

“Of course you can –"

Before Siena could finish her words, Imelda had stood up and dragged Siena’s left hand. “Come on, Siena Chan! Show us around this grand castle! I haven’t seen everything.”

“What? Hey, slow down…!”

Unable to refuse, Siena reluctantly followed her best friend. Brian was tailing behind them. They walked across the garden, kept going through the left wing of the house, where there were living room, family room, dining room, and kitchen.

They continued striding to the right wing of the house where more private rooms located, such as study room and bedrooms. Imelda could not stop praising in amazement.

“Everything is in jumbo size! And look, there’s the second floor!” Imelda’s voice echoed in the luxurious grand house.

“Stop acting like a child, Imelda!” Brian scolded.

“Who cares? I never pretend anything. If I am amazed, I will say it out loud!” Imelda retorted fiercely.

“Yeah, but you don’t have to be like this!”

“Cut it off, you two…! Let’s just sit near the pool….” Siena broke up the fight between her friends who easily debated over many simple things.

They sat on the chaise lounges at the side of a large round swimming pool. Cool breeze blew from the side yard covered by big trees. It was the end of autumn now.

“Tell me, Siena, what are you busy with now?” Brian asked.

Beep! Beep!

Siena’s cellphone beeped. She gestured toward Brian and answered the coming call.

“Hello….”

“Siena, don’t forget our appointment tonight. I’ll pick you up at six PM…,” Damien’s gentle voice greeted her.

“Sure, Damien…. Of course I remember our party tonight.”

Brian instantly fixed his piercing gaze on Siena, his brows creased. Who the heck was Damien?

“What about the dress code? I mean, what should I wear? Oh, fine…. Yes, I’ll be waiting….” Siena hanged up the call.

“Who’s calling?” Brian asked quickly.

“It’s Damien, Mister Adalfo’s lawyer. Tonight I’m going to the anniversary party of La Paradise Hotel, one of Mister Adalfo’s hotels.”

“Oh my! You’re a crazy rich person now, Siena!” Imelda giggled.

Imelda kept on chattering, while Brian was staring at Siena with a feeling of sore in his heart. He felt like he was missing Siena whom he knew, Siena whom he could talk to and hang out with, despite of any status.