"Ah, there you are. You've been waiting in line, haven't you? Sorry for making you waiting."
"No problem, Nivea. I'm your customer too."
Both of them laughed.
"You picked the right dress, Nivea. It's very sunny, just like today."
"Ah, really? So, would you like some chocolate jam bread?"
"Yes, I'd like just one. But, please wrap it up because I'm going to enjoy it while walking around."
"Yes? Are you kidding?"
"I'm serious Nivea. Will you take a walk with me today?"
"Huh? Hmm. Where to?"
"I'll accompany you wherever you want to go for a walk."
"Hahaha. You're really kidding Matias!"
"No! I think you know better where you want to go. And I, for one, willing to accompany you."
"Alright! If you're not kidding, will you accompany me to the market?"
"Huh? Are you kidding me, Nivea?"
"No... no! I want to pick my own fruits from Mr. Robert's fruit stall."
"Ah, well then, shall we leave right now?"
Nivea nodded happily. "Of course! Just a moment!".
The girl turned around and headed into her kitchen. She asked Seri to stand guard at the ordering table.
"David! Did you write down the list of groceries you have to buy at the market?"
"I have, miss."
"I can see it?"
David nodded and temporarily left his handiwork, he stepped to the corner of the room, taking a small notebook from the drawer.
"This is miss. There are several types of fruits and other ingredients that are in short supply are running out." as he handed the note into Nivea's hand.
The girl read with a slight nod, "Alright! I'll go to the market now."
"What?" David and Clara asked in unison as if in disbelief.
"Yes! Let me buy it for you. Why? Is there something strange about me if I go to the market?"
"Ah, no miss. It's just that it's our job."
"No problem, we can always help each other."
Nivea walked away, leaving the two workers to wonder at her.
"Seri, please stay here until I return. Don't let the line snake."
"Do you want to go out, miss?"
"You're smart Seri! I'll go for a while with Matias."
"Ah, well, miss. Are you and Mr. Matias going to be escorted by Mr. Willy?"
"Hmm. That's right!"
"Ah, thank goodness then."
Seri looked in surprise at Nivea who began to step out of the area inside her shop. With Matias trailing behind her. Seri knew her lady as someone who was quite difficult for men to approach. But right now it seemed like her lady's self-defense was starting to waver, even though she had insisted on avoiding and not wanting to see the man again.
In fact, it was now the second time Seri had seen Nivea looking more cheerful near Matias, after previously Seri had witnessed the two people drenched in the rain.
"Why do you want to go to the market so badly?" Matias asked the girl who was in front of him. By this time they were already in the carriage, on their way to the market in the south of the city.
"It's because I haven't gone there for a long time. My mother once took me to the market without father's knowledge."
"Ah, really?"
"Hmm. And now I'm really enjoying this trip. Oh yes, will you want to help me fulfill this shopping list?" showing David's the little note.
"Of course Nivea! I'll help you spend it all. Even if you want to buy something else, I can take you there."
"Really? Thank you Matias, you're very kind to me."
"Don't overdo it Nivea, you don't know much about me. I'm nice to everyone."
"Ah, I see. I hope so too. You can be kind to anyone you meet, regardless of their social status."
Time had brought them to their destination. Matias helped Nivea slowly down from the carriage. The two began to walk hand in hand into the market area which looked very clean. However, it does feel quite arid, because there is no greenery around the market.
They started by visiting Mr. Robert's fruit stall which was not not too far from where they got off earlier.
"Hi Mr. Robert!" Nivea exclaimed to the middle-aged man wearing a cowboy hat.
"Ah, look who's here! Are you really Miss Nivea? It's a surprise, Miss!"
"Yes, sir! It's been a long time, hasn't it, since the last time you delivered your your fruits to my bakery. And we met there."
"That's right miss. And since my vehicle broke down, I couldn't come to your shop to deliver fruit."
"I understand, Mr. Robert. I would like to choose some fruits for myself." as her eyes roamed over the array of fruits in front of her.
Meanwhile, Matias only smiled occasionally at Mr. Robert.
"Of course miss! I'll get a basket for you."
"Here, miss, please choose in no hurry." Mr. Robert had returned with a rattan basket in his hand. And handed it it into Nivea's hand while bowing politely.
"Ah, yes, sir."
"Please sir. You can choose too." he said then, kindly to Matias.
Matias nodded, "Yes sir, thank you."
After she had finished putting the fruits of his choice into the basket, Nivea paid the amount to Mr. Robert. And walked out of the fruit stall with carrying her shopping bag filled with fruit. Each of Nivea and Matias carried one shopping bag in their hands.
"Where can I buy flour, Matias?"
"Ah, the ingredients for snacks are in the center. Let's go over there!" the man started walking and Nivea balanced her steps beside him.
"You know a lot about markets, Matias."
"Not really, it's just that I once passed by when accompanying Rodrigues to buy flowers for his mother. To get to the kiosk that sold flowers, we passed by a lot of stalls. There were all kinds of vendor stalls that we passed by."
Nivea was still following Matias' steps, until they stopped.
"Well, you can buy some flour in there." he directed Nivea's gaze to the stall on their left.
A few minutes passed, and Nivea felt that she had bought all the items that were on David's shopping list. And now, it was time to go back to the bakery.
"Come on Nivea, we can buy lemonade over there." said Matias whose gaze towards the lemonade stand across the street.
"Lemonade?"
"Yes! Aren't you thirsty?"
"Hahaha. Of course! I'm quite thirsty."
"I know that, Nivea. How could you not be thirsty all this time. Let's go there now." the two resumed the steps that had been stopped.
They were now sitting side by side, in a shop that provided a place where shoppers can sit and rest for a while to enjoy their lemonade, quenching their thirst after shopping at the market.
"Thank you Matias. You've befriended me."
With his best smile, the man nodded, "Sure Nivea! Just tell me if you ever need my help."