It feels like things might’ve calmed down. I’m not entirely too sure how to process everything that had just happened, but now that things are calmer - I realize that there’s quite a bit of time to spare. Maybe I should go and see if I can find someone to hang out with.

I decide to head to the garden, fully expecting Ortensia to be there. However, when I arrive there, I’m quite surprised to see my brother sitting in the garden instead, staring down at the flowers his wife had spent time planting for a couple of days.

I approach him, being sure not to startle him. I don’t want a repeat of the other day.

MICKEY: Mind if I join ‘ya, Ozzy?

OSWALD: Sure, go for it.

It’s nice to see him acting so friendly for once. It’s a big change I’m not entirely used to seeing - especially towards me. I sit next to Oswald in the garden, taking a moment to look down towards the flowers sitting right next to us. I reach out to try and touch them, but Oswald shoots a glare at me that causes me to recoil my hand back.

OSWALD: Don’t touch ‘em, Mick. Ortensia worked hard on it, it might ruin ‘em.

MICKEY: Aren’t they fully grown?

Oswald rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

OSWALD: Do y’not know anything about flowers?

MICKEY: Uh…

I don’t, actually.

MICKEY: Not really…?

To this, Oswald laughs. Not that I wasn’t expecting him to not make fun of me for that, but I can’t help but frown at him.

OSWALD: Don’t worry, neither do I. But I know the difference between a full bloomed flower and one that’s still blooming.

He points towards the flowers that I was about to touch.

OSWALD: Those are still bloomin’. If anyone else but Ortensia touches ‘em, there’s a chance that they might die.

Suddenly, he snaps his gaze towards me and narrows his eyes, and I can feel every bone in my body tense up. Geez, Oswald! Can you NOT do that!?

OSWALD: I don’t want ‘ya puttin’ yer hands on ‘em. Just keep your hands to yourself and admire it, if anything were to happen to them, I could only imagine Ortensia’s disappointment.

He sighs and rests his hand against his cheek, his gaze resting on the flowers he had stopped me from touching.

MICKEY: … You really care ‘bout Ortensia, don’t’ya?

OSWALD: Course I do, she’s my everything.

I can’t help but laugh under my breath.

MICKEY: Yeah, me too, with Minnie.

OSWALD: Oh, trust me. We know. You guys are all over each other all the time, we never get a break from seeing it.

MICKEY: I can say the same about you and Ortensia.

As soon as I say this, I give Oswald a playful push- and he’s quick to give me one back. The action catches me off guard, and I fall back much harder than he probably anticipated for.