“Let me just… Get this thing right… Here…” You said as you tried to pull out your chosen item from the bag.

It had some sort of handle, alright. Probably wooden for it was a bit rough on the edges and probably worn out a bit from use. As you tried doing before, you attempted to pull out the object but it was of no use. It was somehow stuck from all the other stuff in the bag.

“Well?” Bard asked as he looks over to where your hand was.

“Ugh, its.. stuck.” You said as you gave it another tug.

“Well, then pick another one.”

“No. I chose this for a reason and I’m not letting go.”

“Even if it is the least person you would like to get in a closet with?” Ciel suddenly butted in, knowing he always wants to test people’s opinion about something.

“Well, uh.”

“My thoughts exactly. Finnian, give the bag a little shake, would you?”

The timid Finnian stood up and walked over to you, removed his gardening gloves and took the bag from Bard. Then you suddenly had the idea of what you’re possibly holding right now. You felt your fingers soften their grip for a while as you thought about spending seven minutes with the adorable gardener. Sebastian whispered something to his master as Finny was about to do as he was told.

“My lord, I hope you know what a ‘little shake’ means to Finnian.”

“Trust me. See for yourself.” Ciel replied as he laid back in his chair, contented with his decision.

“Alright, _______... I’m going to shake the bag now.” Finny gently said as you finally recovered your concentration.

You know what Finnian’s capable of and that didn’t faze you at all. You had complete and utter trust in this man even at the time where you thought he could hurt you. To your surprise, he shook the bag…. In a subtle way. Too subtle to be normal for him.

You felt the object go loose and you slowly pulled it out. You can see Sebastian smirk as his master gives an ‘I-told-you-so’ look at him. Finnian smiled at you and was about to go back to his seat, thinking that his order is done.

“Finny, wait.” You said as he was about to take another step.

He turned around, still had that smile on, only to see that you are holding a trowel in your hand. His trowel. Your intuition was correct. Bard grinned happily, biting tightly on the cigarette that he had.

“Go on, Finny! Have some fun!” Bard exclaimed.

Finnian blushed at the thought of ‘fun’ he might imply. You placed the trowel down along with his gardening gloves and held out your hand for him to take. He was somehow hesitant, as if your hand could catch his on fire. This… kind of made your heart sank… in a negative way.

But, eventually, he placed his hand atop yours and you finally walked towards the already lit closet. His hand was shaking and once you two were in the closet, he took it back instantly.

“What’s the matter, Finny?” you asked, totally curious of his sudden change in behavior.

“I… I… I can’t be with you.”

And just like that, your whole world went down in pieces. Your whole body trembled as if the frail shell of the only thing keeping you alive is breaking. You could only do one thing at times like these. Do the math, and fight for your statement.

‘Can’t’ and ‘don’t’ mean entirely different things. ‘Don’t’ is always attached to ‘want’ in sentences like these. And those kinds of sentences have something to deal with emotional and total personality problems but ‘can’t’… It has something to do with priority and fidelity.

“… Is it.. because you’re scared of hurting me?” you said as you concluded your theory.

“H-How did you--?”

“Ugh, none of that matters now, Finny.” You instantly said before he could finish his sentence. “Truth is, I don’t care about myself anymore. I.. I want you, Finny.”

You took a step closer to him but he took one step back as you did so. Two more steps of this supposedly slow tango and he was halted by the closet wall. Coat-hangers and multiple suits fall as Finny came to a stop in his position. You finally got him cornered. At least you could finally prove your point to him.

“_-_____..” Finny murmured as your face was about just an inch away from his.

His breathing was quick and short but yours was calm and tranquil. He definitely cares for you. Your lips glided lovingly on top of his at first, slowly calming him down. This does not work, however, for the wall he was leaning on started to crack.

“No! I’m a monster.” He said as he looks away from you and slowly pushes himself away from the wall, making you back away.

You look at him sympathetically. His blue-green eyes were far from the usual happy-go-lucky aura they once had. You somehow had to bring this back.

“Hey.” You softly said to catch his attention.

He finally faced you, his eyes getting teary. You gently took his hand and guided it around your waist. He gasped, shocked at what you are going with might be your undoing.

“______, please stop this!” he said as you took his other hand and did the same.

“If you really care for me, then just be yourself, Finny.” You replied, looking up to see his features that intrigued you at the first time you saw him.

He said nothing. Seeing that he was rather motionless and at peace, you finally leaned in to seal the deal. It was full of nervousness and care, that kiss. Just like the person who was kissing you. As few more seconds passed, he began to tighten his grip around you.

Nothing felt more safer than this in the world. Every gardener’s hands has both its time for gentleness and force. He treated you like the most fragile flower that he has ever encountered. Secure, but not too suffocating. Drenched, but not drowning. And just like that, the door opened.

“Finnian! Be careful with _____--!” Bard shouted as he notices the danger that you’re possibly in.

“Don’t worry, Bard. She in perfectly good hands.” Sebastian says as he passes by him without even taking a glance in the closet. Now he believes in his master’s opinion.

“Ohhhh!!! This is too shocking to bear!!” Meirin exclaimed as she face-palmed herself, squealing with excitement from her friend who got her other friend.