Chapter 121 - Why is Jean so mysterious? (2/2)

”Come on now, take many pictures of this fairyland... I'll wait here.” He gave a signal for Finland to try the camera while he stood waiting in front of the wine shop. The girl happily followed Jean's advice and in a short time she had used up all the film on her new camera.

”The photos are good. It does feel like a fairyland here.” Finland said as she arranged her photographs on the table. They sat in the cafe enjoying dinner while Finland admired the shots. ”Did you buy more films? I already finished everything.”

”Yes, I bought a lot. They are in the suitcase, remind me later to give them to you.”

”This is fun!!”

Jean took the photographs taken by Finland and checked the results. He nodded happily, ”The photos are good. You're talented, you know. Later you should buy a serious camera and learn photography, surely you will like it.”

”Really?” Finland asked.

”I spent almost my whole life in front of a camera, I know which people are gifted with the talent for photography and which aren't,” Jean said. ”Using a simple camera like this you can already take such beautiful composition and photos with good angles. I'm sure if you learn photography and use a serious camera, the results will be much better.”

”Thank you...” Finland confirmed. She had always loved art and photography, but because photography was a very expensive hobby, she never expected to be able to pursue it.

Now, if she wanted, she could take photography seriously. She remembered that Caspar told her to ask him whatever she wanted. She could ask to buy a professional camera and learn photography as suggested by Jean.

Ah, there were so many possibilities in her life now. Finland began to understand what it felt like to enjoy life. She could pursue a hobby that she liked without thinking about the high cost, and hopefully one day she could drive a car while singing along to her favorite songs. Before, those things were just a dream to her, but now, slowly, everything could become true.

Jean gave the rest of the film he bought to Finland and she excitedly placed them on her camera. She really liked her latest gift. She remembered that Jean said he had a surprise for her in Colmar. Did he mean this camera?

”No. I will show you the surprise on the last day,” Jean said. ”I want to show you something on our last day in Colmar, before we both go home.”

”Why are you so mysterious? I'm dying to know...” complained Finland. ”I won't be able to sleep later.”

Jean laughed at that. ”Want to drink glow wine to help you sleep?”

”Do you have one?”

”I bought red wine at the wine shop while waiting for you. Before we left for dinner, I saw that the apartment kitchen was stocked with spices to make glow wine. I could make our own glow wine.”

Jean showed the glow wine recipe on his cellphone. They only needed water, sugar, red wine, cinnamon, and cloves. Everything should be cooked together until thick and fragrant.

”This is my favorite wine!” said Finland. ”Let's make it.”

The kitchen of their rented apartment was soon filled with the fragrant smell of glow wine and a little later the two of them were sitting and enjoying Finland's new favorite drink.

After drinking two glasses, her throat felt warm and she was finally able to sleep soundly without thinking of Jean's mysterious surprise.