I risked my life in the attempt to save him but... What was he doing there in the first place? Hahh, there's no use thinking about that now. I shift my gaze back to book and grip it tightly. I have to do something about this.
The next day...
I report to the store as usual and wear my uniform. As soon as I step out of the changing room, I bump into Naomi who was about to open the door.
Naomi: Ah, hi!
She smiles brightly at me as usual but, something feels off. I greet her back anyway and she disappears into the room. However, when she passes me, I notice her expression change to one of sadness from the corner of my eye.
Naomi? I've rarely seen her like that, did something happen? I should ask her that later. Still feeling a little uneasy, I head to the counter.
A sweet aroma fills the store and I am reminded of what I had decided last night. The brainstorming session for the Halloween themed desserts will start during the lunch break, I have to hand in my ideas to the chefs then! I won't put this off anymore!
While I'm cooped up in my thoughts, Naomi approaches the counter as well. Ah, I should ask her about what's troubling her.
Mia: Naomi?
Naomi: Hm?
I call out to her and she turns her head to look at me with a poker face.
Mia: Is something bothering you?
Naomi: Why.. Why do you ask? Everything is obviously alright, I mean, what could go wrong?
Mia:.....
She breaks eye contact with me and starts blabbering nonsense. She's lying. She starts speaking gibberish whenever she's trying to hide something.
Mia: Naomi.
My tone is stern this time, I won't take any nonsense from her. She hesitates for moment before letting out a defeated sigh.
Naomi: There IS something but, I can't tell you.
Can't tell me? But why?
Mia: Then, can you at least tell me if there's anything I can do to help you?
Naomi: It's not that you can't help however, it's not about me, but you.
Mia: What?
Something about me that worries Naomi... It's definitely not a small matter. Is this about the modeling job I did recently? It's been creating a buzz lately. Or... is it something bad?
Mia: What do you mean? Is it something serious? Tell me..!
Naomi:....
She purses her lips and turns her head away. I start to get nervous and become impatient. I tug on her sleeve and peer into her face.
Mia: Na-
*Jingle-Jangle*
I'm about to enquire further when the store's doors open and customers start rushing in. Naomi brushes off my hand and goes over to her assigned spot, expressionless. I'll have to ask her about that later then. I, too, get back to my spot and start working with a sick feeling in my stomach.
After what feels like forever, the lunch break starts and speed over to Naomi. I originally wanted to utilise by break time to submit my ideas to the kitchen department however, this seems to be more important somehow.
Something about that causes her to stress so much, it's no joking matter. I keep pressing her about the matter and she finally gives away. She looks at me dead in the eye and gulp nervously. Wh-What is it?
Naomi: Look, I'm not too sure about this since I don't know the whole story. So, do you really want to hear it?
Her tone is a mixture of a warning and worry. I start to reconsider listening to what she has to say. But....
Mia: What is it about?
Naomi: About your boy-... Jason Leigh.
Mia:....
A-About him? Wait, doesn't she always call him my "boyfriend"? Why is she.... Unless, there's something wrong! Hold up, if something happened, how did she get to know? N-Nothing happened to him, right?
My heart starts beating faster with uneasiness and timidly urge her to go on. I hope that he's alright.
Naomi: Well, I knew that you were having troubles in getting into relationships. So, when you've finally found someone, I didn't want to cause a misunderstanding, but-
Misunderstanding..? What might I misunderstand? Could it be... I try not to let my imagination get to me, but it continues to make me feel insecure. I want to know what it is, but am afraid to know it at the same time.
It's just like how I feel about him. He's always mattered to me the most and has always been better than me which makes me feel so insecure. How can I want something so desperately, but be afraid of it so much all together?
My heart is beating so wildly in my chest that I can hear it thumping loudly in my ears. And then, finally, Naomi breaks the suspense.
Naomi: I think, Jason Leigh is involved with someone else.
What..? I.. I can't believe my ears. It can't mean what I'm thinking of, right? She.. She has to be mistaken!
Mia:... Wh-What do mean with 'involved'?