"A Tale as Old as Time.." Axle read the bold golden words across the tan-colored book cover. Comparing the book in his hand to the ones he saw on the shelves, this one had an ancient aura to it. Perhaps it was the illusion of creases on an old, yellow paper, Axle felt it looked simple and intriguing.
"Next," the cashier's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but just right to not disturb other customers. Axle realized while he was engrossed by the book cover, the other customers in front of him has completed their purchase already. Hurriedly, he stepped forward to place the book on the counter.
"You've chosen a great novel." The cashier's face was covered by a face mask and circular framed glasses - the glasses were thick and the lenses were foggy. With one look at the young lady behind the counter, Axle smiled. Although she had accessories covering her face, the thick ink colored — realistically drawn — unibrow was enough to catch people's attention. Behind the circular lenses was an adventurous page of vibrantly painted eyeshadows - purple, blue, green, yellow, and orange.
Mini dot-like marks scattered in groups across her cheekbones, highlighting the mascara smudges.
"Is this novel that good?" He continued staring at the lady's face with heightening curiosity.
She chuckled. "En. This classic cover is actually a crumpled piece of paper with teabag stains on it. It was unfolded before a picture was taken. That's why it looks so realistic and oddly attractive. It makes readers feel like this is a love letter between Eros and Psyche, doesn't it? I saw you staring at the book cover intensely for a while."
Axle agreed with her statement. He thought the book cover was very alluring in its own style. Realizing what the cover resembled, he started understanding why it caught his attention. It looked like the crumpled pieces of papers in Eros' chamber after he had failed to draw his wife's portrait out. Every time he tried doing something artistic, somehow his tea gets on the paper before his tools touched it.
Flipping the book opened, the cashier turned to the last page of the book where she smiled at the last words on the lower right corner. As she proceeded to turn the last page to find the barcode, a sharp pain lingered on her thumb. She hissed in response to the paper cut she received. "Oh, no! I'm sorry, my blood stained the corner of the last page. Let me check if there's a new one in stock." She pulled out a tissue, wrapped it around her cut and searched the inventory.
Axle looked out of the glass window and realized that he has spent over an hour in the bookstore. The transportation portal to the underworld was a few blocks from where he stood and it'll take him at least five minutes to get there. If he waited for the cashier to get a new book, he might not make it in time. Considering the consequences of arriving back late, Axle felt cold sweat form on his back. He took out his wallet and asked. "It's alright. My uncle won't notice the bloodstain. I'm in a rush, so can I complete my purchase now?"
"Then, the total will be $9.99. I applied my worker's discount since I dirtied it. Sorry for the wait." She apologized for the delay and completed the transaction. As soon as he received the receipt, he stormed out of the store with the book in his hands. "Thank... you...Come again....? Wow! He ran like lightning speed!"
All of a sudden, a numbing sensation stimulated her nerves from the right side of her thigh to her spine. She gasped, shuddering from the buzzing vibration.
"Phew. It was just my cellphone." She patted her chest and pulled her phone out of her right pocket. While scrolling through her notifications, she noticed the increasing number of unread messages surfacing like groups of bots trying to spam her. Without a doubt, she could already guess who these messages came from.
The radiance of her phone screen stung her eyes, causing her eyes to squint from irritation. Quickly lowering the level of brightness, she opened the messaging app and entered the newly created group chat.
On top of the chat, Primrose saw two green circles next to the other two members in the group chat. The two members were busy typing responses to each other that they didn't notice she came online. Amused by how the conversation was going between them, Primrose skimmed through the content without replying to any messages.
Her slender fingers brushed against the screen protector, scrolling down to the most recent texts her brothers sent. Reading the lines one after another, the picture of two dogs playing tug of war became imprinted on her mind. A gentle laugh escaped her lips, so soothing that it warmed the people who heard it.
Group chat messages: Three Unread messages
Big Bro: You sissy! Go cook your rice! Remember to use a rice cooker this time and not burn a good pot like last time!
Second Bro: You Casanova! Quit flirting with female managers and handle the woman in the house first! She is the most important one! Tch! You lame flirter can't even stir eggs properly. When I was cooking, you were still in your diapers!
Big Bro: Hah! Excuse you, but I am older than you. When I was in diapers, you weren't even born yet. Also, if mine is shitty flirting, then you are the master of chopsticks clipping mosquitoes' guts in the air because you're single! You kitchen man!
Like comedians, her brothers never failed in making her laugh from their daily interactions. With these two around, the house was much livelier and cheerful. Shaking her head a few times, Primrose had no idea whether she should be laughing or crying at this point.
Group chat messages: unread messages
Big Bro: Dude, you made this group chat, but forgot to rename it!
Second Bro: Oh snap! Let me change it right now!
[This group chat has been renamed to Primrose's Eighteenth Birthday! Everyone Rush Home To Eat Rice!]
Big Bro: Eh? I rush home for my baby sis.
Second Bro: [Grins] And whose rice do you end up eating every night you come home?
Big Bro: ...
Second Bro: I thought so.
Primrose: My phone is about to explode from your messages!
Big Bro: [Gasp sticker] Wow! Princess is actually online!
Second Bro: [Hug sticker] Our family's princess, what kind of cake do you want? I will bake it for you~
Big Bro: [Hug sticker] It's that hooligan's fault your phone has this much spam~ Don't worry, big bro will compensate for your loss. How is work going?
Primrose: ...