Today is my turn to buy the groceries. We actually take turns buying groceries 2 times a month. It's my turn today and thankfully, it's Sunday and I don't have to come to the bar early.
I wore my denim shorts, a hoodie, and a pair of white sneakers and brought an umbrella and a grocery bag along with me.
We share with the food and we share with paying all the bills too. It is quite convenient for us to live together since we don't need to pay for anything alone. It is never a hassle for me to live with Julie and Leslie since we have been together ever since. We grew up together and we can almost read each other's minds.
When we started college, We didn't get to hang out much because of our own schedules. I thought about bringing them along with me today and going to places together but they are busy with their paper works and Leslie went to the bar to substitute one of our co-workers.
We don't get much time to hang out and talk but I am glad that we still stick together, as we should.
The convenience store is not that far so I decided to just walk my way to the convenience store. Everybody is busy on the streets despite the fact that it was Sunday. I looked around and there are a lot of people even in small street like this. Everybody is busy with their own world, enjoying things with whom they are with. So I decided to enjoy mine.
I looked around places. I even went into a small boutique as if I have money to buy some clothes. I told the sales lady that I shall just come back but of course, I couldn't. I still have much time left before my shift today so I decided to spend it all with places that I really want to visit.
I did so for hours and hours. I even got farther from the grocery store. It's now 2 pm. I didn't even get my lunch but since I ate at 11 am, I'm fine. I decided to go back on my way to the convenience store. While walking, I noticed a shop that I have never seen before. It's a library.
Back when I was just a child, I go to the orphanage's library very often. I lived there for years and the library was never restocked. I spent time rereading everything for years. I stood in front of the door and looked at the sign on 'Library'.
It's not that I am so late for the grocery so I decided to take a look inside. It's not a very huge store. The walls are covered with books in different genres. There are signs above the shelves informing you if the books on the shelf are for sale or if they are free to borrow.
There are a few chairs and tables too for reading. One side seems formal and the other side is just cozy.
But it seems like nothing is free. You could only borrow a book if you sign up for a membership. I sighed after reading the notice on the wall. I don't have 15$ for a monthly membership. It's not that I don't have 15$ in my wallet right now, but I can just add them to the grocery bill later. Books aren't that important to me anymore.
Before leaving the store, I walked past the fantasy section and saw something in the side of my eye. I immediately stopped to see what it is. The book title is 'Armania'. I knew that there is a country named Armenia but it's rare to see Armania anywhere. I raised my arm to get the book when a hand with colored-white fingernails stretched hers and took the book first.
"Oh, Are you going to take it?" she asked me. I looked at her. She's a woman in her forties. Her hair is made into a low bun and she's wearing clothes as if she's one of those royalties I see on TV. She's wearing a beige-colored blouse and a formal skirt. Her heels are light brown and she looked very expensive with her hanging earrings, necklace, bracelets, and rings.
"A-ah. No," I said after being fluttered with the way I looked at her from head to toe. I felt very embarrassed with myself. "Y-you can take it," I told her.
"You can take it if you want it, honey," she said sweetly and handed me the book.
"Oh no, I am not a member here and I--" I stopped talking since I cannot tell her that I have no money for the book because that would be very embarrassing. I looked at the book and it's quite thick. I could say it costs more or less than 10$. "You can take it-- Ma'am," I said. I stuttered when I realized I don't know what to call her.
"I'll get it for you then," she said as if she just read my mind. But impossible. She gave me a very sweet smile that I almost forgot about what age I calculated hers.
"N-no, Ma'am. I'm fine. Thank you for your offer, I can't take it. I'm fine." I don't even know what to say. I followed her towards the counter. "You don't have to take it, Ma'am," I told her.
"It's fine. I also want you to read it.' she said sweetly.
"W-why?" I asked her.
"What's your name?" she asked me as she hand the book over to the librarian.
'S-sky," I answered.
"Nice name," she told me with another sweet smile. I couldn't explain how pretty she looked when she smiled at me like that. The librarian handed the book back wrapped in a paper bag. I don't even know what the price of the book was. The lady handed it over to me. "Take it and tell me about it, Sky.," she said.
I was left with no choice but to take it when she handed it over with a sweet smile. I couldn't remember what happened but I knew I thanked her before leaving the store.
When I got to the convenience store, it was as if my mind cleared up and then I remembered I didn't ask for her name.
But it's too late to go back now. It's not that close and she might not be there anymore. I looked at the book inside the paper bag. 'I'm gonna read it later
I continued with my business in the convenience store and went back to our apartment. I placed the book where I can easily see it later before getting ready to work.
I got home at last. I sat on the bed right after taking my socks off. I sighed and laid my back on the mattress. I looked at the ceiling and looked right. There, I saw the book. 'Armania'. I looked at the brown cover for a few seconds and was about to grab it when suddenly, Alexander appeared.
"What the- Alexander!" It's as if my fatigue was pulled away. I immediately went to the door and locked it. I know my friends are just outside the door. "What are you doing here?" I whispered to him.
He looked at my panicked face with a blank expression and sat on my bed as if he's free to do so. Then I remembered the book was just on the other side of the bed. I immediately ran towards the book. I covered the title and grabbed it. I immediately placed it inside my drawer.
"You seemed to just get here from work," he said to me. I closed the drawer and looked him. He is looking at my white polo and black jeans that I usually wear whenever I go to the bar. He knew it well.
"And why are you here?" I asked him.
"Nothing." he repeated. I looked at him with a I-am-so-done-with-this look but he never changed his expression. 'You want to go somewhere?" he suddenly asked.
"I already wandered a lot this morning." I told him while remembering the lady I met today.
"Anywhere else?" he asked. I looked at him. I don't know why he seems very persistent about going somewhere.
"Well, then take me to Japan." I told him and smirked. After thinking that he won't be able to do so, he held my hand and in a blink of an eye, we are on a road. I saw people crossing and are walking past us. I looked around and saw a familiar place and a familiar scene.
"T-tokyo?" I coudln't believe my eyes. My knees weakened with excitement and surprised. I looked around the road. There are cars, big screens, tall buildings, people, a kid playing with some bubbles, a corgi with it's grumpy looking owner.
WHAT THE HELL? DID I JUST GOT HERE IN A SECOND?
The excitement took over my body. I ran towards the other side of the road and went into everystore that I see. There are a lot. It feels like I am in a modern anime.
Cafe
Salon
Cafe again
Bakery
"WAAAAAAAAAA!!" I screamed when I looked around. Not even giving attention to the people who turned their eyes to me. Then I saw a shop. A familiar character is hanging on the window pane. "NARUT---"
I felt someone hold my hand and then the character disappeared before my eyes. I looked back and saw Alexander's face.
"A-are we back?" I asked as if I never knew.
"You went all around running that I had to take you back." he said and let go of my hand. and placed his inside his pocket.
"Aww! Just when I was about to go to-- wait-" I looked around and was surprised when I saw a different place. "Where are we?" I asked.
All I can see are grays walls, A huge black stairs. We're in a different place.
"It's mine." he told me. My eyes widened and immediately scanned the place.
"Where did you get this?" I asked. Most colors that you can see are gray and white, especially the walls. And the furnitures are mostly black. I have been wondering how he managed to survive earth this whole time and he's going to tell me that he lived in an expensive house? No it's not a house. I looked at the glass window and realized that we're not on the ground.
A condominium? 2 floors?
"I bought this a few weeks ago. I wasn't here this past few years." He said.
"Where were you?"
"I wandered all over this world." he said as if it's very simple.
You mean he has wandered on earth more than me who has lived here my whole entire life?
Well he managed to bring me to Japan in a split second.
"Do you have a job or anything?" I asked him.
"I tell everyone that I have a business, but I don't. I turn leaves into money." he said as he lean himself on the armrest of the sofa and crossed his arms.
Before I could even react, everything turned black.
-----------------
Alexander immediately watched Sky who almost fell on the floor. He looked at her and found out that he has lost consciousness. Wondering why that happened, he put Sky on the sofa and looked at her.
'She doesn't seem like she's about to die.' he thought. He looked at the time. It's already 2am. And then he looked back to Sky who seems like she's just sleeping. He carried her and went back to her room. He put her down slowly and as careful as possible. He doesn't want to wake her up. She seemed tired after work.
He went back to his condo again and then his phone buzzed. He took it out and got a message from Lucas.
TEXT MESSAGE FROM LIAM
2:08 AM
VISIT ME TOMORROW
He started at the screen longer. And silently hoped that this is the moment he has been waiting for.