Sayuri
I sighed as I watched my ex walk away. Did she really want to work here? Or was she just trying to get close to me again? If the latter, then I wouldn't let her. I would rather quit than work alongside that cheater.
The sound of the register bell knocked me out of my thoughts. I walked over to the register and saw Kai holding some clothes. His current clothes were baggy. It was his style. Or maybe he just couldn't find clothes that fit him? If it was a size issue, then I could fix that.
"Hey," I said, waving.
His cheeks reddened. "Sa-Sayuri? You work here?"
I nodded. "Since you got a job, I decided to get one of my own too."
He smiled. "I see."
I glanced at the clothes. "Are those for work?"
He nodded. "Yup!"
I grabbed one of the shirts. "Hmm. It's kinda thin. It will rip in no time. Here. Let me help you pick out some clothes better suited for your job."
Kai blushed. "Thanks, Sayu."
I smiled as my own cheeks turned pink. "No need to thank me. I'm happy to help a cutie like you."
He looked down his face had become as red as a tomato. "Sa-Sayu. Don't tease me like that."
I giggled, finding his embarrassment endearing. "Sorry, can't resist."
I led him around the store, selecting clothes that would be more durable and suitable for his work. Kai was a hard worker, always putting in his all, and I wanted to make sure his clothes wouldn't give out on him.
During our little shopping spree, we chatted and laughed, the air around us light and comfortable. It was a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere that had filled the store earlier when Ava was around.
I couldn't help but compare the two situations. With Ava, everything felt complicated, filled with regret and unsaid words. But with Kai, things were simple and easy. I enjoyed his company, his shy smiles, and his earnest personality.
"Hey, Kai. Would you mind trying them on for me?" I asked, a smile on my lips.
Kai gave me a shy nod and ran into the dressing room. He returned wearing a pair of blue overalls and a dark green shirt. He looked so cute!
I hugged him. "Aww, I have such a cute boyfriend!"
He blushed. "T-thanks."
I laughed, pulling back from the hug and patting his arm. "You're welcome. Now, let's get you some more of these, okay?"
He nodded, his cheeks still tinged pink. We spent a while longer in the store, picking out more clothes for him and chatting away. It felt nice, just being there with him, away from all the complications and drama.
After Kai left, I found myself feeling lighter, happier. His presence had brought a smile to my face, and I found myself looking forward to the next time he'd come by.
After work, I walked out and walked back home. As I did, I felt s chill in the air.
The chilly air made me pull my jacket a bit tighter around myself as I walked down the dimly lit street. The sun had set early, typical for this time of year, and the evening had brought a slight mist that hung low, adding a layer of mystery to my quiet walk home.
As I rounded the corner to my street, a figure emerged from the shadows, causing me to stop in my tracks. The man wore an unusually long coat that almost touched the ground, and a wide-brimmed hat that obscured his face. Something about his attire seemed out of place, almost as if he had stepped out of another era.
"Good evening," he said, his voice deep and oddly calm. The streetlight flickered briefly, casting eerie shadows across his features.
"Uh, hello," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. There was something unsettling about him, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. "Can I help you?"
He took a step closer, and I instinctively took one back. "I'm looking for someone," he continued, his tone still even. "Perhaps you can assist me."
I frowned slightly. "Who are you looking for?"
His head tilted slightly, as if evaluating me. "A young lady. Someone very important. I was told she frequents this area."
The description was vague, and a nervous knot formed in my stomach. "I see a lot of people around here. You'll need to be more specific."
The man reached into his coat, and I tensed, preparing to run if needed. However, he simply pulled out a small, old-fashioned photograph and held it out toward me. It showed a young woman with striking features, someone I'd never seen before.
"Have you seen her?" he asked, his gaze piercing.
I shook my head. "No, sorry. I don't recognize her."
He studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly, slipping the photograph back into his coat. "I see. Thank you for your time."
As he turned to leave, curiosity overtook my initial fear. "Wait," I called out. "Who is she? Why are you looking for her?"
He paused, and for a moment I thought he wouldn't answer. Then, without turning around, he said, "She is someone from my past. Someone I must find."
Before I could ask anything more, he walked away, disappearing into the mist as silently as he had appeared. I stood there for a few seconds, trying to make sense of the brief encounter, but then hurried home, the chill now seeming colder than before.
Once inside, I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, heart still racing. Who was that man? And who was the woman in the photograph? The mystery of it all lingered in my mind, but I was also relieved that he hadn't been looking for me.
My eyes went to the pictures of my relatives. I gasped as I saw my great grandma. It hit me that the girl in his picture looked like a younger version of her image. Was he looking for her. But he said she was someone from his past... Just who was he? And what did he want with her?
The realization that the mysterious man might be connected to my great-grandmother sent a chill deeper than the evening air down my spine. I approached the old family photo on the mantle, tracing the outline of my great-grandmother's youthful face with my finger. The resemblance to the woman in the photograph was uncanny. How could someone from so long ago still be searched for by this enigmatic stranger?
Curiosity mingled with a growing sense of unease. I pulled out an old family album that my grandmother had left me, filled with black and white photos and scraps of our family's history. Flipping through the pages, I searched for any clue that might explain the connection between my great-grandmother and the stranger.
As I sifted through the photographs and handwritten notes, a small, yellowed envelope fell out from between the pages. I carefully opened it, revealing a letter dated back to seventy years ago, written in delicate, flowing script. It was addressed to my great-grandmother by someone named "Elias." The contents of the letter were startling:
"My dearest Lillian,
I fear that circumstances may soon force us apart, but I want you to know that no matter where I am, or how many years may pass, I will find my way back to you. Hold onto the locket I gave you; let it be a symbol of my promise.
Yours forever,
Elias"
My hands trembled as I read. Elias. Was this the name of the mysterious man? And what were the circumstances that had torn him away from my great-grandmother? I glanced back at the photograph, noticing for the first time that my great-grandmother wore a delicate locket around her neck. I had seen that locket before—it was in my jewelry box, left to me as part of my inheritance.
Driven by a mixture of fear and determination, I retrieved the locket and opened it. Inside, I found a tiny, faded photograph of a handsome red-haired man who bore a striking resemblance to the stranger I had encountered. This had to be Elias. But how could a man that old be wandering the streets today, looking unchanged?
I looked at his fiery hair. Was that man my great-grandpa? Grandma never met her dad. If he was, it was rather sad. Greatgrandma had died. Grandma was still alive, though.
Still, that didn't answer the question of how he could still be alive and look as young as when he had conceived my grandmother...