It was a Saturday evening. Outside a small, quiet bookstore, a man of average height stood, his gaze lingering on the warm light glowing from inside.
Ephraim, with his thick-framed glasses, brown eyes, and dark hair, wore a black shirt beneath a casual jacket and jeans.
His expression was unreadable, torn between the comfort of his routine and the temptation to just head home.
But his feet carried him inside, following the familiar path he took most evenings after work. The calm atmosphere of the bookstore, with the faint scents of old paper and polished wood, welcomed him.
He wandered through the aisles, his eyes glancing over the books he'd long since memorized, appreciating the quiet and how time seemed to slow within these walls.
Tonight, however, something drew him toward a corner he rarely visited. Among the usual bestsellers sat a book he'd never seen before.
The cover was dark, nearly black, with faint swirls of purple and yellow. Its surface was textured and intricate.
There was no title, no author's name—only an enigmatic design that drew his fingers to trace its contours.
Curiosity sparked within him as he turned it over, expecting to see something on the back—maybe a book summary, like there usually was—but there was nothing, only adding to its mystery.
Ephraim held the book in his hands. It was heavier than he expected, which surprised him a little since it didn't look all that thick.
'Whatever…' He shrugged and walked to the counter without a second thought. He had the money, so he decided to buy it. After all, buying something that piqued his interest was normal, right?
Ephraim made his way to the counter, the book in hand, only to find the cashier focused on her own novel.
She looked about three, maybe four years younger than him, with bright red hair framing her fair, heart-shaped face.
Her almond-shaped eyes, with well-defined brows, gave her an alert look, even as she skimmed the page. The soft curve of her nose and the light shadows beneath her makeup made her expression gentle, adding to her quiet charm.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he glanced at her name tag. "Mikha." Without thinking, he whispered it aloud.
"Do I know you?" Her voice broke into his thoughts, surprising him.
He blinked, heat rushing to his cheeks. "Oh—no, not really. I just… saw your name tag," he said quickly, letting out a nervous laugh. "Sorry about that. Ha ha."
Mikha raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. She closed her book and set it aside, giving him her full attention. "Happens all the time," she said, though the playful smile on her lips said otherwise.
"Oh? Confident, much?" he laughed at her teasing tone.
"I come here a lot, but I don't think I've seen you before. Are you new? Did something happen to the owner?" He asked, voicing the question on his mind.
A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she leaned on the counter, folding her hands. "Ah, so you're one of the regulars," she said, sounding genuinely interested.
"I'm just filling in while the owner's away on a trip. Lucky me, right?" Her smile was both mischievous and welcoming, making Ephraim feel at ease.
He nodded, a hint of a grin appearing on his face. "Lucky for me, too, I suppose."
She looked at him, momentarily caught off guard by his response, but quickly recovered, not letting it show. "So, what can I help you with?"
"Do you know what kind of book this is?" Ephraim asked, holding up the mysterious book. "I found it near the bestsellers, but… there's nothing about it there."
Curious, she took the book from him, her fingers brushing over the dark, textured cover as she examined it.
"Strange," she said, turning it over in her hands. "I brought home something similar yesterday. Same feel to it, but with brighter colors."
"Did you get a chance to read it?" He asked.
She shrugged, an amused glint in her eyes. "Not yet. Maybe later—if I get bored enough." Her smile made it clear that boredom was a rare occurrence for her.
Ephraim scratched the back of his neck, uncertain of what to say next. After a moment, he decided to keep things simple. "So… how much?"
Mikha scanned the barcode, and the price appeared on the screen. "Two hundred pesos."
Ephraim pulled out his wallet, paid, and waited as she began to bag the book. But just before she finished, a thought crossed his mind, and he hesitated. "Would you… mind letting me know what's in that book if you do start reading it?"
Mikha paused, glancing up at him with a thoughtful expression. Then she gave a small nod, her smile softening. "Sure…"
Ephraim felt a surge of confidence and pulled out his phone, holding it out to her. "Then… would it be alright if I add you as a friend? I wouldn't be able to contact you otherwise."
She hesitated for a moment, meeting his gaze as if weighing him up, then shrugged with a small smile. "Why not?"
Taking his phone, she quickly typed in her name and hit "Add Friend." Almost immediately, a notification popped up on her own phone, and with a single tap, she accepted.
Handing the phone back to him, Mikha said, "Guess I'll be hearing from you soon, then?"
Ephraim nodded, his voice steady, though his heart was racing. "Yeah…" He couldn't believe it had been that easy to add her.
As he left the bookstore, he felt like he was walking on air. His steps were lighter than usual, and his mind raced with thoughts of chatting with her.