VOL 1 - friendship or relationship?
(Q): She Has a (Q) Store?
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After Classes—
"Hey Shyam, you wanna come by our bookstore today?"
As Shyam was heading home from school, Raitha appeared seemingly out of nowhere, extending an unexpected invitation to visit her family's bookstore. Shyam's initial instinct was to politely decline, but for reasons unknown, his feet and mouth betrayed his true intentions.
"Sure, where is it?"
Raitha's face lit up with a brilliant smile, and without wasting a second, they began walking toward her store. The journey took them across unfamiliar streets, leading Shyam to realize just how far Raitha lived from him—on the complete opposite side of town. It was such a stark difference that Shyam couldn't help but wonder: What was she doing in my part of town that day? He mulled over it briefly before brushing it aside, reasoning that as a bookseller, she might have been on a delivery.
Finally, they arrived at the small shop, and Raitha proudly gestured to the quaint storefront.
"This is our cute little bookstore. We sell mangas too! So if there's any manga you'd like to read, just come by, and I'll do my best to find it for you!"
Her enthusiasm was childlike, as though an eight-year-old had just discovered their favorite superhero in person. Shyam blinked, half-surprised that a high school junior could act this bubbly, though he was careful not to let his expression betray his thoughts. He nodded slightly, murmuring, "Hm," as Raitha beamed at him.
As they stepped inside, the store appeared to be closed for the day. The air was serene—no noise from the bustling world outside, just the quiet companionship of countless books lining the shelves. For a moment, Shyam felt as though he had stepped into a timeless sanctuary, untouched by the chaos of the outside world.
"Wait here. I'll bring tea for both of us. Feel free to pick any book to read while I'm gone," Raitha said, her voice as sweet as her smile.
Before Shyam could respond, she had already dashed off, leaving him alone in the shop. He began exploring the shelves, running his fingers lightly across the spines of various books. The shop had an antiquated charm, resembling a museum or perhaps the library of a fantasy school. The smell of old paper and wood filled the air, grounding him in a sense of peace.
His eyes landed on a book titled "The Hit of Romances", and just as he reached for it, a sudden shout interrupted him.
"Who's there?"
The voice was rough, aged, and commanding, as if it carried decades of authority. Shyam froze momentarily, then turned toward the sound. An elderly man with a small white beard appeared from behind the shelves, holding a book in his hands titled "From Pixels to Reality". The cover suggested it was a romance novel, oddly fitting for the cozy atmosphere of the store.
"Oh, sorry. I should've asked first. I take it you're the shop owner?" Shyam asked cautiously.
The old man offered no verbal response, only nodding his head once, his expression unreadable. Before Shyam could process the situation further, Raitha returned with three steaming cups of tea. The sight of the extra cup made Shyam realize she had known the old man was present all along.
The three of them sat at a small table in the middle of the store. Raitha handed Shyam his tea with a warm smile, while the old man studied him intently from across the table. His gaze was distant yet piercing, as though sizing up Shyam from every angle.
For a moment, no one spoke. The silence was thick, but not entirely uncomfortable—merely heavy with unspoken curiosity.
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To Be Continued...