New Love

It was quiet and empty in the ambient bookstore. 

The shelves weren’t so busy and no one else was working that day. 

Thursday was the usual day that I was assigned to work, and to be honest it was my favorite day out of my part-time job.

It was I and I alone; on occasions, the manager would come in and check the store but then would leave after an hour or so. 

I truly loved my job, what I had to do was place the books in the right places, make sure its kept well and check out any books that wanna be bought. 

We have a back room that was used for storage and occasionally used as our breakroom. We would go in there whenever we wanted to use one of the 24 kinds of tea the manager kept in there or have a cup of coffee. 

There was a singular fold-up plastic chair in there but even that had boxes on it on times. 

Today was quiet and smooth, the regulars came in and bought their 110th book of the month. The newcomers checked out the shelves before deciding on a book or notebook. 

No annoying person asking about the 3 key genres the author used in a book I’ve never read before. Or asking if we sell the latest gossip magazine. 

And now is when the sun sets beneath the horizon and the people go to their warm houses to wake for the next day.

When I realized no one else would probably come in, I made myself tea. I used one of the cardboard cups the manager keeps above the storage. I decided to try peppermint tea for the first time, and it feels fresh and warm. Since no one else was coming in, I sat down and laid my head facing the rainy late afternoon. My cup of tea is still warm but not as hot as it was minutes ago. 

When I gaze at the outside like this my thoughts go around, I think of last Thursday when Evan came in unexpectedly. I was lying on my side like now when a gust of wind came in and there he was. I sat up and the door closed, I was shocked to see him here with his hair messy and truffled. His dark brown coat is large but fitting to him, he looks at me with his brown doe eyes. His smile showcases his infamous dimples that always seem to break out. 

“Hey..” His voice was slightly raspy with a hint of nervousness added to it. 

“..Hi?” I raise my brow, strangely looking at him. Wondering why he got into the store in such a nervous and rushed manner. 

He gulps as if he is gonna make an announcement that will change the world, and pushes his gaze downward. He then puts his hand in his coat pocket, looking like he’s reaching for something.

“I wanted to..-” His words get abruptly interrupted when a small square case comes into show. It's blue and the texture is soft and velvety.

I look wide at the small box, then look back up to him wondering if what I thought was in there was in there. 

He chuckles at my surprised appearance and continues his speech.

“As I was saying– I wanted to give you a gift for your.. You know..” His eyes meet mine yet still fidgeting. 

I smile grateful for his kindness. I look at him and give him my most genuine smile, “Thank you, Evan. I truly mean it.” 

I wonder if it's the lights in the store, the weather from the outside or just me but his cheeks begin to look a bit more pink to me. 

He brings the case to my hands and I feel the soft fuzzy texture of the box and then open it up. Inside was a beautiful baby blue oval-shaped charm in the middle of the silver string necklace. Along with two baby blue oval-shaped earrings that weren’t dangling but instead just little charms. 

My mouth gaped open at the beauty before me, I touched the necklace delicately, scared if I touched it slightly it would break. 

I look back at him with thankful eyes, “Evan.. You really didn’t need to do this.” 

He scratches the back of his head, “Well, you deserve it more than anyone I know.” He smiles happily at my more than appreciative appearance. 

I remove the necklace from the box and try to clip it around my neck, but it seems to miss the hole each time. I look back to Evan and ask, “Evan.. Could you?” While keep trying to clip it without any luck. For a second he seems surprised but then says ‘sure’ and comes behind the counter. 

He takes the two ends and I feel the closeness between us. His breath passes through my hair and the warmth of his fingers against the two chains. I feel my throat forming a lump unable to swallow it down. I start to wonder if he feels it too.

After that thought comes to me, he says “Done!” Shaken from my previous thoughts I look down at the beauty and hold it between my fingers. I look back at him and smile once again. 

“It looks beautiful and thank you once again.” 

“It's no problem, I’ll make sure to do it every year.” 

And that is when the flashback always ends, me remincing his sweet kind smile and wondering how I managed to get a guy like him. 

I shy into the safety of my arms whenever I remember it. Though it's been challenging at first with the newness of it all, it seems to be now clicking into place. I start to wonder if this is what love felt like. If this is what life was supposed to be.

I stop zoning out towards the rainy sky and look at it. It's peaceful and calming, the rain hitting the pavement and a few under-bus station covers waiting to go home. 

 Then the new bell the manager hung at the door rings and there he is again. Evan. 

“Hi..” His lips are smiling despite being flushed at the cold weather of late autumn. 

“Hey..” I grin at his presence unable to keep myself. I begin fidgeting with the new necklace I was gifted with.

He sees what my fingers seem to be toying with and smiles even wider.

And we both stand there as we grin at each other like idiots in love.