Aileen
“So, what are we having for dinner?” I asked, putting aside my phone.
“Uh…. I was thinking of Chinese Seafood boil, ’cause I don’t eat fish often even though it’s good for health.”
“Why? You don’t like seafood?”
“Not exactly, it’s just the preparing is so time-consuming. And there’s only the two of us at home and Becky doesn’t like seafood that much that’s why I don’t tell the maid to prepare it that often.”
“I see….”
“But, with two hands it’ll be easy, won’t it? Sorry for troubling you for it by the way,” he chuckled.
“It’s okay. I don’t know how helpful I will be. But, I’ll try my best. And, sometimes you also have to face problems because of me. Maybe I can repay you in some way like this.”
His brows furrowed in confusion hearing my statement. “Come on, I didn’t mean it that seriously. I’m not asking for your gratitude. I was joking with you.”
“I know! I love teasing you.”
He looked at me with a dumbfounded expression. “Aileen, you are really something. I almost believed your words for a second.”
While talking we arrived in front of the supermarket. After parking we headed inside together.
“Do you know which way is the fish corner?” I asked.
“I do, but it was a long time ago since I came here. Let’s see, I’ll ask an employee if we don’t find it.” he took an empty cart and started walking with me following beside him.
I was scanning through all the items but none of it caught my eye.
“Is there anything you want to buy? I don’t mind buying it for you,” he suggested with a smile.
“What? Me? I don’t…. think so…”
“Then, you can pick what we’re going to have for dessert. How does that sound?”
“Well…. okay, then.”
He smiled and we continued to walk but we couldn’t find the fish corner at the end.
He saw a staff passing by and went to ask her. Then, at last, we arrived at the wet fish aisle.
“What kind of fish are we looking for again?” I asked.
“Uh, some big lobsters of any size, prawns, shrimps, oysters, crabs, clams, squid, octopus, everything that you can get your hands at. We’ll buy in small portions.”
“Okay, anything else?”
“Then, we’ll buy some veggies and dessert afterward, and Done!”
“I don’t think we can find everything in the same section. So, we’ll split up and meet up in 10 minutes after gathering everything. Alright?”
He gave a hesitant nod.
“But, how will I find you in the store? Won’t you get lost?”
“Lost? No! I have my phone with you. I’ll call you when I’m done and trust me it’ll be more fast that way.”
“Oh…. I see…”
“See you in a bit then.”
“Uh, sure. But, don’t go too far from me and come back as fast as possible.”
“Got it!” when I was walking away I noticed the look on his face. It was priceless. I felt like I was abandoning him which was obviously not the case here.
Here is he worried about me getting lost so much? I’m not a little girl. He worries for nothing.
To make him believe I’m reliable, I’m going to find the best sea seafood he’s going to love.
You can do it, Aileen!
I eagerly looked around and managed to gather almost everything that he told me to find. But, my mistake was, that I was carrying them by hand instead of looking for a cart to put my things in.
Before, I realized, my hand was full of items and I couldn’t carry them back to Marshall like that.
Nor could I drop them all at the same section while going in search of a shopping cart.
I was confused and looked around to see if anyone could help me. But, no one paid any attention to me.
It was stupid of me not to get a cart at first. How could I be so careless?
I just decided to walk towards where I last saw Marshall, cause with my hands full I couldn’t reach for my phone inside my purse.
But, a few minutes later, I tripped and dropped the shrimp and oysters I was carrying.
I somehow managed to keep my balance from falling down.
The packages went rolling down the floor and bumped against a stranger’s feet.
I looked up to see a guy two or three years older than me standing in front of me.
He looked at me as awkwardly as I looked at him. But, what made me nervous was, that he seemed to have a cool vibe with a handsome face. The piercings on his ears were so hot and the tattoo of a rose on his neck was ethereal.
I’m not into tattoos that much, but they really suited him a lot.
While I was appreciating his looks, he bent forward and picked up the items I dropped then came over to my side and looked at me.
“Can I help you? You need help carrying all that to the cashier?” he asked quite politely.
Who am I to say no to someone who willingly came to help me out?
“Gladly, but I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
“Nah,” he shrugged. “I’m done shopping. I don’t mind, and you definitely need help. So why not?”
“Really? Thank you. I appreciate it.”
He brought over his cart and told me to put all my stuff in his cart. Then introduced himself and we chatted for a while.
I called Marshall to see where he was at. He told me he was at the grocery section.
We made our way towards him.
Seeing me, he waved towards me while yelling, “Aileen, I’m here!”
“Oh, there he is.” I walked over to his side with the cart with Mike beside me.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Are you done on your end?” I asked quite excitedly.
“Uh, yeah, just a couple of other things then I’ll be done. What about”
He glanced at Mike who was with me, and eyed him in confusion.
“Excuse me, sir, why are you following her around? Is there any matter?”
Mike and I exchanged looks and he seemed quite uncomfortable by the question Marshall asked him.
Why’s he asking him that?
“Um, Marshall, I have something to explain here,” I said.
“Explain what? Do you two know each other?”
“No, but we met a while ago,” Mike replied.
Marshall looked at me puzzled. I explained everything and hearing that he sighed in disappointment.
“Why on earth did you carry them single-handedly? Of course, you’ll drop them. If that was the case we could shop in the same cart to begin with.”
“Yeah, it was my stupidity. But, thankfully Mike was there to help. Thank you, Mike.”
Mike smiled back, patting my back, “It’s okay. Beauties are always welcome. Do you want to exchange numbers? I live nearby. Do you go to college?”
“Well, uh, I”
“No, that won’t be needed,” Marshall interrupted, wrapping an arm around my shoulders to pull me away from Mike.
He had a scary look on his face.
“Why? I just want to be friends with her,” Mike explained.
“Yes, I understand your intentions. But, she’s with me. And we are in a hurry,” Marshall stated. “Aileen, get your things out of his cart and move them to mine. Hurry up.”
“Uh, sure.”
Mike stared at me with a frown when I was putting aside the items while Marshall was scrutinizing our faces carefully.
What is he so worried about? I’m not going anywhere.
“Done.”
“Let’s get going,” Marshall smiled in approval, wrapping his arms around my waist.
I nodded and looked at Mike for one last time.
“Um, thank you once again. I must leave, bye.”
“We couldn’t get to exchange numbers. But, I hope I can get to see you here again,” he added, in a hopeful tone.
“Uh, I hope so as well?”
“You are done here, let’s go,” Marshall dragged me away from there along with the cart at a fast speed.
I don’t understand why he’s in so much hurry all of a sudden. He was taking his time, shopping right?
When we were quite far away from Mike, Marshall heaved a sigh in relief.
“What’s up with this behavior of yours?” I inquired, observing his face.
“What behavior?” he looked at me unfazed.
“This behavior, the one you were doing a second ago. Why were you so rude to the poor guy? He literally helped me out.”
“Oh, him?” his tone turned sour the very second I mentioned him. “Yeah, he helped you out. But, not out of kindness. He was trying to win himself your favor. That’s why he acted so nicely, to keep a good image in front of you. Couldn’t you see that?”
“What? What makes you think he had any intentions? Are you sure you aren’t overthinking everything?”
“No, his intentions were as clear as day,” he retorted. “That’s why he was so bent on getting your number and wanted to see you again for the second time. All of this gives creeper vibes, don’t you know that?”
Uh….. what? Really? I didn’t think this through. I was about to give him my number without thinking. But yeah, he’s been persisting for it since we were talking.
Why didn’t I realize that? I’m so gullible.
“You tend to believe in everyone so easily. That’s no good,” he explained, putting his hands on my shoulders, and looking into my eyes.
“People are not just black and white.”
“I…. I understand my fault. Sorry about it Marshall. I exposed myself to unforeseen danger without thinking.”
He smiled, patting my head. “Well, at least you get it. But, I can’t seem to let you wander off my eyes any minute now. So, you gotta stick with me till we shop, alright?”
“Okay.”