Wingless And Beautiful
?EPISODE 19 ?
The next day, I was sitting in the library doing my
homework in advance. I still had to go job-hunting after
school.
“Well, well… if it isn’t Rock Princess,” I heard someone
say beside me.
I didn’t have to look to see who it was. Apparently,
Chaise Anderson’s new hobby was to make my day miserable.
“Oh please, there are more fortunate souls that deserve
your attention today, Mr. Anderson,” I said, not bothering to look at him.
“I’m not interested in them. They’re not as interesting
as you are,” he said in a conceited tone.
I turned to glare at him. But he only grinned at me and
said, “You’re cute, you know.”
He was wearing a gray hooded sweater again. I couldn’t
help wondering, ‘What’s with the hood?’
“I don’t know that. The last time I checked, I was
horrendous.” I rolled my eyes.
“Come on, what does a guy have to do to get noticed by
you?”
“Oh, I notice you, alright,” I said dryly. “I noticed that
you’re disturbing my free time to do my homework and I
can’t help being annoyed by you.”
A group of girls passed by in front of us, giggling. I stole
a glance at them and saw that they were looking dreamily
at Chaise. Of course.
Since he transferred here, he had been the object of
many girls’ fantasies. I can’t see why.
“See? Those girls. They want your attention. They want
you to talk to them. Nothing you will say to them would be
annoying enough.
While as with me… the sound of your breath intake alone is infuriating. Can’t you just go and…
breathe somewhere else?”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m comfortable just as I am.
Right here. Beside you.”
I groaned in frustration. “What do you want, Chaise
Anderson? Are you really that desperate to make
somebody’s life a living hell?”
“You see… that. You have this opinion of me that I want
to change,” he said seriously.
“I’m not all that bad, if you
gave me a chance, Alice.”
I shook my head. “Whatever for?” I shut my book,
gathered my things and started to leave.
“Alibri Bookshop,” he said.
I turned to him and raised a brow.
“My aunt owns the place.”
“Congratulations,” I said sarcastically and turned to
leave.
“They need an assistant,” he said quickly.
I turned back to him. “What?”
He shrugged. “I know you lost your job at Burger Inn. My
aunt was looking for a part-time assistant for the shop.”
“And?”
“You might want to give my aunt a call,” he said,
smiling. He took out a card from his pocket and handed it to me.
“And the catch is?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I would say one date. But I have a
feeling you would say no anyway. So I have to say, nothing.
There’s no catch. I just want to help. If you… would consider
the offer.”
I stared at him suspiciously. I was used to being pranked
on. It would be almost every day of my life. But the look on
Chaise’s face was warm and his smile looked genuine. I took
the card from him. “Seriously? No catch?”
He nodded.
I stared at the card in front of me and then I murmured,
“Thanks.”
He smiled. “I’m really not such a bad guy if you would
just get to know me.”
“Even if that were true, I doubt I would be interested,” I
said. “But if you’re really sincere about wanting to help me out, then again, thanks.”
I called up the number that Chaise gave me. I know his
aunt, Mrs. Bailey.
My mom used to buy me books from their shop when I was a little girl. She was delighted when I gave her a call and immediately proceeded to telling me about the salary she was offering on a part-time basis.
I just needed to come in every day after school and close up at ten in the evening.
She said that I could do my homework in the shop while manning the store. During exams week, we could work something out with the schedule.
I was extremely happy about the offer. She will pay me higher
than what I got from Burger Inn. The workload is lighter and I could read as many books as I wanted.
Before I went to bed, I wrote on my diary as if I was
talking to the person who was meant to read it one day.
Dear Hunter,
Today, I got a new job at Alibri. It was perfect. I wouldn’t have to wait tables anymore. My life would not be a circus every day.
I’m positive I didn’t have to see much of the kids from school and get scrutinized by them on a daily basis
while trying my best not to hit them with a frying pan.
I’m sure my encounter with these kids will be limited
now. Hey, not many of them would be smart enough to
frequent a bookshop, right?
I wish you were here. I wish I could go back to our
garden again… and see the swans and the fireflies. Since
you left, I never found the courage to go back there. I know I would only cry my heart out and miss you every second.
I hope you’re okay. I haven’t heard from you in a long
time. It’s been… a year and a half. My diary is getting
thicker and thicker. You will need a lot of time to catch up on reading it.
I miss you.
I fought the urge to cry. As I turned off my lights that
night, I wondered if Hunter was still looking forward to reading my diary, the way I was always looking forward to
write to him each day.
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