Daffodil

04

As you were paying at the cashier, the bell dinged when another customer entered the place.

"Oh, you're here again? Finally decided to get a tattoo?"

Even without looking, you caught the hint of playful sarcasm from the lady. The customer, a man by his deep voice grumbled in response before sat himself at the seating area. The sound of him flipping pages of the catalogue filled the air.

Before you exit, you decided to express one last gratitude to the lady for her service and her thoughtful manner of not bringing up the matter about soulmates.

"Thank you...umm—" you paused, not knowing what to address her.

"Just call me aunty. I'm old enough for that." she chuckled.

"Thank you again, aunty." you smiled.

"You're welcome, dear." the lady gave you a knowing gentle smile. "And do take care, dear. It doesn't have to be your soulmate to find love."

A scoff.

It was barely audible but you heard him well.

"Here there are people soulmateless, and there are some people have the audacity to cover theirs."

Aunty immediately shot him a look, but he merely ignored it and kept his eyes on the booklet in his hands.

For a while, you just gazed at your bandaged wrist sadly. Then, silently rose your eyes to the man in front.

"Yeah, I have a soulmate that left me for someone else who he loves."

Then, the bell chimed for the umpteenth time as you bid goodbye. You left the shop.

That was, as you walked ahead, you heard the same male voice vaguely saying,

"Same as hers, please."