Rancorous

Chapter 5

PRESENT

Herlina

"Hi Herlina. How are you?" Mrs. Imani smiles brightly behind the counter. Her teeth look beautifully pearlescent in contrast to her glowy dark skin.

"Just surviving." I weakly smile back. I shared a few more classes with Brevin yesterday, but he didn't sit near me anymore. For two long weeks, I tried to have a conversation with him. But he vanished everytime before I could walk up to him.

"Are you okay, dear?"

I plant my arms on the counter and firmly decide that I wouldn't bring my bad day to work. I love my job in Mrs. Imani's vintage book store. It was a peaceful place that would allow me to forget about life's misfortunes.

Not only that, but Mrs. Imani is one of the sweetest people I've ever known. Ever since I applied to work here when I was fifteen, she'd been like a second mother. She'd probably acted more like my mother than my own blood-related mother in the last year. The thought taunts a dark cloud above my head, but I blink and push the idea away.

I smile more genuinely this time. "Yes Mrs. Imani. How are you doing today?" I move around the counter to hug her.

"Great, dear. I'm getting a new order of books next week, so you and Milo will have a lot to do."

Pulling away, I drop my purse underneath the counter where I always place it and slip off my jacket. "That's exciting. What genre are they?" Taking out my dark purple apron from my purse with the store name, I put it on and secure it around my waist.

"Some romance, some non-fiction, but mostly mystery." She smiles brightly and begins organizing her desk.

I'm about to respond when two hands grip my shoulders and someone yells "Boo!"

I squeak in fear and turn around to find the culprit clutching his stomach from laughter.

"Milo Williamson. No yelling in my bookstore." Mrs. Imani playfully scolds her nineteen-year-old nephew.

"Sorry auntie, but I couldn't help it." Milo says in between laughters.

"I will get you back for that Milo. Mock my words." I point at him trying to maintain a serious face. But alas, a grin breaks out on my lips and I let out a small giggle.

Mrs. Imani places her hands on her hips and shoos us away to start working.

There weren't many customers throughout the evening, so I spent most of my time organizing the book shelves inspecting for any books that wandered away from their designated spot. Near the end of my shift, I sit on Mrs. Imani's comfortable rotating chair and relax.

I frown. Sitting in silence without doing anything paves way for my mind to wander to dark chocolate eyes.

"Long day, huh?" Milo leans against the counter.

I shrug. "Yeah, something like that."

"How's your senior year going so far?" Milo takes two bookmarks and starts tapping with them like they're drumsticks.

"It's a hard year, but I'm studying and getting by. How's your first year of college?"

"Let's just say if you think your senior year is hard, wait until you get to college."

I chuckle. "Yeah, I figured. Have you been to any of those infamous college parties yet?"

Milo shakes his head, putting the bookmarks back in their spot. "No. There's actually a party next weekend, but I don't know if I want to go." He glances at me.

I purse my lips. "Why's that?"

"Well," he begins and clasps his hands together. "I was hoping we could, maybe, hang out?"