Sweet

Part One - Keep it a secret

  
Dear diary,
Has anyone ever told you about how frustrating piles of dirty dishes are? Like, it'll keep getting taller and taller until it's the frickin Tower of Pisa! I swear from now on I will always kiss my mom every time she washes the dishes. Cause it don't feel like this whole grownup business gets any easier. And I've only been here two days! Why do I already have a gazillion chores to do when I'm the only one living in this tiny apartment?! Sigh... though I miss my mom, I have no problem being on my own, living independently. After all, I could cook my own eggs at seven, I managed and saved my own money at twelve, and I knew how to find my way around unfamiliar people and places since diapers. You know this, diary. But these stupid dishes, the cursed laundry, and the ill-fated electricity bill are all staring at me right in the face. They need to shut up. What am I gonna do? I need to get out of here, it's too cramped. I'll write again once I've received some fresh air. See ya later!
- Winnie  12/03/20xx  23:52

I reached out for my bag and coat on the hanger.
Slipping on my crocs and beanie, I made my way out into the world. And by the world, I mean the bustling city of Soul. Taxis beeping, passers-by clacking their shoes on the pavement, and the fluorescent lights on the cold streets. The illusion of winter hung in the air, and when I breathed out, I saw the mist. Chuckling to myself, I skipped my way to the nearest 7-11.
Nearing the corner, I saw two figures speaking to each other on the inside of the store. They looked deep in conversation when I opened the door and the little bell sounded. They paused but barely sent me a glance as I rushed to browse in the chip aisle. Turned out it was just us three in the store, one of them must be the clerk, I thought. Aaawkward.

The silence broke as the clerk man said, "As I was saying, no. I won't take up any of your offers. Not in a million years. Do yourself a favor, young man, stop putting up with the dirty work they make you do. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a store to run."
And he turned away back to the cash register.

The young man just scoff-sighed.
"I'll just come again tomorrow. And the day after that, and so on. It's what I have to do."

"No, it's what they want you to do. Live for yourself, boy. One day you'll have to." Said the clerk.

The boy shook his head and grabbed a rice ball.
"Here, I'm stealing this rice ball, for myself."

"Totally not what I meant, but okay. You need it, you little stick." The clerk snorted.

"Whatever." Said the boy. And he sauntered out.

I went up to the cashier to ring up my baked lays chips, haribo sour gummy bears, and blue Gatorade.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, miss, my baby brother's a doofus. It'll be $12.56."

"Thanks," I say, but my eyes were trailing to where the boy left.

Walking out, I hear a devastatingly loud "URGHH!"
I turned my head to see the hooded boy turned back, holding his foot so he looked like he was imitating a flamingo.
"Hey, are you alright?" I ask.

"Who, me?" He let go of his foot. "Oh yeah, yeah I'm all good."

For some reason I stepped closer.
"Are you sure? I mean, you looked pretty exasperated earlier. And I'm sure your foot didn't mean any harm."

He chuckled, "Hehehe, say, can you keep a secret?"

"Eh it depends, maybe if I can see the face?"

"Huh? Oh, no.. I don't feel comfortable doing that right now."

"Uh, okay. I guess it's alright either way, go ahead."

"Whew, okay. Well, I- let's just say I am very privileged. And, I get asked to do bad, sometimes scary, things. To those I love. And I'm scared that if anyone sees what I do, or if I show who I am, I wouldn't be worthy of their love anymore."

"Hm, I see. Thank you for sharing your secret with me. I promise to keep it safe and sound. But as a concerned stranger—"

I trudged up to hug his shoulders. His surprisingly broad shoulders, gosh.

"—there's a separation between who you are and what you're expected to do. Don't allow the others to choose what you get to be."

I heard a sniff. And then, "thank you."

"I'll be leaving now, see you around, rice ball boy."