The One

Brian Creeds

 As Jake settled into the passenger seat of his brother's truck, he greeted him with a bright, "Hi, bro! How's your day?"

"As usual—boring and low on pay," Brian replied, glancing at him.

Jake sighed, his gaze drifting out of the window. "I wish our luck were better in the future."

"Me too, Jakie. Me too," Brian echoed, pressing the accelerator of his second-hand truck.

"Oh, and brother, at lunchtime, I met this beautiful, sweet, and kind lady—the kindest on the planet!"

"Really? Tell me more!" Brian leaned in, intrigued.

"Okay, remember how we didn't eat breakfast today because we were late for work?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I completely forgot to eat or even drink my coffee—something I never do! I almost fainted right in front of that sweet lady."

"Wait, the lady waving at you just now is the same one? You never skip breakfast!"

"I know! That's why it's so peculiar. In our family, it's almost a sin to skip breakfast. We always find food somehow, but today, nothing. Miraculously, I didn't pack anything."

"Anyway, when I felt like I might faint, she was genuinely concerned for me, a nobody just trying to get by. It was like a fairy tale, with her as my princess charming—my knight in shining armour!"

"I was just there, doing my job, smiling at her, and she was the very first customer to smile back. She asked if I was okay, looking at me closely. Of course, I said I was fine, but she sensed otherwise. She stepped closer, invading my personal space, and let me tell you, brother, she smelled incredible."

"I bet she uses an expensive perfume," Brian murmured, rolling his eyes.

"She told me to look up. I hesitated; it felt strange to have eye contact with someone so high up. But she insisted, saying, 'Don't look down, boy. You did nothing wrong. Hold your head up high,' while holding my hand!"

"I was stunned too! I just wanted to do my job and escape the situation, but she pulled me towards an empty chair, insisting I take a break. She said, 'You, my boy, need to take care of yourself before you can care for others. Remember, looking after yourself is vital,' before rummaging through her handbag. Then she pulled out dark chocolate, claiming it's the best remedy for hunger and fatigue, and offered it to me, saying I was a growing boy and needed to eat more."

Jake beamed, pulling out a pack of the dark chocolate he had received from Karol.

Brian, still listening intently, raised an eyebrow. "Why is she so kind? Is she crazy, or is this some kind of act?" he pondered, his unease lingering in the air.

"I was thinking the same thing, feeling precisely what you're feeling right now. I was locked in an internal battle with myself, questioning whether this was a set-up, a prank, or something far more sinister. Just as the uncertainty gripped me, she looked me straight in the eyes and asked sincerely, 'What time will you be clocking out from work?'"

Brian spun around to face Jake, his expression one of utter disbelief. "That's a massive red flag right there," he exclaimed, shaking his head as if he couldn't quite grasp the reality of the situation.

"I was having the same thoughts as you," Jake continued, his voice edged with anxiety. "So, I lied to her, saying I'd be leaving late, but she saw right through that fib, like a hawk spotting its prey." As he spoke, Brian came to a sudden halt by the curb, turning his head fully toward his brother, disbelief etched across his face, laden with questions yet unasked.

"Go on," he urged a sense of urgency in his tone.

"She said, 'Don't lie to me, boy. What time do you clock out?' Her soft, caring tone morphed into something strict, causing me to flinch ever so slightly. I didn't want to invoke her wrath, so I confessed, laying bare the truth. Then, with a smile that belied the earlier tension, she said, 'Let's grab lunch together.' I attempted to refuse her twice, but in a heartbeat, her expression shifted to one of profound sadness, making an ache of guilt bloom in my chest. 'I will force you if you don't comply with this small request of mine,' she warned with a hint of steel in her voice. Ultimately, I capitulated and agreed to join her for lunch. Brother, she is the epitome of a classy, beautiful, kind, and formidable woman—the kind you've always admired."

Jake smirked as he cast a sideways glance at Brian, who couldn't suppress a smile at his brother's enthusiasm. Yet, amidst the lighthearted banter, shadows of self-doubt began to flicker in Brian's mind. "But we're not, I mean I'm not even in her league to warrant a glance," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

As the brothers navigated their way home, the exhilaration of Jake's tale lingered in the air, yet Brian found the opportunity to ask about her name had slipped away, lost in the excitement of the moment.