IILICIT AFFAIRS ━━ Lamelo Ball

3.8

Summer Keaton.

I sit idly in my black Honda Accord, tapping mindless rhythms on my steering wheels. I'm about 15 steps from writing the story that could put my name out there. I want it bad, but my mind keeps me glued onto my seat, watching customers enter and exit the market.

It was when I was saw Winona peering outside of the window when I decided to exit. I lock my car and make my way to the counter. The place is clean; its white tiles are polished to a shine and the stock-- primarily of Asian snacks and goods-- are tidied on the shelves. The lone attendant, a Filipina teenager with her eyes glued onto her phone, sits by the register, not paying much attention to the five other customers roaming around the store. 

I approach the counter, my hands shaking in my pockets. "I- I," I stutter, causing her to focus her attention to me. "I want to buy a scratch ticket."

"Which one?" She deadpans.

"Uh, five dollar crossword, please," I say.

She puts her phone on the counter and slowly retrieves one from the glass display. "Five dollars, please," she says, still with no emotions.

"Sure," I grab my wallet and lay down a five. She hands my the ticket and gives me a forced smile.

"Is there anything else I can help you with?" She asks, her tone annoyed.

"I'm looking for Ivy."

"Wait right here." She stands up from her stool and enters the door. 

Minutes later, she beckons me to come through the door and leads me to a staircase. She knocks twice on the door at the very top of the staircase. "It's your visitor."

Winona promptly opens the door. "Come in, Summer."

Her apartment was deceivingly spacious. She kept her room clean, not a spec of dust on the floor. Everything was neat. The place smelt like flowers and the walls were covered with pictures and art from her past. There's a picture frame of her and her sister by the drawer at the front.

"Welcome in," she walks me to the couch. I set my bag onto the wood floor and takeout my notebook. "Do you want anything to drink?"

I take a seat on her navy blue couch. "Water. With a lemon slice, if you have."

"Just how I like it as well," she smiles, going the fridge. She sets the two glasses on the table. We sit in silence for a while as my notebook lies on the table. "Don't be nervous, ask me anything."

Her warmth and smile eases me up. Despite that, the first question I come up with is: "How's it like living under a store?"

"Underrated," she nods. "If I'm trying out a recipe and don't have a certain item, I can just run downstairs and get what I need. Plus, the owners don't make me pay tax if I pay with cash."

"Nice," I say, scribbling it onto my notebook. I take a sip of water, trying to convince myself to just ask. Just do it. I set down the cup and take a deep breath. I let my mind speak freely, turning off the filter that's kept my tongue bitten. "We left on New Years' Day. Could you tell me more about that?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

LOVE LETTERS FROM SHAY.

an update a whole year later??? look at me. got back into reading and i wanted to write! so here yall go. hope i don't stop cus ill be disappearing before the semester starts xx