Whispers Of the Heart : High School

Chapter 9 : Christmas is Coming

During lunchtime, Selena sat with Mira and Leon, her mind seemingly far away. Mira noticed her distant expression and the untouched food on her plate. Concerned, she asked, "Hey, what's wrong? You've been staring off into space. You haven't eaten anything."

Selena offered a small smile, trying to dismiss the worry in Mira's eyes. "I'm just tired, that's all."

The topic shifted as Mira brought up the approaching Christmas season. "You know, Christmas is coming up. It's the most romantic time of the year."

Selena's gaze softened as she considered the sentiment. "Yeah, it's always so magical."

Mira leaned in, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "You know, you used to spend it with Felix and his family. But maybe this year, you might get to spend it with someone else."

Selena's response was quick and almost defensive. "I don't like Asher that way."

As their conversation continued, Selena tried to push aside her conflicting emotions. The upcoming holiday season seemed to carry with it a sense of anticipation and uncertainty, stirring up emotions she wasn't quite ready to confront.

As Selena returned home, she noticed something unusual under the table – Asher, fast asleep. She couldn't help but let out a small amused chuckle at the sight. Before she could wake him, Asher stirred and slowly woke up, blinking groggily.

Asher rubbed his eyes and sat up.

Their interaction was interrupted as a knock sounded on the door. Selena went to open it and was surprised to find Melody standing there, holding a couple of shopping bags and wearing a bright smile.

"Hey, Selena! Look at these new clothes I got, aren't they awesome?" Melody exclaimed, doing a little twirl to show off her outfit.

Selena grinned, genuinely pleased for her friend. "They look great on you, Melody."

As Selena left the apartment, her thoughts were still preoccupied, making her less attentive to her surroundings. Suddenly, her distraction led to an unexpected event – a man on a bike crashed, falling to the ground along with the bike. Selena's instinct kicked in, and she immediately rushed over to help.

"Are you okay?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

The man seemed more concerned about the state of the plates that had broken in the fall. His frustration was palpable as he surveyed the shattered dishes. He then turned his attention to Selena, clearly agitated by the situation. "Do you know how much these plates cost? A customer ordered these special plates months ago. Three bowls, and they cost 12,000 dollars. How are you going to pay for them?"

Selena's heart sank at the realization of the situation. She knew she didn't have the means to cover such a hefty expense. Panic began to set in as the man's words echoed in her mind. She thought about offering her parents' information, but the fear of being dragged back to her hometown kept her from sharing that information.

She hesitated, then looked around the store and noticed a "now hiring" flyer displayed. An idea formed in her mind – perhaps she could work to pay off the damages she had inadvertently caused.

"Wait," Selena said, her voice gaining a touch of determination. "Instead of money, can I work here to pay for the plates?"

Accepted at the man's store, Selena realized that time had slipped away, and she was running late. Remembering her responsibility to Asher, she took a moment to send him a text message, explaining that she'd be late but choosing not to disclose the circumstances.

"Hey Asher, something came up and I'll be running late today. Don't wait up for me. See you when I get back. - Selena"

Exhausted and running late, Selena finally arrived back at the apartment. Her fatigue was evident in her steps, and she couldn't help but feel embarrassed by her disheveled appearance in her work clothes. As she entered, she noticed Asher sitting at the table, eating a bowl of ramen.