Morana knows she's different from other people in more ways than one. Firstly, she's sixty-seven years old but stopped ageing in her twenties. Weird things have also happened around her right after she's wished for it. But most importantly, no matte...
The day was a fun one. We went to a furniture store and ended up looking through the entire store and not just at the things Alejo had written up to buy. We especially spent time in the example rooms they had designed with furniture only from the store to criticize and praise. It turned out we seemed to have the similar taste in decorations. Light and soft colors. Less rather than more furniture. Only plastic plants and landscape paintings.
When we were done buying everything, we were both starving. There was a fast-food joint right next to the store which we ate at. While we ate, Alejo explained to me that although wands weren't needed for magic, there were wands, but they possessed special abilities.
After eating, we went back to the apartment to wait for the delivery of the stuff we'd bought. We arranged the room, my new bedroom, and then just lounged in front of the TV. A romantic comedy was on the random channel the TV was set to. I didn't particularly like those types of movies, they always seemed too unreal to me, but they were as good as anything to pass time. I noticed that Alejo, however, seemed to get invested in the movie and was laughing and aw-ing and sighing at all the right moments. It made watching him watch the movie much more fun than paying attention to the screen.
The next day when I woke up, it was the same as the previous morning. I hadn't dreamed anything and, for some reason, that made me feel sad and lonely. I assumed I would be alone with those feelings until I got to work. It was six in the morning after all.
But I had only had time to make some coffee before Alejo came out of his bedroom. He made a mumbling noise, which I assumed to be a good morning. Then took a cup of coffee and sat down on the couch.
By the time I had changed and was ready to leave, he seemed to have poured enough coffee into himself to be alive.
"Give me a minute, and I'll drive you," he said when I came into the living to say I was leaving.
"You really don't have to. There's a bus to take," I tried to refute him, but he wouldn't have it.
So ten minutes later, I held onto him as he drove me to work on his motorcycle.
"When do you end?" he asked when I got off.
"Five."
"I'll be here to pick you up then," he smiled at me and I couldn't stop myself from smiling back.
"But you only have one helmet. You shouldn't keep on..." I started, but he cut me off.
"I'll buy one more today. Off to work now!"
He waved me off, and I shook my head and walked the few feet from the parking space to the store. When I got to the store, I turned back. Alejo was still there, smiling, and waved as our eyes met. I waved back before turning to the door and walking in.
"Morana! Are you alright?" Dereck asked the instance I entered. He hurried over to me, worry written across his face.
"I'm all fine," I answered and smiled to emphasize it, but he placed a hand on my forehead anyway. At that moment, though, the sound of Alejo's motorcycle came, and I turned around just in time to see it drive past the store's door.
"Was that your friend from the other day?" Dereck asked.
"What? Oh, yeah," I answered and turned back. To my surprise, Dereck didn't look worried anymore but instead looked somewhat harsh, his eyes narrowed and lips in a tight line.
"How long have you known him?" His eyes left the door and landed back on me. His gaze felt like ice.
"Not that long," I said and strode to the back in the hopes of avoiding the conversation.
"Was it he who answered your phone while you were sick?"
"Ehm, yeah, should have been." I got more and more uncomfortable with each question. Dereck's tone of voice was filled with accusations, and I couldn't understand why. What did it matter to him if I had been with Alejo?
"Why were you sleeping in his bed?"
I had reached the back room and my locker. I was in the middle of opening it, but the question made me pause. Why on earth would Alejo have told Dereck that? Not that it was something to hide, he had, after all, just taken me to the only made bed instead of letting me sleep on the couch. But I couldn't phantom how that had come up in conversation.
But it didn't matter much at that point. What mattered more to me was that Dereck acted ridiculous. It was none of his business.
"Yeah, so what?" I asked and put a hand on my hip.
"You should be more careful than that. What if he tried something while you were asleep?"
I rolled my eyes and turned back to my locker.
"I'm serious!" Dereck exclaimed. "How well do you actually know him?"
I took out my name tag and then slammed the door shut before turning back to Dereck. My anger started to peek, but I wasn't sure what I was angry about. That Dereck was trying to meddle in my business? Or that he was insinuating Alejo was capable of raping me?
"And you should shut up about things you know nothing about!" I snarled at him and moved to get into the store area, but he grabbed my arm to hold me back.
"I'm just worried about you, Morana. I don't want to see you hurt."
I looked down at where he held my arm. His grip was tight. "I suggest you let go of me then."
His eyes followed my gaze and the second he understood what I meant, he released my arm. I stomped out of there, not looking back or listening to the apologies Dereck said behind me.
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