Grieve

Chapter 5

"Are you feeling better, sweetheart?" Han asks, arranging some soda drinks in the store fridge.

"As good as I can be." I reply.

He turns around to look at me with an annoyed expression. The old man shakes his head; he is probably tired of me.

"You know, sometimes I'm not sure if I like that you are as obnoxious as I am." Han raises his eyebrows at me, and I shrug.

"But does it matter if you like it? I'm still gonna be this way." I say, the pessimism on my veins making its appearance.

He snorts and closes the fridge before getting closer to the register. Han leans on it, giving me a curious look that I don't like at all.

"Are you sure? Because I was positive that you and Evan as friends would not happen; I know you, after all. But the next thing I found out, he's coming here to tell me you have a cold." He remarks the last word with an incredulous expression. Oh, but is he happy to think that is true.

I let out a tired sigh. Han is questioning me with his expression; it's a nosy expression.

"We're not friends." I spit out, uncomfortable.

"Then, what are you?" He smiles widely as if he got me into a dead street. I narrow my eyes at him.

"Nothing, Han. Not friends, not whatever you're thinking." I take advantage of the customer getting closer to pay for their stuff, and I turn around to help them.

"Say whatever you want to yourself, Aster, but I know you will realize he's a good boy." Han pats me in the shoulder and leaves to his home in the back.

I can't help but mutter in an angry way under my breath, "Is he a dog or what?"

While I help the customer, my mind is absent; I remember Evan's disappointment, and my chest is pressured by guilt. Sometimes, I don't understand why I can't have people worry about me, but it is what it is. I messed up and hurt someone who is too kind to actually make me accountable for my mistakes. What can I say? I always mess up things, especially when it comes to people.

I would like to apologize, though. Then keep my distance, once and for all.

After I finish with two customers, the store is empty and silent. The only thing that I'm able to hear is the hum of the AC. Therefore, that means I'm alone with my thoughts, and I hate that. Because I think about Athena, my parents, Evan, Han, the journal, my permanent sadness, and the way I hurt myself. There is a lump in my throat now, but I hold it in.

Out of nowhere, there is a shiny ball of light that appears in the center of the room, and it starts forming a shape that I can only distinguish when it stops shining. It's Daia. She is still in the air for a second, then her wings start flapping, and her eyes, before closed, open in an abrupt motion.

"Oh, this is where you work... Nice." Daia starts flying fast around the store and leaving glitter trails everywhere.

"What are you doing here?! You have to leave." I say in a hurried way. I get out of the register and walk towards her, who has stopped in front of the candy section. She has sparkles in her eyes.

"Why? I can't leave you alone too much time, anyway." She turns around to look at me and suppresses a laugh.

"What?"

"That uniform is... really something."

I look down at myself. She makes me self-conscious of the ugly yellow and green uniform that I have to wear. I grumble, giving her a menacing look

"Are you here to make fun of me or look after me?" I ask, with my hands in the waist. Daia covers her mouth and laughs maliciously.

"Both."