Nightcall - Billie Eilish

1 -

Dina absentmindedly adjusted the record she had just placed back on the shelf, her fingers sliding over the glossy cover as she straightened up, lost in the cozy ambiance of the shop. The gentle melody of the 70s filled the space, and a few customers still wandered through the aisles, their eyes scanning the worn records as if searching for hidden treasure. Then, a light chime from the doorbell sounded, pulling Dina out of her thoughts.

She looked up, intrigued by the figure that had just entered. A large black hood concealed the stranger's face, and sunglasses hid her eyes, despite the dim lighting of the shop. Strange choice for such a gray afternoon, Dina thought, a small amused smile playing on her lips.

"This a robbery?" she quipped playfully.

The stranger paused, looking at her for a moment before a soft laugh escaped her lips. She pulled back her hood, revealing a cascade of shiny black hair. Her lips stretched into a subtle smile.

"Nope, damn, I come in peace, promise," she replied, taking off her sunglasses with a casual gesture. "Sorry for the fugitive look."

Dina burst into laughter, shaking her head.

"It's better for admiring the records, don't you think?" she joked.

The stranger nodded, a slight smile on her face, then moved toward the record bins. Her fingers skimmed over the covers with surprising delicacy, as if she was searching for something precious. Dina watched, noticing the details, the way she tapped her finger occasionally in rhythm with the background music, looking focused and curious, as if exploring a new place full of mystery.

After observing her for a few minutes, Dina decided to see if she could be of any help.

"Is this the first place you've stopped by, or have you been making the rounds at other record stores today?" she asked, breaking the silence.

The stranger shot her an amused glance, raising an eyebrow.

"Do I look that lost? You've been watching me pretty closely. Yeah, I've spent the day hunting for records," she murmured, like sharing a secret.

"Then you must be missing something. Want me to help?" Dina offered, sincerely curious about what seemed to captivate her.

The stranger seemed to hesitate, then tilted her head, a mysterious smile on her lips.

"You know Tyler The Creator?" she finally asked.

Dina felt her heart skip a beat. That smile, that vibe... She had an almost magnetic aura, and Dina felt drawn in, as if each word was somehow hypnotic.

"Yeah, I know him," she replied with a grin. "I can show you where we keep them."

She guided her to the hip-hop and R&B section, then pulled out two records, showing them to her.

"Flower Boy or Igor... Both are special, but Igor has a bit more intensity," she added, watching her reaction closely.

The stranger studied the two covers for a moment, her blue gaze taking in the images and colors, as if analyzing every detail. She finally looked up, her voice low and steady.

"Intense, huh? I like that. Let's go with that one," she said, giving her a pointed look.

Dina felt a slight shiver. She couldn't quite understand why such tension hung around this otherwise ordinary conversation. She handed her Igor, her heart pounding.

"Ready to check out ?"

The stranger nodded, and they made their way to the counter, where Dina scanned the record in silence. As she handed over the plastic sleeve with the record inside, the stranger suddenly spoke, breaking the tranquil atmosphere.

"Are you the owner of the shop?" Her voice was soft, but there was an unexpected seriousness to it.

Dina gave an almost shy smile and shook her head.

"Absolutely not, I'm only 21... I just work here, for now, but one day, I'd love to have my own store. It's kind of my dream," she admitted with surprising sincerity.

The stranger nodded, and a look of understanding, or maybe nostalgia, passed in her eyes.

"That's a cool dream" she said softly.

Dina, a bit taken aback by this unexpected sincerity, felt touched by the budding connection, as fleeting as it was surprising. Just as she was about to wish her a good day, the stranger cleared her throat gently.

"Hey... Can I ask you a bit of a weird question?" she asked, fidgeting slightly with the plastic sleeve.

Intrigued, Dina stared at her, trying to guess what she might say.

"Go ahead, I'm listening."

The young woman seemed to hesitate, her lips pressing together slightly before locking eyes with Dina, a slight smile forming at the corners of her mouth.

"You didn't recognize me?"

Dina raised her eyebrows, surprised. Should she have? A slight hesitation crossed her mind, but she burst out laughing, shaking her head.

"Was I supposed to? Is it you, Dad?" she replied, light and teasing.

The stranger laughed too, an honest and light laugh, almost unexpected in the subdued atmosphere.

"No, not at all, forget I asked. That was fucking embarrassing," she added, a bit flustered.

Dina laughed as well, taking a moment to shake off the lingering sense of mystery.

"Have a great day, and enjoy the record."

The stranger seemed to appreciate the response, a gleam of amusement in her eyes.

"Yeah, I will, thanks. See you around," she said with a warmer smile, her voice soft and friendly.

As she headed for the door, Dina watched her leave, wondering why that "see you around" felt different than usual. She stayed frozen for a moment, her mind unsettled, sensing that this encounter was going to leave a lasting mark on her.

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New story, guys! Feel free to comment and vote /// Enjoy the read! 😊 -- This story has been translated from French again, let me know if you catch any mistakes.