𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 - 𝐛.𝐞

2 -

Five days had passed since that strange, memorable encounter, but Dina couldn't shake the image of that woman from her mind. Her laugh, that crooked smile, that piercing gaze... Something almost imperceptible still lingered in the air, a persistent memory that seemed to cling to the shop's walls. Sometimes, she'd catch herself glancing at the door, as if expecting to see that familiar figure appear again.

That evening, as the Los Angeles sky lit up with shades of orange, a soft chime rang at the entrance. Dina looked up, and her heart skipped a beat. It was her.

The stranger had just stepped over the threshold, this time without her hoodie and sunglasses, dressed in a relaxed outfit that somehow carried a natural elegance. Her silhouette was outlined gracefully under the golden light filtering through the window, and her eyes sparkled playfully when they met Dina's. Smiling, Dina took a deep breath and said,

"Welcome back, no plans to rob the place this time?"

A clear laugh escaped the stranger, a soft melody that harmonized perfectly with the background music. She raised her hands in mock surrender, an amused smile on her lips.

"Nope, promise! I left my thief costume at home."

They shared a look of understanding, and Dina felt her shoulders relax. The initial tension of the visit faded, though something indescribable still hung in the air.

The stranger approached the counter with natural ease, letting her gaze wander over the shelves lined with vinyls, as if she wanted to take in every detail. Dina watched her, fascinated by the calmness that radiated from her. She had a singular presence, and Dina felt as if she drew in light, shaping the space around her with a kind of magic.

"So... back for the second vinyl, I assume?" Dina asked, pointing to the shelf where the first Tyler The Creator album still waited.

The stranger nodded softly, an enigmatic smile on her lips.

"Exactly. And you were totally right, Igor  was fucking intense, I really missed it..."

She paused, staring at the vinyl before turning back to Dina.

"Really? You liked it that much?" Dina asked, intrigued and a bit surprised.

"'Liked it'? That's putting it mildly. Dude, this album wrecked me all over again," the stranger admitted in a near-whisper, as if confiding a secret. "Tyler has this raw honesty, something that hits, that almost hurts. Intense but also incredibly vulnerable."

Dina listened, captivated by the passion in the stranger's voice. She never expected such a deep response, much less this intimate layer to their exchange.

"Tyler expresses things that are so universal, that's what I love about him. It's like he's hurting while searching for redemption in love." murmured Dina, letting her own thoughts merge into the shop's calming atmosphere.

The stranger gave her a warm look, their eyes meeting with an almost palpable connection. Dina felt an unusual closeness, a subtle connection, as if, through this exchange about an album, they were sharing a part of their lives.

"Damn, that's exactly it," the stranger said softly, almost contemplatively. "I've been listening to that album on repeat for five days. Every time I listen, I find a nuance, an emotion I missed before..."

She trailed off, her fingers lightly brushing the corner of the vinyl, a softer smile crossing her face. Dina felt a small wave of warmth rise within her, touched by this unexpected sincerity.

"Can I ask why you wanted this album so badly?" Dina asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, eager to learn more about this mysterious woman.

The stranger shrugged, a faint smile on her lips.

"Let's just say it reminds me of a specific time in my life, I was like 17. Tyler's always had a place in my heart, something I hadn't really explored, maybe because I was a bit too young to read between the lines. And on vinyl, it's something else. It might sound strange, but it's like every note feels more real... more intense, you know?"

Dina nodded with understanding, touched by the openness of this confession.

"I get it completely. Vinyl transforms sound, or at least the way we listen... it's like each track tells a story, a chapter of a life, it's like reading a book."

A comfortable silence settled between them. Dina had never thought a simple musical exchange could open such a field of feelings and confidences. She found herself hoping this moment wouldn't end too quickly, that this fragile bond would keep growing.

The stranger finally broke the silence, an admiring smile on her lips.

"You know, I admire your passion. Most people just sell records without really understanding the story behind them... but you, it's like you actually live them."

Dina felt her cheeks flush under the unexpected compliment.

"Thank you," she murmured, a little embarrassed but genuinely touched.

They lingered in silence for a moment, savoring this unexpected connection. Then, with a gentle smile, Dina rang up the vinyl, trying to capture the moment.

"So, see you next time... maybe," she murmured, her words carrying a hidden hope, secretly wishing that "maybe" would turn into a promise.

Their gazes met one last time, and a mysterious gleam in the stranger's eyes seemed to respond in silence. With a crooked smile, she slipped out, leaving behind the scent of an unresolved mystery and a promise of unexplored reunions.