Of Suitcases and Other Things

1

"When I first met you, I honestly didn't know you were gonna be this important to me."

-unknown quote

The brown haired girl walked into the mall, her large doe eyes scanned her surroundings. She hated days like this. She pursed her lips into a pout worthy of Angelina Jolie and carefully dodged people around her as she quickened her pace. The mall was on sale and it meant there were throngs of people inside. She only wanted one thing though and made a beeline for the store.

She had placed it on reserve a couple of days before but then couldn't make it yesterday because of other priorities so she failed to push through with her purchase. She knew the store had a 24 hour hold policy, so she hoped she wasn't too late.

She entered the store slightly relieved to see only one other person inside. She went straight to the counter.

"Hi, is Jen here?" she inquired.

"Ako po iyon." The girl behind the counter gave her a sunny smile.

"Hi I'm Nikko. I called 2 days ago about the salsa air luggage in ice blue. Pinareserve ko sya. I'm here to buy it now."

"Ok po. I'll just check the back." Jen said going into the stock room.

Nikko looked around as she patiently waited for the sales girl to come back. She was finally going to get the luggage she had been eyeing for her trip ever since it was displayed on the window 3 months ago. She had waited for it to go on sale and the timing was perfect. Her trip was next week, she had plenty of time left to pack for it.

Her eyes wandered to the other customer in the store. One of the sales agents was talking to him about the suitcase he just picked.

She saw his face and bit her lip. Could you say crush material? Eyes like chocolate pools you could drown in. Pale skin that looked like he glowed from within. A chiseled jaw and lips that formed the perfect cupid's bow.

He was dressed in a business suit and she was curious about whether his body matched his good looks.

Bet he's got abs under there she mused.

"Could I see the lighter blue again." she heard him say. His voice had a warm quality to it which practically had her swooning. Definitely crush material she concluded.

And he has good taste in bags. She thought as she saw the sales associate wheel a blue luggage in front of him. That's the same one I like.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when Jen came up to her looking worried. "Ummm...I'm sorry Miss, pero wala yung  reservation ninyo sa stock room."

"Huh? But I put it on hold a couple of days ago." she said suddenly feeling her stomach plummet to the floor.

"Yes ma'm but company policy states that we can only hold something for 24 hours. I can't say for sure but we may have sold it already, it was the last piece and it's not in the back." Jen looked at her unsure of what to do.

"But but but..." Nikko panicked at the thought of not getting her chosen suitcase.

"Meron pa naman kaming ibang kulay. What about navy?"

"But I want the ice blue one!" Nikko said adamantly. She looked back at the salesperson assisting her 'crush' and narrowed her eyes. "Hindi ba yun yung kulay na gusto ko?"

Jen looked to where she pointed, "Mukha nga po. Wait lang Miss ayusin ko lang ito."

Jen headed over to the other sales agent while Nikko followed, staying a couple of steps behind her. Her intent was twofold. One, she wanted to make sure Jen was able to get her luggage and two, she wanted to take a closer look at the guy.