Into The Dark

2.

The salon bubbled with the conversation between hairstylists and clients as the time-shifted towards midday. Selassi was currently occupying her thoughts with the mindless conversation that occurred around her, it was the only way for her not to give into her grief.

One of their regular customers talking a lot as usual and all Selassi could do was roll her eyes.

"I'm so tired of my parents telling me what to do. Talking about I need to get a job and I said 'why do you think men exist?' To provide. I don't need a job. You get me, Sally and Nina?" the client said. The lady was pushing 30 but she clearly had an immature mindset.

"Yeah, totally get it. Right, Sally?" Nina said sarcastically as Selassi side-eyed her. It was like Nina to egg on somebody's nonsense just to be entertained. She sighs, continuing to listen to the nonsense the client was spewing out.

"Yeah, sure we get it. My name is Selassi " She responded, looking at the client up and down in annoyance but she seemed oblivious to it.

" Ahh, I knew you would get it. This hair is beautiful, Thank you lovelies."  The client got up from the chair and handed the money to Nina. She waved at them, leaving the salon as Selassi and Nina gave her forced smiles.

" I feel like she gets my name wrong on purpose, uno. Always talking bare too" Selassi said, frustratedly as she watched Nina spread out the cash in her hands, looking at the money like the way a dog looks at a bone. 

" She's annoying but looooook at these ps tho.  She pays well with the extra tip so I don't care about her motormouth, to be honest" Nina fanned herself with the money. 

" Put the money away. Do you always have to be reckless?" Selassi lectured. Nina waved her off as she put the cash away in the register.

The salon was a bit quieter now, the few clients that were around were mostly mums and older ladies.  Selassi looked around, in awe of what she had established with this salon, her and Nina were only 24 and they had been running the salon successfully for two years.

The salon offered different services but what set them apart from other salons was the affordable natural hair services which included one to one hair consultations and scalp analysis. That combined with their large social following meant the customers flowed in without fail.

" Ready to go to lunch? A bitch is very hungry" Nina said which made Selassi snap out of her thoughts. She simply nodded, she and Nina left the salon, making their way to a nearby Chinese restaurant in South East London.

They entered the crowded restaurant and sat down. The waiter collected their food orders and left their table, Nina eyed his bum as he walked away. Selassi threw her napkin at her face which made Nina nearly fall out of her chair.

Selassi let out a raucous laugh as Nina mumbled herself angrily, balancing her chair properly.

" I couldn't help it. You were acting like you never seen a man' She said, lifting her eyebrow.

" Nah, I  have never seen a man's bum is that plump. I had to stop myself from slapping it, to be honest" Nina said, laughing lightly. The two friends had been joint at the hip since their mums met each other at a maternity ward and quickly became friends. The girls did everything together from birthday parties to sleepovers, they were practically sisters.

" Sooooo, how's life ?" Selassi questioned, sipping a mocktail. 

" You know me, dickpointment here and dickpointment there. The usual, I ain't got time for no sill relationship." She said nonchalantly.

" Bitch, people can hear you, uno. Do you have to be so loud?" Selassi responded as a nosy couple gasped at what Nina said.

"You're such a hater. I don't care that these people can hear me, them motherfuckers are adults so what is the issue?" Nina said loudly, rolling her dramatically.