When Bluebirds Fly | ✔

Part One : Chapter Seven

After dad left, I hung around the park till afternoon, not returning home to do chores or eat. I watched the clouds moving pacifically, placating me since I had been angry. Angry that the girls two blocks away had collections of nice shoes and parents with thousands of dollars in their bank accounts. Angry that the girls didn't have to fight with their father about a gelato. Angry that their fathers were employed and mine wasn't.

We were all under the same sky and yet the rain decided to shower on some, leaving others thirsty and withered.

The sky white with clouds slowly let the sunshine break their bond and my skin started to prick from the scorching heat. I went to the bathroom stall to wash my face and fix my hair before advancing towards Bailey's Nuts, desperately hoping that I wasn't stinking. The second I pushed through the glass doors, the aroma of fresh doughnuts seemed to wrap around me like a large coat on a chilly day and my stomach growled in hunger.

I wasn't very fond of doughnuts, but at this point, I could have swallowed a brick if I didn't have to shit bricks later.

"Hey Mariana," Tony greeted me with an innocent smile on his face. "You're early."

"Thanks for enlightening me. I'll definitely note that down in my diary," I taunted, but Tony didn't get my sarcasm. He continued to smile. "Pass me my apron and cap."

Why did I have to be here? If dad had his previous job, then I would be at home, watching a movie and furiously typing a review about it. I didn't resent dad for being jobless these past months, but I wished he had one. I wished that we could go back to our routine and not get tensed about putting food on the table.

With these anxious thoughts, I was absently carrying a steaming cup of coffee and whack! I crashed into Isaac who I didn't know was present right beside me. The brown coffee spilled over his bright white t-shirt, the liquid rapidly soaking the cotton cloth. I avoided looking at his face, my gaze was fixed on his clenched jaw and the fresh stain on his chest.

My trembling hands vigorously rubbed at the mark and he quickly caught my wrists. Fortunately, the manager wasn't around to enjoy this spectacle, but the customers stared at us. Tony hastily grabbed another cup, tending to the customer that I was supposed to.

"Let's go in," Isaac said calmly, releasing my hands. I nodded obediently, following him mutely inside the pantry. Stains like these would discolour the fabric permanently which meant I ruined his t-shirt. His probably branded t-shirt which cost a lot of money. A lot of money that I didn't have in my torn pockets.

"You should put water on it or-or something." I failed to prevent my voice from being shaky. "You can give it to me tomorrow, I'll wash it with bleach."

"Hey, it's okay." His hands gripped my shoulders and finally, I looked in his serene pale grey eyes. "Not a big deal Ana. The coffee just burned a little, but the rest is fine. Don't stress over this old t-shirt, I was thinking of donating it anyway."

The t-shirt appeared nowhere near old, I could put fake tags on it and people would buy it, thinking it was new.

"I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but seriously, I'll wash it and bring," I stated. "Also, I won't be mad at you for calling me by that name."

"What? Ana?" He smiled sheepishly. "For a second there Ana, I really thought you splashed the coffee on purpose."

"Why would I do that? I don't value you, but I certainly value clothes. Especially clothes that are definitely not old."

"Ouch." He chuckled to himself, then peeped inside his t-shirt, wincing suddenly.

I asked quietly, "Does it hurt?"