LOVE SHOTS - JENLISA ADAPTATIONS

The ABC of Love

Lisa stifles a yawn, tucks her blond hair behind her ear and continues carefully stacking the bananas on the store's outside display.

It's another boring day, as usual, and she can't wait until it's 4 PM, expecting to see a regular customer who's been piquing her interest over the past weeks.

But before her highlight of the day arrives, a woman whom she recognizes as another regular approaches the store with a crying girl in tow.

"You've had sweets all day yesterday with your father. If you eat ice cream today, I will take you to the dentist tomorrow and that's a promise," says the mother sternly, reducing the crying in an instant.

Lisa can't help but feel bad for the hiccupping girl so she takes a banana and squats down. "Here. It's sweet like candy but much healthier for you and your teeth," she tells her as she gives her the banana.

The girl blinks, staring at her for a moment before looking at her mother, asking for permission.

When the woman nods, she slowly reaches out and takes the fruit from Lisa.

"What do you say?" the woman asks her daughter.

"T-th-thank yo-you," the girl tells Lisa.

Lisa grins and pats the girl's head. "You're welcome." Then she looks at the mother. "If you're going to shop, Mrs. Park, I can keep your daughter entertained for a few minutes. I have a special smoothie recipe. All natural ingredients but oh so yummy. And I can use an assistant making it," she says, glancing at the little girl who's brightened up at the word 'smoothie'.

"Can I help, Umma?"

The woman chuckles. "You should open a daycare, Lisa," she tells the blonde as she hands over her daughter. "Be nice to this kind unnie, okay? I'll only take a minute."

"Here. Hold on to my apron and don't let go." Lisa puts the edge of her apron in the girl's hand and picks up the crate of bananas. "Let's go inside and make yummy smoothie!" Then she bends down as if to whisper a secret. "I even have fun colorful bendy straws."

She has just placed one of the straws in a tall plastic glass and handed it over to the girl sitting at the juice bar when she sees the person she's been expecting.

Lisa straightens up immediately, her eyes glued to the young lady who's browsing the shelves.

The brunette she's observing stops at the apples and oranges section and starts picking up fruits. But instead of putting them in her basket, she places the basket on the floor and starts doing some rearranging.

"There she goes again."

The voice of her colleague startles Lisa. "Y-yeah."

"Glad she comes by. I've been dying for something to do. It's such a slow day. Let me know when she's done. I'll take the oranges," continues the colleague as he goes to the back of the store.

Lisa shifts her attention to the girl who's slurping the remaining bits of fruit smoothie from an empty glass. "Wow. Finished already?" she asks with a chuckle.

The girl grins widely and nods.

"Was it good?"

The girl nods again, letting Lisa take the glass from her.

"Glad you like it. Fruits aren't so bad, right? They're sweet too and healthier than candy." Lisa pats the girl's head. "Here. You can keep the straw." She gives the girl her green bendy straw and is about to put the dirty glass in the sink when from the corner of her eye, she catches the brunette looking at her.