the forbidden strangers

july//noah cyrus

monday, yesterday's memories flows away.
get up for its a beautiful day. a new day, no regrets, let it flow away.

its the usual, i have a shift starting at 10 up to 1 in the afternoon. sometimes i wish to be stuck in the previous day. don't get me wrong, i don't mind my job but after the late visit over at max yesterday my body feels really cranky.

i decide to do a few morning stretches (i heard that it makes you feel more productive during the day) & then decide to go downstairs.

something quiet usual in our household is that this time nobody is productive, its either my mom that's already gone to work at the crack of dawn or everyone else is still asleep.

making my way into the kitchen, i make some spicy scramble eggs, a savory dish my dad always used to make consisting of onions & various garnish spices along with coffee. the aromas together tickles my nose & makes my tummy grumble.

after cooking, i sit down in the lounge & enjoy my breakfast. the 8 o clock news booms in the background while i scroll through my Instagram. oh look, another picture of max & elize together. you would swear that this two are dating.

giggles erupts from the dining room. who the heck is up so early?
sneakingly walking there, i find emily reyes aka my mom giggling once more on the landline.

'rich i already told you how that nickname makes me feel'

no way.

a deep voice booms from the speaker.

no way! who is she even talking to? that definitely sounds like a guy, RICH?! my mom is so unbelievable. my father isn't even gone for long & she is already with someone else.

what should i do? take a phone in the kitchen & spy on the call?

nevermind how much this thought excites my curiosity, i have to go & get ready for work. jamie hates it when we come to work late.

once upstairs. i get dressed into the works colors, blue & black. black pants & a blue shirt. jamie doesn't really bother with what shoes we show up with, at least if we are comfortable with working in them.

i clear my head from what i just witnessed downstairs & leave for work. time moves fast & traffic in new york is nobodies playmate.

the music screaming from the car's speakers isn't enough to subsidize my fowl mood. my mother is incredibly unbelievable.
im not sure if i should speak to abel about this matter, i decide not to because he has enough on his plate. lacrosse, school & an exciting love life thats already blooming. aside from my failing life, im glad that abels is doing better.

i find the store buzzing with a lively chatter & the atmosphere is steaming from the hours coffee selection. today im working at the cash register, after clocking my card in at the back, i leave my bag in my employee locker then grab my fresh apron.

a newbie, suzy bustles with the cash register. grateful that she sees me, she greets me with aspiration.
"adia to the rescue!", i laugh.

"wait, not to sound like rude or anything but can you please pronounce your name again?"

"ahdeeyah", i laugh.

"oh my word, i saw your name on the register & i read it as ayydah", suzy palms her face.

if i had a million for everytime a teacher mispronounced my name. it's no problem thou.

suzy counts the money she made on her shift while adding change too. "so how are things with you & your mom?" she asks while working.

"to be honest sue, the situation hasn't changed. my mom is same old same old... distant", i murmur

suzy gives me a sad glance then rakes her hands through her short hair.

she reaches out & rubs my shoulder. "maybe its your turn to reach out, hm?"

without waiting for my reply she waves goodbye & leaves me to my post.

"problems at home?", brax interjects.

i sigh heavily, "brax not now. its way to early".

"look im just trying to be nice to you, no need to act bitchy", he backs up & glares at me.

"if you didn't have to be sooo nosy, i wouldn't act to bitchy!", i glare back. gosh what's up with brax. why all of the sudden the nice guy act when he obviously wants to just fish out some of my business.

"hey you two, back it up. brax get back to your post, table number 4 won't help itself", jamie intervenes.

brax moves away & gives me a cold stare & shuffles past jamie. my eyes drift off to the menu keeping my eyes busy.
without a word jamie disappears to the back.

my mind drifts off to my father. his shocking death, why we couldn't attend his funeral bc of the traditional customs that had to be taken. in a way im sad that his gone. but i appreciate the memories i shared with him.

"hey can i please have a double espresso shot in a tall ready to go mocha?"

what a weird order. i glance up at the customer & you won't believe who it is.
my eyes stretch out & my heart pounds so... fast.

his gaze matches mine. "you", brown eyed boy says then grins sheepishly.

i cant believe it. fumbling with his card, i accept it & pass him the machine. his order is sent to the kitchen & i feel his gaze on my face.

"hey", i say finally.  most orders today are mostly sit ins & not take outs so my work isn't much.

buster passes me the order & i give it to brown eyes.

"i never got your name" he says

"neither did i"

"kendall, i wish that i took your number!"
he finally gives me his name & he wants my number. today is truly out of the world.

"i am adia, nice to finally meet you", embarrassingly i say formally. i sketch my number down & i kiss the paper then hand it to him.

a blush coats his cheeks. shyly he accepts, then he thanks me.

for the rest of ny shift i work, kendall, oh my word. well kendall, waits for me at one of the tables occasionally checking his phone or jotting something on a sketch pad.

after my shift. i move over to him.
"adia", he tastes my name & by the look on his face he likes it.
"did someone ever tell you how you suit with the name you have?", he askes.

"you're actually the first, thank you"

"i know this is out of the ordinary, but would you like to hang out? like now with me. but like only if you want?", he askes. i can tell that he is super shy. like he wants to have my approval.

i nod my head, "i would love to", i say.

parked outside stands kendall's car. the same one he brought me home with. & with the same gentleman way, he opens up my door & leads me in.

"you know i couldnt stop thinking about you, i regret not asking you for your name or number" he says.

i want to be open about the search i had for him. going to the club then...

"to be honest, i looked for you in hopes of finding you. i went to the club but you weren't there"

kendall smiles. "i dont go there much, to be honest it's our families business. you wouldn't have found me there."

we pull close to a lake. "where are we?", i ask.

"welcome to my favorite place, central park"

i look out of the window. im used to central park but here on the outskirts ive never been here, the waters are so calm & clean, we are away from the usual bustle & spoiled air.

i open the door & breath in the woody sent. turning around i smile, "thank you for bringing me here".