As Long As I Am With You

3

Today's a very busy day, we had so much customers. The shop is usually full around 11 am until night 10 pm. I yawned as I stare at the ceiling of Gerald's office. Yup, I'm sitting on his chair right now. I've been sitting here for the past 5 minutes, "How are ya?" Gerald opened the door.

The number of customer starts to cool down as well, which means we don't have as much as customers as of the moment.

"Tired as heck" I stretched my limbs out, "We all get tired" he clapped. "OH! I almost forgot. Someone called me cute and asked for my socials" he laughed. "Who is it?" I asked, playing with his chair. Swaying left to right, right to left.

"It was one of the girls who ordered earlier, the three girls. Yeah that one" He said. "Ooo girls want to hit you up" I clapped. I think he has never been on a serious relationship. I wonder why.

"Anyway Winter can you buy 4 boxes of milk later before you go home? Just bring it tomorrow morning." He changed the subject.

"Oh, sure." I stood up, going outside of his office. Gerald, Nathan and I are the only baristas here though. I wonder if there's more? "Do you have any plans tonight?" Gerald cleared his throat.

"Gerald, it's 9 pm about to be 10 pm! But no, I'm always free." I chuckled. "That's good, want to have grab food after this?" he asked. I'm also hungry. I've been eating biscuits the whole day.

"Sure, when are we going to close though?"

"Maybe in 15 minutes, I'll tell Nathan to go home. It's pretty late too" he immediately went to Nathan and heard him talking to him. I heard Nathan saying "great! I'll be leaving then!" I saw him going to my direction.

"It's so nice meeting you Winter! I'm looking forward to work with you! Have a great night!" he waved at me, I waved back to him, "Me too, Nathan! Have a goodnight and be safe!" we bid our goodbyes and he left.

After for a few minutes, Gerald and I closed the shop. He drove his way to Panda Express. We sat on our table, waiting for our food. "How have you been these days?" I asked him. He didn't respond as he was looking at the table. I snapped him out of his thoughts, "Alright. Dream's over! Come back to earth"

He flinched, "What?" he looked around. "Good morning, now did you hear what I just said?" I smiled at him sarcastically. He stared at me blankly, "Yea– nope, did not" he smiled awkwardly.

"How are you?" I asked straight out of the point, "Well Winter, I've been thinking about something lately." he sat up straight, and looked at me in the eye. I'm confused.

"I don't know how to say this, but I hope nothing will change in our friendship." he held both of my hands, "Winter... I'm—" he got cut off by the waiter.

"Uhh here's your food..." he placed the food we ordered on our table. We quickly pulled our hands to ourselves and acted like nothing happened.

We waited until the waiter walked away, "What is it?" I asked him, not even moving an inch. I'm still curious of what he's about to say. "Alright, can I hold your hands again?" he asked breaking the awkward tension. I bursted out laughing, "Are you okay?" I cracked up.

"just give me your damn hands" he grabbed both of my hands and cleared his throat, he looked at my soul but damn I can't help but laugh, is he trying to curse me with a spell or something? "Winter..." he paused.

"I'm bisexual."

My eyes widened, "Yeah, I know. I'm weird, right?" he said. I squished his hands, "You dumb pickle! I'm totally fine with that! I'm so proud of you, Gerald!" I exclaimed. I'm really happy about it! "Thanks, Winter! You're a crack head but damn you're a good friend. You're the best bitch ever" he started separating his chopsticks.

We ate for about thirty five minutes, talking, laughing about things. I totally forgot I still have to go buy four boxes of milk. What the heck was that?

We finished eating, both of us paid for our food. "Hey Gerald, I got to go buy some groceries and yeah four boxes of milk" I started to fix my things. "Oh yeah I forgot! Two boxes of almond milk and soy milk" he added.

"Alright" I clapped my hands, "Oh and I can drop you off" he suggested. "No no it's okay. I'll use the subway, thanks by the way!" I fixed my things. "Okay, thanks for tonight Winter!" he walked me outside. "Thanks too! Goodnight Gerald!" I waved, walking away. He waved back.

I walked to the nearest subway. For a few minutes, it stopped near my apartment. There's a nearby grocery store around my area. I got out of the subway station and made my way to the grocery store.

I went in and grabbed my trolley, I also got my temperature checked. I immediately went to the milk area and grabbed two boxes of almond milk, then another two boxes of soy milk.

I walked around the grocery store to see if I still need anything aside from what I just grabbed.

I walked and walked until I reached the isolated area of the store. I saw two men, around my age talking to each other. I ignored them and minded my own business.

"Hey!" one the guys approached me, then the second guy followed. I walked away, pretending as if I didn't hear anything. "Woah we're talking to you, girl! " the other guy said.

I looked at them, they startled. "Oh hello there, we need a friend!" one of them winked. Red flag.

I don't know what to say, I'm completely clueless and speechless.

"What's your name?" the other guy named Mike asked, he pulled his mask down. I started to feel uncomfortable and walked away.

One of them held my trolley, trying to stop me from walking away. "Yo, what's up? Don't wanna make friends?" my heart started to beat really fast, the way he looked at me just sent shivers to my spine. "Please, I have to go." I pleaded.

"Not friendly hmm?" The guy standing started walking towards my direction, I started to walk backwards, "Hey calm down we're just trying to be friends with you" the way he said my name made me nervous. I'm scared, really scared that my hands are shaking.

"He— Whoa. What is going on?" I looked at the person, it was Apollo. Why the hell does it have to be him? Mike didn't move an inch. I aggressively removed the guy's filthy hands off me. I didn't know what to say. Think, Winter. Think! I moved to Apollo's side.

"D-do you know where the cabbages are?" I stuttered, hoping that Apollo would get what I really meant.

His eyebrows furrowed, he realized what was going on and his eyes widened, "Yeah! I'll bring you there" he smiled at me and went with the flow. He looked over to the guys, his smile slowly faded.

"is this your cart?" he whispered and I nodded quickly.

"Let's go" he said. We walked away from them and I'm glad Apollo was there, we walked until we reached to the aisle where there were people,

"Are you okay? I saw you from a far" he bent down to see if I'm okay. "much better." I smiled. "Thanks for doing that. Why are you here?" I avoided having eye contact with him.  "I came here to buy some... green apples and oranges." he raised them. I slowly nodded.

"Ask someone to go out with you next time. Dick heads are everywhere." he said. I nodded, I don't know how but my heart just bursted I don't know if I'm too scared from what happened earlier or just embarrassed?

"Do you need to grab more stuff aside from.. milk?" he looked at my trolley, I thought of getting more groceries for myself but I think I'll get them next time. "Nope." I cleared my throat. "Okay, do you want me to drop you off or you're good?" he asked.

"I'm good, thanks again." I smiled at him, "Alright. I'll be going now Winter? Winter right?" he asked with a small chuckle, "yeah."

"Alright, then." he smirked.

He left with a tiny hand wave after that, I stood there frozen. What the heck just happened? I covered my face, really embarrassed. Apollo, who was our customer just saved the fucking day. Literally, saved the day.