The Sun and The Moon 3.
Chapter 3.
Caroline stepped out of work after 4 PM, and the sun was shining brightly. The sun greeted her, and it was pleasant. The air wasn’t that unpleasant but rather lovely and warm, and one would have an illusion of being on an island soaking in the warmth.
“How nice would it be if I could travel to the Maldives at this moment,” Caroline thought to herself. She hadn’t been traveling for a long time. The craving for a trip was urgent, but this wasn’t the best time to travel due to her new job. Nevertheless, the Maldives had always been one of the places on her list to visit. Putting the thought aside, she walked to the next intersection and gradually saw the city bustling with people near the metro station. During this hour, most of the people are getting off from work.
She walked towards the metro with her high-heel boots unhurried, thinking about what she would have for dinner and whether she should buy some weed later. As a vegan, she didn’t need to spend money on expensive things like meat, and she lived on vegetables and beans most of the time. She has always had a compassion for animals since she was a child, and she started early in her childhood when she understood animals are living things, cute, and deserve to live as well. Although her mother occasionally tricked her into having meat during her teenage years, she would trick and coax her into having meat, especially soup with chicken broth or cow broth, but she could taste the difference.
After so many years, she still wonders if her mother would still do the same out of love or worries, but she was firm in her choice.
Caroline stepped into the metro packed with people going home from work. But once she stepped into the metro, she smelled a strong smell of perfume that almost suffocated her nostrils. Sometimes Caroline yearned for peace and sometimes felt it would be too lonely if she moved out of the city to a more remote place. Even though she currently lives all by herself, the city’s bustling made her less alone because of the people and other conveniences as more to choose from, whether it was restaurants for a vegan like her or the various shops selling vegan things.
Caroline struggled to stand firm while the metro drove to the designated place, the metro was shaking, and she held onto the pole by the entrance door to stable herself and kept her eyes on her high-heels boots.
Lauren put down her red-framed glasses, massaged her brows with her fingers, and stretched her body. After Carol left for work, she spent many hours at the computer, and it was time to take a break. The time went incredibly fast after Lauren had finished her 14th chapter. Being a freelancer and author, she had ample time to do whatever she wanted, and it mainly was to research various recipes, read, and write her book and blog. The books Lauren had sold so far could last her at least a year, however, going out with friends and traveling consume a lot of money. Therefore she would put the time to write another book.
It was almost time for dinner, and she only had some bread for lunch. And it was Monday, and since she didn’t buy groceries before the weekend, she thought she would swing by the family restaurant to eat and greet her mother at the same time. Her mother and her big brother owned the restaurant, and she had some share in it and would help out once in a while. But, although she could help out more, the stress was too much for her to handle, as if her high sensitivity prevented her from working as ordinary people with high tolerance to stress.
Lauren prepared to leave, suddenly, the phone rang, and it was her mother beating on her phone screen. It was as if her mother knew she would come and call to check in with her. Lauren picked up the phone and answered.
“Hello, Lauren. Come and help out on Friday” Her mother’s voice came over as soon as she picked up with a commanding tone.
“…help out? What about brother?” Lauren was a bit reluctant to help out when she had already made an appointment that day.
“Your brother had something to do. You don’t do much anyway, so come.” Her mother said, leaving no room for negotiation.
“Alright, but I have a lunch meeting at noon. So I will be there at 3, no, make it 3:30,” Lauren said and hoped her mother would agree.
“You girl, you only said busy when I need you, but ok, 3:30 then. Don’t be late,” her mother shrill voice resounded on her phone.
Lauren breathed a sigh of relief and wondered if it was better to buy groceries and eat somewhere else since her mother would nag her again if she came to the family’s restaurant. She went out and remembered to check her phone for any messages, but the phone was quiet, and there was no news. Lauren put her phone in her purse and went to the elevator, disappointed.
Aiyla checked her phone and saw the morning greeting message, and smiled, but she didn’t know what to type back since the morning was over when she checked her phone. And because of work and she had been busy reading, she didn’t feel about writing back to Lauren, even though she thought it would be rude not to answer.
“Let’s text back later,” she thought and hoped Lauren wouldn’t mind it.
“Aiyla? Is that you?” A female’s voice came over. Aiyla looked up from her phone and buckled the phone upside down on the counter beside her, and where she stood, she saw the girl she had previously known for a while. They met on a dating site, and Aiyla thought she was pretty and cool, but somehow the girl also had this distant attitude of not getting too deep into the relationship. Hence she pulled herself out in time, but seeing her again made her heart flutter again.
“Hey! You are here.” Aiyla smiled at the girl who had already come near the bar counter and sat down on the stool. The smile on the girl grew wider, and Aiyla blushed a little making the interaction a bit ambiguous.
“What a coincidence. I didn’t know you were working here,” the girl said and took up her phone to check the messages she had just received, leaving Aiyla hanging. Aiyla saw that she was attentive in checking her phone as she used to do when they first met as if what they had in between them wasn’t anything significant.
“Yes, I have been working here after the last time we met, actually,” Aiyla answered and felt a bit bored being the only one who reminisced about the old times in her heart. The girl was wearing a white hooded sweater and a pair of blue jeans, sitting calmly on the stool, typing on her phone.
“Sorry, let me make a call, and I will be back soon,” the girl said and was ready to make a call.
“It’s ok, take your time,” Aiyla rolled her eyes and pretended she was busy with other things. Then, for a few minutes, she saw in the corner of her eyes the girl had stood up and left the bar counter. Aiyla felt stupid to think there was something between them. The infatuation she gave the girl back then wasn’t on a whim but more sincere. After several unintentionally or intentional rejections by the girl, she still hadn’t gotten rid of her feelings. Aiyla shook her head and waved away her thoughts.
Customers started to pour in, and she didn’t have time to reminisce and feel sorry about herself and continue working as if nothing had happened.
Time went on quickly, and it was nearly 11 PM when Aiyla got off work. Aiyla took her phone and sent a message.
The phone vibrated while Lauren had just finished with one more chapter in her book. She took the phone and saw a message from Aiyla asking her if she would like to meet.
[Aiyla］I got off work. Are you busy? Want to meet? 🙂
Lauren smiled and felt sweet inside, though she would like to meet her regarding the time. However, the girl had already asked, so she typed back so as not to let her wait long.
[Lauren］Not busy, would you like to come to my place for a late dinner? 🙂
[Aiyla] Ok, give me the address.
Lauren typed her address, quickly sent it to Aiyla, and looked at herself in the mirror. She checked her make-up which had become faint, and retouched it before she went to the kitchen and took out the ingredients she had bought earlier. Suddenly a feeling of nervousness surged in her, and her stomach churned. As if knowing her sweetheart was coming made her feel excited and worried at the same time. Usually, Lauren wouldn’t invest in feelings when she hadn’t confirmed the other person’s sexual preferences, but Aiyla was an exception. And it made Lauren perplexed, but it was her first time falling in love at first sight. She didn’t intend to reveal anything before she was sure of the other’s intention.
