Sasha Shadows

My eyelids are forced to snap open when the orange sunlight hits my nose through the gap of the curtains. Meanwhile, the rooster reared by my neighbour is my second alarm clock as I've woken up late. Not that I'll be late for work, but I won't have the time to prepare my own lunch.

Therefore, I hop down of the bed leaving it unsettled and dash out of the room. The fan is switched off but the curtains are not pushed away to let in the warmth of sunlight. Such scene would always happen when I am rushing. "Sorry turtles, I'll feed you once I've returned."

After taking a shower hastily for surprisingly 10 minutes, which is 20 minutes faster than my usual speed, I snuggle into my bookstore T-shirt and a pair of black skinny jeans. But as I look into the mirror, I can't stop grimacing upon my knotted hair which is not washed during the shower.

"Gonna comb it smooth, and bring an empty container with me before leaving," I mutter to myself in case I'll forget such vital thing. At last, I still fail to bring my bento after a few minutes of hair-brushing.

One day, I'll definitely cut it short and leave it short.

My dead expression almost ruins everyone's mood in the morning while I line up to buy my lunch. It is the nearest food stall from my working place, hence, I ask Uncle Daniel to drop me there and leave the rest of the route for my legs.

Handling a plastic bag loaded with a packet of carbonara spaghetti, I pick up my pace towards the awaiting bookstore as fast as I can while glancing at the time of my lock screen. "Cranky noodles! 15 seconds left for me to clock on," I speed up until my legs are running while my mouth parts to heave in as much oxygen as possible for the required strength.

Soon, the entrance of the bookstore seems to be shining in front. Thus, my pace quickens once more, despite my lazy mind is calling me to stop. Apparently, I race pass a teenage boy and corner into the air-conditioned space. It looks somewhat like a paradise for booklovers, but having fastidious a manager here is not really an easy thing.

Not long after, I stop in front of the punch machine and insert my card. "Right on time, Shadows. You're safe," I sigh in relief after looking at the flickering 9.00 changes into 9.01.

I smile wide before turning to my back only to face the manager, or shall I say, the she-Devil herself who is looking straight at me, deadpanned. My smile fades to a serious poker face at the sight of her. "Good morning, Shadows. Did you have a goodnight sleep?" her arms are crossed on her chest while questioning me the question which I find it to be extremely dangerous.

"Y-yes, Madam Jesslyn." I stutter with my answer as a breathed giggle can be heard from behind the 30-year-old woman. "Sorry for being-"

"Nearly late," she interrupts with a rather loud volume to emphasize her point, which I respond with my lower lip bitten. "And that hooligan standing behind me," she gestures for me to head to the counter before turning to indoctrinate the so called hooligan – Clerence Cartwright.

Now, it is my turn to laugh. Yet no sound escapes from my throat as I know the consequences. Nevertheless, a low pitched evil laugh carrying my voice has already echoed in my mind without halting, thereby keeping my mouth from doing the job. A dark but funny expression creeps across my face once I'm out of Madam Jesslyn's sight.

The manager is still lecturing Clerence as the hot boy scratches the back of his neck in irritation, though his face still presents a fake smile. "Oops, my bad. I promise I won't do it ever again," he swears with his three fingers like a kid, which is evenly cute as how the manager has been asking him to not laugh at me. She might be strict in manners and punctuality, but she is still a caring manager.

I remember myself falling sick during my shift one day. My head was burning and the temperature could almost fried an egg or boil a pot of water. With or without the other staff's agreement, the manager still managed to persuade her with double pay. Hence after the replacement staff had arrived, she immediately drove me to the hospital, speeding.

I know some of you might comment about her act is similar to some sort of psychological tactics. But deep in my heart, I know her better than anyone since I've almost worked here for a year. And even I alone have no rights to judge her by the covers, so neither do you.

***

Clerence Cartwright

I wonder how big are the manager's lungs as I watch her moralizing me for such a long period of time. We are now sitting in the staff room where the people working here can eat and chat during lunch time. With the help with this eating table, this little room would also become a suitable place for newbies to be interviewed before joining the army. Last but not least, there is a couch placed at the end of it for staffs to sleep on.

Looking at the manager in the eye, I find that hers are grey which matches with her partially silver hair. Her angular face is smeared with light make-up which lightens up her appearance in terms of age. The long sleeve shirt coloured with pine green manages to hide her waistline as she stands, not to mention about her long black pants and two-inch champagne high heels.

"Stop examining me from top to bottom, kid. I'm a married woman." And I send her a wink together with a flying kiss. "Before you fill in the forms, there are rules for you to obey." I nod with a serious hum, totally prepared for the information. "Rule Number 1, no flirting to female colleagues, especially the counter girl." Alright, I'm listening. "Rule Number 2, be punctual. You'll begin with 5 dollars per hour, and if I catch you one day to be late or absent without any reason, your salary will be deducted." Still listening, at least she's not considering to fire me. "Rule Number 3, respect your colleagues regardless of their status on work and rule Number 4, no casual talking about topics other than this bookstore during your working hour, got it?"

"Got it," phew, that's a lot of rules for me to hear all at once ever since my existence in life.

The manager, or Madam Jesslyn leans closer to me with her cleavage partly visible through the gap of her unbuttoned collar button. "So are you still interested to join the army?" her eyebrows wiggle with confidence. At the same time, I can't stop swallowing to suppress myself from looking downwards.

A part of me is telling my body to get out of here right away. But my disobedient mouth says otherwise. "Y-yes, madam!" And I salute without listening to my brain's demand. God, there is no going back. "You're so screwed, Cartwright..." I mutter to myself under my breath.

"What did you say?" and I just notice the she-Devil herself has not left the tiny room yet.

"I-I said," one of her eyebrows raises when she eyes me with suspicion. "I said I'm honoured, Madam Jesslyn." And I fake a smile.

"Good. Welcome to the family," she hands me a stapled form consists of two pieces of papers. "Have fun filling the form and I'll get Shadows to find you a working T-shirt," Shadows, as in the counter girl?

But this is how I respond. "Alright," again with a fake smile hiding my crying figure.

***

Back to Sasha Shadows

It's been half an hour since I've stood in the counter, typing the forty-ninth chapter in of my story. Sure enough, government workers will be free like a bird during weekends as there've been more than 10 customers entering the store, though one of the groups involves a mother who's looking for a washroom for her 4-year-old boy. And because of that, I can't even finish 50% of the chapter.

Until the clink-clanking high heels alerts me. "I'll manage the counter." The manager offers. "Because I need you to find Clerence a working T-shirt." Upon hearing this, I immediately log out from the novel writing site before she takes over my place.

"Okay, Madam Jesslyn," I nod without looking at her.

"Now go and find him, he's in the staff room," Madam Jesslyn urges while she half shoves me out of the counter. "And one more thing," she stops me in the midst of my departure. "We need to unbox several new arrivals and put them into place. They're placed in the staff room as well. I suggest you ask that new guy for assistance."

"Find the guy a T-shirt and... unboxing new arrivals. Noted, madam." With the important tasks saved in mind, I dart towards the staff room and stop by the door, panting.

"What's in a hurry, beau- dear colleague?" asks the hot boy as he raise up the forms to check for errors. "So far so good..." he mutters to himself. "Here." His gaze finally lands on mine. And it is the first time for me to witness those light green eyes glowing in the dim.

My lips are opened but words are stuck in beneath my throat. Seconds later, I question anyway, "How do you know it's me?"

"Because you're not wearing high-heels." He answers monotonously.

"Oh." I quickly look away before he walks towards me with the filled forms. My face heats up when I just realise my crush has been observing me since his arrival. Although creepy, I like it and that makes the crimson more visible.

Judge me if you like. I don't care.

I'm an extremely shy girl, with no confidence, no courage to even look at the boys in the eye. On the same side of the coin, I'm also associated with anthropophobia, which means I'll feel extremely uneasy when exposing to an unfamiliar society, let alone creating eye contact with this boy.

As for the counter job, it would always be a hard time for me to bear with those eyes and faces. Knowing that I have difficulties communicating, Madam Jesslyn has purposefully put me to the position in order to train me. That's already enough and forcing me to stare completely at this boy's beautiful eyes, I shall say to you author: "Oh hell no!"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," I think I'm blushing and I hate letting people see it. "Let's go get you some clothes."

The words are said as if he shows up at my door half naked and the only thing I need to do is to lend him my dress with no lace or whatever girly traces sewn on.

We are now going to the storeroom located at the back of this store. The packed clothes will be stored there for new staffs. "W-wait," he pulls my wrist while I stop and eventually realise that I've been picking up pace since the beginning of our short route. "I'm handing this to Madam Jesslyn. Could you wait for me?" his pleading smile sends my chest fluttering.

"S-sure." It's been God knows how many times I've stuttered with my words when I have to talk to this guy, or shall I say, my crush who barely knows me and doesn't even recognize me as the bullied victim.

Yes, when Kayla and her girls were humiliating me and ruining my whole day, the corner of my eyes registered his presence. I wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to help, but as the hot boys appeared, he left with them while an arm was snaked around his shoulder.

A few seconds have passed, the newbie finally returns. "Sorry for keeping you waiting. I'm Clerence, what's your name?" he offers me his hand to shake.

I look at the waiting hand without reaching out mine. But I only take a quick look at his lips while babbling, "I'm Sasha," in a very soft voice.

"Sorry what?" he leans closer with his hand pillowing the back of his ear, thereby invading my comfort zone. Soon, I can hear my mind shouting: WARNING! WARNING! NOSTALGIA ALERT! COMFORT ZONE INVASION ALERT!

I will definitely miss my comfort zone if he continues to get near me.

"I'm Sasha," and for the second time, I'm looking at his puzzled lime eyes again, hoping that my voice is heard.

And then, his gaze softens with a warm smile. He retreats his hand a little awkwardly and says, "Nice to meet you, Sasha." His hand changes from hand-shaking posture to a friendly-waving one.

He's indeed a good friend maker.

ˢᵀᴵᴸᴸ ᴬ ᴸᴵᵀᵀᴸᴱ ᴮᴼᴿᴵᴺᴳ ᴵ ᴷᴺᴼᵂ😅 ᴮᵁᵀ, ᴾᴸᴱᴬˢᴱ ᴮᴱ ᴾᴬᵀᴵᴱᴺᵀ. ᴵ ᴷᴺᴼᵂ ᵞᴼᵁ ᴿᴱᴬᴸᴸᵞ ᵂᴬᴺᴺᴬ ˢᴱᴱ ˢᴬˢᴴᴬ ᶠᵁᴸᶠᴵᴸᴸᴵᴺᴳ ᴴᴱᴿ ᵂᴵˢᴴ. ᴮᵁᵀ ᴶᵁˢᵀ ᴾᴸᴱᴬˢᴱᴱᴱ ᴮᴱ ᴾᴬᵀᴵᴱᴺᵀ, ᴼᴷᴬᵞ?

ᵀᴴᴵˢ ᴮᴼᴼᴷ ᴵˢ ᴵᴺᶜᴿᴱᴬˢᴵᴺᴳ ᴿᴱᴬᴰˢ ᴵᴺ ᴬ ᴿᴬᵀᴴᴱᴿ ˢᴸᴼᵂ ᵂᴬᵞ. 31 ᴿᴱᴬᴰˢ ᴵᴺ ᵀᴴᴿᴱᴱ ᴰᴬᵞˢ. ᴬᴺᵞᵂᴬᵞˢ, ᴵ ˢᵀᴵᴸᴸ ᵂᴬᴺᴺᴬ ᵀᴴᴬᴺᴷ ᵀᴴᴱ ᴼᴺᴱˢ ᵂᴴᴼ ᴴᴬᴰ ᴾᴼᴾᴾᴱᴰ ᴵᴺˢᴵᴰᴱ ᴬᴺᴰ ᴳᴵᵛᴱ ᴬ ᴿᴱᴬᴰ.

ᵞᵁᴾ, ᴺᴼ ᴹᴼᴿᴱ ᵟᵁᴱˢᵀᴵᴼᴺˢ ᵀᴼᴰᴬᵞ. ˢᴼ ᵂᴴᵞ ᴰᴼᴺ'ᵀ ᵞᴼᵁ ᴿᴱᴬᴰᴱᴿˢ ᴬˢᴷ ᴹᴱ ᵀᴴᴵˢ ᵀᴵᴹᴱ?

ᴵ ᴴᴼᴾᴱ ᵞᴼᵁ ᴴᴬᴰ ᶠᵁᴺ ᴿᴱᴬᴰᴵᴺᴳ ᵀᴴᴱ ᶜᴴᴬᴾᵀᴱᴿˢ ˢᴼ ᶠᴬᴿ ᴬᴺᴰ ᴵ'ᴸᴸ ˢᴱᴱ ᵞᴼᵁ ᴬᴸᴸ ᴵᴺ ᵀᴴᴱ ᴺᴱˣᵀ ᶜᴴᴬᴾᵀᴱᴿ. ᴮᵞᴱ 😘💗💕