ISLA'S APARTMENT
"Oh my gosh!" Isla screamed, jumping and dancing around. Tahlia rushed out of her room.
"What's wrong, Issy?" she asked, trying to take Isla's phone from her to read what made her sister scream like that.
Tahlia paused for a moment while Isla continued dancing. "Huh? Issy!" She looked at her sister and smiled. "Issy, you got the job!" Tahlia exclaimed, holding her sister's hands and joining her in jumping.
A few minutes after the celebration, they fell to the floor, their hearts racing. They kept looking at each other and laughing hysterically.
Tahlia broke the laughter. "Congratulations, Issy." She hugged her sister. "You really deserve it."
Isla smiled. "After being rejected by little companies, the company I thought would never employ me just did. Most times, disappointment is really a blessing," Isla said, still trying to catch her breath.
"When are you to start working, Issy?" Tahlia asked.
"From the email sent to me, I'm to start work on Monday. So I have a lot of time to prepare. Maybe I'll go get some corporate outfits for work, a few groceries, and maybe…" she looked at Tahlia and smiled, "maybe we'll celebrate it at a club."
Tahlia smiled back and stood up.
She jumped and screamed, "Yesssss!" and they both burst out laughing. "I'm gonna help you buy the corporate outfits while you go to the mall and get groceries."
"How you gon' do it?" Isla asked.
"I have some money I saved for your work outfit you get a job. A congratulatory gift from me to you."
"Awwwwn!" Isla blushed. "That's so sweet of you." She placed her hand on her chest.
Tahlia looked down at her. "Merci, beaucoup." She bowed playfully like a gentleman asking a lady to the dance floor, which made Isla let out a light chuckle.
"I'll be back in the twinkle of an eye," Tahlia said and walked out of the room.
I have such a sweet family, Isla thought to herself, smiling widely.
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Isla wandered through the mall, her earbuds tucked in, half-listening to her playlist while scrolling her phone. The crowd moved around her in a blur, shoppers hurrying past, the faint scent of pretzels and coffee in the air. She was halfway down the mall corridor, tugging absentmindedly at her bag strap and accidentally crashed on with someone.
"My apologies," he said as he bent to help pick up her scattered groceries.
"It's nothing," she replied not looking up at who it was.
She brought out her hand after they were done picking up the groceries. "Thank you," she said, looking up at him. He returned the greeting and walked away.
Isla watched him walk away, her heartbeat still a little faster than usual. There was something about the way he moved. So calm, unbothered, like he belonged everywhere but nowhere at the same time. She shook her head slightly, trying to tell herself it was nothing.
It's just a random guy in the mall, she thought, but her eyes kept following him until he disappeared into the crowd.
Is this love at first sight.
She thought to herself and shook her head.
Nah, probably just wanna fuck him.
Her fingers lingered on her phone as if expecting a message that would never come. What's his name? What's his story? Her mind, traitorous as always, started weaving little scenarios: Maybe next time we will meet, I'll ask him for a one-night stand. I'll start by kissing him and slowly kneel to suck his dick.
Ridiculous, she scolded herself, yet she couldn't stop thinking about how he apologized and helped her out.
Isla sighed and stuffed her phone back into her bag. She tried to focus on her shopping, on the sound of chatter and music around her, but every so often, her gaze drifted back toward where he had vanished.
"Weird," she muttered to herself, smiling faintly. "And… kind of exciting."
She shook her head again and laughed quietly, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Okay, Isla. You don't even know him. Move on.
But even as she told herself that, she found her steps slowing, her mind unwilling to let go of the stranger who had bumped into her day, and into her thoughts.