Chapter 2

Because of what happened last night, Cristabel was not returning my calls to her. She didn't even give me the details where to send them at least. I know even if that guy bribed me to not take the photos anymore, Cristabel would still take the pictures and give it to the couple. Just like what she told me last night, that we were there to take the happy moments in the event, not because of money. So waiting for her without her giving me at least the details was kinda odd.

“Here’s the list. Don’t get mixed up with the tomato sauce and ketchup again, okay?” My Aunt handed me the grocery list then I lazily stared at it. I was lying on the sofa, my feet hanging at its backrest. I was so bored that I didn’t know what to do and just lied around.

“Get up your lazy ass right now and start buying those!”

Well, she would always shout at me so I'm used to it. But then again I have nothing else to do but to do some groceries.

Stepping outside our house, which was just like any ordinary house around the neighborhood, I got into the car and drove towards the supermarket. Since my aunt didn’t tell me to hurry up, I’m taking my time going around in circles as I took each of the items that was listed on the paper. I got to the pastries section and looked for a tomato ketchup. I picked it up after taking the pasta. 

“You put ketchup in your spaghetti?” A man who was standing beside me pointed at the ketchup that I was holding. Then I remembered that I should be buying tomato sauce not ketchup.

“Oh! Pft! Silly me,” I said as I returned the bottle of ketchup back on its shelf. Then I looked around for the sauce which was nowhere in my sight.

“It’s beside these shelves,” the guy said.

I smiled at him. “Thank you.” But as soon as I was about to walk away, I bumped into another huge cart with a lot of items in it. Because of how hard the bump was, a bottle of mayonnaise fell from the cart and it exploded on the tiled floor. A woman who was in her fifties gasped then glared at me. My mouth was open and I didn’t know what to say.

“Aren’t you looking properly, young lady? That was the only bottle of mayonnaise that I can find around here!” she shouted. The supermarket staff arrived then they stared at the wasted bottle of mayonnaise on the ground. The old lady kept glaring at me and I don’t know what to say at this point.

“She didn’t mean it, Ma’am,” the guy beside me said as he stepped forward. “She didn’t see your cart which was lying just beside her cart. It was not even here before we went here.”

My eyes widened as I stared at the guy who was acting like my knight in shining armor, which I find surprising.

“No! I was here first! You need to pay for this!” the lady shouted. Damn it! The money that I brought here was only enough for the list of items that my aunt gave to me.

The staff approached the woman and they talked about what happened without me and the guy beside me involved with their conversation. One of them started cleaning the wasted mayonnaise on the ground.

In the end, I ended up being the one paying for it. But I was surprised when the man beside me handed the cashier his credit card.

“I’ll pay for her,” he said.

“All $350, Sir?”

“Yes.”

My head suddenly turned at him with a shocking expression. The man just smiled at me then the cashier asked for his name.

“John Greene,” he answered. The cashier nodded and did his business with the cashier. Afterwards, we stepped out of the supermarket with our items.

“I can pay you back when I get home. Bank transfer?” I said while we’re walking through the crowd.

“No, it’s fine,” he said then gave me a smile, which for some reason I find attractive. He was blonde, a bit bulky, tall and has a chiseled face structure. The light blue polo shirt looks good on him, even if it was too simple.

“But Sir—“

“John,” he corrected as he offered his hand to me for a handshake. Why is he so eager to introduce himself to me? I’ve never had anyone done this to me before. Or maybe there were just a few men like him who are nice to strangers.

“Um... Ella,” I said then took his hand for a handshake. He gave me a gentle smile which I find cute.

“Let me take you to your car.”

“Um... it’s fine. Really,” I said then gave him a smile. “Thanks for your kindness, John.”

He slightly nodded. “No problem.”

We just stood there, exchanging smiles. And honestly, I don’t know if he was going to ask me something or he was just waiting for me to say goodbye. 

“I gotta go. My aunt’s gonna kill me so... “

“Oh, it’s fine!” he said then we waved to each other for a farewell. The whole thing is awkward, honestly. But no guy had ever talked to me like this. I mean, I’m not even pretty like most of the girls around me!

I kinda hope that we will meet again.