「Friday」
It was a dusty looking Friday afternoon, and Talia waited outside of a Japanese sweets shop for her order to finish up. The sky was already a tinted pink and she watched it quietly as she tapped her foot against the ground. When the worker came out with the box of sweets, Talia took out her wallet and promptly paid the worker before heading downtown towards the flower shop where her friends worked part-time. It was surprisingly a lot busier than she had expected it to be, and a few customers bustled in and out of the shop, leaving with bouquets or baskets of flowers.
When Talia entered the shop, she saw Selena up at the cash register taking care of orders. Zico was sweeping up the floor as usual and rearranging bunches of flowers near the middle aisles.
Selena had just finished up ringing the last customer in the store when Talia went over to the cash register and gave a little wave. "Hey, I came!" She placed the box onto the counter top and slid it towards her friend who was finally able to sit down. "Busy day, huh?"
"Really busy," Selena said, as she motioned for Zico to come over. He set his broom down and then strolled over to where the two girls were. "How was your day?"
"Nice. Nothing's happened yet," Talia smiled as she said this last part. "Here, I brought you guys some dessert."
"Sweet, I'm starving," Zico reached his hand over to the box, ready to untie the string, but Selena slapped his hand. "Go wash up first," she snapped at him, with her eyebrows raised. "And...." she pointed to her own cheek, which was supposed to mirror his own. "Wash up!"
He rolled his eyes, brushed the black hair out of his eyes, and walked over to a nearby sink.
"He really needs a haircut soon," Selena muttered to herself.
"What was that you said about me?" Zico barked.
Selena ignored him and continued to open the box.
"Still mad?" Talia whispered over to Selena as Zico came over.
"I heard that," Zico said to Talia this time. "And no...not really," he smiled mischievously and then moved over to where Selena was so that he could share the only chair they had. "We're good."
"Get your own damn chair," Selena muttered with a smile on her face.
"Don't need to."
It seemed that this childish couple, Talia realized, knew how to fix things their own way.
After Talia visited with her friends during their work break, she headed home.
"Be careful on your way home," Selena said, waving to her from the store door.
"Yeah, thanks for the food. We owe you one," Zico added by her side.
"You owe her one. Did you see how much you ate?"
"A man needs to eat so that he can have enough energy to protect his woman, y'know," he responded as Selena covered her face so that it couldn't be seen. "Go home quick so you can get that letter of yours!"
Talia laughed and waved. "Good bye!"
A mail carrier arrived to her house merely minutes after she went inside. When she opened the door to receive the parcel, it surprised her to find a completely different mail man other than the one she had been used to seeing. Then she remembered the events of yesterday, and it seemed to make much better sense then.
The parcel was the same as the previous ones. This would be her sixth letter of the week. Without hesitation, she ripped it open to find another letter awaiting for her read.
「Of
The most memorable times I remember spending with you, I remember when we shared that strawberry Italian ice cream that one time. I always remember that moment even now because here in Rome...I have no one to share with but myself. I wish you could see how pretty and fantastic this place is. I saw a guy parading around with a bunch of girls on his beck and call, and it reminded me of that stupid guy Asia you used to really like. I really hope that while I'm gone you're not too lonely and go off finding him...please don't do that. It would break my heart because he's such an awful guy...So instead of looking for him if you're lonely, please go find Selena and Zico for company. Their company, I can promise you, is a thousand times better than that stupid waste of space...Hopefully I didn't offend you with what I said. I just want what is the best for you, and I hate feeling helpless, knowing that I can't do anything for you when I'm stuck here all the way across the world. As usual, take good care of yourself not just for me, but for yourself. I miss you like crazy over here...but it truly is incredible over here as well!
Please wait for my return.
「Exceptionally Yours,
Rick
Talia sunk back into her couch and closed her eyes. Rick truly did care about her well being, and she knew that she owed it to him to at least dedicate a little bit of time for him. She got up from the couch, and spent the rest of the evening taking good care of herself; she bathed, she relaxed, she ate a healthy and good meal, she put on a face mask, and did some reading. She got a full night's rest that night ... the best that she had ever had in weeks.
And then that next morning, she did something unthinkable.
Talia went through her house, found all of Asia's old things, threw them into a dusty old box that she had found in the basement, and crossed him out of her heart for old time's sake.
°°°°°「P6 END」•••••
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