Chapter 1
"Ahh! Leon, you're over ten minutes early for the night shift"
"Standard procedure" I looked at Max who had a forlorn expression due to exhaustion after working the day shift at the convenience store, my facial expression displaying my obvious indifference to his presence or praise... if that was a praise.
"Bruh... sometimes you make me feel like you're a robot" Max said, walking out from behind the counter and into the changing room.
"That is quite offensive, sir." I responded, my eyebrows twitching slightly.
"And there you go with the sir thing again" Max's voice trailed from inside the changing room.
I ignored him and sat behind the counter; dropping my brown duffle bag right beside the seat.
Few minutes later, Max walked out of the changing room.
"Alright, you take care while I'm gone. Word on the street is that some pretty terrible people are in town. Be careful how you interact with customers. And don't forget, We have a panic button for a reason." Max yelled as he walked out of the convenience store.
I kept my gaze on Max's figure till he was out of sight before letting out a sigh. "Another long night."
This wasn't the best job out there, but I loved it. It was peaceful, especially considering that I worked the night shift. And after all I've been through, I think peaceful is what I need.
___
Creeeak
The doors to the convenience store was swung open as a group of men in suits walked in.
I sat up to take a better view of the people approaching the counter.
"Don't stare at us with such fear in your gaze, we're not here to cause trouble. We are just normal people" one of the men at the fore front of the group of seven said.
In my defense, I definitely wasn't scared and secondly, you don't come in with long metal barrels and your opening phrase is 'we are just normal people' those guns must be military grade. But obviously, I didn't say that out loud.
"Look, I don't want to get shot, I can give you all the money here, just please let me go back to sleep. Peacefully" I exhaled slightly, I obviously wasn't interested in whether they robbed the place or not, I mean, I'm not the owner of the store... right?
"I told you that we are not here to cause trouble, we came with our young miss, she wanted to buy candy herself since we just moved into town"
"Candy?" Now that was a single eyebrow raising statement cause... who the flying flip comes to buy candy from a convenience store with guns that scream 'I am preparing for World War flipping three with aliens and kaiju involved!!'
"Hello?" The voice caught my attention. The man at the front moved slightly allowing a young girl who looked to be roughly around 18-20 years of age come forward.
Alright, I admit she is cute. Very cute.
"I want to buy candy, the best. And tell me more about this place. it's my first time coming to a convenience store."
Well... I'd be damned, apparently it's a sheltered princess, cause how have you not been to a convenience store and you're roughly two decades old.
"Hehe, never been to a convenience store aye? So how'd you usually get candy, imported and delivered straight to your room?"
"Yes"
I halted where I was, about stepping out from behind the counter to guide the obvious VIPs to the candy section.
"No flipping way."
"I'm serious."
"Wow..." I nodded slowly as I re-calibrated the level of protected princess I had filed this young missus under- she was definitely at disaster class!!
"Uhh... please follow me, old men and young lady" I walked out from behind the counter, heading straight for the candy session.
"Old? I'm the oldest here and I'm only 27" One of the men at the back said in a barely audible tone. But loud enough for everyone to hear him.
"Well... the scowls and creases on your face sure make you look younger. Let me see..." I turned and scrutinized the, man's face.
"Yup, definitely young. A 67 year old teenager"
"Pfft, hahaha" I took a glance at the young missus whose laughter tingled softly. It was so sweet I nearly thought angels were playing chimes around me. And well... I felt good that i could make her laugh while completely ignoring the scowl on some of the men's face.
"I like you, what's your name?" I froze in my tracks cause I can swear on strawberry milkshakes and cranberries I did not see that coming.
"Uhh... Leon?" I said, with a rather composed tone as I gestured towards the name tag on my shirt.
"Oh... I didn't know people put their names on their work costume"
Costume? So in her eyes; my work uniform... is a costume. That. Is definitely not depressing.
"And we're here." I gestured to the row filled with nothing else but candy and other stuff a spoiled princess with a sweet tooth would love to have, or so I thought...
"They're too cheap, don't you have any one that is more expensive?"
Uhh... hello missy? It's called a convenience store not the global mall for sweet tooth affairs!!
"Sadly not. But cheap doesn't mean less tasty y'know. You can buy a few and try em and if you like em, you can come some other day to buy more." I said, locking my fingers behind my head.
"Is that so... Then I guess I'll take a few... for your sake" She said as she beamed a smile towards my direction. A smile that shook my soul and made my processor stop processing for ages... to me at least.
"Ralph, pack the whole row for me."
"Yes ma'am"
What was I expecting, of course a few means the entire candy section of the mall. How didn't I think of that. At least I'm sure to get a crazy ass commission even if no one else comes to the store this night. lucky me I guess?
"I'll be at the counter, bring it to me so I'll do the calculations."
A few minutes later... they arrived and lucky for me, I was good at maths and no other customer came. Because it took me close to thirty flipping minutes to calculate he total cost, and if another customer came in they would've waited forever!!
"The total cost would be... two thousand one hundred and fifty-six dollars and eighty-two cents, thank you very much?"
"Swipe it." Our resident spoiled princess handed me a GOLD TIER CARD!!
Who uses a gold tier card to buy candy.
Ding
And the payment went through. I mean... why wouldn't it.
"Happy doing business with you" I packed everything into close to ten large disposable bags that was shared across the seven men. Ralph who was the one who stood in front nodded at me slightly and i must be mistaken but i think he smiled? At me?
"Bye Leon... oh by the way, my name is Mia, Mia Volkov. I hope to see you some other time. And if anyone disturbs you, say my name... my dad is a super man, people fear him."
Sixth grade mentality?
That was the only thing that came to mind as I watched the group walk out of the convenience store. I remember this night clearly cause... It was the day I met her. And also the night preceding the day I knew peace last.
