His Dream Lover is Actually a Guy

"What's wrong with white?" Dino looked at the jars of plain white candles in each of his hands, his thick dark eyebrows slightly furrowed. "It goes well with anything, doesn't it?" He turned his sight to the shelf next to him, which contained jars of candles in different colors and sizes, then looked at the ones in his hands again. He's not an artistic type of guy, so his knowledge about design and stuff was close to none. But isn't minimalism a trend nowadays? "Are you serious? What's wrong?" a thin voice echoed, laced with disbelief that he could even ask such a stupid question. "It's basic, Dino. And anything 'basic' does not suit my aesthetic." she hissed. Dino flinched at her high-pitched reply, causing his phone, which was sandwiched between his shoulder and ear, to almost fall to the ground. He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh in an attempt to calm down his fast-beating heart. After putting down the candles he was holding, he moved his phone to his other ear and started walking along the aisle. "I saw on social media that girls prefer a more minimalist style. So, I thought that you would like that too..." "So just because you saw some random girl on the internet like such boring stuff, you think I like it too?" "Sorry I-" "Well, News Flash! I'm not like those other girls." "Yeah, you're not. Sorry, what do you-" "I can't believe you just lumped me together with those wannabe b*tches." she sneered. "We have lived in the same house for years, yet, you still don't know my aesthetic?!" Dino moved his phone a little away from him. "No, Penny, I just-" "Gosh! Dino. I told you to buy it for me because you're my brother." "Penny-" "Whatever!" she yelled. "Some brother you are..." Dino's steps came to a halt as his hand slightly clenched the phone he was holding. Not enough... still not enough. How could a brother not know his sister's likes? He shut his eyes closed and exhaled. After a few moments, when the slight trembling of his hand stopped and his tensed grip loosened, he opened his eyes. The corners of his thin lips slowly curved into a small smile. "Sorry," he softly said. "It won't happen again next time. Tell me, I'll surely remember it." He heard her click her tongue and mumble something he couldn't hear. "Useless..." "Penny?" "Ugh... Just go find me something that resembles a galaxy. You know what a galaxy looks like, right?" "Yeah..." Dino looked around with his neck stretched out to see if he could spot a galaxy-looking candle. "You buy the pink and purple ones. Don't pick anything that doesn't look aesthetically pleasing." "Oka-" A short beep cut his words, signaling that his sister had hung up the call. He blankly stared at his cracked phone screen for a few moments. Seeing that the time was getting late, he pocketed his phone and continued the search for his sister's "aesthetic" candle. One by one, Dino scrutinized the candles on display. There were glittery ones, ones that could glow in the dark, and some had motivational writings on their jars. But, what he did not find, however, was a candle with a picture of a galaxy on it. For the nth time, Dino let out a breath of a sigh. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of a fruity scent, Like blueberries with a hint of wood. It was a scent he was familiar with, but he forgot what. "Excuse me, young man." A low gentle call came behind him, pulling him out of his thoughts. Dino turned around to see an older man with silvery glasses framing his smiling eyes. "Oh, uh... Can I help you?" Dino asked. The man shook his head and smiled. "No, son, I see that you look like you are searching for something. Maybe I can help?" Dino looked at the man and noticed the badge with the words 'Grendel' and 'Store Clerk' pinned on the right side of the man's shirt. "Please," he smiled gratefully and explained, "I'm looking for a candle jar with a picture of a galaxy printed on it?" He patiently waited for the man's response, but seeing that the man was only silently looking at him with a smile, he thought the man might not have understood him. "Uhm, something with a picture of stars, the milky way, or the moon? Like outer space?" he tried to explain further but was still met with silence. Dino grew slightly conscious of the man's smiling face, and his words started clumsily flowing out of his mouth. "And uh, a pink, that's right, a pink or purple candle..." Dino elaborated with the volume of his voice gradually decreasing. "Do you have something like that?" Finally, the man looked at the distance in deep thought, trying to recall if they had what Dino needed. "I think we have something like that." He again smiled, walked to the back of the aisle, and stopped at one of the shelves. When the man passed by him, Dino smelled the fruity scent again, but this time it was stronger. He figured out that the smell before might have come from the man when he approached him. Dino followed and saw the man crouch down, taking something from the back of the shelf. "Here you go, son." The man handed Dino a jar of an ombré purple and pink candle. It was pretty and cute, perfect for his sister. The only problem is... it didn't have a galaxy on it. "Thank you, sir. Is there anything more like this? with stars and such?" he asked hopefully. "I'm afraid we don't have any that's colored pink or purple." Dino sighed with his eyelids drooping in disappointment. He was about to return the candle when the man, who noticed his upset expression, came up with an idea. "How about you customize the clear jar into a galaxy? Handmade ones are popular nowadays. And, you can show your sincerity to the person you'll give it to." His eyes slightly lit up at the man's words, thinking it might work. And, the weight he was feeling in his heart lightened in relief. "Okay, I'll take it." he smiled at the man. "Wonderful!" the man's smile widened. While Dino was paying for his purchases, the man told him a short tale about the candle. "Did you know? We call this candle the Love Candle." "Love Candle?" "Yes. Apparently, people who light it up could get a glimpse of their true love in a dream." "Does it actually work?" Dino asked curiously. "I don't know. But, it's a romantic tale, isn't it?" Although Dino finds the story a bit sappy, it is indeed cute. So, he nods in agreement. "Plus, it's a great tagline for our product." The man flipped the jar over and pointed to a small sticker printed with the phrase. 'When your life is dim and dull. Light up a candle and see your true love, who will brighten your every day.' True Love? Dino smiled at the cute tagline. He agrees with the other that it could really get people's attention, especially hopelessly romantic people. "Thank you for shopping, dear customer. Have a great night." The man once again smiled at him as he handed the paper bag. Dino thanked the man and walked out of the store. He looked up at the darkening sky and hoped it wouldn't rain on his way home.