CHAPTER TWO
1055 Words
"Oh," the shopkeeper near us whispered to her friend. "If my daughter were still single up to now, I would pair her with the man who came here yesterday!"
My mother told me a while ago that since yesterday, Shaun has kept on visiting the kiosk where she works. Even if he hides himself, the shopkeepers could still detect him. I wouldn't be surprised if he was truly the subject of their morning gossip.
I turned my sharp gaze on the shopkeeper, but she didn't turn to look at us. I caught her standing beside her kiosk with her daughter, who was now ashamed because of what her mother said. I slowly laid the knife down when I felt my grip tighten on its handle.
I don't know why my hands trembled a bit when I heard what she said. I honestly don't have any right to criticize her with her delusions because, first of all, I have no right to Shaun. He is just my brother, and I do not own his heart and soul. I can't help but be jealous because somehow we both had each other... you know.
Somehow, I had feelings for him until now, even though I knew it was all wrong.
Her friend replied, "To me, it looks like that man doesn't look like he was interested in your daughter!"
A smirk etched on my lips when I heard what she said. I continued to slice the pumpkin even though my fingers kept trembling.
"What do you mean?" the shopkeeper asked, before putting her hands on her waist and facing her friend with a scowl on her face. "He always shops here! He always shops here because he wants my daughter!"
"The audacity of you to think about that!" One of the shopkeepers near us intervened in their conversation. "Your daughter is already married, but you still insist she flirt with another man! Aren't you afraid of your ideas?"
"Why should I be scared if you look scarier?" the shopkeeper asked, which made every one laughed at them. "You kept on butting in with our conversation. Why? Were you here yesterday?"
My lips lifted when I heard that.
"Why? Do we need an attendance before we interfere with their lives?" the old woman asked.
Because of that answer, I was not surprised when someone called patrols to separate the three ladies who kept on throwing hurtful lines against each other. While busy slicing the pumpkin, I couldn't help but laugh and secretly giggle.
"What's with your wide smile?" My mom asked as she approached my side and pinched my red cheeks. "Is that because of what the three ladies argued about, or maybe someone else is already making you smile?"
I chuckled and shook my head before I turned my back on her. I don't know why, but my whole face seemed to heat up when even my mother noticed my smile. I tried to avoid her and her questions didn't last long because some buyers lined up in her section.
"Oh, isn't it?" I heard the shopkeeper whispering again.
I barely turned my back on them, so I decided not to turn to look at them. I knew that they would talk again about what happened earlier, so instead of focusing my attention on them, I just focused myself on what I was cutting.
I don't know how long I've been cutting this large pumpkin, but there's only one thing Im sure of: I wouldn't be able to finish it if I just kept listening to their conversation.
"He would shop here because he likes my daughter!"
"Shut your mouth!"
They continued to hiss at each other. Their voices lowered a bit until they fell silent. It wasn't just the two shopkeepers who fell silent, because almost everyone in the market became speechless. I felt like time had stopped when I hadn't even heard the voice of the rowdy market before.
"I finally saw you," a familiar voice behind me said.
I was slightly taken aback by my posture when I heard it. I slowly turned to look at who it was, which made my eyes widen a bit when I saw him again.
Our eyes met each other. A ghost of a smile plastered on his lips when his eyes met mine. I could do nothing but keep my mouth shut and I couldn't even hide the shock on my face, especially when we met again, here in a place that was not suitable for the two of us.
"It's been a while, Solanna," he greeted me.
He was a few feet away from me, but that space was not enough for me because every time we stared at each other, I just wanted to gasp for breath whenever I looked into his lifeless eyes.
"Oh, where did your illusions take you?" I heard the shopkeeper ask to her friend, which I ignored. "It's Solanna, not your daughter! You dumb!"
"f**k you!"
I quickly took off the apron I was wearing and laid it on the table next to me. Shaun's lips rose when he saw the confusion on my face. I didn't waste any more time when I quickly ran away from our stall and went to the small space I was passing through whenever I thought some kind of mess was happening inside the market.
I was confident that Shaun wouldn't catch me when I tried to run away from him, but I seemed to have made a mistake when I saw Basilio smiling widely at me and waiting for me to approach the end of the alley I entered.
I seemed right in my suspicion because when I felt something grip my hand and lean me against the wall, I shook my head in dismay. Shaun locked me in his arms while looking at me intently. I could do nothing but stare back at him, even though my body was already trembling a bit.
"Do you think you can get out of my hands?"
"I'm not among those you own, Shaun," I replied, but his sharp gaze remained on me. "Will you let me go or will I scream for help?"
He smirked, which made my brows shut while looking at him.
"Screaming for pleasure is what I wanted to hear from you, Solanna."
- Writer
