Just Like That
1654 Words
CONTEMPLATING on which she would pick up, Janni’s eyes went from left to right then back again.
She pulled the strap of the laptop bag in her right shoulder. She balanced her weight on her right foot.
She heaved another sigh.
“The one on the right is better. I used that in my office.”
Janni blinked her eyes when she heard that. She glanced at the person standing on her left side.
“Hey, girlfriend.”
A frown marked her face.
Despite the engaging smile on the familiar woman’s face, she did not smile back.
At their proximity, the woman is at least half a foot taller in her five foot and six inches. From her peripheral, she saw that the woman is wearing stiletto shoes with at least two inches.
“Are you a gamer?”
“No.”
“The leather chair on the left is a little shorter at the back. You will not be able to rest your head whenever you want to think for a while or to relax your back.”
Janni glanced at the chair she was describing.
“However, the other chair is a little pricey but it will give your money’s worth. Are you on a budget?”
“No.”
“The one on the left side is pleasing to the eyes. Glamourous. If you’re after the looks. I must admit, it looks really great. I used to have that but when I tried the one on the right, I never buy another design.”
“Thank you.”
She nods at the woman before walking away.
“Just like that?”
She looked over the woman with a question in her eyes. There was a hint of a nuisance at the woman’s face.
“Yes. It’s quite obvious that you’re not an employee here. I’m grateful for the details that you gave me.”
The other woman chuckled.
“Are you always like that?”
“Yes. I’m rude and I don’t care.”
Janni was answered with a laugh. “I like you. You got sass.”
“Thank you.”
She turned her back on from the woman and searched for the staff of the depot.
She needs another chair.
The one that she had at the apartment was destroyed when her ‘friends’ came over.
Belle got pissed and she ‘accidentally’ threw the chair to her twin who was quick enough to run away before he collided with the poor seat.
The pitiful chair broke into pieces that two of its caster roller detached.
Janni could return the chair back to its original form but decided not to. She needs another one. Cane already agreed to take responsibility for paying for the new one.
She found a young man about her age. His name is Ben according to his nameplate.
She told him what she needs. Together, they went to the display where she found the computer seat.
Ben disclosed the same words when they stood in front of the items.
“Do you prefer a specific color, Ma’am?”
“White. Do you deliver?”
“Do you live around the area?”
“Yes.”
“We charge for the delivery.”
“I can help you.”
Janni turned. It was that woman again.
“I can pick the item for you. Just give me your address.” She added.
She stared at the dark orbs of the sophisticated woman. Her smile is engaging.
Their eyes disconnected when she felt her phone vibrates. She pulled her laptop bag and fished for the mobile phone.
“I’m still at the depot.” She muttered when she answered the call.
“Did you find what you’re looking for?”
“I did.”
“Send me the receipt. I’ll pick it up later when I’m done here.”
“Okay.”
“If you need anything else, charge it on me.”
“Alright.”
She placed the phone back in the bag. Her eyes went back to the staff of the depot.
“Do you have a table to match with that seat?”
“Follow me please. Do you have a preference?”
“Nothing really.”
Janni followed Ben. She took a quick glance at the other woman who followed them, too.
They went to the aisle where the tables are. The tall woman did not say a word but kept on trailing wherever they went.
She made the arrangement in the payment section after she paid for the items she bought.
“Your boyfriend is going is going to pick them up for you?”
“You seemed to have a lot of time in your hand.”
“I have the whole afternoon free. Whenever I’m stressed, this is my go-to place.”
“Acquiring new furniture?”
“Yes. Handiworks calmed me.”
“Good for you.”
Janni arranged the straps on her shoulder as she exited the depot. She turned right. There was a coffee shop in front of the bay area.
“Coffee on me. Are you a latte girl?”
“I’m a girl who prefers to be left alone.”
“My bad.”
Upon entering the coffee shop, the smell of freshly ground coffee assaulted her nose.
She inhaled a lungful of breath.
This is the life. She thought.
She stood behind a tall Black man. He was giving his order to the teenager behind the cashier.
“What can I get you, Ma’am?”
“One tall brewed coffee and tall cappuccino.”
“To-go?”
She shook her head when the crew looked up.
After punching a few keys, she informed Janni of her bill.
“Can I have your name please?”
“Sabrina.”
“Thank you. I’ll call your name in a few minutes.”
“Thank you.”
She sauntered to the corner table. She pulled the laptop and placed it on top of the table. Might as well start on working as she waits for her drinks.
She was preoccupied with the figures on the screen that she did not know how long she has been sitting. She looked up when felt a figure looming in front of her.
“I got your coffee.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you waiting for someone?”
She gazed at the woman after she placed the drinks on the table.
“The tables are all occupied. I was hoping that you would allow me to share yours.”
Janni glanced around her. Indeed, every table is occupied. She nodded after a while. She motioned at the chair in front of her.
There was peace and quiet for the first ten minutes. Her fingers were flying in between the keyboard as she worked.
“Is that your research paper?”
Her hands stilled. Her eyes went to the woman in front of her.
“Sorry.”
Janni reached for the cappuccino with her right hand while the other touched the cup of the brewed coffee.
The sweet tang of the coffee spread in her tongue. She smiled as the warmth of the other cup extend to the expanse of her left palm.
I miss you, mommy. She muttered in her head.
“You have a beautiful smile, Sabrina.”
She met the other woman’s eyes. Gone was the overconfidence she saw on her the first time they bumped into each other.
“Thank you.”
“Your boyfriend still coming?”
“No.”
“He bailed on you?”
“No. I ordered the coffee to keep my hand warm.”
Bewilderment materialized on the woman’s face.
“You wasted good coffee in warming your hand.”
“Yeah. In the same way that you’re wasting your time following me like a lost puppy. Why are you here?”
The woman chuckled.
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
“Should I?”
“Every minute that I spent with me is a blow to my ego.”
“And you have an overinflated one.”
A sound of laughter came out of the woman’s mouth. Janni admits that it pleased her young heart.
“Most women don’t forget me.”
“Why is that?” She asked. Her attention went back to the figures on the screen.
“Because I’m remarkable.”
“Oh?”
Her hands went back to the keyboard. She finally found the error. She pressed a few keys and changed a few things.
“Oh? Just oh? You wound me, woman. How could a college girl like you make me feel this way? You have been stepping on my ego.”
“I did?”
She saved the document before facing the woman. Irritation was plastered on her face. Her cheeks have a hint of pink.
The tall woman looked away. She swore under her breath.
“Miss, if you’re waiting for an apology, you’ll be dry and old before that happens.”
Janni received a glared when the woman turned to her again.
“Miss? What the hell is wrong with you woman?”
She turned the laptop off. Her work is done anyway. She put the gadget back in the bag.
“Have you ever asked yourself the same thing?”
“What?”
The woman leaned at the cushioned chair. She crossed her arms in front of her. A scowl marked her gorgeous face.
“Your overinflated ego hurts the people around you. You thought you can play with women with your pretty little fingers.”
“Wow, I never felt so judged before.”
“Newsflash, I grow up with remarkable women all my life. Money, fame, power, beauty. You name it. It’s nothing new to me.”
She zipped the bag.
“Thanks for the coffee.”
Janni stood and headed to the exit with another glance.
- Writer
