Chapter II: The cookie dealer
Clicking and typing sound resonates within the office room. As usual, Error is so engrossed in his work that he didn't even glance at Killer aka Kiel now in this reality. Clad in his office attire in an unkempt manner. Tie loosely hangs around the collar of his grey long sleeve which seems to be disheveled. The lower part of his sleeve is half-tucked for whatever reason.
He rather ignores his incessant complaining about their boss. His experiences from before taught him whenever Killer is bitching he rather not gave him more attention or try to stop him. He tried to dismiss him before but that didn't end well, especially for him.
"Come on glitchy I know you agree with me, you always do." He cooed at him.
Error could feel Killer's stare at him gouging his reaction. But he only continues his typing, eyelights completely focused on his computer screen. But no matter how hard he tried not to engage in any socializing with his coworker they could still find a way to bother him. Just like today.
"Oh, what's in that bag?" Killer asked, eyeing the paper bag tucked in the corner of his desk.
He remains silent, completely absorbed into whatever document he is reading right now. He didn't notice the boney hands reach to his desk carefully and grab the paper bag. When Killer opens the paper bag disappointment washed over his soul. He grabs a piece of cookie out of the bag and examines the food. It looks good all right. Just how a typical cookie would look like. And of course, there is a chocolate chip embedded into the cookie. Chocolate chip cookies? It's been a while when he starts to notice Error carrying a paper handbag whenever they meet to clock in. Might as well try it if the Destroyer is fond of it.
It is good for a chocolate cookie. It is not dry since the chocolate chip remains in a melted-like state. He didn't even notice he is digging for another one. "Hey, where did you buy this Pers?"
Error's eyelights are nonetheless still focused on his computer screen. "Buy what?" He grumbles.
"The cookies?" Killer replies to him finishing the second cookie.
Error finally snaps in Killer's direction. Seeing the paper bag in one of their skeletal hands the other is holding the cookie he is saving for later. His bone brow scrunched and scowled at the sight. He doesn't want to deal with another nosy skeleton, knowing Killer he will use every info he could gouge for gossip.
"At the mini-mart, where I always go for my supplies." He lied because he doesn't want to tell anybody about his annoying neighbor that keeps on supplying him with cookies. His bone brow quirks from the spike of irritation, as he watches Killer continue to eat his food.
"Really. This is good Pers, no wonder you like bringing this with you now and then." Killer just continues eating, enjoying the irritated expression showing on his workaholic co-worker. "Will you buy me some of this next time?"
Error is now glaring at the cookie thief coworker who keeps eating, taunting him. He tries to suppress the irritation that slowly ripples through his soul. "Sure whatever." He unconsciously grinds his teeth for a second. Deciding if he will snatch the bag or let Killer eat it all. He doesn't want to fall for his provocation.
"Can I have these then?" Of course, Killer being the smug menace that he is gives him one of his infamous smirks. Killer just loves to push people's buttons for his entertainment. Bastard.
But he knows how much he wants to wipe that smirk out of his mug he can't. That would only lead to a bigger problem he don't want to deal with.
"Just take the damn bag and leave already." He waves in displeasure to dismiss him.
Killer just chuckles at the displeased expression shown on his face. "Pleasure talking to you as always Pers." Before disappearing, Killer gives him a wink then teleports, finally leaving him alone.
A sigh escaped from his mouth when he leaned his back on his chair. Trying to ease his soul from the unsettled irritation Killer left. He curses that one of these days he will dust Killer from all his meddling.
Although he is irritated with Killer stealing those cookies he rather sacrifices those sweets for his peace of mind. He wants to keep his little cookie supplier a secret. It's been happening for a month now that there will be a paper handbag left hanging on his doorknob. At first, he didn't like it since he hardly knew his neighbor. He is reluctant to accept the food. So he hangs the bag back on his neighbor's doorknob and leaves. A clear message he doesn't want their damn cookie. But then they persist in leaving him the treat for him. Their back and forth carried on for two weeks. Until Selene comes across him smoking on the roof deck on one of his rare day off.
….
His skeletal arm leaning on the railing staring at the city light on the horizon. He appreciates the solitude he feels every time he takes a smoke on his apartment roof deck. Enjoying the light breeze of wind brush through his bones. Quiet days like this are what he needs. Under the infinite sky, away from people and his paper works done.
Then he heard the door squeak in the background. He can't resist the urge of rolling his eyelights from whoever intrudes in his second sanctuary. He moves his skull to peek behind him to identify the person.
Squinting his eye socket to focus his sight on the figure. Oh, it's just a girl. Might be the annoying neighbor he remembers her small fame. He thought.
The girl flinches when she finally notices him staring at her. But instead of staring at him directly she quickly averts her eyes. She bows her head slightly. He can't help to think if this is the same rumbustious girl from before. She cautiously takes her step forward with a safe distance between them. When she reaches the railing she fumbles the pocket of her oversize jacket then pulled out her hand clutching a packet of cigarettes and a lighter. He decides to finally stop staring at the girl and disregard her existence. He continued his smoke and relished the silence.
"Didn't you like the cookies?" She asked if he didn't have a sharp hearing he would almost miss that from how soft her voice is.
"No." He utter. He appreciates the gesture but his soul starts to thump like how he felt the first time he hears her said the name, the name he chose to be called in this reality. The treat she continuously gives him reminds him of the unsettling feeling so he decides to give it back.
He waited for her to talk, explained to him why she's insisting even though he rejects the sweets numerous times. But the girl remains silent.
Error is about to leave since his good mood is already dumped. The girl noticed which made her call him immediately. "I'm sorry." She finally breaks the silence. Exclaiming out her apology eventually stopped him from going. "I'm sorry for the stunt I pulled from two weeks ago." She remains leaning from the railing even after her smoke she didn't change her position. She didn't even look at him. Which confused him since this wasn't their first encounter she met his stares confidently. This girl is completely different.
"Is that all?" His remark made her flinch for the second time.
"Wa-wait! Shit." She stutters and her voice sounds shaky. She is now standing straight while her hands clutch the railing. "I'm not ready, I, I didn't know you were here. Oh God, it's been a bad day. I'm really sorry." Her stuttering becomes more prominent the more she spoke. He could also hear her ragged breath and how she forcefully shut her mouth to muffle the sound. This made him groan in disapproval.
"Stop your rambling and breath!" He shouts at her in a panic since she starts to hyperventilate. "Breath kid. I'm not going anywhere. Just calm yourself first then I'll hear you out." Error watch the girl hunched figure while she tries to control her breath. He is confused by the sudden breakdown of the girl. He just noticed that he took a few steps closer to her unconsciously. Closer to her now he could see her clearly without the help of his glasses. He scans her figure, he sees how hard she is clutching the railing that her hands start to shake. He can't do anything to catch her attention besides speaking to her and he is bad at speaking either.
"You're ok kid. Just try to calm down. I'm not good at comforting people so I just wait here." He tried to soften his voice as much as he could. Then he grabs his packet of cigarettes and lighter. "You don't mind me smoking while I wait?"
She just nods at him. From time to time he will take a look at her to check if she's progressing into a calmer state. Slowly after his second smoke, she is no longer shaking and breathing heavily.
She tilts her head to her right, no longer hanging her head forward then she looks up in the sky. "It's been a bad day. I just want to escape from all of that so I hurriedly went up here seeking refuge. I wasn't expecting you here. And I forgot something."
He just sighs. "If what you're talking about are the cookies I'm not taking it." He keeps a straight face looking at the girl.
"No." After her brief answer, she slowly faced him. She only looks at his chest, afterward, she looks at him meeting his eyelights. "I forgot my contacts." She blurts out. And all he could do is stare right at her mismatch iris.
Error could not believe what he is starting right now. Her right eye is now in a different color. He is aware of this condition and they were rare cases. But he didn't expect to meet someone who actually harbors this condition.
"No need to fuss about it, I just forgot to wear my contacts before going out again."
He must have read the expression on his face, immediately he directs his vision away from her face. A little spark of magic emerges from his cheek. He hopes that she didn't saw that.
"Anyway, I'm sorry if I kept you waiting. I think you deserve an explanation for the disturbance I created two weeks ago." She starts to explain why did she even bothered giving those cookies. And the reason why she takes his number. She even tells you that she's the one who's baking those cookies and why did she have to lie about it.
"You're an awful matchmaker." He grunts at her. Puffing his third smoke.
"I agree. Offering my awful sister. You wouldn't like her for sure." Error watch her face scrunch up in disgust from mentioning her sister.
In between the rambling of the girl, he mentions how infuriated he is whenever he receives a text and call from her sister. Especially one time when he is in a meeting which resulted in crushing his phone within his grip. The girl starts to sweat from fear and keeps on apologizing to him. Then on the whim of the moment, the girl proposed compensation for his phone that is a lifetime supply of cookies from her which he agreed.
Error can't help but to stare at her eyes whenever the line of their sight met or at those times she is too busy talking that she didn't notice him just staring.
"So now what kid?" He asked her. He stumps at the third cigarette he consumes within those period. The girl taps her chin. Humming while she think.
"Uhm, It's official I guess. I'm your cookie supplier from now on." She held her hand initiating the handshake. But he only looked at her hand. She tilts her head waiting for him.
"I don't do handshakes kid. I don't like being touched." He utter. He watches her expression change from confusion to realization. She fumbles the sleeve of her sweater pulling her hands inside to hide her hand. She held the end of her sleeve signaling him to shake the sleeve instead. At first he is hesitant but when he sees her patiently smiling at him he decides to just do it. He held the sleeve as little as possible, he let go quickly after he shook the sleeve.
"Put more chocolate chips in those cookies, next time kid." He can't hide the smirk forming on the corner of his lip. Especially when he noticed a sign of irritation on her face.
"Come on stop calling me kid I have a name don't you remember?" She complains after the handshake like it wasn't a big deal and calling her a kid is?
"Do I need to remember your name?" He teases.
"Wow what an ass even though you don't have one." She crosses her arms clearly displeased.
"Come on, just spill it." He just rolled his eyelights at her attempt.
"It's Selene. Remember my name or else I'll call you cookie monster instead." She declares staring at him straight in his eyelights. He can't help but chuckle at her guts and the ridiculousness of the name she wants to call him. "Now you're totally being an ass about it. Just don't call me kid or any other disgusting pet name that exists."
"Ok, Selene." He emphasized on saying her name, which earns him another smile from the girl.
"I better go back to my apartment and rest. I don't want to take any of your time more than what's necessary. Goodnight Perses." After that, she takes her leave, not waiting for his reply.
Error's eyelights follow the retreating figure until it is gone. He finally breathes out when he is sure that the girl is no longer in the vicinity. He could feel the familiar thump in his soul which continues to perplex him. Besides the sudden thumping of his soul, he remains calm from the whole time they were conversing. Or how he is unconsciously drawn to stare at her eyes. He shakes his skull trying to expel all the lingering thoughts about the girl. He should get going too and catch some sleep. Maybe when she wakes up he will no longer be bothered by this unknown feeling stringing his soul.
…..
That's how it started. Because of that chance encounter, he acquires his exclusive supplier of cookies. His irritation slowly fades away because of the memory of that night. He unconsciously continued his work with a grin on his lip.
Just sharing since I love to right something like this.
