"Do you like this sunscreen?" Minnie asked while holding the shopping basket in her hands, full with all sorts of beauty products.
However, Zoned out, Lydia didn't respond so Minnie was getting worried about her.
Ever since they got to the store, Lydia has been in a world of her own.
"I bet you're thinking of Cyrus and you're feeling nervous about dating him.
Chill gurl, remember he asked you out, he's technically yours by now." Minnie said.
Sighing, "Is he?" Lydia questioned.
"Glad you're back to earth."
"I'm sorry Minnie, I just keep thinking...what made him ask me out All of the sudden? I was so happy earlier, I didn't think much of it at the time.
It's obvious he doesn't have feelings for me."
"From girl to girl, guys usually see a pretty girl and immediately ask her out, they don't even start to like the girl before they wanna date her." Minnie replied.
"But I'm not pretty?" Lydia genuinely said and Minnie gasped, "You! How dare you self-hate in my presence!" She said dramatically.
"It's the truth, I'm barely average, my face isn't anything unique nor I have likeable features, thought I think I have a nice body? Maybe that's enough for him?" Lydia questioned again.
Baffled, Minnie was too stunned to speak for a moment, she just stood and stared at Lydia with unbelieving eyes.
Suddenly, "Oh! My phone!" Lydia uttered as her phone began buzzing in her pocket.
"I'll take this one outside, I'll be back!" She said leaving the store and Minnie behind to go answer her phone.
Once outside, Lydia rushed to a nearby alleyway, hiding herself there before she finally picked-up.
*Beeb*
Lydia: Salvatore, is everything alright?
Salvatore: I was about to ask that! You didn't call me since yesterday, when you told me about Andrea.
Lydia: Right, I'm sorry, a lot happened...
Salvatore: with Andrea?
Lydia: No...
Salvatore: What's wrong?
Lydia: can I ask something that might be inappropriate to you?
Salvatore: I'm not sure what you mean, but go ahead I guess?
Lydia: When Andrea tricked you, or at least before he revealed that he tricked you so he can drug you that night...how did you feel?
Salvatore: You mean when the man I liked for years, invited me to his bed after so long?
God, I was stupidly happy...which is why it really hurt when he betrayed me right after, although I do admit I deserve it for what I did to Nikolai...
Lydia: I'm sorry if what I asked was too much...
Salvatore: knowing you, I'm sure you asked for a reason.
Lydia: We barely know each but you're right, I had a reason...I don't know why but I feel like I might end-up in the same shoes as you.
Salvatore: Huh? What do you mean?
Lydia: Cyrus, he asked me out this morning...although I didn't give him an answer, I was happy about it at that moment, but now thinking about it, I'm afraid if I say yes, I'll be walking into a similar trap as the one you did with Andrea...
Salvatore: .....
Lydia: Sal?
Salvatore: Doesn't he like that girl Ha-yoon?
Lydia: That's a big reason why I'm skeptical of this...i don't know if I want to be the girl he chose because another rejected him.
Salvatore: Lydia, don't be as stupid as I am.
Lydia: what do you mean?
Salvatore: Cyrus is crazy, that guy watched me push Nikolai and instead took a video of the act instead of stopping me or helping Nikolai.
Yeah I'm a shitty motherfucker for hurting Nikolai, but Cyrus's a complete psycho just like Andrea, I was surprised to know you like him, but since you two aren't in a relationship, I didn't really care much.
But this is crazy! The guy needs help not a girlfriend! Especially not you!
Lydia: *Scoffing* Especially not me? What the hell does that mean?! Have you forgotten who I am and what I can do?! I'm not A glitzy soft princess! I'm worse than you and him! I'm a sinper, I'm hired gun!
Salvatore: Hey! Don't get angry at me for being honest! And no! You're not the villain you're making yourself to be! You have morals, something that Cyrus and even I clearly lack!
When I said especially not you, I meant you're too good for him! TOO GOOD TO BE THAT ASSHOLE'S REBOUND!
-Stunned, Lydia couldn't come-up with something to say.
Salvatore: *sighing* I'm sorry, didn't mean to scream like that...
Lydia: .....
Salvatore: Lydia?...are you still there?
Lydia: Sal...
Salvatore: I'm sorry, you should make whatever decision that makes you happy, and to be fair, Cyrus may not try to kill you like Andrea did to me, I just thought you don't deserve to be treated like you're that Korean chick's replacement.
Lydia: Thank you for your honest opinion.
Salvatore: And Lydia...
Lydia: Yeah?
Salvatore: Sometimes we can get so desperate in love, that we're willing to sell ourselves short just to get a chance...don't sell yourself short.
You're beautiful and special in your own way, someone like you is a once in a lifetime occurrence.
- With tears forming in her eyes, Lydia smiled at Sal's words.
Lydia: I thought you were supposed to be the tough, mean and scary mafia guy with a scarred face, not this romantic poetic gentle giant you're being lately...what's gotten into you?
Salvatore: You did...
Lydia: Was that your attempt to flirt? Have you moved on already from Andrea? Am I your rebound you hypocrite? *Chuckles*
Salvatore: I can only wish you'd be, but I won't push my luck, I already fucked-up, I should focus on bettering myself for now and atone for my sins...but it'll be nice, if someday in maybe few years from now, you'll still be available and haven't been taken by anyone, and I had become good enough to have someone like you by my side, Lydia...
- Stunned again, Lydia's smile turned into a quivering frown as she silently bursted into tears, she covered her mouth and kept the phone at a distance away from her, as she feared Salvatore would hear her cry.
Salvatore: Lydia?... Lydia?...Umm was I being weird?... Lydia?...if you're busy we can talk later?... Lydia...I guess I'm gonna hang-up.
Take care of yourself! Oh and be safe!
*Beeb*
As Salvatore ended the call, Lydia finally found a bit of courage to cry out loud without holding back, she was alone by herself sobbing as Everything came crashing down in her mind.
...15 minutes later...
"Seriously gurl!" A frustrated Minnie was unable to reach Lydia via her phone, as she has called her at least five times since the moment 10 minutes passed without Lydia's return.
Since Lydia's phone was ringing but she wasn't answering, Minnie began assuming that something might've happened to her.
"Dang it, I'm gonna go look for her!" She said before she headed to the register so she can put the shopping basket there so she can go find Lydia, "Hey! Do you remember my friend who came here with me?" Minnie asked the cashier, "Yeah, why?" The cashier replied.
"She left for a phone call but it's been 15 minutes and she hasn't come back yet, can I leave the basket as it is here with you, like don't return the stuff, I'm not done shopping yet but I'll come finish once I find my friend." Minnie said.
"Sure, as long as you're back before we close I guess." The cashier replied.
"Hopefully, I'll be back at all." Minnie said before she headed outside the store, then she started looking around for Lydia while Calling her number simultaneously, Until a certain noise led her to a suspicious looking alleyway.
Throwing a glance at the dark narrowed place, she found Lydia crouched on the ground, particularly hugging her knees, her phone layed buzzing on the ground.
Unsure of what this whole scene was about, as Minnie could barely see what's happening to understand it, "Lydia? Are you alright?" She asked.
A sudden sob noise escaped Lydia's lips, "Oh shoot, Are you crying?! What happened?! I didn't think you're capable of crying!" Minnie said utterly shocked.
"Why am I even Born?! *Sobs* why did my family have to die and I continued living?!" Lydia cried out, the manner she was crying in was almost childlike.
"Top 10 things I didn't expect to see in my lifetime, Lydia Brooks having an Existential crisis." Minnie mumbled before she sighed and knelt by Lydia's side despite how disgusted she was of the alleyway's floor.
"I don't really get what's going on with you, but I want you to know, that's it's okay not to be okay, If you feel like this whole 'Cyrus' shenanigan is too much for you, you don't have to give him an answer today or go on a date soon.
Give it a thought for few days, I'm sure you'll feel better once you think everything through." Minnie said while patting Lydia's back.
"I...I...don't want to...date someone who... doesn't even know if he likes me! *Sniffing* i don't want to feel like like someone's last resort anymore!
My clients treat me that way...why does Cyrus have to make me feel that way!" Lydia spoke-up.
"Okay, I get it...You don't want to be just Ha-yoon's replacement."
"I know I'm being too much ..."
"No Lydia, you have a right to be loved the right way, I guess..."
"I don't want to lose Cyrus, but...*Sniffling* I'm not sure I want to date him anymore."
"Then you know what?! Don't! Fuck it!" Minnie said smiling, "What do you mean?" Lydia asked, her tears have stopped by now as she gave Minnie a puzzled look.
"You know what us girls gotta do in situation like these?! Have some girl time, and not just any girl time but the most fun and crazy girl time! No boys allowed." Minnie said.
"You want another sleepover?" Lydia cluelessly asked, "I have a better idea! Let's go get us both some quality time together, just you and me like a couple of bestie and reek havoc in this town!
We can go for ice cream, more shopping and grab dinner too or we can also go to that stupid carnival and win all the prizes we could! I bet I can win you something nice!" Minnie suggested happily, "What do you think?"
...Meanwhile...
"Aside from that old man buying Moses's uncle's weird Keychain collection, seems like no one else is interested in his stuff.
For a school principal, the man sure has unusual taste." Seong-min said disappointed.
"The Principal wasn't a likeable man...but I gotta admit, it's weird thinking that he's dead now...and with cancer nonetheless." Cyrus said frowning.
Moses was inside the house, preparing snacks and drinks, while Seong-min and Cyrus were by the yard sale stand, begging internally for someone to come and buy something else already.
Julian was still happily coloring in her spot by the garage, when Moses emerged from the house with a tray of sandwiches and lemon juice.
"Anyone feeling hungry?" He asked smiling, "Sandwiches! Yay!" Seong-min said grabbing one, "Thanks dude." Cyrus said taking a drink.
"Looks like we're unlucky with the sale." Moses said, "I wasn't expecting much anyways." He added.
"At least you got yourself some extra bucks from those keychains." Seong-min said, "Sure, it's enough to buy some claw hairclips." Moses replied.
"Hairclips? For yourself?" Cyrus Asked curiously, "No for work, the hairsalon I'm going to work for, asked me to get my own equipment because they're a little short on money right now and can't provide me with everything, although they said I don't have to get all necessary equipment, just the brushes, hairclips and the latex gloves." Moses explained.
"Wait? WHAT?! YOU'RE A HAIRSTYLIST?!" Cyrus shouted surprised, "Oh that explains why you and your daughter have awesome hair!" Seong-min said.
Sometimes we can get so desperate in love, that we're willing to sell ourselves short just to get a chance...