Chapter 36: Groceries
Third Person's POV
While lost in thought, Astra didn't realize she had taken a different path. Instead of heading home to Armann's place, she found herself on a familiar street.
When she snapped out of it, Astra suddenly noticed she was already near the convenience store.
"What am I doing here?" she muttered to herself.
She stood on the opposite side of the street, with the store standing tall across from her. There were a few customers inside, browsing the aisles, so Astra looked down at her hands.
It was only now that she realized she had forgotten to buy some essentials at the grocery store. She had only picked up condiments. She hadn't even grabbed any eggs.
With that in mind, Astra considered stepping inside the store as a customer. Her interactions with Bryan had always been pleasant, so she thought Bryan might see her differently. She could also ask him if their boss already found someone to replace her.
With a surge of courage, she decided to walk towards the storr. Astra crossed the street, ready to enter. She was almost nearby when she suddenly stopped.
Bryan's face showed no signs of worry. He was happily chatting with a customer at the cashier.
"That looks good," Bryan said, gesturing towards an item on the counter.
Feeling a sudden wave of fear, Astra hesitated and realized what she's about to do.
As fear suddenly gripped her, Astra's heart tightened in her chest, and her steps faltered, unsure of what to do next. Standing just outside the store, she watched the bustling scene inside, feeling overwhelmed by the noise of customers chatting and the beeping of the cash register.
Her hands shook as she reached for the door handle, memories flooding her mind of happier times working with Bryan. But facing him now, in such different circumstances, filled her with deep sadness.
She wanted to step inside, to reconnect again where she feels she belongs, but fear of judgment and rejection held her back, like an invisible chain.
Caught between nostalgia and the harsh reality of the present, Astra felt frozen. She already experienced many rejection from different people and she's afraid that Bryan will be one of them too.
With a heavy heart, Astra released the door handle and took a step back, retreating from a place that once held such significance for her. As she turned away, carrying the silent burden of lost connections and shattered dreams, Bryan felt an urge to glance outside, but it was too late. Astra had already distanced herself from the place. Unbeknownst to him, the person he had been earnestly searching for had indeed passed by.
Concerned by Astra's absence from work, Bryan grew puzzled and worried. He inquired among their other coworkers and even approached their manager, but he didn't receive any information regarding her absence.
Days passed, and still, Astra did not return to work. Bryan's concern deepened, prompting him to seek information about where she lived. Despite initial reluctance, their manager, also worried for Astra's well-being, reluctantly provided Bryan with the address.
Bryan visited Astra's house out of deep concern, but he was shocked to find it deserted. He made several trips to the police station to inquire about what had happened, but all they could tell him was that they had seen only one person inside.
Bryan couldn't be sure if it was Astra or not, but he refused to believe that she was gone. He held onto the belief that she was still alive and well.
On the other hand, Astra took a taxi back to Armann's house, lost in thought about the rumors she had heard and the feeling inside her about rejection. As she pondered, she failed to notice how close she was to her destination. Peeking outside, she caught sight of a man walking. He was wearing a jacket and black jogging pants, with different-colored slippers on his feet.
He seemed to be in a hurry, which made Astra overlook the fact that he was wearing mismatched slippers.
"Wait," Astra whispered to herself, her eyes fixed on the man's familiar features as she tried to confirm his identity.
As realization dawned upon her, she immediately informed the driver that this was her stop.
"Driver, could you please stop here?" Astra requested urgently.
After settling the fare, Astra briskly approached the man, her heart pounding with each step.
"Mr. Armann!" she called out, her voice echoing through the air, carrying a mix of relief and urgency.
Armann immediately turned around and saw Astra approaching him. He stopped and waited for her to come closer.
With her knees weak, Astra struggled to catch her breath. She was exhausted from running after Armann, who walked swiftly.
Finally catching her breath, she lifted her head to confront Armann about his brisk pace, but she froze at the sight of his face.
He appeared as vulnerable as a lost kitten, his eyes reflecting a depth of sorrow akin to that of a forsaken animal yearning for its mother's comforting embrace.
Astra, struck by the sight, felt a pang of empathy tug at her heartstrings. She struggled to comprehend the sudden shift in Armann's demeanor, grappling with the unfamiliarity of seeing him in such a fragile state. The onfident figure she was accustomed to, leaving her uncertain about how to respond to this unexpected vulnerability.
"Um, well," Astra stammered, turning away her gaze out of nervousness. She didn't know what had happened, but she felt responsible.
Armann noticed Astra's avoidance of eye contact. The atmosphere was awkward, making Armann realize her own facial expression scared her.
When Armann returned home, he was puzzled to find Astra missing. He searched the entire house but to no avail, so he assumed she might still be at the grocery store. Armann quickly changed his clothes and glanced at the TV while waiting for Astra, but as the evening wore on, she still hadn't returned.
He kept peeking outside several times, hoping to catch a glimpse of Astra coming home, but she was nowhere to be seen. He worried about Astra because she might have been in trouble. It wasn't safe for Astra outside, especially with the Grim Reaper and Nyx still lurking around. The thought crossed his mind to use his powers to find Astra, but he can't locate her. With a heavy heart, he slumped onto the sofa, feeling helpless.
Filled with worry, Armann decided to step out of the building. He searched the nearby grocery stores in their area, but she was not there.
Feeling disheartened and anxious, Armann was about to return inside the building, hoping Astra had made it back, when suddenly he heard a woman's voice calling out to him. He quickly turned around and saw Astra running towards him.
Armann's over-thinking about Astra's safety suddenly dissipated upon seeing her okay. He breathed a deep sigh of relief.
From a sad expression, Armann's face turned serious as he felt embarrassed that Astra might think he was overreacting. He didn't want her to know he had been worried, looking for her.
"Where did you go?" Armann asked, his voice carrying a serious tone, masking his underlying concern.
"Just to the grocery store," Astra replied.
Armann wanted to ask why he didn't see her there, but he thought she might get the idea that he was looking for her, so he decided to change the subject.
"Come on, I'm hungry. I'll cook," Armann said, starting to walk inside, but Astra didn't follow him, so he turned back.
"Why?" Armann asked gently, noticing the sadness on Astra's face.
Astra hesitated, unsure of how to explain that they couldn't cook because she hadn't bought enough ingredients.
Armann stepped closer to Astra, concerned.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
"Um... Well... Sorry, but I didn't buy enough ingredients," Astra replied embarrassed.
She felt embarrassed because this was the least she could do for Armann, yet she hadn't even accomplished it. Armann had many questions he wanted to ask, but he held back. Instead, he simply said,
"Oh, is that all? I thought something was really bothering you. It's okay," Armann reassured her.
"Are you not angry?" Astra asked in surprise at Armann's response. She thought he would be angry and yell at her because Armann always seemed serious to her, that was the image she had of him.
"Why would I be angry?" Armann countered.
"Because I didn't do what you asked," Astra replied simply, her head bowed.
"Oh, don't worry about it. There's always tomorrow," Armann replied casually.
"But you haven't eaten yet. You must be hungry by now," Astra said with concern.
—Growl— Armann's stomach made a sound.
Armann glanced away embarrassed by the sound. He felt ashamed because the noise his stomach made wasn't cool at all.
"I'm not hungry. Maybe it's you, is it your stomach growling?" Armann blamed Astra, even though it was actually his own stomach making the noise.
"That's not me. That's your stomach," Astra retorted defensively.
"It's ok. Just admit it. It's already late, and I'm sure you won't be able to wait if I cook," Armann said, pretending to think. Astra was puzzled by Armann's words.
'What is he talking about?' she wondered to herself.
Armann had made up his mind, so he walked in the opposite direction without notice.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Astra exclaimed.
"Aren't you hungry? Come on, let's eat," Armann replied casually.
Armann's nonchalant reply echoed in Astra's mind, urging her to acknowledge her hunger and join him for a meal. It seemed he saw her confusion as an opportunity to both spare her embarrassment and satisfy his own appetite.
Caught in the whirlwind of events, Astra found herself at a loss, unsure of how to respond to Armann's unexpected invitation. Nevertheless, she opted to go along with him, hoping to figure things out along the way.
"Wait! Wait for me!" Astra shouted, running after Armann to catch up with his brisk pace. She felt a rush of adrenaline as she hurried to keep pace with him, her heart pounding in her chest with each step she took.
~ To be Continued ~