Meeting Jerry Again

After a few interviews, one interviewer called Aiden back and congratulated him for landing the part-time job as a laboratory assistant to a biomolecular Ph.D. student, Rosaliá Pérez.

She was a good-looking woman with a curvy figure who insisted that Aiden call her "Rosa".

The job was in line with his major, and the pay was decent for a part-time job, but it was not enough to cover the sum of money that he had paid to the hospital so far.

On Fridays for the semester, Aiden had class until 10 AM, and then he was free for the day. On the way home, he passed by a grocery shop and saw his grandmother's favorite tangerines on display outside. Aiden's grandmother was released from the hospital after the biopsy. The elder woman was so happy to finally be able to go back home. She repeatedly ensured her grandson that she was doing much better and that the biopsy was only a waste of money.

Aiden hoped that she was right.

The money was worth losing if the piece of result paper concluded that his grandmother was cancer-free.

In good mood, Aiden decided to buy some tangerines before going home. He parked his bicycle in the bicycle parking spot before leisurely going into the grocery store. Aiden took a plastic bag before starting to pick on the tangerines. His hand bumped with another's as both were aiming for the same tangerine.

Aiden looked up and his eyes met with Jerry's eyes.

"Oh, hey..." Jerry broke into a smile.

"It's you. I haven't seen you again since the first day."

Aiden gave Jerry a warm smile.

"I came to visit the stall after I got my schedule. You were not there..."

As soon as the words left his lips, Aiden regretted it. This man in front of him praised Aiden's appearance in front of the whole school. By saying that Aiden noticed Jerry's disappearance, it implied that he had been looking forward to seeing him again. A tender blush appeared on Aiden's fair cheeks.

"I mean, uh..."

A silly grin mixed with awkwardness appeared on Jerry's face.

"N-no, you were right. I had a terrible stomachache that day. Ate a lot for breakfast. You know, baked beans and potatoes and bacon... I ended up spending the rest of the morning in the toilet..."

That was a lot of information to share with someone who he barely knew. Jerry cleared his throat in embarrassment.

"A-anyway. Hey, have you picked your club yet?"

Aiden wanted to say that he no longer had time to join any clubs because he wanted to focus on earning more money on the side, but at the last moment, he decided not to.

He merely shook his head with a smile. Jerry was ecstatic.

"Then... Are you interested in joining? If you have not made up your mind, why don't you come by from time to time? We are all very friendly!"

"I will when I have time," Aiden answered truthfully.

"Wonderful!!! So, um, take these tangerines."

"Ah, yes."

Aiden almost forgot that he wanted to buy tangerines for his grandmother. He put one tangerine after another into the plastic bag. The young man in front of him did not make any move to pick his own and merely watched Aiden with a bright smile on his face.

"Um..."

Aiden waved the bag of tangerines in front of Jerry.

"I am done, so... are you not going to get yours?"

"Oh, I... I work here."

Jerry pointed at the dark green apron he was wearing. The words "Tanner's Fresh Foodie" were written on the front side with a big white cursive script.

"Oh, I see. You work close to the university," Aiden remarked.

"Oh, um actually..."

Before Jerry finished what he wanted to say, a roaring sound was heard coming from the cashier.

"Jerry! Did I pay you to chat or to work??? Keep lazing around and you will not eat your mama's steak for dinner!"

Aiden and Jerry both looked in the direction of the cashier before looking at each other again.

"Fine, geez!!" Jerry shouted in response. Then he sheepishly turned to Aiden and whispered, "Sorry, I have to go. I do work here but this is also my parents' grocery store."

"It's fine, I also need to go."

Aiden gave Jerry another smile, then he went to the cashier to pay. Jerry started to pick some tangerines to deliver to a customer. After he was done weighing the three kilograms of tangerines, he realized that he forgot something. He rushed toward the cashier and shouted.

"OH HEY! I forgot to ask..."

There was no one at the cashier save for his father, who was squinting at him.

"What?"

"N-nothing."

Jerry swallowed the disappointment into his stomach. He forgot to ask for Aiden's name.