Visiting an old memory

''Thank you very much and please come again!'' The voices of the sales lady and her co-workers sounded as Vincent and Calla steadily walked out of the clothing store with a paper bag each in their grasp.

''Let's explore other stores and see if there's something you want. From there we can go to the central park.'' Vincent said, looking down at his phone to check the time. He was pleased with what he was seeing, and slipped the device back into the pocket of his brown trench coat.

Lifting his gaze, his eyes fell on Calla, rubbing her hands near her lips. ''Are you cold?'' He asked, worried for her. He knew the fall in New York city was much colder and crisp than the fall in Syracuse. Someone like Calla might find it hard to quickly adjust to the weather here.

''A little…'' Calla replied, a little absentmindedly. She just recalled that the temperature in New York city was glaringly different from the temperature in Syracuse even though the cities were about fours apart in the same state.

Even though she was currently wearing her hoodie, Calla still felt like putting on another layers of hoodies and sweaters.

''Hold this…'' Calla shifted her gaze to the paper bag stretched towards her. Feeling puzzled, Calla still took the paper bag from Vincent. Before she knew it, the familiar minty breath of his inched towards her face, and then her entire body was engulfed in the masculine scent that she was accustomed to from Vincent.

For a moment, she froze, not knowing what to do other than to stare wide-eyed into the air, as many unknown people bypassed them in front of the clothing store.

''You….'' As Vincent backed away, Calla came out of her stupor, suddenly realizing why her scent was now exactly like Vincent's. She glanced at her body and then rose her wide-eyed gaze to him. Vincent wore his trench coat on her.

''If I enter back inside to get a trench coat, you might complain since we bought the hoodie. So don't complain calla, and wear what is mine.'' He said, pointedly.

''…..'' Not knowing how to retort, Calla merely pursed her lips in silence. She was the one who said that she was a cold a little, but she did not expect Vincent to remove his trench coat for her, just because of a little cold.

''What about you?'' Calla asked softly. Her eyes took in the brown turtle-neck sweater hugging Vincent's upper body, that now remained as his source of warmth in this cool season of fall.

''I'm fine.'' Vincent flashed an assuring smile.'' Are you okay now?'' He asked, taking the two papers bags from her grasp.

''Yes.'' was her soft reply. At the same time, she properly wore the trench coat by inserting her arms into the empty sleeves. Once that was done, Calla was absolutely buried into the warmth of Vincent's trench coat.

''Thank you.'' Calla murmured, curling her fingers on the edges of the long sleeves that were bigger and longer for her arms.

She was very thankful. Having lived in New York city for a long time, Calla knew that she was a bit careless with her body.

''It's okay, Calla. Are you ready to leave now? We've been standing on this spot for almost five minutes now.''

'Ah….' Calla also realized the same thing. Giving a quick look around her, she noticed some stares on her and Vincent's figure. Perhaps the owners of the stares might have seen what had occurred. Their stares were particularly scorching and nosy.

''Let's go.'' Feeling a little warm on her face, Calla was in agreement to leave. Her voice at this moment was softer than before. As of now, she felt like glowering at Vincent for attracting his much attention. Why couldn't he just hand over the trench coat rather than wearing it for her?!

Unable to keep her grievance at bay, Calla couldn't help but throw some sullen stares in Vincent's direction. However…she miscalculated the timing and was a little hasty.

''Have something to say?'' Vincent asked with a faint smirk hung on the corner of his lips. If he didn't see wrong, Calla seemed to be throwing a tantrum with her little scowls and glares.

It seemed a certain someone was feeling embarrassed with his actions.

Well…he was also feeling a little self-conscious, but he wanted to do it.

Besides….did it feel a little weird that he was more than pleased now that Calla was wearing his trench coat?

''No.'' Calla quickly avoided his teasing gaze, feeling a little guilty for returning his kind intentions with her immature actions. Following this, her fingers were engulfed in the warmth of another, and her steps began to move from the spot.

''Then, let's enjoy ourselves for the rest of the evening, Calla.'' Saying this, Vincent's fingers slipped through hers, locking their hands in place as he slowed his pace to walk by hand in hand, and side by side.

Staring at his princely side-profile from the corner of her eye, Calla looked on for a moment before her lips curled up into a faint smile. At the same time, she realized that she had been smiling more than ever since Vincent entered into her life. Even when she was in this city that witnessed her entire life before the accident, her lips had never forgotten to tug up into a smile that was not fake.

'Thank you, Vincent.' Looking ahead, Calla said in her heart. Perhaps there will be one day when she would not keep these appreciative words in her heart.

Hopefully by then, her sincerity would reach the heart of her friend.

____

*Ding* *Ding*

The top-edge of the door came outward, hitting the bell affixed to the wall above, signaling the arrival of a customer in the shop.

Honey brown eyes took in the interior of the entire shop. Ignoring the curious and nosy stares on her face, Call's gaze swept her gaze around the entire shop.

'It's been a while.' She thought, taking in the new appearance and arrangement of shelves and other stuffs. 'So many things have changed.'

Right after her sentimental thoughts, Vincent's voice came from behind. ''Calla?'' He called out, confused as to why she suddenly stopped venturing deeper into the shop.

''I-I'm sorry.'' Snapping out of her reverie, Calla moved sideways, allowing Vincent to fully enter. Once the door went shut, a lady dressed in casual clothing and a set of black apron walked towards them with a smile.

''Welcome to Carry's pet shop. I hope you are doing well, ma'am.'' The lady directed her words to Calla with a worried, yet vigilant gaze. Perhaps the fact that Calla had stood on a spot for a while and looked around the shop frightened her a bit.

Calla's masked appearance also didn't help things and added to her vigilance.

''…..'' Not saying a word in response, Calla merely stared at the lady before shifting her gaze away. The atmosphere between the two ladies became awkward until Vincent decided to smoothen things out with an apologetic smile.

''I'm sorry. She doesn't talk much.''

''I understand sir.'' The lady returned with a smile. ''If you need any assistance with the products, please call for my attention.'' The lady calmly withdrew with her words, but not before casting a vigilant glance towards Calla.

''What's wrong, Calla?'' Vincent asked, when the lady was at a far distance away from them. He was confused with the abrupt switch of Calla's mood. To him, she was perfectly normal during their outing, so why did she behave like that towards the sales lady?

No…from the minute Calla stepped into the shop, she started to behave a little out of it. The fact that she stood for a whole moment to look around the shop was a testimony to her weird behavior.

Was there something that he missed?

Calla was the one who wanted them to visit this particular shop before leaving for the hotel. Perhaps this pet shop was more than just a shop to her.

Vincent was right on track with his train of thoughts.

''…Nothing…'' Calla murmured, walking ahead to avoid the drilling gaze on the side of her face. As Calla bypassed the other customers like herself into the lines of shelves with many unpurchased products, she couldn't help but see a faint outline of her young self picking a product from one of these shelves.

Right by her side was the faint outline of a woman in the same black apron as that lady who spoke her minutes ago.

'I wonder if she's well...' Stopping in front of a shelf with the same canned products, Calla wondered in a nostalgic mood. Even though her eyes were fixed on the canned products, her thoughts had already travelled back in time.

The time when she was a young child.

The time when she bought her first dog food from this pet shop back then.

The times when always came back to this pet shop as a regular customer.

The time when she met her a young boy just like herself, though a little older in age, looking lost in front of the pet shop.

That young boy also became a man in her life, who was currently her husband.

>>>Enjoy and Post soon<<<