Alex walked slowly out of school, his hand loosely gripping the strap of his bag while his mind raced with conflicting thoughts. The afternoon sun was warm on his face, but he barely noticed it. His head was still spinning from the events earlier that day—the fight, the rage, the adrenaline that still hadn't fully left his system.
He tried to push it aside, focusing instead on his next task.
As he walked through the neighborhood streets, he found himself standing outside a small convenience store. The bright neon "OPEN" sign flickered as the automatic door slid open with a soft chime. The cool air conditioning inside was a sharp contrast to the heat outside. Alex stepped in, taking a moment to glance around at the neat aisles filled with snacks, drinks, and random knick-knacks.
He wandered the aisles, aimlessly walking from shelf to shelf, picking up items and placing them back down. His fingers brushed over bags of chips, boxes of chocolates, and neatly stacked rows of colorful candy. But nothing seemed right. What do girls even like? His thoughts spun as aimlessly as his steps.
"Excuse me, sir. Can I help you with something?" a soft female voice asked, snapping him out of his internal monologue.
He turned to find a young woman, one of the store attendants, smiling warmly at him. Embarrassed, Alex stammered, "Ah... I-I... I don't really know what to get."
The attendant tilted her head curiously. "Shopping for someone special?" she teased playfully.
Alex flushed instantly. "No! I mean—uh—it's not like that. She's not my girlfriend. We're just friends."
The attendant chuckled softly, clearly amused by how flustered he was. "Relax," she said kindly. "Why don't I help you? What's the occasion?"
"She's been feeling down lately… I thought maybe some snacks might cheer her up," Alex mumbled, scratching the back of his neck nervously.
The attendant smiled sweetly. "You're a sweet guy, you know. Most boys wouldn't think to do something like that."
Alex's face grew even redder, but he nodded. "Thanks."
She led him down several aisles, carefully selecting a variety of snacks: a few bags of potato chips, some chocolate bars, sour candies, and a small box of cookies. "Girls usually like something sweet, something salty, and something crunchy when they're upset," she explained as she filled his basket.
After a while, she placed the last item into the shopping cart. "There you go. That should do the trick."
"Thank you," Alex said, bowing slightly out of habit.
She giggled again. "Your girlfriend is lucky. You're thoughtful and cute."
"She's not my girlfriend," Alex insisted quickly, his voice rising slightly. "We're just... friends."
The attendant winked. "Sure, sure."
Embarrassed, Alex rushed over to the counter, paid for everything, and quickly exited the store before she could tease him further.
Some minutes later, Alex found himself standing outside June's house. He stared at the front door, his heart pounding for reasons he couldn't quite explain. Finally, after a short hesitation, he knocked.
Moments later, the door creaked open. June stood there, her eyes swollen and red, her face pale from crying. Seeing her like that tightened something deep inside Alex's chest.
Without saying a word, Alex stepped forward, gently reached out, and pulled her into a hug. His arms wrapped protectively around her small frame as she froze for a moment, surprised by the sudden contact. But as the shock faded, she buried her face into his chest and broke down, her sobs muffled by his shirt.
Alex softly rubbed her back, whispering gently, "It's okay… just let it out."
Her body trembled in his arms as the tears flowed freely again. They stood there for what felt like forever, bathed in silence except for her muffled crying. Finally, when her sobs quieted, Alex gently lifted her off the ground and carried her into the house.
He placed her gently onto the couch. June curled up, hugging her knees, her red eyes darting toward him. Without a word, Alex reached into the bag and pulled out the snacks he had bought.
"What's this?" June asked, her voice still weak and raspy.
"Ah... well," Alex scratched his neck again, embarrassed. "I heard that girls like sweets when they're upset… so I thought maybe these would help."
June blinked at him for a moment, then gave a faint, appreciative smile. She reached for a packet of chips, ripped it open, and began eating quietly as tears still welled in her eyes.
"That jerk Jason..." she muttered between bites. "He's such a loser. He's not even that cute. And after everything I did for him? What a total idiot. I hope he regrets it."
Alex sat silently beside her, offering a quiet, supportive presence. He knew there was nothing he could say that would ease her pain—his role right now was just to listen.
Suddenly, June pushed the open bag of chips toward his face. "Here. Have some."
"I-I'm okay. I don't really like sweet things," Alex said, waving his hands awkwardly.
"They're not sweet. Come on, try them." June's tone was light, almost playful, for the first time that evening.
Reluctantly, Alex took one chip and chewed on it. June watched him expectantly.
"It's... okay, I guess."
"See?" June giggled softly. "Told you."
Out of nowhere, she stood up and began stripping off her clothes, mumbling, "I'm going to take a shower."
"W-wait! What are you doing?!" Alex panicked, quickly turning his head away.
June burst into laughter at his reaction. "Relax, Alex. It's not like you're going to get turned on."
"E-even so, you should at least consider my feelings!" Alex's ears burned red.
"For someone so tough, you're pretty shy," June teased, grinning mischievously. "It's kind of cute."
She disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Alex sitting stiffly on the couch, desperately trying to focus on the television to calm his flustered nerves. After some time, June re-emerged, freshly showered, wearing a light, elegant dress with soft makeup that highlighted her natural beauty.
June posed playfully in front of him. "How do I look?"
Alex glanced up briefly from the TV. "You look... nice."
"I'm not staying in here crying anymore," June declared confidently. "I'm going out tonight. Drinking. Meeting new people. I won't waste my tears on someone like Jason."
"Good," Alex said, his attention shifting back to the TV. "You deserve better."
June walked over and sat beside him again, linking her arm through his. "You're coming with me."
"Sorry," Alex answered quickly. "I don't drink."
"Come on, please?" she pouted, resting her head on his shoulder.
"No." His answer was firm.
June pulled back and crossed her arms. "You leave me no choice... I'll have to blackmail you."
Alex turned his head, one eyebrow raised. "You wouldn't dare."
June's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Oh, I would. Either you come with me... or I tell everyone about your little secret."
Alex's expression hardened. "You won't."
June leaned in, lowering her voice like she was sharing a wicked secret. "Try me."