Chapter 103: Shopping
The Grand Mall buzzed with the lively hum of evening shoppers, the upper floor a whirlwind of bright lights, chattering voices, and the faint jingle of pop music drifting from storefronts. The restaurant’s warm glow was behind us, the plates of cold pasta and burger scraps cleared, the pile of shopping bags now heavier as we ventured back into the chaos of retail.
My white sneakers tapped on the polished floor, my long black shirt and t-shirt swaying as I held the trolley filled with bags.
Aeri and Sara walked beside me and soon we found ourselves in a heels shop, its sleek displays lined with glittering stilettos, chunky platforms, and delicate sandals, the air scented with new leather and faint perfume. The bags from earlier purchases—clothes, accessories, more shoes—were piled at my feet, and I sighed, slumping onto a plush couch, with my Iced Latte in my hand, which I brought just now
*Sighhh. I’ll never understand girls,* I thought, watching Aeri and Sara flutter between racks, their excitement not fading despite the dozens of shoes they’d already bought. It was a mystery, their endless enthusiasm for heels, a topic I’d never grasp, but their joy was undeniable, even if it exhausted me.
Sara held up a pair of crimson stilettos, turning to Aeri with a grin. "These would scream with that red dress we got, right?" she said, her voice bright, her boots clicking as she spun the heels under the shop’s lights.
"Oh, totally!" Aeri said, her smile wide, her fingers brushing the shoes, her sneakers scuffing as she leaned closer. "But what about those gold ones for the black dress?" She pointed to a pair of strappy heels.
Sara laughed, nudging Aeri’s shoulder. "You’re too good at this," she said, grabbing the gold heels, holding them up like a trophy. "Though, imagine Lyra trying to walk in these. She’d trip in two seconds." Her grin turned mischievous, talking about some other woman.
Aeri giggled, covering her mouth, her blush deepening. "Oh, come on, leave her alone," she said.
I rolled my eyes, sinking deeper into the couch, my latte straw between my lips, my gaze lazy but lingering on them.
*I hate Sara, that’s a fact,* I thought, but watching them like this—laughing, teasing, their faces lit up, their beauty undeniable—softened the edge of my irritation. Aeri’s gentle warmth, Sara’s bold fire, they were stunning in their own ways, their joy infectious. They both are beautiful women in the end.
Sara caught me staring, her eyes narrowing, a sly grin spreading as she leaned toward Aeri, whispering something, her red nails brushing Aeri’s arm.
Aeri’s face flushed, her eyes widening, a shy smile breaking as she whispered something back,