Black Blood: Between Two Alphas

Chapter 9

Despite saying those words and acting like I was giving up on finding a gift for Zero, it didn’t leave my mind one bit. I struggled coming up with ideas from the most inconsequential and bizarre to something handy, but I kept failing myself.

I knew I should just stop and do as I said. I knew I could just leave it to Noah. However, a part of me felt terrible for doing that. And so, I guiltily gave in and came back to the same problem of stressing myself out about finding Zero, his birthday gift.

Wearing a long face, I slightly groaned, frustrated at myself. I pushed the door to enter Cold Stone, and the bell rang just like the last time.

I took a detour on the way home to get a cup of ice cream and some art supplies from Walmart. I needed to relieve stress from overthinking.

“Good day! Can I get you something?” The woman greeted me as soon as I stood in front of the counter.

Once our gazes met, my eyes narrowed to see how she looked very familiar, and it seemed like she noticed that, too. It only took me another second to realize that she was also the same employee on duty that night when Zero bought me ice cream.

“Hi!” I pleasantly smiled at her and moved closer to the counter. “Gotta Have It — French vanilla ice cream, please.”

“Would you like to add a waffle?”

“No, thank you.”

“How ’bout some mix-ins?”

“I’ll have chocolate chips, brownies, Oreo cookies, and cookie dough.”

She looked at me closely for a moment, then nodded her head and input my order on the register.

I knew she had probably met hundreds of customers after me, but I felt like she could still remember. I only confirmed that thought when I saw her writing my name on the cup without the need to ask me. And honestly, it felt good to know that I left an impression that she could still recognize my face and remember my name.

“That would be thirteen and sixteen cents.”

Since I knew I still had some cash left, I got my wallet out of the bag. I briefly paused and stared at the folded fifty bucks. It stood from the two hundred and twenty-dollar bills, all flattened out.

The coincidence brought a smile to my face. It was as if almost everything I encountered that day had some connection to Zero. It all happened while I was worrying over what to give him on his birthday. That somehow pushed me to think harder.

“Paislee?”

I flicked my gaze back at her. I sheepishly smiled, embarrassed to keep her waiting.

“Oh! Sorry about that,” I said and hurriedly pulled out a twenty-dollar bill to pay for my ice cream. “Here you go.”

“No problem. For a moment, Paislee,” she said.

I just smiled and nodded. “Sure. Thank you…” I trailed while I glanced at her name tag. “Molly.”

Molly nodded once to acknowledge before turning her back on me to do her job.

I stepped aside to let the customer behind me place his order. I turned to look at the display counter where all the available flavors of ice cream were stored. While waiting, I thought of another combination of ice cream and mix-ins I could order next time to try something new.

Most people would often mix up different flavors of ice cream in one cup, but in my opinion, it would be disrespectful to each flavor to have them that way. It was better to savor them one by one. That was the only way you could appreciate their own distinct taste and charm.

As I blabbered about my ice cream preference inside my head, Molly had just finished preparing my ice cream. I noticed how she even put in more chocolate chips than the last time.

“Thanks!” I told her with a bright smile.

“Sure thing. Enjoy your ice cream!”

After exchanging smiles, I went to an empty table near the windows. I didn’t plan to eat inside the store, but Molly changed my mind. Since I had nothing to do at home and Noah was immersed in doing all the things he was busy with, I’d rather stay outside.

While eating, I randomly checked the promotional leaflet on the table. Aside from promoting their bestsellers, there was a small note in the bottom corner.

They were open for hiring — full-time and part-time. My eyes sparkled with an idea.

Marga had already talked to me about getting a part-time job like hers. Aside from earning my own money, I’d be able to keep myself busy. Since then, I had been thinking about that, but I only remembered it upon seeing the leaflet. I was too occupied with dealing with my feelings and other turmoils that I forgot about it.

I guess that was the sign I needed to push through with the idea of applying for a job.

I took the leaflet with me and left my ice cream on the table to walk back to the counter. I waited until Molly was done taking orders before calling for her attention.

“Hey, can I trouble you for a minute?” I said when she went over to assist me.

“Sure! What is it that you need?”

“I saw this sign on the table….” I showed the leaflet and pointed at the ‘We Are Hiring’ part. “Are you still hiring?”

“Oh, that!” Molly looked up to me after quickly reading the sign. “I’ll ask my manager, but she’s currently not around. You can leave your contact here. I’ll send you a message, or you can inquire through the number or email printed there.”

“Hmm… I can do both,” I said, very eager to have the job. “Do you have a pen and paper?”

“Yes. Lemme just get them.”

Before leaving the store, I left my contact details with Molly. I also sent an email to be more formal with my approach once I got home.

Just sending a cover letter made me feel so fulfilled. It felt like something unreal.

I had been sheltered all my life, and most of the things I coveted were offered to me without the need to work hard for it. Applying for a part-time job was another huge step toward the independence I was craving.

While in high spirits, I was in the middle of composing a message for Noah when I received a notification on one of my socials.

Zero posted!

Knowing how rare he was to post something, I let my curiosity run free and clicked on the banner right away. I was redirected to the app, straight to his post.

A soft gasp slipped past through the gap between my lips. My heart roared inside my chest for some unknown reason, like thunder rumbling in the dark clouds. Feeling like I was overreacting, I schooled my expression and made a straight face. However, a smile unconsciously broke through and took the mask off.

I can’t believe it…

His post was the picture I took from the exhibit. After more than a year of being inactive, it was his first update on social media, but he didn’t bother composing even a simple caption.

Like I had not seen that photo yet, I zoomed in and focused on his face.

Just as I remembered, Zero was deadly serious, but there was no trace of lines on his forehead or between his eyebrows. Rather than looking annoyed, after peering closely, his expression seemed calm and peaceful.

I leaned on the backrest and found myself liking his photo. I guess it's safe to say he really did have a great time at the exhibit, although I knew I somehow became a responsibility to him.

With all my attention on Zero’s post, I wasted time quickly and became oblivious to other things until an incoming invitation for a video call from Marga interrupted my screen.

My heart almost fell right out of my chest; nervousness struck me as fast as lightning. I didn’t know why, but it was like I was caught red-handed, doing something I was forbidden to do. I felt guilty for a reason I couldn’t put my finger on.

“What took you so long to answer my call, Paislee?” Marga asked, sounding a bit suspicious — and she also looked like one.

I bit my lower lip and shook my head. “Nothing. I was just thinking,” I lied. “Why’d you call?”

“I’m checking on you, of course,” she said and sat on her vanity chair.

Marga put the phone down where it could stand on its own. She then watched me properly with her keen eyes.

“So…” She raised a brow, and there was a teasing grin on her lips. “What were you thinking?”

“I sent a cover letter for a part-time job here,” I said, trying to come up with an excuse she’d buy. However, the doubtful look on her expression didn’t leave her face at all. In the end, I sighed and told the truth. “I was thinking of a gift for Zero. I couldn’t seem to come up with anything I think he’d like.”

“So, it’s about Zero…” she said meaningfully, and I didn’t like how she sounded.

“Yes. I want to thank him for coming with me to the exhibit and giving me helpful relationship advice,” I said before she could come up with something ridiculous.

“Uhuh…” Marga nodded her head. “Since when did he become your relationship advisor? And why didn’t you come to me?”

I rolled my eyes at my cousin. “I know you so well, Marga. The best and only advice you can give me is to break up with him. No more explanations. No more reasons.”

Marga chuckled. She didn’t deny it because she knew I wasn’t lying.

“Well, what’s better advice I can give for a temporary relationship?” she shamelessly asked and shrugged her shoulders. “Noah’s not your mate. You’re turning twenty-one. I don’t see the need to work things out. That’s just a pain in the ass.”

I shook my head, knowing that I could never come to terms with her when it came to that. I couldn’t help but point out her similarity with Zero. They both shared the same stand about committing to a relationship before meeting our mate. They didn’t want to ravel our complicated lives even further.

“Going back to Zero, though… Why don’t you just ask him?” she suggested.

I quickly shook my head to reject that idea. “Nope. Never.”

Marga laughed at my reaction. “Why not?” she innocently asked. “That’ll solve your problem easily.”

“I don’t want him to think I’m fussing about his birthday.”

“Aren’t you?” she asked, wearing a mischievous smile.

I glared at my cousin. “Stop that, Margs. I’m being serious here.”

I knew what she was trying to do. Her head was clearly going somewhere it shouldn’t be. She was starting to cross over the line. I didn’t like that.

“Okay, okay…” Marga sighed and surrendered after seeing how serious I was. “Seriously, though, just ask him! Friends normally ask each other what they want for their birthday… Well, I think.” She was also unsure. “Oh, I know!”

Like a light bulb appeared on top of her head, Marga’s face lit up as she seemed to come up with an interesting idea. Although I had the least expectations from her, I’d take any suggestion out of desperation.

“What is it?” I probed.

“Paint or draw him something,” she said, and I couldn’t believe her idea piqued my interest.

Seeing how I was taking her suggestion into consideration, Marga smiled widely. She looked so proud of herself.

“Did I do it? Did I hit the mark?” she asked excitedly.

Pursing my lips, I only shrugged. “I’ll think about it.”