Mistakes Made ✅

Chapter 3: Civil

[Rubi Zai as Abeela]

The first thing that came into Errol's head once he came out of the kitchen to head for the counter was that he was, in all likelihood, cursed. But he shook off the thought at once, having come to realise how preposterous it seemed, not to mention that it made him sound puerile. But the fact remained.

Because there Abeela stood, smiling up at a male customer - as she usually was - who looked no older than twenty, taking in his orders while doing so. The customer, a tall Asian boy with his short jet black hair and his backpack slung over one shoulder, was chuckling at whatever sarky remark Abeela had made, and the way he stood with his head tilted a bit to the side, up to the minute with his olive green sweater and faded denim jeans, Errol would be damned if it weren't for what had happened in the past.

Jordie's eyes flickered briefly over Abeela's head, and his gaze locked on Errol, who suppressed an exasperated groan from leaving his throat. There was no doubt that Shandee had somehow managed to talk to him the previous night, otherwise why else would he be here? Apart from trying to make Errol's life a living hell, that was. After all, the boy hadn't come to the parlour for months. Now that he showed up, Errol doubted he was doing it just to get under his skin.

"Hey, there, Balker!" came the drawling voice in a falsely cheerful manner, just as Errol was making a U-turn to head back into the kitchen. "Good summer?"

"Massive, thanks - especially with your absence," Errol replied sourly, putting up a smile just for a bonus.

"Vacation," noted Jordie, still with his mirthful voice. "Not far, though. Just visiting a sick relative."

Errol cocked an eyebrow. "So?"

"So you don't have to ask where I was - you know, in case you missed me or something,"

"I sure did,"

Abeela, who was beginning to look out of place and genuinely baffled at the sudden uncongenial air, coughed once. "Errol, we'e running low on foam cups. Could you-"

"On it." said Errol without even bothering to let her finish her request, turning on his heels once more and striding towards the kitchen.

Once inside, swamped with the humid air along with the piquant aroma of tartar sauce wafting around as one of the chefs squirted it over a burger patty, Errol made to extract his phone from his pocket before stopping himself.

Perhaps it was just coincidental. Was it likely that Shandee had managed to talk to him the previous night after hanging up on Errol? Even if she had, Jordie didn't look like the confrontational type. Unless I'm wrong, Errol told himself, moving towards one of the cabinets while doing so to grab a pack of foam cups. Besides, it was well past noon. For all he knew, Jordie could be simply dropping by to grab a beverage after his lectures at whatever campus he was attending in this town.

He was probably just being paranoid at the turn of events.

When Errol got out of the kitchen soon after, carrying with him a pack of foam cups just as Abeela had requested, Jordie was nowhere in sight. He made a quick scan around the parlour, and eventually located the boy sitting at a corner booth just near the windows, fingers typing away on his laptop. Yes, I am being paranoid, he asserted, his mood quickly switching from one of vexation to completely feeling like a complete halfwit.

Abeela seemed to be studying him from where she stood near the counter, fingers drumming on its surface while the other hand was resting on her hip. Next to her, the cup dispenser was almost empty. From anyone else's perspective, she looked like a mother waiting for her son to explain to her why he arrived three hours after curfew. Though, Errol doubted it was anything to do with filling the cup dispenser.