Sythrik breathed a relaxed breath, taking in the calm air to ease his mind.
He reached into his pockets, fishing out a pocket watch. His eyes widened in surprise, "I spoke to myself for too long it seems… I should get going before its too late."
He picked up his paper bag with bread and hurried toward the entrance with powerful steps. A sense of stress was evident in his stride despite his usual relaxed nature.
"Why the hurry?" Lynette mused with a sly smirk.
Sythrik, in his unusual hurry spoke in passing, "I forgot the time, goodbye!" completely disregarding his usual manners.
Lynette looked at the power walking Sythrik, carrying a warm smile while she stared at his back with passion…
"Excuse me?" A voice echoed from the other side of the desk.
"Erm, miss? Can you hear me?" The voice repeated gently.
Lynette, still lost in thought did not notice the man speaking to her. At least not until the man raised his voice, not in the hard and scary way, but rather a loud whisper.
"Miss receptionist???"
She snapped out of her daze, reality settling in slowly but steadily. She looked at the man as a breeze of understanding brushed her face.
She quickly bowed down thrice, pleading for forgiveness.
The middle-aged man chuckled with his fist covering his mouth. He stopped and reassured her, "don't worry, it's nothing…" the corners of the man's lips curled upwards, revealing a sly grin. "Was that your partner?"
Lynette's eyes widened, waving her hands dismissively in front of her reddened, and nervous face. "No! We're just… we're just friends!"
"Haha, is that so?" The man mused, unconvinced by her clear lie.
"Anyway," the man began, "can you recommend me a book?"
Lynette calmed down and sorted her thoughts. "Of course, what genre are you looking for? Mystery, action, fantasy, adventure, fighting?"
The man fostered a warm smile. His faint wrinkles appeared more clearly as he spoke with a soft smile, "a romance novel. What I look for, is a romance novel to give my wife."
Lynette was slightly taken aback. The sight of a man looking for romance to give and read, an unfamiliar sight she did not believe existed. Could they truly hold such simple acts in such high regards?
Lynette re-entered her daze, reminiscing about the time she worked alongside Sythrik, back when he still worked part-time at the library. They carried piles of books around, walking side by side with laughs and chatter. Despite the chatter's casual nature, she found it mesmerizing. Being able to connect with another through such simple acts was a priceless experience she had never known. That feeling alone filled her with a wanting to see him again, even if it was just from a vast distance.
She exited her daze once more, pinched her cheeks and met the man's gaze. "Hmm, a romance novel…" suddenly, she smiled, recalling yet another memory.
After a small moment, she repeated a memory, "there is a book called 'there is love in the air'. I highly recommend it."
The man seemed to realize her feelings. yet, instead of prying, he played along and asked with his usual gentle smile, "What's it about?"
She smiled with a warm glint in her eyes, and spoke with a past attachment, "two birds roaming the sky side by side. They never spoke, nor agreed to it. It simply happened, a coincidental meeting, or perhaps a fate where they express their love through the simple act of just being together till their feathers fade and fall into the void's embrace…"
"I see… This may be a foolish question, but where can I buy it? I'm a little new here…" the man said, his tone somehow softer than before.
Lynette bent down behind the desk, pulling out book after book, until she finally found it. She stood back up, meeting his gaze with a kindhearted smile, "here, take it."
Taken aback he asked, "are you sure that it's okay?"
"I am, don't worry. More importantly, we can't leave your wife empty handed now can we?" She mused, her tone soft.
The man chuckled for a moment before he retrieved the book. "Thanks, miss. I appreciate it."
"Don't even think about it! Now get back to your wife, she must be lonely!!!" She replied in a considerate and cheerful manner.
The man nodded and walked towards the exit. Before completely opening the door, he stopped. "I will cross my fingers for you, young lady." With that he left, most likely never to be seen again like most other customers.
Lynette stared at the closed door that leads to the hallway, and murmured with reddish cheeks, "just what was that about?…"
After a small pause, she exhaled and leaned onto the desk. She wrapped her arms around her face and sunk into the desk's board. After
a small sigh, she murmured to herself, "thanks, old man. I think I've found something out about myself… something valuable beyond measure."