There It Is
Beeble notification: 43s ago
You matched with Mark. Check what they told you about your profile!
I grabbed my phone and stared at it dumbly. What do I do now?
"Girl, what are you waiting for?" Sasha shook my shoulders while giggling like a maniac.
"Let me compose myself… wait!" I replied hastily.
For the love of Heavens, he might be the cutest guy I've ever seen. He has a strong jawline and bushy brows. His lips are just right, plump lower lips. His eyes are dark brown. I feel like if I stared at them, I might get lost. His hair is unruly, with just the right amount of waves.
I can feel it coming back. The feeling of excitement and warmness in my chest. It's been so long since I felt this way. The last time was when I met Nate online.
"If you don't reply to that hot—" Sasha warned me, but I cut her off.
"Okay, okay. I'm on it. What should I reply?" I panickily asked. It makes me nervous to just talk to someone other than customers, workmates, and Sasha. Heck, I even feel nervous sometimes when I confront myself in front of the mirror.
"I don't wanna word vomit right now, Sash. Why don't we order something to eat before our shift?" I sheepishly changed the topic. I hope she'll drop this and won't let this go.
"Nah, time's tickin', milady. Chop, chop! Secure that hot hot!" Sasha demanded. Man, I just love her way with words.
With cold fingers and shaking hands, I grabbed my phone and tapped on the notification bubble.
"You got good lips. What's a girl like you doing here?"
What am I supposed to reply to that? Complimenting my lips? This Mark guy is weird, I must add. My brows are scrunching up, and I can feel my cheeks heat up. What is going on?
"Haha, thanks. Nothing, just exploring." I replied.
I placed my phone and looked at Sash in my peripheral vision. She's giggling on her phone while swiping. I guess she's back at it.
"Sash?" I called her.
"Yes? Did the guy scare you?" she replied sarcastically.
"Wha—no! I was just wondering; was this the app you've been raving about these past few months? Where you met you-know?" I asked her with wide eyes, doing my best not to namedrop the guy that made her cry a few weeks ago.
"Yep," she replied, popping the 'p'. "How are you liking the app so far? Keep on swiping my girl!" she encouraged me. The way she navigates this app makes it look so easy and…natural?
I wonder what I am gonna contribute to the conversations that might happen here. I stood up, lit a stick, and walked towards my full-body mirror on the other side of my room, beside my open closet.
I puffed and looked at myself in the mirror. What does a girl like me have to offer? My Beeble notified me, but I ignored it.
If you see me, I look average. I just happen to have thick brownish-black hair. I was told by Aunt Pat that my decent eyebrows and a good set of teeth are my assets. That's all. If I'm not working, I'm either destroying my stomach with acid and caffeine or making my liver rock hard.
It notified.
Again.
This guy's a double texter. Sash taught me that term. She told me that a guy who's interested in someone does that. Maybe this Mark guy is just bored?
And again.
I walked back to my bed and gave my stick to Sash. She's too busy to notice, so I finished it and put it out.
Beeble notification: 1m ago
New match: Mark sent you 3 messages. Check it out now!
"Oh, same here. Is this the first time you're trying this app??"
"What are you looking for? :D"
"Still there?"
"Yeah, still here. It's my first time trying this kind of app. Still trying to get the hang of it."
"I'm just looking for someone to talk to. What about you?"
"Finally, you replied. Making me wait? Lol"
"Hahah lol ((:"
I dropped my phone and lay next to Sash. Beeble's keeping her busy. I guess this is better than crying over that guy repeatedly.
This Mark guy knows how to handle conversations. Not my strongest suit. I doubt that it's even part of me. I'm just used to asking for the customer's order, name, and order modification or add-ons. If Sasha's not bugging me in my apartment, I'd forget how to talk to other people.
"Answer me babe. What's a girl like you doing here?? Lol"
He's cute, yes, but his random LOLs make me ick. I guess I can accept this for now?
"What's that supposed to mean? Haha."
"You're too pretty to be here. This is a world of wolves."
That stung me. Does that mean that I don't look tough? That I don't look like I can navigate my own and form my own pack? It sounded so backhanded.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Okay, he's a total a-hole. But whatever, it makes me forget that I have a back-to-back shift this weekend. Don't judge me, I enjoy earning money.
"I didn't mean to offend or give some backhanded compliment and stuff. You look like an angel in a pack of wolves. That's all."
I can't put my finger on it, but that relieved something in me. No one has ever seen me that way.
"Well, an angel can be lost sometimes, no?"
"Please tell me you're for real."
"Why? I don't get it. Of course, I'm real. Hahah. Are posers still a thing? That's so Friendstar thing."
And he didn't reply. Well, I think I said the wrong thing. I checked our messaging thread, and I found that there's no delete option on each message I sent.
I messed it up. Dear heavens. What did I do? I don't know why a stranger's lack of response made me feel this way. We just met for Christ's sake! Why am I overthinking?
"Sash, you hungry?" I asked. I saw her eyes glued to her phone, but she shook her head no.
"You received Stan's message? He said all weekend shifts are canceled, but we're…" she trailed off and looked at me. "You didn't receive it because you were enjoying Beeble!" she exclaimed.
I just laughed and shook my head in disbelief with myself. How can I disregard my boss's message over some silly stranger?
Stan's message was delivered 7 minutes ago. I tapped on it and read it carefully.
"Good thing we're still getting paid this weekend. When's your day off, Sash?" I asked her. I think that was what she meant to say a while ago.
"Monday and Tuesday. We plotted it together, dummy!" she reminded me. Oh right. My head's not working. "But I think we won't be spending it together, C. My Beeble match invited me for an out-of-town getaway tomorrow until Wednesday," she casually continued.
I nodded. Nothing new to me. She knew my stare and nodded with puppy eyes. She has to be more careful meeting up with random guys from her own online world.
My Beeble was notified 9 minutes ago. How come I missed that?
Mark sent a voice message.
What is he on? Nonetheless, I tapped on it.
My chest was filled with a boyish laugh followed by a deep manly voice. I could feel Sasha's stare as I listened to it once more.
"Ready your cervix, girl. He might die in the service in your cervix," Sasha bashfully teased me. "Play it again!" she exclaimed like a kid.
"You really made me laugh, Carmen. Can I call you Armie instead? Just a cute nickname for a cutie like you."
"Hi, Armie!" Sasha teased me.
My eyes rolled instinctively and let out a laugh. I pressed play again and put my phone speakers closer to my ears. Sash, being herself, moved closer to me as she lit her cigarette.
"Careful!" I reminded her.
"Yes, I will, cutie Armie," she replied with teasing looks.
Whatever.
"Anyway, I'll leave you alone with your hottie before you wet your bed," she puffed the smoke on my face and kissed my cheek. Thank God for my reflex, I almost dodged it.
"Use protection, Sash!" I shouted as she picked up her stuff and headed straight to the door.
"Yes, mom," she replied. I gave her the finger and shook my head.
"What's with the voice message?"
"Just trying to stand out. I just know it by heart that your inbox is flooded lol"
"Ha! I wish."
"Easy, Casanova. Don't go around breaking hearts, but if it's you who'll break mine, I'd get another one and offer it to ya lol"
"Hahah. What's a guy like you doing here?"
"Waiting for someone like you."
"No, seriously. What are you looking for in here?"
"Someone to chill with and talk to. Not in a rush for anything."
And there it is. Something I've been waiting for.