Purchasing New Devices

By the time Ethan had piled up a mix of casual and formal wear, the associate was practically tripping over himself to compliment Ethan's taste.

"You've got an eye for quality, sir," he said, his tone now warmer, almost friendly.

Ethan smirked to himself. Amazing how quickly things changed when money entered the picture.

When Ethan finally reached the checkout counter, the total flashed on the screen, and even he had to blink. $12,000.

"Would you like to split the payment, sir?" the cashier asked.

"No need," Ethan said, pulling out his card.

He swiped it without hesitation, though he felt a small pang. It was a lot of money for clothes, but he reminded himself this wasn't just about appearances. This was an investment in himself.

As the cashier handed him his receipt, Ethan caught the associate glancing at him with something like admiration. Ethan almost laughed.

Ethan walked out of the clothing store, feeling lighter despite the weight of the bags in his hands.

His wardrobe was finally upgraded, and the rush of making such a substantial purchase left him exhilarated. Yet, there was one more thing nagging at him — his outdated phone and sluggish laptop.

Standing on the street, he glanced at the nearby stores.

His eyes landed on the sleek signage of an iOS shop just down the block. "Might as well make it a full upgrade day," he muttered, adjusting his grip on the shopping bags before heading over.

The iOS store was brightly lit, with clean white displays showcasing the latest gadgets. Customers milled about, some eagerly testing out devices while others quietly browsed.

Ethan made his way to the counter, where a petite girl with chestnut-brown hair tied in a loose ponytail stood.

She looked young — probably a college student — with delicate features and large, almond-shaped eyes that darted nervously between the screen in front of her and a customer she was helping.

Her name tag read "Lila", and her hesitant smile suggested she wasn't entirely confident in her role yet.

Ethan stood back, watching her fumble slightly with the card reader as the customer handed over their payment. She apologized softly, her cheeks reddening when the reader beeped in approval.

When it was finally his turn, she looked up and offered him a shy smile. "Hi… welcome. How can I help you today?"

Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, and Ethan noticed the faintest tremble in her fingers as she adjusted the tablet on the counter.

"I'm looking for a new phone," he said, setting his shopping bags down by his feet. "And a laptop too. Something fast, reliable, and, you know, won't make me want to throw it out the window after a week."

Lila giggled softly, though she quickly stifled it, covering her mouth with her hand. "Um, okay. We have the latest iPhone 14 Pro Max and some really good MacBook models. I-I can show you if you'd like?"

"Lead the way," Ethan said with an easy smile.

She guided him to one of the display tables, where the iPhone 14 sat in its sleek glory.

Lila began explaining its features — better battery life, a dynamic display, a powerful processor — but her words came out a bit rushed, as though she was afraid of messing up.

Ethan listened, nodding occasionally, but he couldn't help noticing the way her hands moved, fidgeting slightly as she spoke. "So, um, yeah," she finished, "it's, uh, really good for productivity and stuff."

"You're doing great, you know," Ethan said suddenly.

Her eyes widened, and her blush deepened. "W-what?"

"You don't have to be so nervous," he said, leaning against the counter. "You clearly know your stuff. Relax a little."

She laughed awkwardly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm just… not used to this yet. I started working here a month ago, and it's been a little overwhelming."

"Well, you're doing fine. Better than fine, actually," Ethan said.

Her shy smile returned, and she looked down at the phone in her hands. "Thanks. That's… nice of you to say."

They moved on to the laptops, and Lila showed him a MacBook Air that fit his needs. Ethan decided to go for it without much hesitation, surprising her.

"You're really decisive," she said, as she began processing the purchase at the counter.

"Not always," he admitted. "But today feels like a good day for upgrades."

As she rang up the total, Ethan handed over his card. While waiting for the receipt, he noticed the slight wear on her shoes and the faint bags under her eyes.

He'd seen that look before — someone working hard to stay afloat.

"You're in college, right?" he asked casually.

Lila glanced up, startled. "Oh, um, yeah. Second year. How'd you know?"

"Lucky guess," he said, smiling. "What are you studying?"

"Business management," she replied, her tone growing a bit more confident. "It's… tough, but I like it."

"Good choice. You'll do great."

Her cheeks flushed again, and she quickly looked down at the receipt she was printing. "Thanks."

After finalizing the purchase, Lila offered to help set up his new phone. Ethan watched as her nimble fingers navigated the screen, inputting basic settings and transferring data from his old device.

"You're pretty quick with this," he said.

"It's part of the job," she replied with a small shrug. "But… I do kind of enjoy it. Makes me feel like I'm helping people, you know?"

Ethan nodded. "That's a good mindset to have. Not enough people think that way."

As she finished the setup, she handed him the phone. "All done. You're good to go."

"Thanks, Lila," he said, glancing at her name tag. "You've been really helpful."

"It's my job," she said softly, though there was a hint of pride in her voice.

Ethan hesitated for a moment before leaning slightly closer. "Listen, you seem like a really nice person. And since you're so good at what you do, maybe you could help me out again sometime?"

Lila blinked, confused. "Uh… how do you mean?"

"By giving me your number," he said with a grin.

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked like a deer caught in headlights. "M-my number?"

"Yeah," Ethan said, keeping his tone casual. "No pressure, of course. But, you know, in case I need advice about all this tech stuff I just bought."

She hesitated, biting her lip, and then gave a small, nervous laugh. "O-okay, I guess. Just for tech stuff, though, right?"

"Strictly professional," he teased, though his tone made it clear he was joking.

She smiled shyly as she scribbled her number on a small piece of paper and handed it to him. "Here."

"Thanks," he said, slipping it into his pocket. "You've been awesome, Lila. Hope to see you around."

As Ethan left the store, riding his bike back home with his new gadgets in tow, he couldn't help but feel a little lighter.

And maybe, just maybe, Lila wasn't just a random encounter.