Chapter 2

"Madam... can I help you with something?"

A young man's voice called out from behind.

Jay turned her head, startled. A man in his mid-twenties stood there, wearing a white lab coat and oversized round spectacles that nearly hid the natural charisma of his sharp features. His hair was slightly messy, like he had run his hand through it too many times today.

"Ah... no, thank you. I can manage," Jay said quickly, lowering her head and moving towards another shelf.

Not this... not this... this? she thought, flipping through the boxes lined neatly in front of her. Nahh...

She was reading the labels of each medicine one by one, slowly but urgently, as if the right one might jump out if she stared hard enough.

As she tugged one box free, the others stacked beside it tilted precariously and then cascaded to the floor with a clatter. Jay gasped and immediately bent down to gather the fallen packages, her heavy backpack swinging forward awkwardly. She struggled to balance the boxes in her arms, feeling increasingly overwhelmed.

The young man had been watching from a distance, visibly anxious, and finally couldn't bear it anymore.

"Madam, please, allow me to assist you," he said, stepping closer.

Jay looked up at him, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Without a word, she simply lifted the teetering pile of boxes towards him like a silent offering.

A soft laugh escaped the man's lips as he hurriedly took them from her hands and began restoring the boxes to their shelves with surprising speed.

Once everything was back in order, Jay resumed her frantic search, but before she could wander off again, the man moved to stand in front of her.

"Madam... are you looking for something specific? Tell me—maybe I can help," he said, offering what he clearly thought was his most reassuring smile.

Jay, still frazzled, totally and clearly not impressed by his confident smile, rolled her eyes. "Do you think I'd be here if I knew what I wanted?" she snapped.

The man blinked. "...Yes?" he answered, uncertain.

Jay sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair. "I—I don't know what I'm looking for," she admitted, her voice much softer this time.

The man tilted his head slightly, regarding her with mild suspicion. His gaze flickered over her backpack, her hunched shoulders, her obvious distress. Then he leaned down slightly, lowering his voice.

"The feminine products section is... that way," he said, pointing discreetly.

Jay stared at him, stunned—and then burst into laughter. She laughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes.

The man stepped back in shock, a bewildered smile creeping across his face despite himself.

"What??" he asked, laughing now too, confused but amused.

Jay wiped her tears with the back of her sleeve and, still chuckling, placed a hand on her stomach. "I'm not looking for that!" she said between giggles. "I want something for my stomach."

The man flushed red to his ears. "Ah! Yes, yes—stomach, of course...! Sorry—uh, anything specific?"

Jay took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She spoke more clearly this time: "I said, I don't know what specifically I want!"

"Ahh, yes, you did," he said, nodding quickly. "My bad. Okay, um... any symptoms?"

Jay frowned, thinking hard. "Symptoms..." she repeated slowly. Then, helplessly: "Whenever I'm stressed... or tense... my stomach starts hurting really badly. Then I get this... brain fog? I can't think clearly. And I just... feel horrible."

The man listened intently, nodding with genuine concern. Then, without saying anything, he gestured for her to follow him towards the pharmacy counter.

Jay followed, her steps hesitantantly after him.

From behind the counter, he picked up a small brown bottle and handed it to her.

"Peppermint oil," he said, holding it up. "It's natural. It can help relieve stress, headaches, and ease stomach discomfort."

Then he scribbled something onto a slip of paper and handed it over to her—"here this is the prescription take these medicines according to this."

Jay accepted it, blinking down at the items in her hands. "Thanks..." she murmured, feeling strangely touched by his effort.

She turned and left the store quickly, embarrassed by the scene she had caused.

Outside, she stood under the awning, staring at the bottle and the paper in her hands. The rain had started to drizzle, tiny drops speckling the pavement.

After a moment of hesitation and a few minutes already passed by, she swung the door open again and marched back inside.

The man was just rearranging some boxes behind the counter when he noticed her. He straightened up, puzzled. His expression clearly saying, what do you want now?!

"I—uh... what am I supposed to do with this?" Jay asked, holding up the peppermint oil bottle as if it were some sort of mysterious artifact.

The man smiled warmly, stepping closer. "You can inhale it to help with stress and brain fog. Just a few deep breaths. And if you get headaches or feel sinus pressure, you can apply a little to your temples. Like this."

He mimed dabbing it gently on the sides of his forehead.

Jay nodded slowly, committing the instructions to memory.

"Ahh... thanks," she said again, awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.

Without waiting for further conversation, she quickly exited the store a second time.

Standing outside under the now heavier rain, Jay broke the seal on the peppermint oil bottle. She inhaled the sharp, fresh scent deeply into her lungs once... twice... three times.

Then, carefully, she dabbed a little onto her temples just like he had shown her.

The coolness sank into her skin, and for the first time that day, she felt the tightness in her chest begin to ease just a little.

She looked down at the little bottle and smiled. "Well... that'll help, I guess," she whispered to herself.

Tucking the bottle safely into her pocket, Jay slung her backpack higher on her shoulders and started walking towards the bus station, feeling lighter with every step.