Chapter 2: How Rude!

“Since you didn’t answer my question I assume it’s a yes.” His sharp grey eyes glared down at her figure with contempt and irritation, “They said Dion Nester is a charming gentleman. Lies! He’s a rude bastard!” she got irked at his rude statement and abruptly stood up to confront the man, ignoring the pain on her lower back along with the puzzled stares and murmurs from the passersby.

“I’m alright everyone, I’m alright. Please carry on with your activities.” She said to the customers who witnessed the scene before averting her attention to Dion Nester.

Valencia wanted to talk back but she held her tongue, instead, she smiled politely, more like forcefully to the man, “It seems that I forgot my prescriptions at home, pardon me for my clumsiness.” he raised his left eyebrow, baffled. “Is that so? Then I guess you’re not only clumsy but forgetful as well.” He scoffed.

“Huh? He must be searching for a fistfight.” Valencia tried to fight the urge to punch the man in the face because of his remarks but yet again, she suppressed it and maintained solitude. After all, Animal abuse is not allowed, that’s what her mother told her.

“I’ll do my utmost best to not be forgetful and clumsy!” she oddly spoke with enthusiasm as if she

was mocking him.

He rolled his eyes at her with nettle, Valencia’s sudden enthusiasm aggravated him, “Just wear your damn prescription next time.” Dion turned around and left to avoid getting into large arguments with her, he thinks that Valencia is the type to vex people on purpose.

Valencia scoffed at his retreating form, “Rude Bastard.” she rolled her eyes and went in the opposite direction to proceed with her main task.

“I finally found the Non-fiction section!” she silently cried in joy after spending a couple of minutes walking around the huge shop, “I can’t believe it’s located in the far left corner, no wonder I couldn’t find it so easily.” she murmured.

Her fingers trailed each of the book’s spines while muttering the titles, Valencia is searching for the book named, ‘The Golden Success’, a manual literature that made the world’s well-known businessmen and businesswomen massively successful.

She leaned her right shoulder on the bookshelf exhausted with her head hung low, groaning tiredly, “This is going to take me for ages.” A clacking sound of heels echoed in the interior hall, she swift her head behind to see a woman in her early 50’s pulling a trolley stacked with a mountain of books, she immediately strutted towards her, “Excuse me Ma’am!” the woman jumped in startle from her voice, “M-miss don’t surprise people like that!” the woman lightly scolded her before Valencia apologized.

“Ma’am, May I know if there are still some available books called The Golden Success? A friend of mine told me that this shop still has a few left.” Valencia explained, hoping for her to say yes.

The woman shakes her head, “I’m sorry, miss, but it was already taken by that tall young man over there.” The woman pointed her left index finger at the same man from earlier.

She stammered, “W-wait a minute, you mean that man wearing a business suit!?” the woman nodded before fixing her glasses, “Yes! That young handsome man asked me a moment ago before I got here, he was looking for the same book as well. He said that it was for his cousin.”

Valencia wanted to scream all of her frustration simmering in her chest after wasting her time walking around in the maze-like store looking for the Non-fiction section only to know that a particular someone took it.

“Ah, that’s too bad.” She replied dryly, standing motionless like a lifeless mannequin “Don’t worry dear, the store will have another batch of those books again.” Valencia’s dim and lifeless pair were now glimmering with hope, “You just have to wait for 3 months for the re-stock.” She became a lifeless mannequin once more.

Valencia thanked the woman before walking Towards Dion, desperate to get the book. She is not a patient person and wouldn’t allow herself to wait for three months. Valencia had a goal and she can’t let it get delayed, she won’t allow her father to belittle her after he announces the heir publicly, she has to outshine them.

it may sound ridiculous but Valencia is tired of being disparaged, being overshadowed by her siblings and always being the third-place medal of the family even though she knows how much she deserves to be acknowledged after the adversities she went through.

Dion was busy reading the book when he felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned his head to the right and was surprised to see the same woman from earlier, “Excuse me?” she had a solemn almost threatening look before she suddenly gave a toothy smile, instantly catching him off guard.

“You again?” he asked, squinting his eyes “Yes it’s me again, I reflected upon my mistakes earlier and just wanted to apologise.” She fidgeted like a high school girl confessing to her long-term crush after mustering the confidence to tell them, “especially since I mocked you which is rude of me to act that way and I should’ve been aware of where I’m heading too.”

Dion was unable to speak for a moment when she spoke those words, but it feels like there was an intention behind her speech, “That book in your hand.”

Dion followed her finger pointing down at the book his holding; “This?” he raised his hand mid-air. Valencia nodded eagerly, “Is there any chance for me to have that book, please.” she placed her hand behind her back with her shoulder shrugged accompanied by an awkward grin.

“No.” he gave her a flat reply, “What?” she asked, “Don’t tell me that you have a hearing problem?” he added, “What I mean is, there’s a lot of alternative books you could find, it’s just that….I really need that specific book.” She clasped her hand in her chest as if she were praying.

“Please let him give me that book, please let him give me the book.” She keeps chanting the phrase over and over again hoping that maybe, luck may find pity on her.