It was a typical Saturday afternoon. Freshview Supermarket that’s where the rollercoaster started, and well the Supermarket know for it’s fluorescent lights and endless rows of shelves, it was like the entire town had descended upon the market , she was just trying to find her favorite cereal in the midst of all the noise & traffic . As she browsed through the cereal aisle, her eyes scanning the colorful boxes, she let out a frustrated sigh. Finally, there it was – a fresh box of “Kellogg’s Fruit Loops” nestled between the Corn Flakes and the Rice Krispies. As she reached for the box, she realized it was just out of her grasp – stuck on the top shelf, taunting her with its inaccessibility. She looked around, hoping to find someone to help her, and her gaze landed on a tall guy standing by the coffee creamer, his fresh trimmed tapper fade and lime orange hoodie making him stand out in the crowded store. He was wearing black track pants and a pair of black slides , and he looked like he’d rather be anywhere else. That’s when she saw him – the tall guy she had been hoping to come across, someone who could finally put an end to her struggle and retrieve the cereal for her. Little did she know, he would be the one to turn her life upside down, LITERALLY.

As she approached the tall guy, she felt a little flustered. The busy store and her struggle to reach the cereal had left her frazzled, but she was hoping he could help her out. “Xolo bhuti?” she said, before quickly realizing that he might not understand the term. “Argh, excuse me?” she added, feeling a bit embarrassed.

As he turned to face her, she caught her breath, his piercing big brown eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her skipping heart settle into a peaceful rhythm , as if his gaze had soothed her very soul. “Yeah?”…

“Can you help me with something please?? , it’s quite simple actually, just that I am a bit at a disadvantage” she replied to the guy, he responded “hey lady , I mean you came to me & obviously I’m busy , clearly we all came to the store for a reason “, she replied “..ohh my bad I’m so sorry for bothering you” with a shaky voice , as she walked away he yelled ” heyy?heyy? , when he caught up to her he said “uhm…I’m sorry , nahh I’m just playin’ man?”, “I mean why not? how can I help you?” , “oh thank you, thought you were some cold dude for a moment there…uhm soo..in the cereal aisle there’s a box I can’t reach it’s on the top shelf unfortunately, & I’m sure you have already identified the disadvantage by now” , As they walked together back to the cereal aisle, he chuckled and said, “Yeah, I think I’ve got it. You’re a little… height-challenged?” He smiled down at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

She laughed and playfully rolled her eyes. “Something like that. I guess I should’ve brought a stool or something.” He grinned. “Well, I’m happy to be your makeshift stool. As they reached the cereal aisle, he scanned the top shelf and asked, “which box are you trying to get?” , “Is it the… oatmeal one?”

“Oatmeal??Argh no disgusting , not in a million years” , her eyes sparkled and her smile lit up as she said “it’s the Kellogg’s fruit loops box , over there ” , he said ” oh wow okay , so is it for a kid? family or yours??” , ” kid??oh definitely not it’s for me , my fav actually, it just ran out ” she replied . He was quite amused. “There you go pretty lady” handing the box over to her he said. “Thank you , your not so bad yourself” she replied , “okayy & thanks once again, I’ll be off to a till now.” , “okayy then” he said smiling to himself, his lips curving upward in a subtle, toothless grin.

“OHH da…NO” he said to himself, “Heyyyy fruit loops girl !!” he yelled towards the direction she went off to , while slightly jogging after her . She looked back and it was him , he eventually he got to her and said ” uhm..just realized…I didn’t get no name nothing?? i deserve to atleast know your name right?” , she looked up to him and chuckled ” wrong actually…but you can bearly catch your breath from probably just 2 joggs from there to here so I feel bad… Eleanor’s the name but I go by Ella”

He sighs , “Okay nice to meet you Ella , I’m Aaron” , ” okay same here Aaron” she replies. ” So…no digits ella??” , “maybe you’ll be lucky next time, it’s my turn to pay now….bye see you around maybe” she says while walking away. Aaron heavily sighs “okayy see you around then…”.