The store was quiet again, though Bella was still pale from her last night shift ordeal. She had vowed to herself never to watch another horror movie alone, yet the quiet hum of the aisles left her on edge. Every flicker of the fluorescent lights made her heart jump, every creak of the floor sounded like footsteps following her.
Vario, leaning casually against a shelf, noticed her tension and smirked. He had a plan.
Bella was carefully restocking shelves, muttering under her breath about cleaning and organizing, when suddenly a stack of cans on the top shelf wobbled—without anyone touching it.
Bella froze, eyes wide. She slowly turned, only to see Vario leaning against the corner, hands in his pockets, expression perfectly neutral.
"It's fine," he said calmly. "I'm… just watching."
Bella shook her head. "No, no, no… you moved that can!"
Vario's smirk widened. "Maybe the wind?"
Before she could protest, more cans rattled and fell. A broom slid across the floor, and a box of chips lifted into the air for a moment, as if held by invisible fingers. Bella screamed and jumped back, tripping over a crate, her arms flailing.
Vario watched, suppressing laughter. "Relax… it's just a little magic," he said sweetly, pretending nothing unusual was happening.
Bella's eyes darted around. "Magic?! You're… you're haunting me!"
Vario's smirk darkened into something mischievous. "Not haunting… entertaining."
He extended his hand, and suddenly, a stack of paper towels floated from one end of the aisle to the other. Bella ducked instinctively, clutching her head. A jar of pickles rolled toward her slowly, spinning eerily in the air.
"STOP IT!" Bella yelled, backing into the counter. "I'm not dealing with ghosts again!"
Vario tilted his head innocently. "Ghosts? Me? Never."
Another can of soda flew gently past Bella's shoulder, just missing her. She stumbled, letting out a high-pitched squeal. "I'm leaving! I am so leaving!"
Vario couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed—a deep, echoing sound that filled the empty store. He lowered his telekinesis just enough to make the cans fall harmlessly, stepping toward Bella with a grin.
"You're… you're alive!" Bella exclaimed, catching her breath. "You… you're actually alive! I thought you were—"
"Pretending to be dead," Vario finished, smirking. "Works every time."
Bella glared, face red from both fear and embarrassment. "That… that is not funny!"
Vario shrugged, playful and teasing. "Maybe not for you. But for me? Absolutely hilarious."
Bella crossed her arms, trying to regain composure, but couldn't help shivering slightly. "Next time, I swear… next time, I'm hitting you with something heavier than a broom."
Vario leaned casually against the counter, smirk still in place. "Can't wait."
Despite herself, Bella let out a small laugh. And though her nerves were frayed, she couldn't deny it—the pranks, the teasing, and the chaos made the long, quiet night in the convenience store just a little more… bearable.