It was almost sunset, and Sam finally helped the girls out with their stock. Tonia was packing up when Vicky was with the kids, Emily and Faith, as they got ready to run to the supermarket quickly to buy meat for dinner.
"Please, don't take long; Sam will pick me up soon," Tonia says. Tonia lives five blocks away from Sarge. Usually, she walked down to work, but when she found out she was pregnant, Sam, her husband, didn't let her walk again.
"I won't take long, I promise," Vicky says before they leave for the supermarket.
Meanwhile, Alexander and Catty drive to Goreangab Supermarket to check out the fire at the market that allegedly damaged some stock. He didn't manage to do that in the morning because, well, he had a fight with the crazy girl on the way there, so after work, he asked Cathrine to accompany him there.
Taking Catherine wasn't just for company. She may be his childhood and best friend, but he only took her as a younger sister, not as a fiance, like they are now. And Catherine seems like a stranger now.
"So, what are you getting me today?" Catty suddenly asked, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
"Do you want something?" Alexander genuinely asked, and Catherine thought he misheard; she was flirting.
"Yes," Catty says, munching on gum loudly while rolling her hair around her index finger and making the gum bust, munching again like a hungry chicken.
Alexander feels his muscles tense as he gets irked. This is unbelievable. What is she doing? He knew what Catherine was getting at, and even though it seemed abominable, he held himself together. One day, they will get married and have sex.
"UGH!" he groaned out loud at the thought.
"I want you," Catherine shamelessly blurted out, earning a frown, rather than a smile, from Alexander.
Catherine noticed. She noticed his sour mood ever since work today.
"Ruben told me what happened," she says, acting normal now, as she pulls her miniskirt down in the seat as if pulling it will make it longer. It was sunset and getting chilly.
"If I see her, I will slap the shit out of her. How dare she hit you?" Catherine suddenly feels anger boiling up.
Looking at Catherine and then remembering the face of the woman that slapped him this morning, Catherine didn't stand a chance. He fought the urge to burst into laughter at her bold statement. Alexander drove carefully as he backed into the supermarket parking lot.
They all unlock their seatbelts. Catherine unlocked hers first and tried to steal a kiss from Alexander when he subconsciously turned away in haste.
"What are you thinking?" he exclaimed, and then he realized, coming back to his senses, Catherine is just doing what a normal couple should do. Kiss.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Alexander said immediately, but Catherine looked at him in utter shame, embarrassment, and sadness. Is Alexander disgusted by her?
She left the car before Alexander could spout more nonsense.
They entered the supermarket where Vicky and the kids are shopping. Alexander quickly got to work, supervising the packaging of the sale stock and the store's well-being.
"No, Faith, Sister said we should only take one biscuit; she doesn't have enough money," Emily says, catching Alexander's attention, who was monitoring a shelf nearby.
"But I want two. Vicky, Mommy will buy me more," Faith says, her lips pouting.
"Faith, just take one; Sister only has enough money for one each. We will get more when we come back again, okay? Look, this one you have is N$10 but has fewer cookies; the taste may be different, but you won't have it for long. Take this; it's N$6, big, and has more biscuits. "There's even cream between each," Emily says, squatting down to Faith's level to try and convince Faith. Emily was 8 years old, while Faith was 5, so Emily understood the economy better than Faith.
"She's smart," Alexander speak rather to himself
"Are you sure we'll come back?" Faith asked, easing herself now
"Yes, I'm sure; just take this," Emily says, comforting Faith, and gives her the cheaper biscuit.
"Hello, beautiful doll," Alexander says, approaching. Today was a heavy day, but seeing these kids somehow feels great.
"Did you just call me a beautiful doll?" Emily says, smiling on her face
"Yes, you're beautiful, just like the doll you play with," Alexander says while also supervising the shelf beside them, jotting something down.
"I don't have dolls anymore...you're handsome also, sir," Emily suddenly said, and Alexander blushed.
"Are you coming from school? You are still in your uniform," Alexander says, pausing his work now.
"Yes, I came a long time. I pass by the eatery first, so we go home with my sister when she knocks off," Emily clarified. Seeing Emily talking to a stranger, Faith runs off through shelves looking for Vicky.
"Oh, where is your sister?" Alexander asked
"She's buying meat. She's very picky, you see. We may spend half a day here," Emily said as if tired already. Alexander chuckled.
"Can I buy you a biscuit?" Alexander asked, going through the biscuits, picking one.
"No, I'm fine...you're still a stranger to me," Emily said, and Alexander frowned.
"Oh, can we become friends, and then I can buy for you?" Alexander asked
"We can, but I have enough," Emily says, her little grip tightening on the biscuit she picked. "I'm Emily," she introduced, raising a handshake. Alexander shook the little handshake.
"I'm Alexander, but my friends call me Alex," he said.
"So, Mr. Alex, nice to meet you," she says, smiling. Alexander smiles too; somehow this Emily is a peacemaker.
***
Alexander hands to the receiver room, beside the butchery, to inspect the burnt stock. While Vicky comes from the butchery side with a pack of meat. She received a notification on her phone and took it out to look at it. She unknowingly bumped into Alexander, who tried to dodge her by an inch, leaving her earring on his shoulder. They didn't recognize each other. So, they go on their way as Vicky thanks goodness she almost fell.