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Mia had just moved into this suburb. She had been dreaming of having a quaint, small house in a quiet neighborhood and this place was just right. First thing that she has to do though, is to fix up the porch. After taking in some advice from her neighbors, she was directed to a place called Milestonemonger Home Depot, where they said the owner is nice and easy to talk to. Just what she needed.
As she walked near the store, she was greeted by a kid with dark silver hair, not taller than four feet, but she was playing mahjong on her phone while on the clock.
“Yo, welcome to Milestonemonger Home Depot, how may I help ya?” She lazily smiled, and Mia just looked at her weird. “The name’s Qingque, but people here call me Ka-ching because I get the money in.”
“Oh, hi… My name's Mia. I’m new here and I’m looking for some wood and maybe a porch sealant?” She was unsure herself. Luckily, Qingque knows where the things are and starts to lead Mia around to check out some wood, screws and whatnot.
“We offer a rent for heavy tools and its newbie friendly, so as long as ya got one of us interns helping you fix up that porch, you’re good.” She offered, and Mia thought about that. It’s a really good deal.
As she looked at the prices, it wasn’t as outrageous as she thought it’d be. It was cheaper than the city, it even seems.
“Oi Ka-ching, ya gotta man the cashier first! March has an emergency!” Someone called Qingque, and she hurriedly ran as she shouted ‘Yes Sir!’
That raspy voice is a tad bit familiar. She used to watch Nascar and remembered that there was a driver she really liked but he disappeared into the mundane life. Gunther Sterling. Or maybe that’s not his name.
She collected some sealants, wooden tints and took a picture of what she wanted the wood to be, and as she did that, a woman with magenta hair walked past her.
“Hey sweetie, new here?” She asked. She smelled like cookies, and looked no older than 35.
“Oh! Yes, I am. I haven’t been here long,” Mia diligently responded, as she hasn’t visited all her neighbors yet.
“Francezka Kafka. Nice to meet you,” The woman said. “I’ll have a cookout with some neighbors, wanna join in?”
“Oh, sure,” she naively nodded.
What she didn’t know is that Kafka is still a CIA agent on duty. Every time there’s a new person in town, she goes to check it out alongside Razalina, or better known as her alias Black Swan. The neighbors in question don't actually live there.
“I’m Mia Alonso, nice to meet you as well,”
Ms. Kafka takes a leave with a stride. She has that eerie confidence around her, as if she could watch Mia’s every moves. She could.
Mia then walked to the cashier with a man behind it. He has a name tag calling him ‘Boothill’ and has this familiarity she couldn’t pinpoint. He looks refreshing to the eyes, with all-white hair except the front bangs dyed black and put into a man-bun. He is exactly her type of man.
“Heya, how can I help ya?” He asked. That raspy voice is so alluring and rumbled her heart.
“I uhm… I’m new here and I’d like to buy some wood and sealant for my porch,” she said. “I took a picture with the wood, here’s the sealant,” she sheepishly said.
“Ah, sorry fer the inconvenience, usually Kafka’s kids would come here and help around moving big stuff but they’re outta town.” He said. “Ma prosthetic ain’t good fer pickin those bad boys up, so I fear it can’t be delivered today,”
“Oh, no, it’s okay. I understand and it’s not really an emergency,” Mia pouts her mouth a little bit, in hopes Boothill would notice her, and she heard the door of the depot opening when she saw the most gorgeous man walk in with a happy little strut and proceeded to check out the place.
He has flaming locks of auburn red hair, softly flowing about in the air. He looks like he signs modeling contracts as breakfast and has luxury brand ads as lunch. Not to mention his well-built body, perfectly proportional and the air just feels so bright around him.
That’s when she remembered that there used to be a model with the same hair and the same feel back 20 years ago. Argenti Rosaio, Italian model from Florence that left at the peak of his career.
As he walked by, she saw his green eyes wandering about and his suntanned skin smooth of any blemishes, while his attire stood out as it is perfectly tailored to his body like it was molded.
“Hello there,” the man with the red hair said. “You finished?”
“Ah-oh, yes. I am… finished paying, so I’ll just… go…” He’s a bit rude. She paid quickly and left with her shopping bag.
“Ya lookin smokin hot right there, Jolene,” Boothill said as he smiled at the man in front of him.
As Mia overheard him, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit jealous. All she wanted was that white-haired man. All she needed, she thinks, is that man. She’d die to even get his number.
“It’s not good to eavesdrop, you know?” Kafka said, half-whispering.
“I… uh…” Mia went flustered. She just fell in love at first sight, not knowing who that man is, not knowing his marital status, no nothing.
“That man… let me tell you…” Kafka leaned close to her. “He’s infatuated with someone,”
“Huh?” She asked.
“It’s not you, though.” The other woman giggled menacingly, and left in strut as she called another person on her phone.
Mia felt crushed, and she heard someone blazing past the door. They had platinum blonde—almost white hair, and very milky skin with gold-framed glasses. She looked excited as she strides to the man Mia likes.
“Dad, dad,” she said. Shit. That man’s already a father? Mia is still positively thinking. “Can I have some of them paintbrushes? Ma friends and I need it for a school project,”
“Sure thing, baby. Anythin else ya need?” He asked.
“I’ll holler up if ma friends decided to ask fer anythin else,” the young lady said, as she walked in the store. Now Mia is positively reconsidering her options. Go big or go home.
But before she could even go to the cashier again and ask Boothill his number, the red haired man showed up again, disrupting her plans. He goes on and on how his twins are acting up again, and planning a picnic with them, and whatnot.
Well, Argenti and Boothill are simply talking about this weekend’s plans and how they should convince their younger children to join in the fun.
“Well, Jolene, I think we need to have a talk,” The man said as he scanned the products on the cashier. Mia notices Qingque recording from the other cashier booth.
“Have I done anything wrong?” He asked innocently.
“Well, I see ya don’t bring any wallet with ya, what are ya gon’ pay with?” Boothill asked.
“You accept kisses?” Oh now he’s playing dirty.
“Well, only fer ya,” Boothill replies, and kisses the redhead fervently. Argenti slowly and surely grabbed the chain of the necklace, purposefully showing off the matching wedding bands on the necklace and on his hand.
Mia is royally screwed. She messed with the wrong man, and certainly got the karma she deserved.
And Kafka just puts her palm on her face, totally amused by their open flirting. Her sigh fills the empty space on the Home Depot.