201 Intermission (2/2)

”Right,” Irina laughed in an apologetic manner and took a step back after allowing me to grab hold of the coat.

”It's not your fault,” I smiled and said in response while trying on the winter coat. ”It's a size too big...” I said as I looked down at the somewhat loosely hanging coat.

”Sorry,” Irina apologized. ”It fitted me so I thought it would also fit Alvelyn.”

”You are a few centimeters taller than her,” Muria observed.

”I'll go look for a size that'll fit you.” Irina then went off to where she had retrieved the wool long coat in search of a smaller size that would fit my frame.

”Hey,” Loyd's voice called over, gathering our attention. ”We'll be on the fifth floor to look at men's clothing.”

”Okay,” Irina smiled and acknowledged them.

As the others went on choosing and selecting clothing items they preferred and would like to try on, I stood there and gazed over at the escalators, watching as the boys slowly ascended up to the higher floors where they would probably soon engage in a similar activity of picking out and trying on clothing. In my heart, there were mixed feelings. I was glad that they were no longer in the mix, but then this leaves me with the rest of the girls, meaning that the conversation from now on would be girl's talk, something that boys have never have the chance to take part in. So before, when I thought that shopping for women's clothing is unknown territory, where I am now is an unknown world when compared to the previous one.

I quickly looked around the store and the floor in general. The demographics in sight were mostly female, with the occasional male that is accompanying either their lovers or family members while shopping. Therefore, my fear for a girl's talk is increasing in likelihood to become true as there is mostly just girl's present at the moment. However, I'm hoping that having to pick out clothing would prevent it from occurring.

”Hey,” Luna gently tapped my shoulder. ”See anything you like so far?”

”Not as of now,” I responded.

”I'm sure you'll find something.” When she speaks, Luna seemed to be shuffling her feet somewhat, almost as if she was nervous or unsure of what to say.

”Um...is something the matter?” I asked her, intrigued and confused at the same time by her odd behavior.

”N-nothing,” she tensed up and quickly shook her head. However, based off of her facial expression alone, I could tell that something was on her mind. But, whether she wanted to tell me or not, that is her choice to make and not something that I want to force onto her.

”Is that so?”

I began to turn away from her, doing so in a slow, controlled motion to give her plenty of time to backtrack on her decision if she wanted to. Upon seeing this gesture on my end, a look of regret appeared on her face as she seemed to self-consciously reach out her hands towards me, almost as if trying to stop me. However, she restrained herself, pausing those hands in midair before they truly made contact with me and slowly allowed them to fall to her sides.

”So um...” she began speaking. ”How is Alevian recently?”

”Alevian?”

I was surprised when I heard my name being muttered by her and was thus unprepared for a response. At that instant, my brain immediately started brainstorming, trying to build and flesh out a false story with the information that I am given.

”He's doing fine,” I answered her in the most simple way as possible, hoping that it would kill the conversation then and there and that I would not have to use the fake story that I had come up with.

”So...when would he be back?” Luna seemed to blush somewhat when she spoke.

”My guess is in a month?” I answered her. ”He is visiting relatives... ”

Wait a minute, I thought. Even though no one has called me except Loriana, what would happen if someone were to call ”Alevian's” phone number? Would anyone pick up?

”Is something wrong?” I frowned in a concerned manner. ”Is there something you would like for me to tell Alevian?”

”N-no,” she sighed. ”It's...well...just forget about it.”

Then, she turned away and returned to Erith's side where Erith enticed her to try on some clothing in the story.

Weird, I frowned. What was it that she wanted?

My train of thought was interrupted when I felt something being brushed against my side. Looking over, I saw Irina's big smile. When I looked down, I saw that she had picked out an outfit for me already.

”Let's go to the fitting room and try it on,” she said with a smile on her face.

Fitting room?