Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“See you later, mom. Love you.” I kissed her cheek and walked to the bookstore, wheeling my cart that carried my oxygen tank behind me as my mom drove away. You could say that I love travelling and that I can only do it through reading.

As a teenager with thyroid (that spread in her lungs), I guess it's just right that I occupy myself with the pleasure of reading than the suffering of depression and of thoughts of death. Thoughts of death are just a waste of time because 1. death is gonna happen to anybody and everybody 2. no matter what and 3. it's unavoidable. Might as well just ignore it.

I entered the bookstore, cold air welcoming me and the scent of books filling the surrounding. I walked, a smile insisting to show up. I stopped at the counter and pushed the handle of my cart.

Me: Is An Infinite by Elizaveta Smith available?

Jean (saleslady; friend): Yes. It's by the fictional books, Summer.

Me: Thanks.

I pulled up the handle and wheeled away to the fictional, this ecstatic feeling of getting my hands on a new book fills me with an endless pit of good vibes. It almost seemed like, for a different teenager, getting a ticket to a country they wish to travel to and explore. Only I find this better.

“Oh where is i- oh I see it.” I whispered to myself. It was the last one on the fifth row of fictional books. I looked around, thankful I'm alone and that no one can steal it from me. Greedy. I smiled and chuckled silently. I looked around for a stool to stand up on to get the book. And five minutes later:

Never mind, I'll just jump.

I looked down, then up, and jumped quickly. As my feet left the ground, I tapped the book, making it fall to the ground. I kneeled down to get it but-

“Ow...”

“Ouch...” I rubbed my slightly aching forehead.

“I'm so sorry, miss.” I looked straight and gave him a small, awkward smile.

“It's okay.” He offered a hand to help me up and I took it. He had this kind of bluish grayish color. Or so I thought. He smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head.

“I've been told that I'm clumsy.” He chuckled whilst I stood, still in a slightly awkward state. I didn't really know what to do or say, given that the only places I'm ever in are 1. home and 2. bookstore. He held out his hand.

“I'm Tyler, by the way." He said. He smiled and we shook hands. That smile could end wars and cure cancer (quote).

"I'm Summer. It's nice to meet you." And indeed it truly was. He gently led me to the coffee shop inside the bookstore, his hand holding my wrist and his other pulling my cart.

"Tell you what, since I accidentally bumped you with my clumsiness, I'll treat you coffee." And then he left. And then I waited. It was almost odd how he didn't question my oxygen tank. But then again, how should I know?

When the coffee (with cake beside it) came, I looked around, looking for him and my eyes stopped at the fiction section. I forgot about the book.

I am dumbfounded by his trick.

Why do I feel like crying? This is so stupid. Never trust anyone. Why would he do that? This is immensely frustrating.

I sighed and put my coffee down right next to his. I pulled out my current read from my body bag and read.

"I'm back." I can see that. I looked up and gave a small smile. He had a paperbag in his hand and I can see the outline of the book that was supposed to be mine.

Looks + Bookworm - Traitor = Fangirlism

"You know," he sat down next to me, "it's rare to find another cancer patient in such precise place."

"You have cancer?"

"Bone cancer." He smiled and ruffled his already tousled hair. For a moment, I felt guilty for what he goes through just to live.

"Do you have a sticky note?" I looked at him questioningly at the abrupt change of subject. I reached inside my bag and gave him 2 notes. Weird.

"Excuse me, I'll go to the ladies' room." Just in time, my phone rang and I answered it in the restroom.

Me: Hey mom.

Mom: I might be late in fetching you. I'll come at around 8:00 PM.

Me: It's alright, I'll walk home.

Mom: Are you sure you can manage?

Me: Yeah. Knight (the name of my oxygen tank) isn't heavy.

Mom: Okay, bye. Love you.

Me: Bye bye. Love you too.

I went out of the restroom and decided it's time to go home.

"Tyler, it was really nice meeting you and thanks for the coffee. Till next time." I got my body bag and nodded goodbye to him. He stood up and walked me out, wheeling Knight. He's such a gentleman, almost too good to be true.

"It was nice meeting you, Summer." I nodded and walked home.

As I walked home, I felt a kind of heavy feeling on my shoulder. As if my bag suddenly got heavier.

**
 

When I reached home, I went straight to my room to continue my reading. Books and sleep are my only escape to reality and oblivion.

And when I opened my bag, I sat there, astonished.

An Infinite by Elisaveta Smith inside my bag.

I opened the cover of An Infinite and found a note. Well, the note I gave with his message.

I can wait for the sake of your smile :)
Text me when you're done
XXXX-XXX-XXXX
-Tyler Payne

 

Oh. I shouldn't have judged him. I smiled. This was truly sweet and generous of him.

And at that moment, I actually liked Tyler Payne.