The Cereal by Kseniia Chernova

‘Sir, could you please get that cereal for me?’

Peter almost dropped the box of cornflakes he was holding as someone’s voice echoed in his ears.
‘Are you talking to me?’ he asked and turned around to face this other person before getting an answer.
‘Yes, sorry if scared you.’
‘No, n-no problem,’ he stuttered trying to hear himself through the sound of his heart that now pounded faster than ever.
The most beautiful young lady in the world was standing right in front of him and he couldn’t believe she was really talking to him. He must have been almost drooling at this exquisite view because she blushed and repeated her request one more time.
‘If that wouldn’t bother you, of course. I mean, I’m too short to reach the highest shelf anyway.’
* What? What was she talking about? Ah, the cereal! Pull yourself together, Peter, or she’ll think you’re a pervert. *
‘Yes, ma’am, I’m happy to help,’ he reached for the cereal. ‘Is this the one you’d like?’
‘Mh-hm, I think it’s the best one.’
‘Here you are.’
‘Thank you, em.’
‘Peter’
‘Thank you, Peter,’ she took the cereal but wasn’t going to walk away. ‘Do you happen to know where the coffee is at this store?’
He cocked an eyebrow in surprise.
‘You work here, right?’ she was confused by his reaction.
‘No, I don’t actually,’ he chuckled. ‘But I really like red T-shirts, so it’s easy to think I’m an employee here.’
She rounded her mouth which now had the same shape as her deep-blue eyes.
‘So, do YOU work here? As a model, that is. I’m pretty sure I saw you on a billboard recently.’
She laughed and Peter was happy to change the subject, so she wouldn’t feel ashamed of her previous actions.
‘Is this some kind of a pick-up line you use?’ she asked with a hint of mischief in that ocean of the eyes she had.
‘No, I can assure you I’m not good at that. But I can help you with the coffee search.’
‘That would be nice. I’m Becca by the way.’
‘Nice to meet you, Becca.’
He was now calmer than at the beginning of the conversation, so he didn’t even blush pronouncing the name. Although his mind repeated these five letters a few more times.
*Becca, Becca, Becca.*
When they approached the cash register, Peter gestured towards Becca.
‘I will pay for this wonderful lady,’ he said.
‘I’m sure you will,’ the cashier chuckled. ‘We are not a charity to give out free cereal.’
In shock, Peter immediately looked at his hand and all he found there was a box of “Beccander” cereal that had a picture of a woman eating cereal for breakfast and smiling with her big deep-blue eyes.
*Well, I hope I will be dressed properly the next time my schizophrenia decides to bring such a perfect woman to life. *
Peter looked at the box of cereal in his hand on his way out of the store one more time.
‘We have so much more to discuss.’