Looking good

„Welcome to Bestlooks. My name’s Sharon. How may I help you?”

The cosmetics salesperson stepped up to me. Her perfume mixed with the smell of the store. She smiled brightly. My focus was immediately on the smudge of peach lipstick on her teeth.

Peach! No. Focus!

I straightened my back but still widened the gap between her and myself.

“I’m looking for anti-…”

“Anti-oily skin day creme, right? I thought so. Let me show you.”

Determined she moved towards another part of the store. The cloud of her perfume slowly faded by mixing with the other smells around. A group of teenage girls threw glances at me. I followed Sharon, ignoring the snickers which followed me.

The woman pressed me in one of the tall chairs. Without waiting or giving me the chance to interfere, she produced a small sample tube.

“This is our newcomer from Loblab Cosmetics. You see here, all natural ingredients. Non-toxic. And of course, not tested on animals.”

While chatting away, she squeezed out a pea-sized drop on the back of her hand. Then she gently applied the cream on my T-zone. My fingers dug into the straps of my purse. I stared at the pale and tired face in the mirror.

Should have used some of my own stuff.

A small scoff escaped me as I patted my purse. Sharon’s movements stalled for a moment.

“Well, I can tell you, this is really the best product on the market right now. For oily skin. See, the mattifying effect is just incredible.”

She stepped behind me; her arms crossed in front of her chest. I nodded slowly. Then a tingling sensation spread on my forehead. I hissed. My hand shot up. Pressure made the pain bearable for a second. The tingle changed into heat.

Purse!

Liquid dripped off my fingers. The first dab brought instant relief. Dab, dab, dab. Icy pulses shot down my face. Tears ran down my cheeks. Excess liquid mixed with tears. The familiar fragrance of elderberry surrounded me. The pain subsided slowly.

“I’m so sorry. You should have told me that you have sensitive skin. Wait…”

Sharon took a few steps forward. Her cold fingers gently tapped my skin. The red blemishes were fainting. I moved my head.

“Please, don’t. Could I…”

“My manager isn’t here right now. Please… “

The painted eyes shimmered wet. I put my hand on the tabletop in front of me and turned to the side. I saw her larynx bob and forced a smile on my lips. I checked my forehead one last time. The red skin had turned pale again.

“I don’t need your manager. I just wanted to see your collection of anti-age products. Especially the organic range.”

The woman blinked quickly. The shine vanished and her smile returned. The smudge on her teeth was still visible.

“Sure. Of course. Wait here. We have quite a wide range.”

“That is exactly why I came to Bestlooks. Now, could you please?”

With quick steps the woman disappeared, heading for another aisle. I looked at the tube she had left in front of me. Gingerly, I turned it around and read the ingredients.

Ha, natural my ass.

“It looks like a meth lab in here.”

I looked up only quickly to focus on my numbers again.

“Did you go shopping? I thought you hated Bestlooks.”

Leon kicked the crumbled paper back on the floor. Its contents were lined up on the table in front of him.

“Do you have what I asked for?”

A grin appeared on his handsome face. His flawless skin made my own crawl. My eyes wandered to the scalpel, which I had placed next to my microscope.

“Have I ever disappointed you?”

He lifted a cat carrier box. I caught sight of something brown. My frown smoothed and I mimicked his grin.

“Then let’s go into the greenhouse. You want coffee?”

“I want but shouldn’t.”

He tapped a few times on his plump and bouncy cheek. I ground my teeth and lead the way to the greenhouse. The moment I opened the door we were greeted by a subtle humming.

“Sounds like the bees are doing great. Where should I place this?”

We had passed the elderberry shrubs. I pointed at a sturdy table with different small bonsai-sized trees on it. With a thud, Leon put the carrier box down and I rushed to save my trees. I glared at him, but he again just answered with a smile.

“You have them all here now, don’t you?”

“I think so. Are you sure this one’s genuine?”

“Hey, come on. You checked the golden apples. They were the real deal. I wouldn’t bring it if I wasn’t sure.”

“Show me the paperwork.”

It was the first time I saw lines on his smooth forehead.

Not so flawless now.

With a smirk I pointed my attention at the small booklet, which he held under my nose. The red-golden lining was stained. My fingers traced the faded title.

“Pántáo Huì.“

I whispered and felt Leon‘s breath in my neck.

“I can smell your breath, you know.”

It opened like an accordion. My eyes flew over the calligraphy, scanning for inconsistencies or obvious signs of fraud. I finally closed the pages again. While tapping it on my palm I nodded. Without further comment, Leon opened the cage. All my focus was on the small potted plant. The moment it was out in the open, a shiver ran down my spine. The leaves also rustled as if sharing my feelings. There were no fruits visible, but I saw a few specks of pink.

“Oh, look at that. I was worried over nothing.”

Ignoring Leon, I pushed past him and stood in front of the tree. With shaking fingers, I reached for the tiny blossoms. I brushed the bright green leaves. I tipped on one of the closed buds. A tingling sensation spread through my body.

Ah, all natural.

Sharon looked around the store. No clusters of teenage girls were standing in the aisles. She could even hear the soft music through the loudspeakers. The saleswoman caught a glimpse of herself in one of the mirrors. Her make-up was impeccable. She smiled. Then she frowned.

Not again. Why can’t I get it right?

She took a few steps toward the mirror. Her head turned a few times. Then she rubbed her finger vigorously over her teeth. Finally, she bared them one last time.

“Hey, you want to check it out in our break?”

Sharon snapped around. A sigh escaped her when she saw her younger colleague, staring out of the shop.

“Check out what?”

“Well, the new store.”

“A new store? Since when…”

“Woah. You really don’t know ? There’s a new cosmetics store.”

Sharon frowned. Then she shook her head.

“Seriously. I know you work a second job, but you must’ve seen them on your way in.”

“No. But… That’s why nobody’s coming anymore?”

“I guess so. They focus on anti-aging. I think. You wanna come with me or not?”

Sharon shrugged. Spending her lunchtime in another cosmetics shop didn’t sound thrilling.

Still, maybe it’s worth checking out the competition.

“Sure. Let’s go. What’s the name of the shop?”

“Heavenly Fruits.”