alone

Serena was casually sitting at a corner booth in the back of Minito Gelato with Nerok and Maofah. While she didn't eat any of the frozen dessert the other two were enjoying themselves immensely. The cats paused in their eating when they noticed the owner joining them a moment later.

"Y'know, Rina, it's unhealthy to be eating all of these while sitting alone in the dark corner of my shop." Mint laughed as Serena rolled her eyes with a small smile. "It's okay. I like being alone like this."

Mint tsked. "If Melanie was here she would have you out and about doing some type of hangout and telling you to stop being a longer."

"Tell me about." Serena groaned as she looked out the window towards the night sky with a whimsical look. "But not gonna lie, Mint, I do miss her."

"Me, too." Mint agreed also looking out the window before facing Serena again with a motherly smile. "So how about them Belgium Waffles and strawberry gelato?"

"YES!" Nerok yelled his eyes widened in excitement with strawberry gelato dripping all over his face.

"You don't need anymore." Maofah stated as he eyed his friend. "You just ate three servings of it already."

"But it's so delicious. Just a little more." Nerok turned towards Serena with a pout and begging eyes. "Please, Rina. Can I have some more?"

Serena didn't look at them as she faced Mint again after rummaging around in her tote bag and pulled some bills from her wallet and handed it to Mint. "Sure, but I'll take it to go. Could you also add in some minis of pistachio, strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, melon, and cookies and cream, too?"

Mint took the offered cash with a smile. "Sure. I'll make them fresh and even add in a little extra something for my second favorite customer."

"Thanks."

"Welcome. I'll be back."

Once Mint was out of earshot and went back and focused on inputting Serena's order before heading to the back of the shop, Serena turned to the two felines with a look. "Don't you two have somewhere else to be besides bothering me?"

"Nope." Nerok answered while his paws after wiping the mess from his face onto his paws.

Maofah looked at Serena. "You gotta stop being a loner, Rina. You need more friends besides us. Actually you need to date. Yeah, definitely need to get out there in the dating game."

"I don't need to date." Serena grumbled as Maofah grinned. "Uh yeah, you do."

"I do not."

"I think since we've been together you haven't dated anyone else after that one guy, Rina." Nerok stated after all the gelato away. "You must be so lonely."