part 5

The Cafe was full of customers when Carden started her shift, accepting that this will be a long day as she put on her apron and grabbed her small notebook and pencil settling to her pocket, ready to serve her tables. (You might say: Carden’s acting normal? What happened with her relationship with her feet?)

As a result her feet correspond with Carden while at the train.

For Carden, she sat at the corner of the seat of the train putting her bag beside her while scrolling through her phone for social updates, aware that her feet are ‘alive’.

Pretty much she chose this specific spot so that nobody on the train will see if her feet do any unexpected movement. However, while shifting her footwear, concerns her for todays’ weather. Since it will rain, her feet will be drenched as she read 90% will precipitate. She could see from her window the clouds darkening, smogging the light of the sun.

‘Sighing’, Carden baffled at why her feet had chosen to wear these shoes.

Since her destination was in a rural area, most passengers would disembark at earlier stops along the train route; meant fewer people would notice her feet acting unusual. Feeling relieved.

Recalling her life, its the only job she could of applied for. As her poor grades in high school had prevented her from being accepted by universities and hindered her chances of securing internships or suitable employment which was hard for her at the beginning but accustomed by a couple of years.

Despite the customers, she liked this job because it provided her a economic stability.

Lost in her thoughts, Carden listened to her favorite playlist through the earbuds she wore.

In a glimpse of her flats from a different camera perspective, illuminated by the fluorescent bulb on the train’s roof. The patent leather reflected the light, and the bow ribbons fluttered with bumps of the train’s locomotion. It was a brief moment of silence as the perspective top view of her feet, revealed the inside of her shoes from her arches, revealing a small tint of sienna, partially blocked by the low-cut socks. The train continued to rumble, indicating that it would take some time to reach her stop.

Then, it happened. Her right foot gently stretched its arch, causing the heel to pop from the insole, emitting a warm puffiness from the sole. The toes squirmed, leaving imprints and tiny bumps at the front of the flat. The foot seemed slightly sweaty, as evidenced by the transparency of its sock and the clarity of its pink sole. Slowly, the foot slipped off the flat, and the cooling air flowed through the toes, causing a tight-twitching sensation. The foot fully slipped out of the shoe, revealing its entire sole. It arched upward, its toes protracting and stretching.

The right foot seemed to awaken, swiveling to face the left foot and moving closer to it, extending its toes to touch and caress the left foot. It gently rubbed against its partner, causing the elastic of the sock to stretch due to the sweat. The left foot remained unresponsive, still in a hibernate state. Without secondary thought, the right foot retreated back into its flat, sliding inside and firmly gripping the front, as if engaging its own shoe-play. It started waving back and forth as the flat followed by the ****. Her right foot began its teasing.

For Carden, she felt every bit of it, holding her position. By the soft cloth and gesturing of her foot, she mustn’t react.

Need to handle my feelings, she grip.

In a good angle, she view her right foot continue playing with its shoe-grabbing the knot, spinning the flat, slipping in and out of the shoe mouth, It kept playing and playing waiting for her owner to respond. It knew it was reaching her sensitivity.

Is this a test? Why would my foot do all this if I’m here staring at it… does it want me to react to it? Perhaps intrude its playing? I can feel this sensitive feeling. Damm.

Carden kept silent, knowing that nobody would see her ‘alive’ foot except for a women in front of her at her right side, but she was asleep. Composed, Carden guessed the lady was at her twenties. She had a slim body, wore a daily office dress and nylons, and had a comfortable pair of heels at her feet. She still had a badge round her neck; the lady must have forgotten to take it off. “Must’ve been hard for her,” Carden whispered. Her gaze was fixed on the lady’s feet, thinking if she’s not the only one experiencing this phenomenon ‘living’ foot. She gestured a faint smile, knowing that this lady wasn’t going through what she’s experiencing. But as she started moving her eyesight, she noticed, from the corner of her eye, the lady’s right foot slid, pointing in her direction—pointing her right foot.

Carden was startled as she looked at the lady’s foot again.

Confined within the heel, the right foot took a moment to adjust and slip off the heel, revealing the inside of the insole—a deep maroon color.

“Oh no…”Carden blurted.

From the View, the lady’s foot stretched like a cat stretch, its toes contouring too.

Even through her nylons, the transparency revealed her toenails, painted in dark red, as the sole was lightened by shades of reddish-pink. Nervous, Carden tried hiding her feet, but only her left complied, while her right continued its shoe-playing.

“Shit”, she responded as she reached down and grabbed her ankle to stop it, which worked. Her right foot stopped its foolery, waiting for her owner’s next move.

Carden forcefully moved her foot inserting it into her flat as she brush off the lint of her flat, acting as normal as possible in front of the lady’s foot.

She looked forward, immediately introduced the lady’s foot in front of her. It was close to her nose, faintly smell the worn-out nylon fabric mixed with leather. Carden maintained her composure, trying not to freak out, and gave a nervous smile as friendly as she could.

Without a second thought, the lady’s foot softly pressed against Carden’s face, as if kissing her, setting its entire sole on her face. It quickly retreated, and Carden opened her eyes, confused about what had just happened.

“Takes this as my kindness sweetie, but I believe your feet are acting a bit naughty. I can tell, because you seem uncomfortable, isn’t that right?”the lady’s foot spoke.

“I mean… uhh… yeah.. pretty much. But i don’t KNOW WHY! Why is this happening to me??” Carden exclaimed, un reactive to the sight of a speaking foot. (Carden must be having a hard time.)

“Hey!!! Shut it. Don’t lie about what you did to me last night. I won’t forget that bittersweet moments of yours, dear,” it mumbled, coming from her right shoe as it splayed its toes in her snug flat.

“And it can speak…”, Carden slumped her shoulders, realizing that this couldn’t have gotten any worse.