24. Curious Courtney

When Victoria heard Raymond's voice, she felt her heart shake. It seemed like she hadn't seen Raymond's face in days. He still looks handsome like before.

His eyes were a warm brown like melted chocolate. Her hair looks neat. Victoria almost forgot what Raymond looked like. She still couldn't forget Baron.

"Maybe you mean, you miss coffee in this place. Is that right?" said Victoria with a lopsided smile.

Raymond chuckled. "Actually, I didn't come here for a cup of coffee."

"I have to apologize then. The menu for the breakfast this morning, there are only coffee, bread and pasta."

"You work very seriously," said Raymond.

"I always work seriously. There are CCTV cameras everywhere and I can't be lazy."

Raymond rised his eyebrow. "Okay. A cup of hot coffe and sandwich then."

"Cappucino or black coffee?"

"Which one do you recommend?" Raymond looked at her.

"How about cappuccino?"

"Good idea."

Victoria wrote the order. "Anything else?"

"No, thank you."

Raymond observed her for a moment before she left from there. It made her uncomfortable. She was helping him last few days and he was kissing her cheek. She thinks that it was just a friendship kiss.

Well, it is all his right to come to the café. Victoria cannot reject him. Maybe, they can be a good friend.

"I miss you."

Those words kept ringing in her head. She wanted to walk away from all of this situation, but she could not do it. Raymond is just a friend, not even more than that.

Victoria clips the orders and then push the ring. Courtney suddenly grabbed her hand. "He is here! The handsome guy!"

"Yes, he is," Victoria responded evenly.

"So, who is the winner? Will you pick Raymond or the other guy?"

"We agreed to talk about it later," Victoria said.

Courtney rolled her eyes. "I have been your best friend for a long time and this is the first time I see you so radiant. Go for it, My Dear. I will be happy to listen to your story."

"Thanks, Courtney."

Victoria sighed and acted as naturally as possible. She was waiting in front of the coffee counter. Mariah just made three cups of coffee. Victoria put the coffee cup on the tray. Mariah is making a cup of cappuccino for Raymond now.

Mariah smiled nicely at her. "Here we go. Cappucino for Mr. Handsome."

"His name is Raymond," said Victoria as she rolled her eyes.

"Okay. Go for it. You can do it."

"Of course, I can."

Victoria imagined Mariah smacking her butt to make her run toward Raymond. She distributed three cups of coffee to other tables and deliberately made the last cappuccino cup.

She walked toward Raymond's table and put the cup of cappuccino on the table. "Enjoy the cappuccino."

"Thank you, Victoria. Can we talk in private?"

"I am working."

"Yes, I know. I mean, we can talk outside of work hours."

Victoria looked around to make sure no one had overheard their conversation. "Uhm ... at four in front of the minimarket, okay?"

"Okay. See you later, Victoria."

She nodded and then walked away leaving him alone.

Victoria cursed silently. How foolish she was to give him hope. Raymond does seem to like her. She also had a crush on him at first. Later, Victoria's heart has completely belonged to a mysterious man named Baron.

She himself was not sure whether she would meet Baron again or not. She could only hope that Baron would keep his promise.

It was just a kiss, she scolded herself. However, she could not shake the memory from her head. It's OK if she met Raymond this afternoon. She was also curious about what Raymond would say to her.

After finished her work at half-past three in the afternoon, Victoria got ready to change her clothes. Courtney caught up with her from behind.

"Hey, Vicky! I've been thinking about you all day long."

"Seriously? What for?" Victoria chuckled.

"You have made me curious. Come on, tell me quickly!"

"I'm confused about where to start from."

Courtney sighed grumpily. "Can you tell me what it was like to meet that mysterious man in the first place?" Courtney asked, unbuttoning her uniform.

"Well, I met him at the supermarket. He appeared suddenly. I'm sure that I've seen him at the café, but he doesn't want to admit it. He always asked how I could see him. That's weird."

"What does it mean?" Courtney had taken off her uniform and then took the T-shirt from the locker and put it on.

"I don't understand either. He said that no one else can see him beside me. I thought maybe all this time people had always ignored him and no one cared about him. There is only me who cares about him, talk to him. I have no idea." Victoria shrugged.

"Then we drank coffee at a café near the supermarket. After that, he took me home." Victoria accidentally skipped the story when Baron lifted her into the sky on her bicycle. That sounded ridiculous.

"Then after we got to my house, he kissed me." She touched her lips unconsciously.

"Your cheeks are flushed." Courtney chuckled. "Look, I think that guy sounds a little weird. If people don't care about him, why should you care?"

"It's because … it's because I like that guy," said Victoria doubtfully.

"Seriously. Is it because he's handsome?"

"Yes."

"Or because he looks cool?"

"Yes."

"Does he have good muscles?"

"Very."

"Wait a minute. Have you slept together?"

"No! I've never slept with any guys before!" exclaimed Victoria, then she regretted and closed her mouth.

Courtney looked at him sadly. "Is it true?"

"Yes, it is."

"Well, you will experience it with a man who loves you with all his heart. You deserve a good man because you are a very good friend of mine."

"Thank you, Courtney. Looks like I have to go. Raymond is waiting for me."

Courtney raised an eyebrow. "Raymond? You are crazy. I thought you chose that mysterious man."

"He said he wanted to tell me something. I've got an appointment with him at four o'clock."

"Good luck then. I will always wish you all the best, Vicky."

"I wish you the best too." Victoria hugged her tightly.

And then, Victoria hurried to put on her cardigan. She walked out to get her bicycle.

The minimarket is not too far from the café. Actually, she could have walked there, but Victoria had to bring her bicycle.

Up ahead, she can see Raymond sitting in the front seat of the minimarket. He was looking down at his cellphone. Victoria parked her bicycle in a designated bicycle park.