Chapter 2

Busying myself in the cafe early in the morning is my daily routine. And it's like a cycle everyday.

6:30 am

I heard the wind chimes as the door opened.

"Hi, good morning, may i take your order sir?" I greeted.

"One cup iced americano, oh and a toast please."

"Yes sir, coming right up."

I quickly attended to his order while he sat in front of the glass window of the cafe. You can see the city and the busy people passing by through the glass windows.

I ordered Rhea, my waiter, to serve the orders.

Three of us are running the cafe, we don't have enough funds yet to hire another worker.

The other, Marina, the cashier is late. As always.

The wind chime rang as the door opened again.

"You're late again marina", I said smiling at her.

"Oh boy, i know you're bluffing. Can you really do that to your oh- so- sweet- and- lovable friend?" she said with matching flutter of her eyelids.

i jokingly rilled my eyes at her, "You're annoying"

She pouted at my remark.

"Hmph, I hate you", she said and even put out her tongue to annoy me further.

She marched towards the employees room, maybe to change clothes and ready herself.

I smiled at her reaction. Still the childish marina.

The glass door opened and customers are coming in and out sequentially.

Marina did a great timing going out of the room to take over the cashier.

While Rhea is busy taking the orders, Marina is at the cashier and I do the orders, but we lack manpower sometimes so I help them outside.

"One americano and one croissant, Cleara!" Rhea shouted at the kitchen counter.

"Coming up!" I instantly replied as I ready the orders.

I put the orders in a tray before putting it in the counter and rang the bell beside it.

Rhea responded fast upon hearing the bell. Rhea shouted the coming orders which made me move faster than before.

More customers were coming in until past 10 in the morning.

"Guys, rest first. I'll be the one taking care of things here in the meantime." I said to the employees in front of me

"But-", they said resisting

"Girls, it's fine. I got this, leave it to me okay? Rest for now and join me when it's peak time again."

They sighed and finally gave in to my decision.

I returned to the counter and attended the orders of the new customer.

I was about to make the orders when I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket.

Mom calling...

Why is she calling? I looked at the screen for a few seconds before finally answering it.

"Hey mom, why'd you call?" I greeted

"Why?! Am I not allowed to call my daughter now?! Is there a problem if I call my daughter?!" she furiously asked.

I rolled my eyes in the air because of what she said.

"No, it's not like that mom. I'm just shocked to see you calling me out of the blue", I explained.

"Well, I'm just monitoring you. By the way your sisters' fiancee is coming by later. Come by the house, alright honey? Your father and I will be waiting for you! Bye honey, take care!"

"No, mom I ca-", I have not even finish my sentence. She ended the call

I sighed as I looked at the screen of my phone.

When is this going to end?

I was pulled out of my deep thought when I heard a baritone voice.

"Miss, one caffe latte."

Oh, it's him. He's here, with the same order again.

"Sure sir, please give me a minute." I said while smiling. Completely forgot what happened earlier.

He just looked at me for a second or three before turning his back.

I also turned my back before attending his orders.

I put the other order at table 5 before giving him his caffe latte.

"Here's your order sir" I said again with a smile on my lips.

"Thank you, just put it there please." He said as he looked outside the glass window.

I traced his gaze and saw a sweet couple in front of the cafe walking. I glanced at him and saw him bitterly smile.

I copied his smile before turning my back on him.

We can't get everything we want and hope to get.

I went back to the cashier and served the other customers.

Many hours have passed but the guy is still here. If he finished his latte he'll order again another and look outside the window.

I think he's waiting for someone.

Hours went by that he's still there. He had 8 cups of caffe latte for this day, yesterday he had 10. Yes, I count them. He's a regular since my cafe opened, to be precise it's 4 months ago.

I looked at my wristwatch. It was 7:59 in the evening when,

"Girls, let's clean up." The girls nodded

I looked back at the guy, he stood up with his things and went out of the cafe.

We were done cleaning and I told the girls to go home first as I am the one who opens the shop in the morning.

i went out and locked the glass door, pulled down the steel gates and closed it too.

I looked at the street and only a few people are seen.

Oh shoot!

I still have to go the house. Tsk.

I went to the nearest grocery store. Went to the beverage aisle. I picked up a red wine and went to the cashier. I put the wine in my bag and thankfully it still fits, I went out after that.

I looked at the left side of the street as I recalled a shorter way towards the roundtrip.

I walked my way though the dark narrow street of the road.

I know it's here somewhere.

As I walk through the dark, narrow and empty place I wondered.

Is it a good decision to go home?

I continued my deep thinking until...

"Good evening young lady. Why are you alone in this dark scary street?"

"We'll go with you miss"

"Miss beautiful, where are you going?"

"I'll take you to heaven miss just come with me"

I avoided the four unknown guys as I gripped my bag tighter around me.

I stick to the wall as I walk as if the wall would protect me from the four guys with ill-intentions.

I walked faster when I saw them nearing me.

"Don't come near me!"

"Oh come on miss beautiful, we'll take you to a comfortable place."

"yeah, with a bonus trip to heaven"

The other guys agreed to what the two have said.

"No! Go away!" I shouted as I walked my way out. Eyes scanning the road.

Why is the road like this? When will I see the roundtrips?!

The guys whistled. I rolled my eyes upward in annoyance.

"Looks like we hit the jackpot! Beautiful, white, skinny, flawless and boy, she looks rich!" Shouts and whistles were heard in the air. The four of them bumped their fists.

I turned right because you left. Kidding, I turned right as I thought there was a way out which was a big mistake in my part. It was a dead end.

I looked to the corner where I came from and stepped but I stilled when I saw the guys in front of me.

I stuck to the wall and hugged my things.

Gotta think fast! What should I do?

The shrimps stepped towards me. Yes, shrimps because they look like one.

I glared at them but they whistled in return.

"Don't stare at us like that, you're getting prettier in our eyes!"

"Wooo! Why is it getting hot here"

"Come on now missus, don't be so hard-to-get"

"Yeah don't worry, you will like the place we'll take you to."

They said, grinning maliciously. Dang, are they high or something?

I rolled my eyes in the air, I'm really annoyed right now. I fisted my hands as cold sweat ran down my forehead.

This filthy rascals! If they annoy me further I swear that they'll wish they haven't ran into me.

I stayed silent and still glared at them, waiting for the right time to attack. Like a tiger waiting for it's prey.

They moved further close to me but because the alley was narrow the chose to move towards me one by one.

This is my chance!

When the first shrimp tried to hug me I immediately ducked and went behind him.

I took that chance to kick the second in his stomach and kicked the first one in the back which caused them to fell face first on the ground.

Their subordinates were shocked. The other two eagerly attacked me. Kicking the nearest one in the face and a back kick to the other.

They were still in a daze so I took the chance and ran outside the alley. I ran and ran until cars were finally appearing in sight.

"Hey! What the hell are you doing?! Catch the woman!"

Shouted the other as I heard shuffling sounds and heavy steps behind me.

I looked behind and saw them not too far away from me.

I stopped running and faced them.

I gave the nearest shrimp a frontal kick in the stomach and a kick to the neck for the other, both were unconscious on the ground.

The other two wen towards me and I gave them a roundhouse kick. Same as the other two they were also K.O-ed.

I grinned at what I saw. There was a car approaching and I just looked at it until it stopped infront of me.

The windshield went down and I saw that it was the guy from the cafe earlier.

"Miss, are you okay?" He asked

"Yeah, no problem here" I said, grinning like a cheshire cat

"You sure?"

"Yea- oh wait, do you have something to tie with?" I questioned him

"Uhm, like a rope or something?"

"Yeah, do you have some?"

"Yes i guess, wait i'll just get it from the back of my car" He said as he went down from his horse- i mean car.

He opened the trunk of his car and when he went back I saw him holding a rope.

He went to me. "Here, what's this for?" he said confused.

Instead of saying anything I just pointed the guys lying unconscious on the floor. I took the rope from his hand and measured it.

Hmm. Looks like it'll be long enough for the shrimps.

"Would you mind helping me sir?" I said smiling at him

"Help for what?" he questioned back.

I didn't answer again and just pointed at the shrimps with a smile on my lips.

His eyes widened in shock, he nodded eagerly as if there was someone who's gonna kill him if he didn't do what the other have said.

We tied the shrimps and I checked it if it was tight or not before facing him.

"Done! Thank you for your help sir-?" I stopped midway to wait for his response.

"Oh! Uh, Kevin, Kevin Solitario"

I smiled, "Thank you sir Kevin".

"Oh, no, Kevin will do miss-?"

"Clerea" I said while smiling

He nodded and called out my name.

I smiled more when he pronounced my name right.

"Well then, thank you for the help kevin, I'll have to go first." I turned back ready to step away.

"Wait, won't you report them?"

"I will." I said with my smile not leaving my lips.

He nodded and then shook his head. "I'll take you home"

"What?" Me, confused

"I mean, I'll drive you home Miss Cleara"

"Oh? Are you sure?"

He nodded and opened the door to his passenger seat before jogging towards the drivers seat.

Well, looks like I don't have any other choice. At least I don't have to spend money on fare, right Cleara?

I silently slid in the passenger seat. I looked at my things.

Thank God, nothing's broken.

I fished my phone from my bag and unlocked it before pressing the dial.

I called for the local police and not long after it was picked up.

"Hello, what's the emergency?" asked the radio operator

"Hello sir, I wanted to report. There are four guys lying unconscious in the street of not loved. They harassed a girl."

"Okay ma'am, thank you for the information." The operator said before ending the call.

Yes! Bwahahaha they'll be jailed. You bumped into the wrong person , hmp!

I silently smirked and put my phone back in my bag.

I glanced at Kevin and saw him looking back to me. I smiled at him foolishly.

He didn't say anything and looked at the street again.

When I turned my eyes to the street I saw that we were going the right way towards my mom's house.

I shockingly looked at him but he didn't pay me attention.

How did he know the address? I haven't even told him where i'm supposed to go.

Silently I straightened my back and also looked at the way.

Minutes later we' re inside the village. And the guard saluted at him. He nodded in return.

Who is this guy? How did he know my address? It stayed a mystery to me.

Not long enough the car stopped. I looked outside the window and saw our house- my mother's house.

I looked at him again and saw him looking at me. I gave him a timid smile and said my thanks.

I didn't ask how he knew about my address.

He nodded, "Good night."

"Good night kevin, thank you."

I went out of the car and walked straight to the gate of the house.

I opened the gate and went inside. I saw his car drifting away from sight.

You're still a big mystery to me Kevin Solitario...