Sapphire_Lake

Halle has a café running now. With her sick mom, she has to work extra hard for a successful operation. After 5 years she was able to put back her tragic past and move forward focussing on her mother and the café. With two of her friends' help she's been progressing through her life alone. Now that things were going well there is a new problem. The person who ruined her name and brought chaos into her life is back in her life. And he's coming back for revenge. Will she be able to handle it and take care of her mom?

Will you leave me alone? I don't have time for you anymore!

"When did you get up today?" asked Halle surprised to see Pace already working on the donuts when she reached the café.


            "Don't know." Pace replied. "You've been working throughout the day so I thought I'd help a bit today. The cupcakes are almost ready. You can decorate them."


            Halle felt ashamed. She'd been pushing herself. But she forgot that she'd been pushing Pace to the brink as well.


            Pace stopped and looked at her.


            "I'm . . . sorry." Halle felt embarrassed apologizing. But she had to say it.


            "I know I asked you if we can utilize this time but I didn't think about you and how it will affect us. Because of me, now you're losing your sleep and your time. I don't know why I didn't even think about it." apologized Halle. "I feel horrible that it didn't even cross my mind."


            "I'm fine with it." said Pace. "Anyway we'd rest after this season is over, we won't have as many customers as we do now."


            "I'm not fine with it anymore." said Halle. "We're closing at the usual time."


            "I know." said Halle. "We did this for two weeks. I think it is enough."


            Pace's lips were sealed. She didn't reply to it.


            "Which ones are selling the most comparatively? Donuts or cupcakes?"


            "Both." Pace said. "Some varieties of cupcakes and some varieties of donuts."


            "Well, then." Halle thought about it. "three varieties from cupcakes and two from the donuts right?"


            "Okay, we'll bake only those for another three weeks until things get normal."


            "You want to drop the other ones?" Pace asked skeptical of the result.


            "Only for a little while." said Halle. "It lessens our workload."


            Halle joined Pace and decorated the cupcakes while Pace was waiting for the other set of donuts to bake in the oven.


            "Hmm?" Halle looked up from her work. "I woke up today and realized how stupid I've been these few weeks. I've ignored the people who are very close to my heart. I didn't spend any time with them or for myself. I haven't been taking care of the café or my mom. And I realized that I've started to run a race inside my head from the day I saw him and I never stopped. Now I can see how stupid that was and I'm going to take one step at a time, again."


            "You are one hell of a person. I'm stumped." said Pace.


            "You can call me a complicated mess." Halle suggested with a smile. "I wouldn't mind."


            "Seeing him, my mind just short circuited." Halle continued. "Now, I think I'm okay."


            "That's nice." said Pace. "Even Justin thinks we're overworking ourselves."


            Halle's ears coloured. "But you didn't even argue . . . Why?"


            "I know why you're doing it." said Pace. "So I didn't want to argue and make it worse for you. But I'm glad Shizuka was able to make you see things clearly."


            "I see." said Halle. "She called you today?"


            "No." said Pace. "But she was so worried about you that she called me and shouted why I wasn't talking sense to you and letting you do whatever you wanted."


            "Another bad news: I am going to call Juniper." Halle exaggerated a faint.


            The timer dinged and Pace placed all the hot donuts on the cooling rack. Halle continued with the decorations. After that she'll call her sister.


Chapter 24