Chapter 3

"Bye, Luna. See you later", I say quietly as soon as Kai pulls out a chair beside me.

After forcing a small smile at Eve and Violet, I grab my books in my arms hastily and hang my tote bag over my shoulder before making my way toward the cafeteria's exit.

I am avoiding Kai. What happened yesterday was enough. The angry gazes and judging eyes, it is enough already. I don’t know why he is trying so hard to get close to me. Maybe it is because of curiosity? He must be wondering why Luna wants to be a friend of a nobody like me. Maybe that is the reason why he is so interested in me. Or he is pissed at me for being Luna's friend.

"Poor and now a whore? What a perfect combination."

I fastened my steps as soon as I heard a comment coming from out of nowhere. It may seem as if I don’t care about it, but deep down inside, my heart is broken into pieces hearing their hateful comments all over again.

***

"Problems at uni?"

I don't realize that I am staring into space the whole time. I make a small smile before shaking my head at Crystal, my co-worker.

"Maybe with a boyfriend?"

Once again, I shake my head at Isla, another co-worker of mine.

Crystal and Isla have been working at the cafe for several years already. I only joined them a year ago. I am lucky the cafe is near my university, so I could work part-time here after my class ended. Besides, both Crystal and Isla are so kind to me. Come to think about it, despite every misfortune in my life, I have always been surrounded by good people.

"Hanna doesn't have a boyfriend. Wait, do you?", Crystal asked in disbelief when realization hit her.

I shake my head for the third time. Boyfriend? It is not the right time. Plus, who even wants to love someone like me? I don't believe that kind of person exists. At least, not for me.

"It's nothing. Classes have been so tough this year", I answered Crystal's question earlier.

"It's time to have some fun, Hanna. It's okay to do it once in a while. You cannot just study, work, and then study and work again for the rest of your life. Find a man and live yourself to the fullest", Isla says animatedly.

Then, she put down the cup on the counter and pinched my cheek lightly. I laugh at her cheerfulness. I have wondered what life if I were more like her and Evelyn, a cheerfully bright person. But, I know I’ll never be like them. I’m scared of happiness.

"Isla is right, Hanna. It's alright to enjoy your life here and there", Crystal says as she tidies up her apron.

"I'm alright. Don't worry about me", I reassure them with a big smile on my face.

I blame myself for making them worry about me. The last thing I want is to make everyone worry about me. I just don’t deserve their kindness.

Both Crystal and Isla want to object, but they quiet down after hearing the bell at the front door, a sign that a customer is about to enter the cafe. I release a relieved sigh, thankful to the person who decided to come at the right time.

Once I turn to greet the customer, my smile disappears in an instant. I take back my words earlier. I don’t feel thankful to the person anymore.

"What are you doing here?"

Unknowingly, my voice came out a bit higher.

From the corner of my eye, I can see Crystal looking at me with a puzzled expression.

"To buy a coffee?"

In an instant, I felt the warmth of color invading my cheeks. I am blushing in embarrassment. Of course, he is here to buy a drink. Do I think he is here to see me? Oh my goodness, I wish to disappear right now.

Unknowingly, I bite my lower lip when I see a small smile decorating his face. It is so embarrassing! I tuck my hair behind my ear for no reason. It just, oh my, I feel so awkward right now.

Trying to put a smile on my face, which I knew came out as a silly one, I ask, "May I have your order, Sir?"

He tries hard not to laugh, I can see that. This is all his fault, because he chose to come here when there was another expensive cafe around here.

"A cup of coffee, please", he says, a smile never disappearing on his face.

After taking his order, he proceeds to pay for it. After done with the payment, I gave the receipt to him and our fingers touched slightly. It is only a small touch, a really small one but the sensation is so weird that makes my heart skip a beat. I cleared my throat in confusion and tried my best to not look at him until he walked away from my sight.

"Psst, Hanna", Crystal tries to get my attention by tapping on the table.

I know what is coming.

"That fine, attractive, elegant, good-looking, well-proportioned man. Who is he?", she asks excitedly.

What a way to describe a person.

"He's not that good-looking", I say quietly, unable to hide the bitterness in my voice.

"Not that good-looking? Are you kidding me? Your eyes have a serious problem, young lady", she shook her head in disbelief. "Is he your boyfriend?"

"No!", I said, too quick and too loud for my liking. She eyes me suspiciously and I sighed. "No, Crystal. He is not my boyfriend. He's just a friend of my friend, alright?", I explain quietly.

"Are you sure? Because I’m sure a friend of your friend will not look at you the way he is right now", Crystal spoke as she looked at Kai, who is seated at a table near the window.

Why does he need to have his coffee here? Can he just do it at another place? I don’t care wherever is it as long as it’s not here.

Plus, what did Crystal say earlier? Look at me in what way? What nonsense is that? I suddenly get a headache.

"Look..."

"Guys, who's that tall, handsome plus the hottest guy that I've ever seen with broad shoulders over there? Never seen him here", Isla suddenly asked with a small towel in her hand as she just finished tidying up a table.

Another fantastic way to describe him. What is wrong with everyone? I feel uneasy when Crystal looks at me, so I turn to look at the front door, hoping a customer would walk inside, but to my displeasure, no one is there. Why won't anyone come right now?

"Ask Hanna. The handsome guy happened to be a friend of her friend", Crystal said with a teasing smile.

"He is your boyfriend?" Isla asks excitedly.

How can she understand ‘a friend of her friend to boyfriend’? By the way, can I end my shift right now? Seems like the headache is getting worse.

"Crystal, Isla, listen to me carefully, alright? He. Is. Not. My. Boyfriend. I don't even know him since a few days ago, okay? And he is really a friend of my friend. We don't even talk to each other, are we clear?", I stress out my words, trying hard to clear out the misunderstanding.

Before they can say anything, I turn my back on them, pretending to check the order on the screen.

It is almost closing time, so I tidy up whatever I can. When I want to wipe the countertop, a hand stops me. I raise my head, Crystal is smiling widely at me.

"Can you tell your boyfriend that we're almost done here?" she asks as she points at Kai.

I sigh again at the mention of 'your boyfriend'. Is my explanation not enough?

"He's not my boyfriend", I reply sternly before turning my head to look at him.

He is still there. I don’t know why he is here doing nothing for two hours.

"Oh, a customer is still here?"

Both Crystal and I turn our heads to Victoria, the owner of the cafe.

"He's Hanna's boyfriend", Isla chimes in from nowhere.

I widen my eyes at her, but she only laughs before going back to do her work.

"You get yourself a boyfriend. What a fine man he is. By the way, can you tell him we're almost finished here?", Victoria beams excitedly before raising her thumb at me and walking back inside.

I don’t even have an opportunity to explain to her that Kai is not my boyfriend.

"Hanna, tell your boyfriend we're already close, pretty please", Crystal persuades me.

"He's not my boyfriend", I say for the umpteenth time.

"Ok, if he is not your boyfriend, tell him, alright?", Crystal challenges me.

I instantly walk towards him, eager to prove the credibility of my words.

As soon as he sees me, a smile appears on his face.

"The cafe is already closed", I tell him.

“Really? I’m really sorry. I’ll wait for you outside, then”, he said apologetically and dashed out of the cafe in a hurry.

It seems he doesn’t realize that we are already close. But what does he mean by waiting outside? I may have heard it wrong. Just as I walk back to resume my work, Crystal and Isla smile more brightly than usual at me. Ignoring them, I tidy up the table instead.