'A simple hello could lead to million things'

————

'Oh I didn't.' I pursed my lips.

'Oh well, you did.' Ryan ran his hand through his hair. 'I didn't know you work here.'

'Didn't know you come here.'

'My grandfather suggested me to go here. Now I know why.' he murmured.

'I'd be working here every day.' I told him as I picked up the cup from the table and took it to the counter.

'Does that mean you'd be stalking me?'

I snorted. 'Why on earth would I stalk you?'

'Cause I am—' He counted on his fingers. '—handsome. Smart. Captain. Have abs. Nice hair. Tall. Muscular—

'—jerk , arrogant, asshole, bastard, ape, pillock.' I completed the sentence for him. 'Want to know more?'

'Wait, did you just say pillock?' He laughed.

I chuckled. 'I have no idea where it popped out from.'

'Experience.' He stated while I narrowed my eyes at him. 'Just saying.'

'I don't call anyone pillock until someone acts like it.' He gave me a half smile before he followed me to the counter. 'What would you like to have?'

Ryan smiled and leaned down. 'A bundle of free grande mocha lattes free for a whole damn week.'

I whipped my head up in his direction. 'Are you out of your mind?'

'No.'

'Order me correctly,' I said in a rather stern tone. Ryan crooked his eyebrow. 'Sir.'

'This is my order.'

'It's impossible.'

'Then make it possible.'

'Why would I?'

'As a thank you.'

'For what?'

'For helping you.' He sat on the bar stool clearly enjoying the show. 'And as an apology for your rude behaviour.' 

'It would've been better if you wouldn't.' I said.

'But now I have,' he smiled. 'And you didn't even consider to say thank you.'

I huffed and muttered a thanks. 'I can't do it. It's against Joe's policy.'

'It's actually possible. You give me my latte's and place the money in the counter for me.' Ryan said. 'Simple.'

'No way. I can't waste my money on you.'

'It's not wasting. It's helping unless you remember how you behaved with me.'

'If you have so many problems with my behaviour then don't talk to me.'

'That is the problem. I can't help myself.'

'Nope.' I stood my ground. I looked sideways at Elijah who didn't seem to like my behaviour either. I huffed. 'Fine.' I said finally. 'Fine.'

He smiled. 'That's like a good girl and don't forget the two shots of chocolate syrup.'

I rolled my eyes. I turned the steamer on to make the latte pouring two shots of chocolate syrup for him. I placed the cup on the counter and Ryan, without any goodbye or thanks or even money, ambled away. I fished out 3.65 dollars out of my bag and placed them in the cash register.

'That was kind.' Elijah commented.

'Yeah, it was.' I packed my bag and turning all the chairs over the tables, closed the cafe with Elijah and we both parted our ways away.

***

I reached home and opened the door.

'Ian?' I called out his name and made my way to the kitchen as my stomach grumbled out of the desperate hunger.

'Ian?' I called out again. My hunger was turning into a beast giving life to a gnawing and unpleasant pain in my stomach. I ran upstairs to his room only to find him sitting on his table scribbling down on his writing pad. 'Seriously?

'You came back?' Ian's eyes were unfocused as he was so much drowned in his writing. It took him a while to come back to reality. 'Took you long.'

'Yeah, my shift's changed. So? How's your story going?' I sat on his bed.

'Fine. Just an idea popped in so I thought I should write it down. I can't really figure out whether I should kill Mathilda or keep her unconscious.' I took his manuscript and began reading. Ian's stories were so magical that it takes me only a while to go into his world.

'I haven't read your last chapter yet.'

'Okay. Give it a read. I'll cook something.' He stood up from his chair.

'Thanks!'

She never thought the magic would possess her like this. It was pain and joy. Like a part of herself she couldn't get use to. It was like fire in her that ignited the best of her. Like an ice that melted her anger and bring peace. Her head wasn't heavy anymore neither was her feet that were bruised just a minute ago. She felt good, better —alive. It was all she needed—all she ever craved for yet she didn't know.

'Jane!' Ian called from downstairs. I didn't want to leave his story but my hunger won. 'How was it?'

'It was so amazing I didn't want to come downstairs.' I complimented while he chuckled. 'Really, it was great and don't kill Matilda. She just learned magic. Let her enjoy it.'

'I was thinking the same.' Ian sat down and we ate as we talked about his book. He loved discussing his books and so did I. It was a huge part of our conversation.

When we finished with our dinner, we both did the dishes. 'You're tired?'

'Yeah.' I answered.

'Sleepy?'

'Yeah.'

'Wanna play Tekken?'

'Yeah.' I couldn't just refuse him.

We both played until midnight and my battery lowered to 0 percent that I went back to sleep.

The next day, I received a text from an unknown number and loads from Mia. I opened the unknown text.

Unknown: You missed your wandering train. Next train would be in twelve hours. Passenger must board it at midnight or you might not be able to enjoy the luxury to talk to a handsome person.

I smiled at the text. Surely it was a good thing to start the morning with.

I got ready for school and placed his handkerchief in my pocket. The wanderer needed to have his helping kit with him.

Ian and I had breakfast and off I set for school.

The usual crowd had gathered around Ryan who, once I entered, casted me a look I couldn't quite decipher the meaning of and then I caught up with Mia.

'Hey. You seem fresh.' I complimented Mia seeing her eyeliner and her lipstick.

'Yeah, Yang just ask me out.' Mia blushed while I furrowed. Mia was difficult to understand.

'But you like Ryan.' I repeated the same sentence. 'Don't you?'

'Yeah but ... ' she trailed off while I shook my head. Understanding Mia was not easy. The bell rang for my first lecture. I bid Mia a farewell as I sprinted off to my class.

Abigail made an attempt to say something to me but stopped abruptly. Confusion etched on my face only I looked behind to see Ryan standing there.

'Hello ladies.' His tone was not friendly anyway.

Abigail tapped her nails on her thigh before she went back to her seat and so did I.

'You can have enough seats Ryan.' I told him as he followed me to sit beside me.

'Is anyone else sitting here?' He projected.

'No.'

'Then I can sit here.' He relaxed himself on the chair while I tried to focus on anything but his dimples. They were just so beautiful. 'You didn't visit last night.'

'Visit what?'

'Garden.'

'I was tired.' I told him. 'Did you wait for me there?' He tapped his pen on the desk as he hummed while I smiled. 'And you said I was stalking you.'

'I used to go there a long time ago. It is a nice place to talk.' He answered. Before I could reply, the teacher was in and the class begun.

We both didn't talk much just exchanging some notes. When the class was over, I remembered his handkerchief. 'Here.' I handed it to him under the table. 'Thanks for helping me.'

He glanced at me, his eyes on my bruise on my neck but just nodded. 'Pleasure.'

The class was over and we both parted our ways. The first half of the school ended and I waited for Mia outside her calc class. She told me something about her shopping yesterday while I nodded and played my part with 'yeah's' and ' okay's.'

We came across our table and sat on it joining the usual girls that sit on our table. 'Hey guys!' I greeted them and placed my backpack onto the chair right next to mine.

'Hey.' They greeted back.

There was a black girl I had totally liked . She was Shania Conner. Her confident with her curvy figure and her Afro, she never failed to amaze me.

There was another Asian girl who had had curly hair that were dyed blonde went perfect with her complexion. She was Anastasia. They are nice people to keep up with. Apart from Abigail—who has stopped sitting with us—Shania and Anastasia were a good company.

'Are you guys going with shopping with us?' Shania asked us.

'You just shopped yesterday.' I exclaimed.

'I couldn't find the shoes. I'm going again. Would you come?' Mia nodded her head in yes while mine was the opposite. I still had work today.

'I'm busy today.' Shania didn't like it anyway but she nodded.

'It's gonna be fun actually.' Shania insisted.

'What would be fun?' A heavy voice interrupted our girl talk. A loaf of bread to my mouth kept handing in the air. But before I could put it into my mouth, it was already stolen.

'Hey!' I exclaimed and lifted up to my eyes that were widened when they recognised a famIliar set of simples and warm brown eyes. Just as I was about to say something, my backpack, I placed right next to my chair was thrown over me and another figure settled next to me.

While Ryan, who had now taken my whole tray to eat from in front of him, settled next to Mia, opposite to me. While Yang, sat right next to Mia.

'Excuse me? You ought to take permission before sitting.' I told them

'Excuse me, this is not your school.' Ryan retorted.

'There is a word called manners.' I told him.

'No,' Ryan sipped juice from the glass, 'never heard of it before.'

'Hey!' I was startled by a voice belonging to someone sitting next to me. He had blond hair and crook nose. He smiled brightly as his bud eyes twinkled. He was leant rather than Ryan's their friend.

'Sorry,' he said. 'I'm Noah.' He outstretched his hand to me.

'Hey.' Was all I said. I was still confused by the fact why had they decided to sit with us out of blue. 'What are you doing here?'

'Oh we were here to meet the new date of our Yang buddy's.' Noah explained. 'Maya.'

'Mia.' I corrected him.

'Yeah that. We're so happy for him.'

'I get it. But you guys already have a table which is,' I pointed at their table, 'there. So off you go.'

'We just want to accompany you girls.' Ryan winked at Shania and Anastasia who blushed. 'Is there a problem?'

'It's fine actually.' Shania waved me off. 'It's good to have his company.'

'What a sweetheart you are.' Ryan kissed the back of Shania's hand. I bit the inner of my cheek. 'Teach her something too.' He directed it to me.

'Excuse me? I don't need to be taught. You need to have some manners.'

'See right there? You can't even talk properly without scolding others.' I had no idea why but I laughed. It wasn't a compliment but I laughed like it was.

'You guys are weird.' Noah suggested.

'We are aware.' Ryan answered fo me as he grinned.

oOo

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Love 💕, huz