KNIGHT WAS trained to speak fluently and smartly. He was trained to socialize perfectly as a noble man. To know what to say and do in front of people. To perfect his communication skills.

But at that very moment, when the woman's eyes held his, he was frozen and couldn't communicate. His mind went blank. He was speechless, tongue-tied. His heart was pounding. His palms were sweating.

What the fuck is happening to me?

And seconds later, his brain was still not functioning right.

Am I in shock?

Knight was just looking at the woman, unable to say anything.

"Monet," the woman in front of her said to the woman behind the counter. "Kindly get some food for the kids."

"Yes, boss," the woman named Monet said before she led the kids to where the food was.

So, this woman is the owner of this café?

Time stopped when the woman's gaze turned to him. She then closed the gap between them and analyzed every inch of him. She was so near, and his mind was a mess!

"You seem to be okay now," she finally commented, smiling. "I'm glad."

His eyes widened as soon as he heard those words. "It's really you..." I was right. She was indeed the owner of the voice he was hearing all this time.

There was a hint of surprise in the eyes of the woman as she looked at him. "Oh, you remember me? I mean, you were unconscious at the time."

"I heard you and remembered your voice."

"Ah..." The woman nodded and pointed at a vacant table. "Have a seat. I'm sure you just got discharged from the hospital."

Knight was surprised with the worry in her voice. Why is she worried?

"So, how are you?" the woman asked as soon as they were seated, with no sign of discomfort in her voice and demeanor. "Are you really okay now?"

He nodded. Thank God he could at least nod his head. "Y-yeah."

"I'm glad." She smiled, making his chest pound even harder. "I was really worried about you. You scared me to death when I found you unconscious. Good thing the café has a first-aid kit, so I was able to help you immediately."

Knight stared at the woman, studying her face. She looked genuinely worried about him. But why? He was a stranger to her.

Knight cleared his throat before speaking. "Thanks for saving me."

She smiled. "You're welcome." Then unexpectedly, she leaned in and moved her face closer to his, her hand almost touching the side of his forehead. "You still have a wound here. I didn't see this. Are you really okay?"

He gulped. "Yes. Can you move away a little?" he answered in a whisper. "I just got my senses back."

"Sorry," the woman replied as she went back to her original sitting position.

He breathed out. "Anyways, if you're the one who saved me, how did those two old men get involved? They told me they saved me."

Greedy people and their lies. They probably wanted the reward from Cloud for themselves.

"I think they were the owners of the taxi I hailed so they could send you to the hospital. It was a good thing they passed by where we were that time, you know, or else your condition would have worsened. They helped me carry you inside the taxi and told them the nearest hospital, but they drove you. I had an emergency that time, so I wasn't able to come with you."

Knight sighed. "If you knew the hospital where I got admitted, why didn't you return for me?" But as soon as he finished the question, he regretted asking, especially in that condescending tone. It was now too late to retract his words. Why did he even ask her that, anyway? It was not her obligation to visit him.

"That came out wrong," he quickly said. "I apologize."

The woman smiled, unaffected. "That's okay. I decided not to go myself. I mean, you don't know me, and what will I do there anyway?"

Knight nodded, clueless what to say next. He patiently waited for her to ask him the question he dreaded most—who did this to him—but moments passed, yet nothing. The woman didn't ask.

"Wouldn't you ask me why you saw me that way?" he couldn't stop himself from asking. He was curious why she didn't even mention it. People were naturally curious beings.

The woman shook her head. "It's none of my business, and I'm sure you'll feel uncomfortable if I ask you that."

She seemed genuinely uninterested, and he didn't know why he was feeling pissed. He wanted her to ask. But why? To know she cared for him?

"You saved me, but you don't care about what happened?" he grimaced. "Aren't you curious at all? People usually are."

She placed her palm on her chin while looking at the inquisitive man. "I don't want you to recall one of your darkest moments to satisfy my curiosity." She smiled softly. "Yes, I want to know but... as I said... it's really none of my business."

He fully understood her, but why was he feeling pissed seeing her uninterested like this? Goodness! What the hell was happening to him? He was not an irrational person! And he just met her, for goodness' sake! He didn't have a right to be mad at her; after all, she saved him.

"I want to pay you for saving my life," he said, feeling compelled to reward her for what she had done. "I already paid the two men. But you, I haven't."

She raised her eyebrows. "Pay me? For helping you?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Okay. But why would you pay me?"

"I hate owing someone," he firmly said. "Tell me what you want, I'll do it. Or how much, and I'll pay it."

The woman stared at him for a few seconds before finally speaking. "Whatever I want?" When he nodded, she asked, "Promise?"

He nodded again, though he felt disappointed. He thought she was different. Oh well... might as well get this over with.

"Tell me that you promise."

He sighed. "I promise."

"Okay. What I want is for you to rest. Can you do that?"

He froze and looked at the woman, bewildered. "What—"

"You promised," she reminded him before standing, leaving him alone at the table. He thought she went back to managing the café, but he was surprised when she came back with two slices of cake and placed both in front of him. "Here. Eat up. Go home and rest. Please?"

He stared at the woman. Why was she nice to him? What did she really want? Everyone had a hidden agenda when it involves him. But what could this woman possibly want from him?

"Go home," the woman reiterated but with a soothing voice. "I saw your wounds. I know they won't magically heal in a day. So please rest. I don't want anything from you other than that."

"Why are you nice to me?" he couldn't help but ask. He was gobsmacked. "You don't even know me."

The woman shrugged and smiled. "I didn't need to know you to help you. You needed help that time, so I helped you. I will do the same for others. Simple as that. You don't owe me anything, and you don't need to pay me."

Knight just stared at the woman, unable to move or talk.

"Do you want water or coffee to go with your cake?" she asked as if their conversation prior did not happen at all.

"Beer would be nice," he whispered.

When the woman glared at him, Knight felt as if he were being scolded. Surprised, he cleared his throat before her short lecture started.

"You just got admitted to the hospital, right? This means having to take medicines. How will they take effect if you drink beer?"

"Why are you mad?"

With a piercing death stare, she replied, "Because you told me you wanted to be saved. And yet here you are, not an ounce of care for your body."

His eyebrows crossed. "I did?"

"You probably lost so much blood that you were deliriously asking for someone to save you."

His eyes widened. Holy motherfucker! I said that out loud? I thought it was just in my head. Holy fuck! Fuck! Holy fuck!

He was screaming inside, but he was calm and collected on the outside, even though his cheeks felt like they were burning. "Was that the only thing I said?"

But instead of answering him, she mysteriously grinned, as if she knew something else. "You don't wanna know."

"Wait—what—"

"Just eat and then rest."

The woman turned back and was about to head straight to the kitchen when Knight stopped her from her tracks. "W-wait, may I know your name?"

"SM," she answered.

He blinked, stunned. "Like the mall? The shoe mart?"

She chuckled. "SM for Sweet Monday."

"Sweet Monday..." he said her name softly before smiling. "I'm Knight Velasquez. Nice to meet you."

"Same here. Take care of yourself," she finally said before leaving. Knight just looked at her walk until she disappeared from his sight.

Sweet Monday. "What a weird name," he thought. At least it was not Shoe Mart.

He turned his gaze back to the cake that SM gave. They were two slices of chocolate Bavarian cake, his favorite. He smiled. He might be out of his mind.

A woman who didn't want anything but for him to rest. A woman who seemed unaffected by him. To actually meet a woman like her... he felt lucky.

But he couldn't let his guard down. Maybe she wanted something from him. People always have an ulterior motive.

SM BLINKED in disbelief when she saw Knight at the al fresco of the café early in the morning. They were just about to open. What is he doing here? she thought.

"Didn't I tell you to rest?" she greeted as soon as she saw him.

But Knight only smiled and grabbed the keys of the shop from her hands to open the café himself. Worry consumed her when she saw him push the steel roll-up door with force.

"Careful! Your wounds might open!"

"It won't kill me," he answered. He then proceeded to open the glass door next. "There." He grinned at her cheekily. "I'm still alive."

Shaking her head, SM grabbed her keys from Knight. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be resting? You promised me yesterday."

"I have kept my promise. Besides, you only told me to rest, which I did, but you didn't tell me until when."

SM could only sigh. "Smart-ass."

Knight smiled at her. "I'll take that as a compliment. Anyways... I'm here because I want to help. I always wanted to be a waiter and—"

"Knight." She narrowed her gaze onto him. "You aren't doing this to pay me back, are you?"

"Of course not. I really just want to help. No compensation needed since you also helped me."

Yep. He's a smart-ass. "You can't be a waiter here if I don't sign a contract. I am the owner, so I'm liable, and I can't have you work for free." She smiled innocently at him. "And if you sign the contract, of course I'm obliged to follow what's written, and there is a clause where it says I have to give you compensation."

Knight couldn't believe his ears. He smirked. "Smart-ass."

SM chuckled. "You think you can trick me? Think again, buddy." She pointed at their advertisement posted on the side of the door, which said, Looking for Waiter. Male. 18–25 Years old. "How old are you even? I have a strong feeling you're not within the range."

Knight leaned against the wall and placed his hands inside his pockets. "Don't worry. You can still see my age in the calendar."

She laughed. "You look like you're sulking, though. It only means one thing—your age is nearer to the end date of the month."

"And what's wrong with that?"

"You're old."

All emotion left his face, and he stayed silent. But the cold treatment had no effect on SM. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and faced his expressionless eyes. She didn't budge or look away, as if she were challenging Knight in a staring contest, until the spark in his eyes returned.

"Done sulking?" she asked.

"Yeah."

She smiled. "Then you're hired if you want it," SM said. She then explained all the necessary details, including the compensation and work hours. "We really need a waiter because we only have one. When he has to deliver food, no one is left in the café. But are you sure you really want this?"

"Very."

"Okay then." She then turned to Juls—their other waiter—who was ensuring the tables were arranged properly. "Juls, please orient Knight." Then, to Knight, she said, "Have fun."

"Yes, boss," he answered.

SM just shook her head and walked toward her office, which was also her baking area. She rested awhile after putting the things she was carrying in place then went straight to work.

Baking cakes was her way of living, her bread and butter. Though a year ago, it was only her hobby. She clenched her hands into fists as she suddenly remembered why she left her previous work and was now the owner of a café.

No bad vibes, SM. Don't go there, she pleaded to herself, clearing her mind with negative thoughts that would definitely affect her mood for the day, and started baking. After she put the batter in the oven, she went out from her office to check on their new waiter, but to her surprise, Knight was serving food to their customers with an expressionless face.

Where was the smiling Knight? Did something happen to him? Was he in pain or something? These were the questions in her mind at that moment. She was sure his wounds haven't fully healed yet, especially after seeing the number of wounds on his back before. She couldn't help but worry.

To suffer those kinds of cuts and wounds... something horrible must've happened to him.

She was about to call out Knight when their eyes met. In an instant, his face lit up, and a smile appeared on his lips. She was taken aback at his sudden change of behavior. What the hell was that? she thought. One minute he was expressionless, and the next second, he was already smiling.

"Boss." Knight approached her. "Look."

He spread his arms wide to have her see him in a polo shirt, which was their café's uniform. "I look good, yeah?" he asked innocently.

SM couldn't help but laugh at him for tooting his own horn. But yeah, he was handsome—no, more like gorgeous. With his deep eyes, aristocrat nose, thin lips, and slightly square jaw, he was a sight to behold.

But because she was eagerly staring at him, she noticed something different in her brown hair. She touched his roots. "You're blond?"

"No," Knight said without hesitation.

He's lying. She could see his blond roots. He might have colored his hair for whatever reason and had forgotten to touch up when it grew longer. Well, maybe he has his reason for lying. None of my business.

"So..." she changed the topic, "how's being a waiter here in my café? Do you still want to continue?"

"It's fun."

"Fun? You're not even expressing any emotion at all," she countered, her brow raised in skepticism.

Knight stared at her. "Do I have to smile while serving them? Just say it, and I'll do it with a smile."

"You want me... to tell you to smile?"

He nodded. "Yeah. If that's what you want."

SM stared at him in disbelief. "You don't need someone to tell you to smile. You just do it."

Knight tsked. "Not in my life."

What kind of life is he living? she asked herself. "Sorry... but I won't be comfortable if I tell you to smile. If you don't want to smile, then don't force it."

His face softened with her response, which took her aback. "That's nice to hear," he whispered while smiling at her. "Thank you."

She smiled back. "Just smile when you feel like it. The customers seem to have no problem with you, anyway," she said, realizing that most of their customers were glaring at him in awe of his beauty, as if they were a step away from showing hearts with their eyes, to be honest. She then looked at her wristwatch. "Anyways, it's lunchtime. Have you eaten?"

"Not yet."

"You should. And your meds?" When Knight remained silent, she added, "Were you given pain relievers? How's your back? Is it not hurting anymore? Are you really okay? Maybe you shouldn't be working. I mean... I saw your wounds..."

This was the reason she worried about him—she saw the wounds with her own eyes. She could still vividly remember them: they were long, some deep, some shallow. A lot, in fact. To bear and endure that kind of pain while working must be hellish for him.

"Don't forget to eat and drink your meds, please. Have Juls take care of the rest," she continued when Knight still didn't reply. "Anyway, see you later. I need to check on the cake I'm baking—"

"Can we eat together?" Knight interrupted, freezing her in place.

"We can't," she refused, frowning. "I have to finish what I'm baking. Maybe some other time."

"I'll wait."

"No—"

"I'll wait," he insisted, his voice fierce, before going back to work.

SM stared in disbelief as she watched Knight walk away. At the same time, she thought about how this was the same wounded man she saved the other day, who kept on whispering in a delirious state: I'm tired... I'm so tired of living. Someone... please... save me.

For a person to say those things... he must have had a hard life.

Somehow, she wanted to do something to save him. But how could she do that when she herself needed saving too?

KNIGHT FIGURED out that he wasn't as special to SM as he thought he was. The way she treated him was also how she treated her other employees.

"Juls, rest and eat. It's your break," SM said. "Don't starve yourself."

Juls smiled. "I'm not, boss."

"If you want cake, just get a slice here. I don't want you starving yourself, okay? I won't go easy on you if you do."

"Thanks, boss."

SM looked at Monet. "How about you? Have you eaten? Let me handle that."

"Thank you, boss."

"And tell Josh to eat his lunch. I'm sure he's tired," she added, pertaining to their cook. Then she turned to Knight. "And you, have your lunch."

"I told you I'll wait," he replied irritably.

SM approached him and placed his palm against his forehead. "You don't seem to have a fever." Then, she whispered, making sure that only the two of them would hear what she would say, "Are your wounds painful? Is this why you look irritated? You can take the day off if you want."

Fuck! He got more irritated, yet he didn't know why. Was it because she treated him the same as the others? But he was aware that he couldn't hold it against her.

"I'm fine. No worries," he said blankly. He knew it was irrational and immature to get mad just because SM was kind to every one of them. And yet he was. Maybe that was why she helped him—because she was kind. That's it. No more, no less. And that irritated him even more.

SM didn't surrender, though. She knew something was wrong with Knight and gently touched his back. "You're not fine. Does it hurt?"

His jaw clenched at her touch. "I told you I'm fine," he insisted as he brushed her hand.

SM sighed. "But you're not. I can tell. You're making me worry. Why don't you rest?"

Looking at her, Knight felt she was really worried. He sighed before standing up. "Fine, I will," he said as he exited the café without even looking back.

Fuck! He was losing his mind, and he was confused as fuck. Motherfucker! I need a drink!

"Knight!"

He halted his steps and looked back when SM called his name. "What?" he asked.

"Come on." She smiled and offered him her hand. "Let's eat together."

Just like that, he walked back with her toward the café... obediently. This time, no one forced him; he chose to follow her of his own volition. His desire to get some air just a few moments ago vanished.

Fuck... I don't want to get addicted to this feeling, he thought. He knew this would ruin him one way or another. He was sure of it.

It was just a matter of time.