Chapter 16: Zach

I hastily bid her farewell as I could no longer bear being in her presence. It was like touching a hot stove, a mixture of revulsion and discomfort. Despite knowing Luis might come to visit her at her condo, I made the decision to leave. I couldn't linger in the dwelling of this woman any longer.

I got into my car and drove off, heading towards the cafe that I owned. Upon parking, I immediately got out of the vehicle.

I found my cousin lingering outside, seemingly waiting for me. His eyes caught mine and he approached, greeting me with a kiss on the cheek before ushering me inside.

My employees greeted me warmly, to which I responded with a sweet smile. Unfortunately, our conversation was cut short as a sudden influx of customers began to fill the cafe. Since we were short-handed, I decided to help out.

Putting on an apron, I began serving tables. It was one after another and I barely noticed that I was breaking a sweat despite the cafe's air conditioning.

I surveyed the interior of the cafe, trying to figure out why there was such a sudden surge in customers. It seemed that there was something, or rather someone, they were all excited to see.

Despite the noise, I watched them without complaint, occasionally overhearing their excited whispers.

Treshian, my cousin, stood by my side.

"Is it always this busy on Sundays?" I asked him.

He immediately shook his head, his gaze fixed on the bustling crowd of customers.

"This is actually the first time. It's usually quiet around this hour, it only got busy after you arrived," he replied.

With a roll of my eyes, I responded, "You're freaking kidding. It's clear they're all excited about someone. Who is it?"

He turned to me and said, "Ah, a friend of mine."

I raised an eyebrow. "You have friends?"

"Of course, I'm not as antisocial as you," he retorted.

His comment caught me off-guard, and I shot him a sharp look before shifting my gaze to search for this so-called friend of his.

He pointed out his friend, who was already looking our way. I squinted my eyes. Now, I was starting to remember who he was.

If I wasn't mistaken, he was the same guy I had encountered before. The one I used to jog with and the man I'd often find myself staring at in the canteen.

He eyed my cousin besides me as he moved across the room. Our eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still.

He smiled at me, allowing me to see his deep dimples and his pearly white teeth. His eyes sparkled with joy, and I found myself at a loss for how to react. I didn't know whether to return his smile or to maintain my expressionless facade. To my surprise, my lack of a clear response elicited a chuckle from him.

The earring on his left ear glinted under the indoor lights. His hair was tousled, giving away that he'd probably just woken up and come straight here. His dark eyes were still slightly puffy from sleep, confirming my suspicion.

Despite appearing as though he'd hurriedly dressed and hadn't had time to freshen up, he looked strikingly vibrant, attracting the attention of the other people in the room.

As he approached me, I asked, "What's your order, Sir?" His eyes scanned over the selection of slice cakes and the menu above my head.

His gaze then settled on me. His expression now was cold, mirroring my own. I felt a chill in the air and a distinct lack of interest from him. Turning on my heel, I returned to the counter, promptly switching places with Sassa.

"I've got this," my cousin interjected, appearing suddenly by my side.

I caught a glimpse of his friend Tres's face contorting slightly at his words.

"Couldn't you at least have taken a shower before coming here?" Tres chided.

"Tsk. You know I just woke up and you rushed me to get here," his friend retorted.

My gaze darted between the two of them.

"I still look fresh, anyway," he stated, causing the corner of my lip to twitch upwards. I couldn't deny it.

"Tsk. What would you like to order?"

"Coffee and something from the bakery," he replied.

"Idiot," Tres muttered under his breath.

"What kind of coffee and bakery item would you like?" I interjected, pointing at the menu just above my head. "Choose from the menu," I added.

He swallowed and just stared at me. I didn't return his gaze and reached for my phone as it started to ring incessantly.

I saw Yanna's registered number on my screen. I rolled my eyes, waiting for the call to end before slipping my phone back into the pocket of my dress.

I turned back to Tres, who was staring at me. He raised his eyebrows in a silent question.

"Your boyfriend?"

I shook my head instantly. I'm single. Duh! He had already been taken by someone else. Tsk!

He nodded, yet it was clear that he didn't believe me. I looked at his friend who loudly cleared his throat.

His friendly demeanor was now gone. He became serious and cold. He placed his order, and I was the one who attended to it.

My cousin excused himself, saying they needed to have a discussion at a table.

After having prepared a plate with a cinnamon bun and a cappuccino, I promptly served it to the customer.

The muffled screams still hadn't subsided, especially near where Tres was seated. Some were even taking pictures of the two.

Tres was good looking, and so was his friend. Both of them appeared unfriendly and aloof.

It was only after I had placed down the plate that my equally capable cousin started speaking at my side.

"Oh! I mentioned to you that he's my friend, right?"

I nodded, looking at Tres without any interest.

"This is my cousin, Yvonne," a hand was extended towards me. I furrowed my brows, unsure of its purpose.

I stared at it for a minute before hearing Tres speak.

"Hey! He's asking for a handshake, this idiot, you're spacing out, girl?" Tres said.

I glared at him and shook hands with Tres' friend. He smiled at me. I returned the gesture with a tepid smile. That was when I felt the roughness of his large hand.

It only lasted a few seconds and I couldn't endure it any longer as it felt like an electric current was flowing through our connected hands.

I withdrew my hand in a graceful manner. He just observed my movement. He ran his hand through his messy hair and smiled again, revealing his dimples on both cheeks.

"I'm Zach by the way," he introduced himself. So his name was Zach...

I nodded and returned to the counter, especially when I saw a customer approach to place an order.