Strangely Familiar Love

CHAPTER 3. UNWELCOME GUEST

The handsome guy just kept crying silently and Zannah thought that he just looked so cute, like a little boy. She reached for the tissue box and handed it to him. She smiled. “How could this giant transform into a cute little boy,” she wondered. As they faced each other on the couch, she hugged him as if it were the natural thing to do. In return, he hugged her tightly and just sobbed like a heartbroken little boy. She patted his back and waited patiently until he was calm. No words were exchanged between the two but it seemed that they understood each other.

Zannah closed her eyes and, ironically, she felt comforted by hugging the handsome stranger.

“How did we end up like this,” she asked herself. She looked back on the events this morning. From a pleasant morning to being chased by that drunk man… she paused in her thoughts. She stiffened and everything rolled back in her mind as if she were watching the same movie. But the thing is she was the main character in it. Her breathing became heavy, almost like she was gasping for air. She broke the hug and tried to say something.

“H-h-he…The.. m-m-m-man…” she stuttered and breathed heavily and trembled in fear. The handsome guy looked at her with fear written on her beautiful face and he thought that she may have encountered something scary before he met her at the alley. He wiped his tears and hugged her.

“Shhhh…I’m here,” he whispered in her ear and tightened the hug. “He can’t hurt you ‘cause I’ll protect you.”

Zannah found his hug so comforting and it still puzzled her. She calmed down faster than she expected. Now she wondered how the guy who looked like a cute little boy became a protective young man. She broke the hug and looked at the stranger whom he kissed and hugged on their first meeting. They remained seated in silence.

Meanwhile, at the door, Lily brought the two cappuccinos that Zannah had asked for. She knocked but there was no reply so she just carefully opened the door.

“What!” she was surprised at first then thrilled to see Lily and the handsome guy in a loving embrace.

'Ehem, ehem,” Lily cleared her throat then moved forward to the two.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you but I hate your coffee to go cold,” she said.

Zannah tried to break from the hug but the stranger hugged her still.

“Thanks for the coffee,” he said.

“No problem,” Lily said then left the room swiftly.

A few moments later, the man faced her and asked, “Are you okay? But why were you terrified a while back, at the alley” he asked, eyeing her with concern.

Zannah looked at him and fear crawled up her spine. She almost forgot what had happened earlier.

“I’m not fine and I’m not sure if I can get over what happened,” she said.

“Do you want to talk about it,” he asked. “You can tell me. Don’t be scared,” he assured her. He held her hand and was surprised that it was cold.

Zannah nodded, swallowed hard, then faced him. She doesn’t understand it, but she feels like she can trust him.

“OK, here it goes,” she blurted. “I got off the bus and then walked to the alley. Then, after some time, I noticed a gruff-looking man. He was drunk. He tried to get my attention and tried to get near me. I ran as fast as I could to get away from him and that’s when I bumped into you…” Zannah inhaled sharply. “I still shiver at the thought of that man chasing me… and what he could have done to me if he caught up with me.”

“Don’t be scared, I’m here,” he reassured her and kissed her hand.

An electric current seemed to have passed from the man’s hand to Zannah’s hand up to her arm, then her heart. She gasped and pulled away her hand.

“This is… all new to me,” she started.

“You mean you have never had a boyfriend before?” he asked curiously.

“No, I mean, I had a boyfriend once but this…” Zannah was unable to find the words to describe the situation.

“You mean kissing and hugging a stranger?” the man asked.

Zannah was surprised at his frankness. But she agreed.

“You’re right,” she replied.

But we don’t know each other’s names at least...” she said, looking at the man.

“Oh, but I know you,” he whispered.

“What did you say?” Zannah asked, puzzled.

“I said, we can get to know more than each other’s names.” He replied, smiled, and winked at her.

“Alright, I’m Chadwell Park. Just call me Chad.” He smiled shyly now.

Zannah was startled by hearing the name. But she quickly recovered.

“I’m Zannah Kim,” she said and blushed at the man in front of her. She thought there was light surrounding him. “Wow, how he shines,” she thought to herself. She blinked several times and found out that she was just imagining things.

Meanwhile, at the counter, Lily was in deep thought as she was preparing the cups for today. She was thinking of the possibility that her boss-friend’s man might be someone famous.

“No way. He could never be the… Oh… but what if he is.?” Lily said audibly. She dug into her brain for information. She strongly believed that she had seen Mr. Handsome before, but she couldn’t remember where.

“Aaaarghh!” Lily groaned in frustration, then suddenly…

“What’s up, pretty baby,” a man asked and Lily dropped the mug that she was holding. She kneeled on the floor to clean up the broken mug.

Justin, who was the all-around helper in the shop, must have heard about the broken mug and promptly appeared at the counter.

“Leave that to me, ma’am,” he told Lily.

“Sorry we’re not open yet,” she said without looking at the man, as she was still startled. Lily regained her composure and looked at the man at the counter. She recognized the man as Mr. Kervin Jung, the supplier of the café. They buy most of the non-food supplies from his company.

“Oh, hi, Mr. Jung,” Lily greeted and did her best to sound and look courteous despite the fact that she hated him and his nasty personality.

“What can I do for you this morning?” She looked at the man who had a nasal voice, was about 175cm tall, had dark hair, and an unshaven face. He wore a gray suit with a light blue shirt. He reminded her of a gangster in one of the movies she had watched.

“I just came to see Zannah to discuss the renewal of the contract and later to supervise the delivery by my boys,” he said nonchalantly.

“Oh, I see,” was Lily’s reply. “She never mentioned you coming here. She must have forgotten about it, I apologize… or you must not have set an appointment for today,” she said.

She wondered if Zannah had forgotten about it. But Zannah wasn’t one who forgets appointments and important dates. She even remembers the birthdays of all her employees and important dates and occasions.

“No, it’s okay. I came unannounced. Maybe I should have called before coming,” Mr. Jung replied and frowned. He showed that he was clearly annoyed.

“Don’t get me wrong, sir,” Lily said sternly, trying to keep her emotions. “I didn’t mean anything.”

Mr. Jung cleared his throat, then looked at Lily authoritatively, then spoke. “You should know your place,” he said, then pointed a finger at her. “You are just a mere manager yet you act like you are the owner.”

“Oh, yeah?” Lily smirked and cocked an eyebrow. “With all due respect, if any,” she said and paused dramatically. “You, sir, should get your facts straight before attacking a ‘mere manager’, sir. Also, shouldn’t you try to act professionally or impress me? Your contract is ending after all!”

“Mr. Jung,” Justine called out. “I’m sorry to interrupt you but Miss Lily, here, is the co-owner of this café.”

Kervin Jung could not believe what he heard. He was outraged. But he didn’t back down.

“I want t talk to Zannah,” he declared, and started walking towards the office.

“Stop,” Lily blocked his way. “Zannah is currently with a very important visitor. Please wait while I check if she is now available. Hearing this annoyed Kervin even more.

“Well, am I not an important person?” he asked, almost growling.

Lily was unfazed. She stood her ground.

“Mr. Jung, shouldn’t you show a little bit of respect here?”

“Just give me a minute, okay?” Lily said, authoritatively. “I need to check on Zannah and her guest. Please wait here ‘cause I’ll call you.”

Lily was nervous and excited about her friend. At the same time, she felt protective of her and her happiness. “Who knows what they’re doing now, after making up,” she thought naughtily and smirked.

“Suit yourself,” Kervin retorted, but he didn’t plan on waiting to be called. He waited for a few seconds before following Lily quietly.

Lily rushed to the office. She stopped at the door, took a deep breath, and raised her hand to knock on the door. “Zannah?” she called out.

Suddenly, before her hand could reach the door, Kervin turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.