Chapter 5 4

Knight WAS trained to speak fluently and smartly to people. He was trained to socialize perfectly as a nobleman. He was trained to know what to say and do in front of people. He was trained 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.

His tongue tied.

His heart was pounding.

His palm was sweating.

What the fuck is happening to me?

Seconds later, his brain was still not functioning properly. Am I in shock?

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

"Monet," said the woman in front of him, looking at the woman behind the counter. "It's okay to feed the children."

"Yes, boss." answered the woman named Monet before taking the children.

So this woman is the owner of this cafe?

He was stunned when the woman's gaze returned to him, and then she took a few steps between the two of them, her eyes seeming to be examining him.

She was so close, and his mind was a mess!

"You seem to be doing well." That woman then smiled at him. "I'm glad."

His eyes widened at what she said. "It's really you." I was right. This is the woman who owns that voice.

There was shock in the woman's eyes as she looked at him. "You really remember me? I mean, you were unconscious at the time."

"I heard you and remembered your voice," he said.

"Ah..." she nodded, then pointed to an empty table. "Let's sit first. You must have just come out of the Hospital. Maybe you'll get carried away."

He froze at the concern in her voice. Why is she worried?

"So how are you?" The woman asked as they both sat down. There was no doubt in her voice or her treatment of him. "Are you all right?" He nodded. Thank God, he can 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 with your condition when I saw you unconscious on the road. It's a good thing there is a first aid kit here in the café, so I helped you right away."

Knight stared at the woman. Looking at her and studying her face, she looks genuinely worried about him. But why? He was a stranger to her. He tasted it. "Thanks for saving me." She smiled. "You're welcome." Then she abruptly leaned in and moved her face closer to his. when he raised his hand to the side of his forehead. "You also have a wound here. I didn't see it. Are you really okay?" He swallowed. "Yes. Can you move away a little?" He whispered. "I just got my mind back on track."

The woman immediately sat up. "Sorry." He breathes out. "Anyways, if you're the one who saved me, how did those two old men get involved? They said they were the only two who saved me." Greedy people and their lies because maybe they don't want to have a share in the bounty that Cloud gave.

"I think they are the owner of the Taxi I hired to take me to the Hospital." That woman said, "It's a good thing they came by; otherwise, you might have been in trouble. They also helped me carry you, and they took you inside the Hospital. I had an emergency, so I couldn't go with you." Knight sighed. "If you knew where I was at the Hospital, why didn't you bring me back?" Knight was stunned by his own question. It's too late for him to take it back.

Why did he even ask her that? It's not her obligation to visit him in the Hospital.

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

She smiled as if it wasn't here. "That's okay. I really meant not to go. You won't know me, so what am I going to do?"

He nodded; he was at a loss for words. Now he's waiting for the most dreaded question.

Whoever did that to him

But seconds passed. nothing. The woman didn't ask.

"Aren't you going to ask why I did that?" He couldn't stop asking the girl.

He was curious as to why she wasn't asking. People are curious beings.

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

She seems genuinely uninterested. And he doesn't know why he's feeling pissed off. He wanted to ask her But why? Because he wants to see that she cares?

"You saved me, and then you don't care why that happened to me?" His question looked dark. "Aren't you curious at all? People usually are."

He looked down while still looking at her. "I don't want you to relive whatever happened to you that day just to satisfy my curiosity." She smiled softly. "Yes, I want to know, but, as I said, it's really none of my business."

He understands her, but why is he feeling pissed? Seeing her uninterested like this Goodness! What the hell is happening to him? He's not an irrational person!

He just met her, for goodness' sake! He has no right to be angry about it. He has been saved.

What he needs to do is pay the debt he owes her. "I want to pay for what you did to help me. I already paid for the two boys. You're the only one who didn't." His eyebrows rose. "Pay? For helping you?" "Yes."

"Oh, Okay. But why are you paying me?"

"I hate owning someone." He said, "Tell me what you want, and I'll do it. Or how much, and I'll pay for it." She stared at him. "Anything I want?" He nodded. "Promise?"

He nodded again, feeling disappointed. He thought she was different. Oh well... I might as well get this over with.

"Tell me first that you promise." That girl He sighed. "I promise."

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

He stopped and looked at the woman, bewildered. "What-"

"You promised," the woman reminded him, then stood up and left him at the table. He thought she would never come back, so he was very surprised when he came back with two slices of cake and placed them in front of him. "Here. Eat up, go home, and rest. Please?"

He stared at the woman standing at the table.

Why is she nice to him? What does she really want? Everyone has a hidden agenda when it comes to him.

But what could this woman possibly want from him?

"Go home," She said in a gentle voice. "I saw your wounds; they won't just heal in a few days. 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's bewildered. "You don't even know me."

The woman shrugged and smiled. "I don't need to know you to help you. You need help, so I helped you. I would do that to anyone. That's all. 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 him again as if nothing had happened.

"Beer would be nice,"he whispered.

She gave him a bad look that made him stop. "You just came from the hospital, right? That means you have some medicine to take. How will that affect you if you drink alcohol?"

He was paralysed for a few seconds. "Why do you seem angry?"

Her eyes sharpened. "Because there's something to save me, you're saying save me, but you're not going to take care of your body." His eyebrows met. "Save me?"

"You lost too much blood and are deliriously asking for someone to save you."

Knight's eyes widened. Holy mother fucker! He said that out loud! He thought it was just in his head. Holy shit! Fuck! Holy shit!

His insides were screaming, but outside he was calm and collected, even though his cheeks felt like they were burning. "Is that all I said while you were helping me?"

Instead of answering him, the girl smiled mysteriously. "You don't want to know." "Wait-what-"

"Just eat and then rest." After saying that, she left him.

"Wait." He stopped the woman. "May I know your name?"

"SM." This is the answer.

He blinked, stunned. "Like the Mall? Supermarket?" 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. Bye." She said this before leaving him completely.

And he just looked at her walk until she disappeared from his sight. Sweet Monday. "What a weird name." At least it's not Super Market.

He looked back at the cake that SM had given him. It's two slices of Chocolate Bavarian Cake. His favourite.

He smiled involuntarily.

A woman who wants nothing more than for him to rest. A woman who seems unaffected by him. To actually meet a woman like her... He felt lucky.

but he can't let his guard down. Maybe she wants something different. People always have ulterior motives.

SM was shocked when he saw Knight outside his café early in the morning. They're about to open, but it's already outside. What is he doing here?

"Didn't I say rest?" she said as soon as she got here.

He just smiled, then took the key she was holding, and it opened her cafe. Worry consumed her when she saw him open the steel roll-up door with force.

"Careful! Your wounds might open."

"It won't kill me," he just answered, then opened the glass door of her cafe. "There." He grinned at her cheekily. "I'm still alive."

She shook her head and snatched the key from it. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be resting? You promised me yesterday."

"I have rested. Then you just said yesterday, I'm going to rest, which I did, but you didn't say until when."

She shook her head and sighed. "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 on him. "You're not doing this because you want to repay me for helping you, are you?"

She stopped when he smiled at her. "Of course not. I really just want to help. No compensation is needed since you also helped me." Yep. He's a smartass. "How about that? You can't be a waiter if you don't sign a contract because I might ruin it by making 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 one of them is called compensation."

Knight stared at her. "Smart-ass." She laughed softly. "You think you can trick me? Think again, buddy." Then she pointed to the sign posted on the side of the door. 'Looking for Waiter. Male. 18–25 Years old: "How old are you? I have a strong feeling that you don't belong there anymore."

Knight leaned against the wall behind him and sighed. "Don't worry. I'm still on the calendar."

She laughed. "You look like you're sulking. That only means one thing: you're at the end of the calendar."

"What's wrong with that?"

"That's your sign."

All emotion was drained from his face, and he stayed silent. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, then met his emotionless eyes.

She didn't budge or look away. He fought to stare at it until the sparkle in his eyes returned.

"Done sulking?" She asked. "Yeah." She smiled. "Then you're hired if you want it." She then explained everything, including the salary and working hours. "We really need a waiter because we only have one waiter. When he delivers, the café is left behind. But are you sure about what you want?" "Very."

"All right." He turned to Juls-their only waiter-who was setting the tables. "Juls, orient Knight." Then he turned his attention back to the man. "Have fun." "Yes, boss." This is the answer.

Shaking her head, she walked towards her office, which also serves as her cake shop.

After she put down the things she was carrying and rested for a few minutes, she immediately went to work.

She makes cakes for a living now. Although a year ago, making cakes was just her hobby, now it's her bread and butter.

She clenched her fist as she remembered why she had disappeared from the service and now owned a café. No bad vibes, SM. Don't go there. After talking to herself, she tried to shake off the thoughts that she knew would ruin her day.

When she put the cake in the oven, she left the office to see how their new waiter was doing.

She was stunned to see Knight's expressionless face while serving food.

Where's the smiling Knight? Did something happen here?

Is he in pain or something?

She was sure that his wounds had not completely healed. With the number of wounds on his back that she saw, 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 get Knight's attention to talk to him when he turned and their eyes met.

In an instant, she saw his face light up and a smile appear on his lips.

She blinked at the man. What the hell was that? One minute he was expressionless, and the next second he was smiling.

"Boss." Knight approached her with a smile. "Look." He spread his arms to reveal his polo shirt, which is the uniform at the café. "I look good, yeah?"

She couldn't help but laugh at him lifting his own bank. But yeah, he's handsome-no, more like gorgeous. With his deep eyes, aristocratic nose, thin lips, and slightly square jaw, he's a sight to behold.

Because she was staring at him, she saw something strange in his brown hair, and she couldn't stop herself from touching it. "Are you blonde?"

Knight answered without hesitation. "No." He's lying. She can see the colour blonde on the roots of his hair. That happens when the hair is dyed, and it starts when it gets long enough that the true colour washes out. Well... Maybe he has a reason for lying. None of my business.

"So..." she changed the topic, "How is being a waiter here at my café? Are you still going to continue?" "It's fun."

"Fun?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "Your face didn't have any expression before."

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

She stared in front of him. "You want me to order you to smile?" It nodded. "Yeah. If that's what you want."

She stared at Knight in disbelief. "But that's not ordered, right?" Knight tsked. "Not in my life."

He blinked. What kind of life is he living? "Sorry... but I'm not comfortable ordering you to smile. If you don't want to smile, then don't. Don't force it." SM was taken back when Knight's face softened while looking at her.

"That's nice to hear," he whispered while smiling softly at her. "Thank you." She smiled back. "Just smile when you feel like it." She glanced at the cafe's customers, whose eyes were almost heart-shaped as she looked at Knight. "There seems to be no problem with our customers. Anyway, it's lunch time." She looked at her wristwatch. "Have you eaten yet?" "Not yet."

"Did you eat already?" She said. "How's your medicine?"

She can still vividly remember his wounds. They were long; some were deep, some shallow. to bear that kind of pain on his back while working... It must be hellish.

"Did you get pain reliever?" He asked again when she didn't answer and kept staring at him fondly. "How's your back? Doesn't it hurt? Are you really okay? Maybe you shouldn't be working. I mean, I saw your wounds."

Maybe that's why she's worried about it, because she saw his condition herself. Those wounds... so many... He must be in so much pain that he is just enduring it.

"Eat and then take your medicine. Let Juls take care of the customers first," She said to Knight as she remained silent and just stared at hm. "Alright, I'll go back to what I'm baking."

"Can we eat together?" Knight cut off what else he was going to say, stopping her from walking back to her office. She turned to it. "We can't," She said, frowning. "I'll finish what I'm baking. Maybe some other time." "I'll wait." "No-"

"I'll wait." He sighed again and went back to serving customers.

SM blinked at Knight's retreating back. and while staring at his back, she remembered what he had said while delirious when she helped him. 'I'm tired... I'm so tired of living. Someone... please... save me.'

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

And for some reason... She wants to do something to save him. But how can she do that when she herself needs saving too?

He's NOT SPECIAL. That's what came to Knight's mind as he watched SM take care of its workers. How it treats him will also affect how it treats others.

"Juls, eat now." SM said."Don't starve yourself. You'll lose weight again." Jules smiled. "Not at all, Boss."

"If you want cake, go get it," SM said to Juls. "I don't want you to lose weight. You will hit me, Juls. I'm not happy." Jules laughed. "Thank you, Boss."

SM looked at Monet and said, "Have you eaten yet? I'll be there first."

"Thank you, boss."

"Tell Josh too." Josh is the cook at the café. "That must be tired too. Poor thing." Then it turned to him. "Eat now."

"I told you I'd wait," he said, irritated.

SM came close to him and stroked his forehead with her hand. "Hmm... you're not hot." Then it whispered. "Is your wound so painful that you are irritated? You can take the day off if you want."

He stared at the girl. He didn't know why he was irritated.

Is it knowing that she treats him the same as the others? Fuck! But he can't hold it against her.

"I'm fine," he said in an emotionless voice. "No worries." He can't be angry just because she's nice to everyone.

Maybe that's why she helped him. Because she's just kind. That's it. There is no other reason. And that irritated him even more. SM stared at him. "You're not fine." Her hand gently reached behind him. "Does it hurt?"

Jaws wailed as he removed her hand from behind his back. "I told you I was fine."

She sighed and stared at him. "But you're not. I can tell. You're making me worry. Can you rest?"

Looking at her, she's really worried.

Knight sighed before standing up and saying, "I'm going to rest." He then walked out of the cafe without looking back. Fuck! He's losing his mind, and he's confused as fuck. Motherfucker! I need a drink! "Knight!"

He stopped walking and automatically turned around when he heard SM call his name.

"What?" He asked.

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

Just like that, his feet started walking back towards the café. obediently. He lost the will to leave the café. This time no one was forcing him; he's walking back obediently. on his own volition. Fuck... I don't want to get addicted to this feeling. This will ruin him one way or another. He's sure of it.

It's just a matter of time.