CHAPTER 28

Entering the coffee shop after what felt like ages to her, Anna was instantly greeted with the jingling of the wind chimes. The aroma of coffee and just baked cupcakes, filled her nostrils as soon as she stepped in. She took in the view of the shop, which she missed the most and her mind was immediately placed at rest.

As soon as Hope spotted Anna standing at the door looking around dreamingly, she rushed to her and wrapped her arms around her which spread a wide smile across Anna's face.

"Oh my! Anna dear. How have you been child? Are you still weak? Why are you standing? Sit down"

Anna giggled pulling away but before she could say anything, Hope was already rushing her to the counter and onto her usual seat.

"I'm fine Hope" She chuckled sitting down and patted Hope's hands which were holding hers.

"How are you ?"

Hope sighed and plopped herself down on the chair nearby. Her face showed nothing but concern, for Anna. She had been managing the shop for the past one month all by herself. Anna felt responsible for the tired look on Hope's face and the dark rings highlighting under her eyes.

"I'm okay, it's just that, I missed you. Everyone here missed you, so much".

"Well I guess you won't miss me anymore, cause I'll be here"

Anna held the lady's hand and smiled assuring at her. Hope nodded with a warm smile and left to attend the customers.

Leaning back on her seat, Anna slowly traced the edge of the counter with her fingers. It had been a whole month since she sat there, in that comfy little chair. Her mother's chair. So much had happened in the past one month. Things she would never forget and also things she would never want to remember. All she hoped for now was a new beginning, with everything back to normal.

She heaved a deep breath and nodded to herself. Scooting the chair closer to the counter table, she turned on the computer and started going through the past month records. As she had assumed, all the records of the orders and payments were organized perfectly. Thanks to Hope.

The day went by as it normally used to a month back. Greeting the customers in and out, little chit-chat with the old ladies of the neighborhood who passed by and attending on-call orders. Everything felt so much better, now that she was back amidst the people she was used to seeing everyday. She was starting to build a hope that everything would be fine from now on. The past is gone for good and she must forget it.

The clock above ticked 5:45pm as there were very few people sitting and talking or sipping coffee. Anna was seated behind the counter looking through designs for a new name board for the shop. The present one looked old so she wanted to replace it with a new and bright one. As she was flipping the pages of the catalogue she heard the wind-chime jingle and she stood up from the chair, eyes still glued on the booklet.

"Welcome to 'Cups and Slice Cafe'. What would you lik- " As her eyes travelled up, her words got stuck at the back of her throat. Her whole body was like glued to the spot considering she could not move a muscle at the moment. She stared up at him standing at the door as the green orbs stared back at her with that intensity which spiked chills down her spine.

Anna suddenly felt all her suppressed feelings and memories coming crashing down on her. She had put in so much effort to forget those memories, his memories.

As he took a step forward, she hitched a breath in and her fist clenched. Her gaze never moved away from his intense stare as he walked up to the counter with slow and steady strides. She felt it. The shivers and the heat creeping up her face. He stared right into her soul like he knew what effect he has on her.

She could not handle the tension that was building in her chest and with much effort, looked away. As her eyes travelled across the room, she was bug-eyed as she saw all the tables empty. Not a single soul was to be seen other than her and the intimidating man standing past the counter. Was she so concentrated on the designs that she did not even notice all the customers had already left?

Anna knew she could not do anything at the moment as she slowly turned her gaze back on him and there he was, still staring at her with his predatory eyes. Anna felt her back against the wall behind and stood at it's support assuming her knees would give up at any time. But her heart picked up the pace when he walked around the counter and towards her.

She held her breath in. She held it so firm that all the veins on her neck were visibly popping. He kept his pace slow, as if testing how long she could go on until she gives up. But with the long legs that he had, he was in front of her in no time, towering her little frame with his huge structure and she felt the warmth spread across her body. She missed it but would she accept it? No!

Anna was looking straight ahead. Facing his chest. She could not look up into his eyes, that burning gaze which she could already feel was scanning her face. But maybe looking straight at his hard chest was not a good idea considering it was barely covered in the white shirt he wore with the first three buttons undone.

'Oh Lord'

It was too much for her innocent eyes to see but there was nothing else in her view other than him. So she did the next thing she could think of and closed her eyes shut. That did not quite help in vanishing his presence as she could still feel his warmth, dangerously close to her body.

She thought it was over. He came just to intimidate her like this or maybe to warn her to stay away and she would happily do it but that was not exactly what he was up to. She realized it when she felt his cold fingers gliding over her jaws and her body instantly relaxed against his touch. All the tension in her muscles subsided but it was wrong. This is not suppose to be happening. No. She could not give in again, could she?

Well, she thought she wouldn't until she felt his hot breath grazing the skin close to her ear and a name slipped through his lips which she did not know she was craving to hear. "Noona"

"Anna"

"Huh?"

"Wake up Dear"

Anna opened her eyes slowly and blinked a few times before quickly sitting up straight on her seat. She looked up and saw Hope standing beside her, smiling down at her.

'I...I wasn't....I wasn't dreaming about him'

"Yes you were"

And after a long time she heard her inner mind scoffing at her. She couldn't complain, she kinda missed it.

But what was that? She shouldn't be dreaming about him. In her eyes he was nothing but a selfish man, who thought only about himself. But she could not manage to erase the memories he gave her.

Anna felt a hand on her shoulder as she looked up at Hope who was still holding the smile.

"Everyone has left. I was busy cleaning so I did not notice you were still in here. You should go home too dear. It's past 6:30pm"

Anna nodded and smiled before Hope left to arrange the kitchen. Stretching a little as she rose from her seat, Anna grabbed her phone and keys and stuffed it inside her sling bag as she swung it over her shoulder. Shouting a quick 'bye' to Hope, she stepped out of the shop and made her way towards her house.

Throughout the walk back home, that dream was constantly replaying itself in her head despite of her poor attempts to distract her mind. How could she? Just how? It was hardly a week since she made a promise to herself. A promise to forget about the past and move on but here she was, battling with her mind to keep her feelings at bay.

As soon as she entered the house, she was dragged to her room by none other than her dearest aunt, Elora.

"Gosh! Why are you always late? Do you even remember there's a double birthday party you have to attend?"

Elora grumbled as she sat Anna down before the dressing mirror.

"I know, but it's at 7:30. There's a lot of time" Anna said tiredly as she slipped down the sling from her shoulders and onto the table beside.

"We don't have time at all. Not when I'm the one helping you dress up baby"

Elora rested her chin on top of Anna's head as she watched her through the mirror in front of them. A small smirked danced on her lips and something about that expression looked alarming to Anna. Closing her eyes for a brief moment, Anna prayed to all the holy spirits she had ever worshipped to help her through this night and whatever it was that's waiting for her.

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A/N:- Spoiler Alert- BIG surprise coming in the next update⚠️