5 He Knows Me?

Surprisingly, The Gray Cafe was already bustling with customers, even though it had just opened.

"...Iris, Maya couldn't make it today. I need your help. Can you handle making coffee as usual?" Cassandra pleaded as she looked at her granddaughter.

Iris was taken aback. However, she could only nod. She received a pink flower apron from Cassandra and immediately put it on, though she found it strange to have worn such bright colors.

Standing before the coffee machine, Iris was fixated on the menu, studying what coffees they sold.

She could operate the coffee machine but wasn't a professional barista. Her biggest concern was that the coffee she brewed wouldn't meet the taste of customers.

"Girl, have you forgotten how to make coffee as well?" Iris heard Cassandra's voice whispering in her ear, causing her to startle, afraid she would be exposed.

She lifted her head, meeting Cassandra's reassuring gaze.

"No, I remember," a faint smile appeared on Iris's lips as she tried to reassure her grandmother. "I'm just worried that the taste won't be the same..."

"You'll do great! Your coffee is amazing, even better than Maya's," Cassandra said with a warm smile as she gently patted Iris on the back. She then returned to the kitchen to prepare toast and spaghetti—the two main dishes served alongside coffee and cakes at the Gray Cafe.

...

Iris swiftly adapted to the rhythm of the cafe. Not only did she help in making coffee, but she also assisted in serving the customers' orders while her grandmother prepared the food.

As she carried out her tasks, Iris took the opportunity to observe her surroundings. The building comprised two floors. The first floor was divided into two parts; one was for the cafe, and the other was her grandmother's residence in the back garden area.

Iris occupied the entire second floor. Two bedrooms were on that floor, but one remained empty as it belonged to her late father.

The Gray Cafe wasn't overly spacious, with only twelve tables providing a view of the street and the forest behind the building.

Two employees, Maya and Kevin, supported her grandmother in running the cafe. Maya handled receiving orders, coffee making, and serving, while Kevin assisted in the kitchen and cleaning. The cafe operated exclusively during breakfast and lunch hours. They closed before sunset.

Behind the counter, Iris could overhear conversations and witness the interactions among the cafe's customers, most of whom were her grandmother's friends.

Iris could see all the customers also knew one another, fostering a warm and familial atmosphere that made her feel a sense of belonging.

This was the life she had always dreamed of—a tranquil existence in a small town, running a cafe, and enjoying her days without the constant struggle and fear that had haunted her in the past as a professional assassin.

Imperceptibly, lunchtime has come and gone, and the once bustling cafe now sits in peaceful silence.

Iris finally had a moment to relax, but her hunger began to gnaw at her. She hadn't eaten anything since breakfast at the hospital. Yet, she hesitated to leave the counter, fearing another customer might enter.

Iris' gaze occasionally drifted towards the door that connected the front area to the kitchen, eager to check on her grandmother. Just as she was about to rise from her chair to the kitchen, the door swung open, showing her grandmother entering the room.

Even though she was busy, Cassandra's face still radiated freshness and beauty.

"Iris, Grandma will prepare lunch for you. Just wait here a moment until Kevin finishes cleaning the kitchen. After that, he will take over the counter," Cassandra said, feeling a twinge of guilt for putting her granddaughter to work at the cafe the same day she got out of the hospital.

"Of course, Grandma!" Iris answers curtly, settling back into her chair behind the cash register.

Iris's unexpected manners took Cassandra aback. Usually, she would protest and get annoyed if she was asked to take too long to help at the cafe.

However, this time, she did not complain. She remained diligently at the front desk, taking customer orders and patiently serving them.

To Cassandra's astonishment, Iris had not made a single mistake in carrying out her tasks, which was quite unusual as she was often clumsy and prone to accidents. Usually, she would be easily distracted by her cell phone, causing delays in serving customers. But this time, she hadn't even glanced at her phone.

'Is this one of the side effects of her memory loss?' Cassandra wondered to herself. If so, she would be overjoyed.

"Thank you, dear," she smiled and returned to the kitchen, setting aside her curiosity about Iris's peculiar change for now.

After Cassandra disappeared behind the kitchen door, Iris focused on the magazine. To her surprise, it wasn't a regular magazine but a newsletter containing community information about their town.

As Iris skimmed through the town's info, she discovered she was now in Country K, District 6. The town's name was Silenthill, a small town with a population of only fifty thousand. It was situated near the Lonely Forest reserve.

Although Iris had visited this country before, it was her first time in the Nice District, especially in this small town. However, she had heard Silenthill was a remote town famous for its natural attractions, such as beautiful mountains, lakes, and beaches.

...

Shortly after,

Iris was interrupted by the sound of a bell above the door. Slowly, she raised her head, and her eyes met the sight of a towering man entering the café. His appearance left Iris slightly stunned, as he seemed almost perfect. Every feature of his face appeared flawlessly crafted as if it were a masterpiece from the gods.

But what caught Iris' attention was the golden color of his eyes. They shimmered with a unique translucency and radiated a brightness akin to crystal. It felt as if they could see through everything in the world.

In contrast to the warm sunlight, his eyes exuded an icy coldness. It sent a chilling shiver down her spine.

Despite his exceptionally fair skin, which gave him a somewhat unusual pale appearance, he maintained the calmest and most gentle expression among the tall men behind him.

"Are you alright, Iris?" His voice, deep and gentle, caused Iris to flinch. She quickly averted her gaze.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Iris replied, her voice trailing. 'This man knows me? Who is he?' she wondered, her eyes involuntarily returning to meet his gaze.