Chapter 9

Zeyon's POV
Leo was wiping the glass counter with a cloth that smelled like lemon and burnt sugar, humming the same off-tune melody for the fourth time this morning. I swear, if he kept going, I might actually toss flour at his face. I leaned against the counter, biting into a plain butter croissant, trying not to care about how empty the shop felt. I used to like the quiet. Now it just... felt like something was missing.
"You okay, bro?" Leo asked, side-eyeing me. "You’ve been staring at that one croissant like it owes you rent."
I smirked. "Shut up. This croissant’s just dry."
"You made it."
"Exactly. I can insult it."
Leo laughed and tossed the cloth over his shoulder. "You’re weird today. Weirder than usual."
I didn’t answer. I just kept chewing. Allison hadn’t come back. It’s been days. Maybe a week? I lost count after night three. That girl... she’s stuck in my head like the smell of cinnamon on a rainy day. Ugh. I hated this.
Leo suddenly snapped his fingers. "Hey, you’re going with me today."
"To where?"
"City. Groceries. I need strong arms to carry all the flour bags. And a bodyguard in case old women try to flirt with me again."
I raised an eyebrow. "You sure they’re flirting? Maybe they just feel bad for you."
"You’re just mad you weren’t the favorite last time."
I rolled my eyes but stood up anyway. Maybe getting out of this shop wasn’t a bad idea. Maybe the city’s noise could drown out the thoughts.
---
The market was loud. Kids screaming, old folks arguing about prices like they were in an auction, and stalls with colors so bright I kinda felt dizzy. Leo was already flirting with the fruit vendor’s daughter who looked both bored and entertained. I kept walking. Something tugged in my chest.
Then it happened.
A girl bumped into me. Not hard. Just enough to make me drop my stupid wallet on the ground. I bent down to grab it, and when I looked up—
"Oh crap," I whispered.
Allison.
Hair tied up in a messy bun, oversized brown cardigan, and that notebook.
That damn notebook clutched tightly to her chest like it held her whole world. Her eyes widened. Mine too. Time froze. I’m not exaggerating. Like, literally, the world went mute.
"You—" I started.
She turned around so fast and bolted.
"HEY! WAIT!" I shouted and ran after her. People looked at me like I was a lunatic. A guy dropped his fish. Someone screamed because of that fish. I didn’t care.
She turned into an alley, and I followed, feet hitting the ground like I was in a movie.
"Allison! Stop! What the hell!"
She stopped.
She was breathing hard, facing away from me. Her shoulders were shaking. Crap. Was she crying?
I slowed down. "Hey... hey, I'm not gonna bite, alright? Just... talk to me."
She turned, eyes glossy, lips trembling, and she slapped my arm.
"OW?! What was that for?!"
"FOR EXISTING, ZEYON!"
I stared. Then burst out laughing.
"This isn’t funny!" she yelled.
"It kinda is."
She hit me again. This time, I grabbed her wrist gently.
"Why didn’t you come back?"
She looked down. "I got scared."
"Of me?"
"Of myself. Of feeling too much again. Of this being real."
My heart thumped. I let go of her wrist slowly.
"Look, Allison. I’m not perfect. My life is mostly pastries and burnt cookies. But I was hoping... maybe... you’d come back."
Her lips trembled more. Then she laughed. Out of nowhere. Just... laughed.
"What?"
"You look stupid when you're serious."
I blinked. "Wow. Okay. Rude."
She giggled again. And just like that, the air felt lighter.
We sat on the steps of the alleyway, talking. About dumb stuff. About serious stuff. About why the sky’s blue and why I never liked strawberry jam.
She finally said, "I still keep my notebook. I write in it every day. Even when I didn’t go back. I wrote about you."
My heart did a somersault.
"Good things?"
"Some. Mostly about how annoying your face is."
"Still flattering."
She laughed again.
I stood up and reached out my hand.
"Come on. Let me buy you a coffee. Or... a croissant. I promise it won’t be dry."
She looked at my hand, then up at me.
"Only if you promise to stop being a dramatic mess."
"No promises."
She rolled her eyes but took my hand.
And that’s when I knew.
Crap. I’m falling again.
Only harder this time.
---
Leo found us later at a nearby cafe. He looked at Allison, then at me, then back to her. Then he grinned.
"I see the soap opera continued without me."
Allison threw a straw at him. I just laughed.
Everything felt like chaos. But in a good way.
And that night, when I saw her writing in her notebook again while sipping tea, I didn’t say anything.
But I smiled.
Because she was here.
And that was enough.

Book Comment (21)

  • avatar
    Romandomal

    rarrr

    30/04

      0
  • avatar
    f******4@superyp.com

    good story po

    30/04

      0
  • avatar
    t******9@wusehe.com

    cutie patotieee

    30/04

      0
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