Chapter 4

Jayce

I sighed, standing outside the small restaurant. I don't even know what I am doing here. But this is not the place that I wanted to visit, but since my car decided to stop working right in front of this place, I've no choice but to wait here, for someone to come and pick me up from this suburban town.

"So, what can I get for you," said a waiter as soon as I made my way inside, sitting at the table.

"Whatever sells the best," I said casually, not caring to stare at the menu.

"Sure," he smiled, leaving me alone with a glass of water.

Sitting alone in this nearly empty place, I glanced around the space, scanning my surroundings. This place is small and seems quite old for the style of interior and furniture. Still, this space has quite a calming and, I don't know the right word to describe it but it has quite a homey vibes and atmosphere around here, and what strange is that I like it even when it's quite opposite to my style or choice.

"Here, you go," my thoughts got diverted by the waiter's voice, who had two handfuls of plates, placing them both in front of me. "Our best and all-time favorite by the best,"

"Isn't it too much for just me," I said, looking at the amount of food?

"Nah, just have a bite, and who knows you, might want some more,"

"Anyways, what is this dish called?"

"It's one of our originals, and a bestseller, if you're so interested why you don't talk to the maker and creating of this,"

I nodded, taking a spoonful of food, and was surprised by the flavors of its contents. I closed my eyes and a moan slipped unconsciously from my mouth as the food melts in my mouth.

Damn, this is the type of food I would've liked to devour, but no one can satisfy my standards or needs regarding the type of food that I want.

Sometimes being a chef comes with pros and cons of its own. I don't know or speak about others but for me personally, cooking day in and day out and being around food sometimes gets so much that at one point I can't even make myself a bite. At least for the very beginning of my career at one point, it became so much that I don't know how I discovered my eating disorder. While everyone in life loves and devours my food, I can't even bring myself to take a bite.

I guess that's why from time to time I started going out eating somewhere where someone else cooks for me, at least that way I can taste and learn something more while getting some food in my system.

I smiled, remembering a vivid memory of the past of how one day when I waiting in a restaurant for food, came angel landed right on top of me and in my lap, that was the first time I met Rachel, without knowing the fact that after that day she is going to someone very precious, and close to heart.

Until the day when she left without even a goodbye, and till this day I'm trying to find her, just so I can clear any misunderstandings and hard feelings between us. But…I sighed; Rachel is nowhere near me.

"So, where is the created of this masterpiece," I said, looking at the waiter standing in front of me

"We're so sorry but just as I was going to call her, she seems to disappear without any notice," the waiter replied, staring anywhere but at me.

"But why..," I asked. I wanted to meet the master behind this masterpiece.

"I don't know but that's how sometimes Rachel is..,"

"Wait, Rachel…." Did he mention Rachel, or something else?

"Yeah, it's one of Rachel's original," He said, this time with a smile.

"How long has Rachel been working here and do you have any pictures," I said, hoping for it to be true.

"A year or so later, she works at night only, and her home is around the corner," he said, rippling in the direction of her home. "But why are asking,"

I smiled with hope in my eyes. Maybe after a long whole year, I truly can find Rachel, but it is dangerous how this waiter shares her address with a stranger like me. "Thanks and don't share any women addressed to random strangers, it might be dangerous," I said, tipping the waiter a heavy amount before leaving with the hope of finding my Rachel after all this time.

"Please just don't run this time; I've many things that I would've liked to clear to you."

I smiled, walking my way towards the address given by the waiter.

God, how it has been since I last saw Rachel's face, her smile, the rose fragrance of her shampoo, the warm hugs, the food that she used to cook for me, so I could overcome my eating disorder, and most importantly Rachel, as how she was, sad yet smiling, hurt yet smiling no matter how bad the circumstances are for her, but always faces everything with a badass smile on her face. When I first met her at the restaurant I thought she was one of the silent, fragile, ones who needed support to overcome her nasty boss, but she surprised me personally, showing me the other side of her personality, the one she hides behind her professionalism.

Damn, I'll never forget the day, when we came out of the restaurant; my arms were wrapped around my waist with her ankle sprained, as we were walking towards the parking lot.

******

"You can leave me here,"

I looked at the girl in her arms who a few minutes ago seemed to be in so much pain but now I look at her acting so strangely.

"I can drop you home if you want," I said, in an attempt to help her, but in reply, she gave me a stinging look.

"No, I'm fine," she said, trying to separate herself from me. But cried in pain as my arms were a little away from her waist.

"Yeah I can see, let me hail a taxi."

"I'm fine," she shouted this time fully separating herself, walking away in an uncomfortable weird manner because of the pain.

She then stopped, sighing loudly, not moving but just staying still.

I walked towards her, and as I gently placed my hand on her shoulder, my attempt made her startled as she quickly wiped her face.

I don't know for sure but she was crying.

"Let me help you," I said, as softly as I can.

"Why don't you just leave?"

"I can't," my words came in shock t OK both her and myself, I don't even know why am I doing this, she is no one to me, I don't even know her name, but still I don't have the heart to leave in so much pain, I don't know why but I have never felt protected towards any woman other than my sister.

"And why," she asked, giving that sting look again.

Well, I can't say that I felt protective towards her which might ruin any chances to help her. "Because I can't leave my employee here alone in pain."

Again the stink eye, "I don't work for you,"

"You do actually," I said, tightening my grip on my waist. "The restaurant where we met in mine,"

"Wait," she shouted, pushing my chest to separate us both and resulting in falling to the ground. "Shitttttttt,"

"You okay," I asked, crouching down beside her, checking her for any wounds. "Are you a fool, you could have hurt seriously," I shouted, annoyed even though I wanted to, I sighed trying to calm myself?

"You want me to help you, Fine," I said, calling for a taxi. "I have got a taxi, you go alone."

"Wait," She tugged my arm as I was about to leave. "I don't want to be rude, it's just that…..,"

She hid her glance avoiding looking at me. "I don't have a home to go,"

"What do you mean?"

"I was house hunting for a while, but couldn't find anything fit on my budget," she sighed.

"Where were you leaving until now," I asked, not trusting her words.

"With my boyfriend, but then he decided to cheat on me and we broke up and now I've lost my job too,"

I don't know what to say or do about her situation but the thing is I can't leave her here alone.

"I might regret it later," I mumbled.

Staring at her face, I don't know why but she seems familiar even though this is the first time I am meeting with her. Someone who was the very reason for me to be who I am now, a better version of Jayce.

Maybe that's why I don't have the heart to leave her here alone with her ankle sprained.