Mag-log inLEON’S POV “Please, baby… I’ll trade everything just to see you again. Even just for a moment…” I whispered in my sleep. “LEON!” I heard Mom’s voice, cold and sharp, calling out to me. I opened my eyes slowly, feeling drained and exhausted, and turned toward the door which had just been opened. My office was pitch dark now. If anyone from the staff looked inside from outside, they would assume I had already gone home hours ago. But of course… my mother knows me better than anyone else. This has been my routine lately. Drowning myself in work… and drowning myself searching for Allys. Fuck! I dreamed about her again. That’s why sometimes I feel like sleeping forever—because only in my dreams do I get to see her again. “Ma.” Her eyes scanned the whole office before finally resting her gaze on me. “It’s already late! Why haven’t you gone home yet? And you’ve been making your employees work overtime again. I sent all of them home already!” I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying
ALLY’S POV I glanced at Leon and saw him sitting comfortably at the farthest table, staring at his expensive cellphone with a deep frown on his face. “I’ll be in the office for a while, Alice,” Daniel said, and I nodded in acknowledgement. The moment he left, Mika immediately moved beside me. “Hey! What was that scene earlier? My god, it felt like I was just watching a K-drama with the three of you,” she whispered excitedly. I rolled my eyes involuntarily. “Will you stop that, Mika? You’d be better off serving our customer’s coffee now,” I replied, arranging the tray she was supposed to carry. “I’m not done talking to you yet. I’ll just serve this first real quick,” she said, then walked over to deliver Leon’s order. “Here you go, Sir. Thank you for waiting,” she greeted him cheerfully. I saw Leon straighten up in his seat and glance directly at me. Mika’s eyes immediately followed his gaze toward me. I quickly looked away from their direction. “Thank you,” Leon replied, an
ALLY’S POV The next day, I arrived early at the coffee shop. There were three of us who held keys, so it was easy for me to get inside. I removed the blinds covering the glass walls and arranged the chairs properly in their places. I saw Mika had just arrived too, getting off a tricycle. I walked toward the counter and heard the bell above the door ring. “Good morning, Alice! You’re so early today,” Mika greeted me. “Good morning too, Mika,” I replied while getting everything ready behind the counter. She came closer, leaned against the counter, and stared straight at me. “You didn’t come back last night. You left me there. I thought you were just going to the restroom… you didn’t tell me you were going straight home afterwards,” she said as she walked toward our locker room to change into her uniform. “I’m really sorry. Joy texted me saying Leo was crying and waiting for me the whole time last night. I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to you, and besides, you seemed to be
ALLY’S POV The three men with Leon all reached out their hands to greet me. Only Leon didn’t! I was so stupid for using the name Alice—which sounds so much like my real name. Out of all the names I could have chosen, why did I pick one so similar?! “Nice to meet you, Alice,” his companions said, smiling warmly. My hands were trembling as I shook hands with all three of them. “Are you okay? Your hands are ice cold… and you’re shaking a little,” one of them remarked. “Ah! Hahaha… I’m fine. It’s probably just the wind, and the dress I’m wearing is a bit thin too,” I replied with a forced smile. Leon remained silent, his dark eyes fixed intently on me. Even Mika, who was busy talking to the Mayor, seemed to notice how intensely he was staring. I gripped my handbag tightly and slowly stepped back. I saw Leon move the moment I put distance between us. My nervousness only grew worse. I tried to look toward Mika for help. I stepped back again when I saw Leon’s eyes drop down to my fe
ALLY’S POV I looked toward where the Mayor was standing. I saw Daniel there, together with his doctor friend—the same doctor who helped deliver my son. The men talking to them had their backs turned; they were tall and well-built, and judging by their build and aura, they were probably in their thirties. My gaze landed on the tallest man among them. My lips twisted when I noticed his unusually long black hair—the man standing right in the middle. “It looks like they’ve finished talking. Come on, let’s go greet them,” Mika said beside me. I noticed they were already nodding at each other, signaling the conversation was done. Before I could even tell Mika that I’d just wait for her back at our table, she had already pulled me closer toward them. “Good evening, Mayor,” Mika greeted them brightly. “Oh! My dear, good evening to you too. It’s nice that you were able to come,” the Mayor said, then turned his gaze toward me. “Aren’t you the one who works with her at Dr. Daniel’s coffee
ALLY’S POV “Come on, Alice. You didn’t come to the last fiesta either. You really should go this time. You won’t stay long anyway. We’ll just eat for a little while and then we can go straight home,” Mika kept persuading me. I rolled my eyes involuntarily. “Aha! Now the truth comes out. You’re only forcing me to go to that dance because you have no one else to go with,” I told her. I saw her break into a wide grin. “Please! Just for a little while, Alice. Go out and enjoy yourself once in a while.” I let out a deep sigh and looked back at her. I knew she wouldn’t stop bugging me until I finally said yes. “Fine, fine. But I’m really only staying for a short while, Mika,” I finally agreed. “Yay! I promise, Alice, we really won’t stay long at all,” she said happily and gave me a tight hug. “Alright then. But what’s going on? Why does it seem like the fiesta is extended this year?” I asked while wiping the cups we had dried earlier. She sat beside me and helped me wipe them too.
ALLYS POVWe were both sitting on the hood of his car, watching the dark sky full of shining stars."Is this where you go when you want to get some air and be alone?" I asked him."Not really," he answered briefly, still looking at the sky."Is that so," I just said, shrugging.It was so quiet, I c
ALLYS POV"Where are we?" I asked, looking around at the surroundings outside.I covered my mouth with my hand and unconsciously got out of the car. As soon as my feet touched the grass, a fresh and cold breeze greeted me.I unconsciously walked and stared at the setting sun. From where I was stand
ALLY'S POVGasping for breath, and having recovered from the shock and fear I felt earlier, I annoyedly rolled my eyes at Leon.I quickly turned my back on him when I felt my tears threatening to fall. Damn it! Why did I suddenly remember that event? That's the only reason why I'm in this situation
ALLY'S POV"Mom," I called to Mom, who was busy combing my hair.We're here inside my room, and I'm sitting in front of the mirror while she gently combs my hair."Hmm... how was your outing with Leon earlier, hija?" she asked me with a smile.I bit my lip when that was the first thing she asked me







