4

**Jace Pov**

It's been a week, and I couldn't stop thinking about the woman with the beautiful voice. What is wrong with me?!

Something like this has never happened to me. Why now? Why here?

She is not even the type I used to be with.

When I first saw Eliana at a school, I thought she was a married woman. Because she was with a little girl. The girl looked so much like her, but then, the same day I came to this restaurant and I saw her again. That was when I noticed she had no wedding ring on.

Then I kept coming every night. This is where I have dinner every single day of my stay in this town. Just so I could see her. I made sure she never caught me gazing at her. I already know when her shift starts and when she is off.

Lucky for me, the way the restaurant is arranged was in my favor. There is a table at the far end where you can sit and see everyone and everything happening in the restaurant. I made sure to sit there most times. Except when they are occupied before I get here.

The day we bumped into each other, the expression she had on her face when she looked at me was the look of recognition.

I thought she recognised me as a famous footballer. But the way she approached me the second time we met in the restaurant and asked if I was new in town? That was when I knew she did not know me.

Maybe I will try and ask her out, just to have more fun while I am still in town.

Today I intended to talk to her again. I had my hood on and was seated in the restaurant. My order had already been placed. The food arrived but was served by someone else and not Eliana. As the name tag on her reads. Even her name is beautiful.

Someone else served my food but I kept my eyes on Eliana as she served another table occupied by elderly couple. She looked uncomfortable for a moment and was looking around. I wondered what was on her mind, or who she was looking for.

Dammit!!! I was caught red handed by her because our eyes met and I could not deny it.

There was a look of recognition plastered on her face.

Immediately guilt gushed over me. I could feel myself getting tense. I pretended to concentrate on my meal. Why was I feeling this way?! She only looked my way.

She then looked away and went back to her chores.

*Phew*

I let out the breath I did not realize I was holding. Ok maybe I need to see a doctor. What is wrong with me?! Why am I behaving like a teenage girl whose crush just smiled at her?!

It's just not me.

She brought another meal to the table right before mine.

Now I was done with my dinner, but I kept sipping from my glass to keep myself busy until I could get her attention. "Check please" I quickly spoke to her before she walked away.

She looked my way and nodded.

" Eliana right?" I looked at her name tag when she came back with my bill. She nodded with a very quick smile that appeared and disappeared within a second. "I was wondering if you know where I could do some grocery shopping" I dropped the money on the bill she gave me earlier.

She looked agitated "at the grocery store. I think. Why? Are our meals that bad here?" She joked.

"They are actually really good. But there are some things I have to have at my place. Been new in town and all" I relaxed back on the chair while looking at her.

"Oh you are the same grumpy man from the other day." She said,

"Grumpy?! ..... No I wasn't"

She chuckled. "yes you were. I could give you directions on where you can get the groceries. You can meet me outside in about 30 mins. That is if you can wait'' she checked her wrist watch.

"Of course. I will wait" I stood up to go out and waited until she came out.

35 mins later,we were standing at a bus station further from the restaurant. Eliana has given me directions. But she said we could take the bus as it was the same way she was heading. I quickly agreed. Now we were on the bus, sitting on the same side.

I introduced myself by my first name alone. Although, I still wanted to confirm if she really doesn't know who I was. "So….. you really don't know who I am?" I looked at her with a straight face.

She looked lost. "Are you a serial killer or something?!" She spoke with a furrowed eyebrow.

She made me chuckle. "No!.. what I meant to say was .... we bumped into each other.... like a week ago..... at a school ......'flying stars'!. I think it is the name of the school." I trailed off.

Eliana widens her eyes in realization. "Oh my God!.... That is why your voice sounded familiar. I knew I met you somewhere but I just couldn't figure out were" she laughed.

Her laughter is so beautiful. I sighed in relief. That was close. She really doesn't know who I was and I almost made her curious about that.

I was glad she does not know who I am. I will keep it that way with her.

"That's me" she brought me back from my trail of thoughts.

We have reached her stop. She told me the next stop is where I will be getting off and also described to me where I will sport to the supermarket. I thanked her before she left.

"Well.... That is a good start" I said out loud with a breath of relief.

This might be easier than I thought. I was still wondering why this was happening. I never do the chasing. The ladies were the ones always after me. But with her, I am willing to get her attention.

My trail of thoughts was cut short when the bus came to a stop. I looked around through the glass window of the vehicle and I could see the supermarket but I wasn't going in there. I just needed an excuse to talk to her without looking too desperate, or worse, get shut down immediately.

I will ask her out tomorrow.