Chapter 01 - Vanilla Scent

It had been a month since I moved here, one would think I'd have settled in a bit, but I still wasn't used to this place.

After getting a call back from the school I knew I had to loosen up a little bit though, because that meant this was going to be my home for a while... At least until I felt some threat and had to be on the move again.

I sighed and looked at the window as the curtains shifted a bit due to the wind outside. At least here I had some peace and quietness...no sharing roommates and all that.

I got up and closed it then turned around with another sigh. This was for now my new home now, this cosy little flat that was in the middle of the small town.

I took my new phone and my keys then headed out, maybe taking a walk would refresh my mind a little bit.

Havana was a small town, everyone here seem to know everyone one another and they were so kind. Since it was a bit far from the city I decided to stop a little and see what it could bring for me. I mean, they wouldn't look for me here, at least it would take them a while to find me here if they looked.

The wind started to blow a bit harder and I put my hands in my pocket. God! Why didn't I put a jacket on. Now I was feeling how hard the wind was a little bit...

I quickly walked inside a pub and closed the door behind me, making it to actually make noise. I honestly hated these places that rang a little bell when you walked in, I mean I know they did it so they'd know new costumers are walking in, but it was way too loud for me.

The warmth in here took me in making me smile a bit and forget about the loud bell on the door, it was cosy in here. I looked around and saw a group of men sitting in the corner drinking and then on the other side it was empty. I smiled and walked in further to find myself a sit.

I took in one breath and let it out. I could use with some coffee right now.

I saw a woman stand from the group of men and go to talk to the bartender. They exchanged a few words and laughed a bit then looked at me. I quickly looked away.

Were they talking about me? Or did they feel my eyes on them?

I shook my head a bit and tried not to put too much into them. They laughed again and I closed my eyes and tried to calm down a bit.

"hello..." a person said making me open to my eyes. It was that bartender smiling at me.

"would you like anything to drink?" she asked and I looked around again, that lady she was talking to was not here anymore.

My heart skipped a bit, did I imagine that or did it really happen?

"ma'am??" she said talking me away from my thoughts.

I swallowed, "umh... Sorry yeah... Do you have coffee?"

"yes we do..."

"could you actually make it hot chocolate. It's a little bit cold outside."

With the smile still plastered on her face, she responded, "hot chocolate coming for you."

I sat there and listened to those men on the corner laugh and talk about me. I rolled my eyes even though they could not see me. It was so sad that they didn't know I could hear them coz they were trying to be descreet a bit about it.

My chocolate arrived and I drank it a bit and tried to pay attention to something that was not the voices that were talking about me. But with who I really was. It was hard. I could still here them talking about what I looked like and who would score.

Some people were disgusting.

I finished up my coffee and quickly went to my pockets to check for my wallet and my heart almost stopped when I couldn't find it.

Then I remembered that when I left my place I only took my phone and my keys.

How could I be so stupid!

I stood up and searched my pockets even more to see if I won't find anything.. And I didn't.

I looked around me to try and find someone who I'd talk to and ask them to pay for me.. But the only audience I saw was those men with their eyes looking at me as if I was some dinner they were ready to have.

That made me want to puke immediately.

I sighed and lifted my hand up. The lady that was serving me came, "do you need anything else?"

My face was probably red from the embarrassment, "so... I feel so stupid for this. I just noticed that I left my wallet in my flat. Could I possibly leave me phone here and maybe go get it." I said the last part taking my phone which was on the right..

"it's alright.. I got it." a voice said and I turned around after a few seconds to check who it was but only their scent hit me. It was slightly sweet I could smell the ambergris or labdanum, like they were combined with vanilla, tonka bean, flowers and some herbs.... It was a bit exotic and mysterious. God whoever that was smelled really good.

I fully turned around when I heard the door bell and then the person was gone.

In front of me was a R100 note.

I looked at the bartender and she took it with a smile on her face, "you can wait for your change." and then she left me there dumbfounded.

I looked back at the door again hoping to see the person who left the money but I couldn't. Even with the glass door it was evident from here that they were gone and I wouldn't be able to identify them if they were in front of me. Darn it!!!

The bartender came back with change and handed it to me, "it wouldn't have been a problem also."

"I'm sorry did you see who that was...? I missed them a bit."

She shrugged and the boys in the corner called for her. She smiled, "enjoy your evening."

I took my phone and got out. I looked around a bit hoping to see a person I didn't even know. One I couldn't even describe by their physique or what they were wearing because the only thing I knew about them was how good they smelled.

When I failed to find the person I was hoping to see I walked back to my apartment.

As I went to sleep my mind went back to the scent. The vanilla... Sometimes I hated my senses coz they were too much, but this time I kinda didn't. This smell made me feel a bit welcome here. It was kind to me.

..

As the days went by I tried to look for the mysterious person who helped me so that I could thank them for their generosity. I went to the pub a few times but didn't get the scent again.

I remembered that schools were opening in two week and I knew I'd have to start working soon. So since I'm still a little bit free, I needed to get things that I'd need.

So the following day I went shopping for some good and decent clothes.

On my way to the flat I went past the pub and this time I made sure that I have money to pay. I couldn't afford embarrassing myself again.

I got juice today though, and noticed that the place was almost full. There were people in the chairs and families it was even more cosier.

The door started making noise and the loud voices came again. God these guys!!

I watched as the people who were sitting in that corner got arranged and were moved to another table.. The 4 boys with that woman sat there in the corner and started ordering. Woow so they were redulars there, even the people moved for them. It must be nice being them.

One of them moved from there and I was so shocked when he came to stand in front of me.

"hello..." he said and I took a sip on my glass before responding, "hi...?"

He just stood there and stared at me. I ached my brows at him trying to stay calm, "can I help you..?"

"oh yeah... Do you perhaps know some good movies that are currently playing?"

I could quickly recall this from from a few days ago. He was definitely here and he was one of those who said they could take me to bed and show me a good time. Wooow.

I shrugged, "no.. Unfortunately I don't know.. Sorry.."

"would you like to see one with me..?" he asked and I ached my brow. Was this him honestly trying to bed me? Really?

I cleared my throat, "no I'll pass thanks."

"come on.. You'll probably love it. I'll make sure no one is killing anyone. Wouldn't want to scare you."

"like I said no.. I don't like movies. Sorry."

"so.... Okay... What do you like to do?"

"sit... In peace... alone. Get it?"

I heard the rest of his friends chuckle a bit and turned to see them looking at us. They were a bit far, they couldn't have heard that. I looked at this guy and that's when I noticed the walkie talkie he was holding. So he had them listen to what he was saying.

" could you leave me alone..." I said and he smiled, "come on... You can't..."

"I said leave me alone please, unless you want me to report you at the police station.. This is harassment."

He smiled and shifted his jacket on his waist and that's when I noticed a badge. A police badge.

I sighed and lifted my head up, "oh God. You even get harassed by the police in this place."

"I wasn't harassing you.. I was just trying to ask you out.."

"and I said no.. So could you please leave me alone to enjoy my juice."

He clicked his tongue, "but I'm not done talking to you."

I took in one deep breath, took out R30 and put it on the table then collected my things then stood up, "Wooow just when I was enjoying my time alone..." then I left him there.

Of course after closing the door I could hear the darn bells make noise meaning he followed me.

"hey... Are you okay.." another voice asked and I was a just already pissed, "leave me alone please.." I said without even looking at the person that talking. I kept walking and they followed.

"look I'm sorry.. I know these guys can be asseholes... Worse when they see a beautiful woman like you. I tried to stop him and let him leave you alone but..." she spoke and I turned to actually see that it's the woman who's always with the assholes as she calls them. That kinda pissed me off even more.

"people in this town don't know english...huh? Doesn't anyone here understand what a simple 'leave me alone' means?" I asked looking at her and I saw her frown before she lifted both her hands up. "I do understand... Look I'm really sorry I followed you.. I just wanted to make sure that you're okay."

"I'm fine... I can take care of myself..."

She smiled and walked backwards, "of course you can...sorry again..." and she turned back around and the breeze went from her to me.

Then that vanilla scent hit me... My eyes went wide open. God I didn't just become a bitch to someone I have been looking for for a while.

I turned around to look at her and she was out of site.

Fuck!