Scars of Time

Chapter 3: "Meeting Time"

Jo's POV

Can you believe the audacity of this guy! Who does he think he is, making advances on me when I’m already with Alex? I was just about to tell him that when Maya stepped in.

“Absolutely, we are more than happy to join you,” she said with enthusiasm.

“Fantastic. Allow me to accompany you to this remarkable place. They are famous for serving the best...”

“I’m sorry, sir,” I cut him off, trying to find a way out, “but we really can’t leave the counter unattended for long. We’ll have to decline.”

But with that same confident smile, he responded, “I’ll make sure you’re back in time for your shift.”

Maya was all too eager to agree, leaving me with no choice but to go along with it, even though every instinct screamed at me not to.

It wasn't just his words that bothered me. It was the way he looked at me. His eyes lingered too long, too intense, as if he was seeing something in me that I didn't want him to. There was something in his gaze; something unsettling, overwhelming, that made my skin prickle with discomfort. I wasn't doing anything wrong, but the weight of his stare made me feel like I was.

The car was luxurious, almost too much. I shifted in the back seat, trying to find a comfortable position, all the while worried that my shoes would dirty the pristine interior. Maya, of course, took the front seat confidently, leaving me in the back with him.

I could feel his eyes on me the entire time, even though I acted indifferent. He wasn’t trying to hide it. He just watched me. Every shift in my seat, every slight movement, he took it in like I was something precious. And it made my heart race in all the wrong ways.

Why does he keep looking at me like that?

I tried to act normal, tried to ignore him, but his gaze was too heavy. Too intimate. It was like he was searching for something in me, something deeper than I was willing to show. I just wanted to get back to work and forget this strange interaction ever happened.

When we arrived at the restaurant, it was clear this wasn’t an ordinary place. It was grand, sophisticated, and way out of my comfort zone. The kind of place where you felt like you didn’t belong unless you were dripping in wealth. I barely glanced at the menu, just picked the first thing he suggested so I could get this over with.

"Jo, trust me, you have to try this,” he said suddenly, offering me a piece of meat from his plate like we were close friends. I shot him a skeptical look, wondering where he got the idea that we were on such familiar terms

“My name is Josephine,” I corrected, forcing a smile, trying to keep the conversation professional.

“I noticed everyone calls you Jo,” he replied, undeterred, that soft smile still playing on his lips. “So I thought…”

“Yes, my friends call me Jo. I would appreciate it if you addressed me by my full name, sir.”

“Time,” he said.

“Huh?”

“My name. It’s Time.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. Time? What kind of name is that? But then again, it suited him; strange, enigmatic, and impossible to grasp. When he extended his hand for a handshake, I hesitated, but took it out of politeness. Yet, as soon as his hand touched mine, it wasn’t a handshake. It felt more like… a gentle caress. His thumb brushed my skin, lingering for a beat too long, and I pulled away, heart pounding.

His stare was unrelenting, like he was memorizing me, and the worst part was, I could feel a small, guilty part of myself reacting to it. Not because I liked it, but because it made me feel exposed, like I was being seen in a way Alex had never looked at me. And that terrified me.

Suddenly, my phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw the contact name: My A❤️. His eyes flickered with recognition as I excused myself, leaving the table. Maya, ever the helpful one, told him, “That’s her boyfriend.”

Thank God.

The relief I felt was immediate. Maybe now he would back off. I excused myself, practically fleeing the table, hoping the distance would help me breathe again.

“Hey, babe.”

“Hi, my love. What are you doing?”

“Nothing much. Just had lunch. What about you?”

“I just finished eating too, and I wanted to hear your voice before I grabbed a coffee.”

“Aww, you missed me already?”

“Always. Have you eaten?”

“I was in the middle of it when you called.”

“You’re with Maya?”

“Yes, we’ll head back soon.” My heart stuttered in my chest as I said it. Why? Why did I feel like I had to lie? It wasn’t even a lie...just a detail left out. Alex wouldn’t be upset if he knew, so why was I hiding the fact that a client had taken us to lunch?

“Alright, finish up, don’t stay hungry. Talk soon?”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I hung up, and instead of feeling better, guilt gnawed at me. For the first time in our relationship, I wished Alex had ended the call sooner. Normally, I loved chatting with him during my breaks, but today? Today, I just wanted the conversation to end.

When I returned to the table, the energy had shifted. Maya and Time were silently eating, the earlier banter gone. The silence was almost suffocating, and I could tell that something had changed. He was making good on his promise to get us back in time for our shift, but there was a heaviness about him now.

He looked... sad.

Like the news that I had a boyfriend had genuinely hurt him.

I didn’t care about him, not like that, but the idea that I had caused someone pain, even unintentionally, sat uneasily with me. Maybe I should have been clearer from the start, told him directly that I was in a relationship.

But he’ll get over it.

A guy like him?

With his looks and charm?

He probably has five girls lined up waiting for his attention.

Then again... so does Alex.

My heart twisted at the thought. Alex is just as handsome, just as charming, and I know women must flirt with him all the time. What if one of them catches his eye? What if one of them makes him feel the way this stranger tried to make me feel today?

I needed to call Alex again. Just to remind him about his lovely girlfriend.

..............

Alex's POV

"Hey, my love."

"Babe, who are you with right now?" Her voice came from the other side, rushed. No hi. No nothing.

I frowned slightly, pulling the phone away to check the screen. Same number. Same contact photo. But something was off.

"I'm alone. Why?"

"Why are you lying? I can hear you driving. That means you must have a customer with you. Who is she? Is she pretty?"

I blinked. Huh. Is Jo being jealous?

I shook my head, a slow smile spreading across my face. She'd never been like this before. Never accusatory. Never worried. It was almost... cute.

"I'm on my way to pick up someone, but right now? I'm alone." I paused, tapping the steering wheel. "And even if I wasn't, she wouldn't be pretty. Not compared to you."

"I have a question." Her voice was flat. Serious. No playfulness in it at all.

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

"Do you think there are at least five girls who have a crush on you?"

I blinked again. Five girls? Where is this coming from?

I couldn't help but chuckle. "What kind of question is that?"

"Just answer it."

Her tone was clipped. Impatient. Like she was holding her breath, waiting for me to say something that would hurt her.

I grinned to myself, deciding to tease her a little. "I can't say if it's five, but I'm pretty confident there's at least one person with a huge crush on me."

"And who's that?!" Her voice pitched higher. Panicked. Almost accusatory.

She's really worried, I realized. She actually thinks there might be someone else.

"She's someone who loves me so much, she even calls me while she's supposed to be at work, risking everything just to check if I'm behaving."

There was a pause. A beat of silence. Then...

"Jerk. I almost had a heart attack." Her voice relaxed. She was laughing now, but I could still hear the remnants of fear beneath it.

I laughed too, though my mind was still turning. Something happened today. Something made her feel insecure. I need to ask her about it later.

"Don't worry. Even if someone did like me, I wouldn't notice. My attention's only on you."

"Good answer. Now I'm hanging up before I get caught on my phone at work."

The call ended abruptly. I stared at the screen for a moment, still smiling.

She was jealous. She was actually jealous.

I'd never seen her like that before. She was always so steady. So sure. But today? Today she was counting women. She was worried about them.

I made a mental note to bring it up tonight. To hold her. To remind her that she had nothing to worry about.

Then my phone buzzed again.

"There's really no one else in the car," I answered playfully.

"I know. I just forgot to say I love you!"

Her voice was softer now. Warmer. The fear was gone.

I couldn't help but smile. "Love you too."

She hung up, and I sat there for a moment, the grin still on my face.

She loves me, I thought. She actually loves me.

I pulled the car forward, the thought lingering.

God, she's adorable. It's funny how she gets jealous, even though she knows she's the only one I think about all day long. She has this way of making me feel like the luckiest guy in the world, even with her bouts of jealousy.

I filed the thoughts away and pulled up to the address.

As I pulled up, I noticed someone approaching the car. What threw me off was that they got into the front seat.

Most people, especially women, choose the back seat.

Odd. But maybe she just didn't like the idea of sitting in the back.

“Where to, ma’am?”

She smiled, brushing off my formal tone. “I’m open to exploring new flavors. So why don’t you take me to your favorite coffee shop?”

Okay, that wasn’t a normal request. “You’re not from around here, are you?” I asked. “I can recommend some good spots.”

Her response was calm, as if this kind of thing was completely natural. “Sure, take me wherever you want to eat.”

Now I was sure this was getting weird. Was she joking? Or was she just… strange?

“Have you heard of Rose’s Cakes? It’s nearby, and they’re famous for their sweets.”

“Great. I told you, I’m down for wherever you like to eat.”

I turned slightly, catching a glance at her. Was she being serious? People don’t usually ask their drivers to pick a place and eat together. Was she messing with me, or was she actually… a little off?

I stared ahead, focusing on the road. Maybe she was just eccentric. I’d had my fair share of odd customers before, but this one seemed particularly determined to make things feel… personal. But I had to admit, her nonchalant attitude threw me off more than anything.

“So...you’re not from around here?” I asked, keeping the conversation light but trying to figure out what was going on.

She looked over at me, her smile not faltering. “Nope. But I trust your judgment, Alex.”

My grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. How did she know my name? I'm sure I hadn’t introduced myself.

I turned my head to get a better look at her, and that’s when it hit me. I did know her. It just took a moment to register.

“Hope??” I blurted out, completely surprised.

Her smile widened. “Finally. I thought you’d forgotten me.”

I stared at her, still trying to reconcile how different she looked. “You look so…”

“Beautiful?” she suggested, raising an eyebrow.

“Different,” I corrected, and she seemed to deflate a little. “But yeah, beautiful too, I guess.”

"Thanks...I guess." She laughed softly, and I joined in, though my mind was racing. The last time I saw her, she had been… well, not like this. Now she was full of life, confident, and clearly in a better place.

I found myself wondering what had changed her so completely.