Chapter 3: thoughts
1024 Words
It was another day at the restaurant.
Hazel spotted him again.
Same seat. Same black suit. Same unreadable expression.
Her eyes lingered on him as he sipped his usual — black coffee, no milk, no sugar. He never looked around, never paid attention to the buzzing restaurant. Just sat there, eyes glued to his magazine, posture crisp, unmoved by the world.
Hazel leaned closer to her colleague.
“Kath… do you have any idea who he is?” she asked, barely blinking as her gaze stayed fixed on him.
Katherine followed her line of sight.
“Who?” she asked absently, placing bottles on a tray.
“Him.” Hazel nodded subtly.
“Oh… him.” Katherine smirked, then slowly turned to Hazel with a raised brow.
“You’ve got a little thing for the mysterious man, huh?”
“No—no, of course not.” Hazel scoffed a little too fast. “It’s just… the way he is. He’s always alone. Always the same order.”
Katherine leaned in with a knowing smile.
“Well, I think he’s gay. Which is tragic, honestly. Because that man—” she pointed casually with her chin “—is painfully hot. trust me, every girl here has tried their luck.”
"It’s just… the way he is. Always alone, always black coffee. Never talks. Who is he?”
Katherine leaned on the counter, watching him for a moment before whispering,
“He looks filthy rich, if you ask me. But no one knows a thing about him. He’s never spoken a word to any of us.”
Hazel furrowed her brows. “That’s just… strange.”
Katherine smiled.
“You know the strangest part?”
“What?”
“He only started coming in after you got hired.”
Hazel’s heart skipped slightly.
“You’re joking.”
“Nope.” Katherine winked.
“He came in the exact week you started working here. Creepy, right? Maybe he’s your silent admirer.”
Hazel’s lips parted but no words came. She stared at him again tall, calm, unreadable.
“I don’t know…” Hazel murmured. “There’s something cold about him. Every time our eyes meet, it’s like… I don’t know. I shiver.”
“Well,” Katherine said, lifting her tray. “He hasn’t shown interest in anyone. I even heard Ruby say she tried flirting with him once he didn’t even look at her.”
“He never lets me take his order either,” Hazel said softly.
“Every time I approach, he just raises a hand like I should stay away.”
“Maybe you’re the only one he wants to stay away from.” Katherine chuckled. “Or maybe… you’re the only one he notices.”
Hazel said nothing.
She just kept looking at him.
“Hazel,” a coworker called, snapping her out of her thoughts. “I think someone’s here to see you. He’s seated over there.”
Hazel blinked and turned toward him. The young man wore the same uniform as she did, pointing discreetly toward a table near the far window.
“Okay, okay... thank you,” she replied with a forced smile, brushing her hands over her apron as she weaved through tables.
Her steps slowed when she recognized the figure seated there.
“Ethan?” Her brows furrowed. “What are you doing here?”
He stood a little, smiling nervously. “I just… stopped by to say hi. And I got you something.”
She glanced away quickly, a trace of tension in her posture. “You… you didn’t have to, Ethan.”
“You keep pushing me away, Hazel,” he said quietly. “Is there something I’m doing wrong? I don’t know how else to prove this to you.”
He reached across the table to take her hand — but she pulled it back gently but firmly.
“Stop, Ethan.” Her voice was soft, but the wall in her tone was clear.
“I’m working. You know I really need to work. Please, let's do this some other time”
Ethan looked at her, the faintest trace of hurt flickering across his face. Still, he nodded.
“I should come pick you up afterwards,” he said.
“There’s no need,” she replied. “Really. I’m fine. I can go home on my own.”
“I insist. Please…” he paused, trying to read her guarded expression. “I’ll take your silence as a yes. I’ll be heading out.”
He stood, adjusted his jacket, and quietly exited the restaurant.
Hazel stood still for a moment, trying to steady her thoughts. Then she looked down at the small gift bag he’d left behind. With a sigh, she picked it up and returned to work but her mind was far from the restaurant.
She didn’t want to hurt Ethan — that was never her intention. He was kind, sweet even… but she simply didn’t feel that way about him.
Why won’t he just let me be? she wondered.
He had always been there — steady, supportive, loyal. A good man. The kind of man any woman would be lucky to have. But Hazel didn’t want to settle for something out of guilt. She didn’t want to use someone as a distraction from her pain, or worse, hurt them because she couldn't offer her whole heart.
She liked Ethan. As a friend. Nothing more. Pretending otherwise would only lead to a mess
A small voice echoed in her head — her mother’s.
“You should give Ethan a chance. Let someone love you.”
If only it were that simple.
Keeping Ethan around made her mother happy. It made her feel like Hazel was trying to move on.
That maybe she’d finally find someone, settle down, start over. But Hazel knew the truth. Deep down, her heart still ached from a wound that hadn’t healed. She wasn’t ready. And she couldn’t pretend to be not again.
With a deep breath, she pushed the thoughts aside, straightened her shoulders, and tucked the gift bag beneath the counter in the staff area.
- Writer
