His Roses

Chapter 3

"People might think you're crazy," Sierra said. I didn't expect her to say that. I just told her how I reacted to the customer earlier.

"Maybe that customer won't come back," Sierra added while wrapping the flowers for tomorrow's new display.

"I didn't mean to react that way. I just suddenly felt nervous, even though the customer didn't do anything... except smile at me." Sierra looked at me with disgust and rolled her eyes.

"Girl, he just smiled at you and you're already acting like that? Other customers smile at you too, do you get nervous with them?"

I stopped and thought deeply.

Yeah, maybe I'm just overreacting... But why can't I make eye contact with him, while with others, they're the ones who look away first?

The memory of our eye contact earlier played in my mind. Out of everyone inside the cafe, he was the only one I kept locking eyes with thousands of times, and I, like an i***t as Sierra said, kept looking away and hiding. I looked so stupid.

Then he suddenly looked at me and smiled. I felt like I'd seen him before, like I already knew him... but when? And where?

"Elira... Elira!" I blinked twice and came back to my senses. Sierra was in front of me, waving her hand to catch my attention.

"Ah-oh, what?" I asked, confused.

"Boss is calling you outside. You're daydreaming again."

I quickly stood up and went out of the staff room. Boss was standing near the counter, talking to a young man.

I walked closer and called out, "Boss, why?"

Boss turned to me and so did the man beside him. He was handsome, with a sharp nose, thick eyebrows, and a cross-shaped earring.

"Elira, I'll be gone for three weeks. I'm going to Canada because I have a company collaboration there. You're the only one I trust-and my grandson here..." Boss looked at his grandson and patted his shoulder. The young man stepped closer, smiled, and reached out his hand to me.

My neck hurt, I had to look up because he was so tall.

"Hello, gorgeous. I'm Kyle, nice to meet you," he said. I shook his hand. "Elira... sir." I wasn't sure if I should call him sir since he was the boss's grandson, but he looked around my age.

Kyle chuckled softly before letting go of my hand. I was about to speak when Boss's phone rang. He answered it and excused himself, leaving me and Kyle alone.

It felt awkward. I wasn't good at socializing-that's why Sierra is my only friend.

"It's my first time seeing you, sir," I said, trying to break the silence.

He chuckled and put his hands in his pockets. "It's your first time seeing me, but it's not mine. Actually, it's my fifth time seeing you." He smiled.

My eyes widened. "Huh? Where? When, sir?" I stood up straight and looked directly at him.

That was weird, he had seen me before, but I had never seen him. I must be lucky today, seeing so many handsome guys.

"Here. When I visited Grandpa two years ago. And please, don't call me sir, it's too formal. Just call me Kyle."

I nodded slowly. That made sense I've been working here for three years. But still, it's strange that he came before and I never saw him, not even his back.

"But that's weird, K-Kyle... how come I didn't notice you when you visited?" I was still unsure whether to call him sir or Kyle. I didn't want people to think I was getting close to the boss's grandson for a higher salary. I hate attention, please.

He laughed softly. "Let's just say you were too busy that time, so you didn't notice me." He winked before standing straight.

"I need to go now, I still have a meeting. Talk to you soon, Elira." He waved and left, getting into his fancy car parked outside.

"Okay..." I continued designing the bouquets.

"Bye, Elira! Bye, Sierra!" one of our co-workers shouted, waving before leaving on her boyfriend's motorcycle.

Sierra and I started walking home.

"You're really lucky when you have a boyfriend who picks you up," Sierra said after a few minutes of silence.

I looked at her, frowning. "I thought you said you were independent?" I knew she rolled her eyes again.

"El, just because I'm independent doesn't mean I don't want a boyfriend to pick me up. I also want to experience being treated like a princess, even if I look like a mess." I laughed and shook my head.

Sierra stopped for a moment as we were about to turn toward our building. She looked at me while holding her phone.

"El, you go ahead. I have to meet someone near 7/11. Go to sleep first, okay?" She quickly walked away while talking on her phone.

"Take care!" I said and walked toward the building. But I suddenly stopped when I heard a moaning sound not far away.

I looked around, but I couldn't see where it was coming from. I started shaking and hurried inside the building. I locked the door behind me.

I wasn't worried about letting Sierra in later since we each had our own keys.

I took a shower and ate dinner while watching a movie in our small living room.

After a while, I heard the sound of the key unlocking the door. I looked toward it-the door slowly opened, but...

"Sierra?" I called, because the door opened... yet no one came in. It just opened by itself.