"MA’AM Janessa, somebody is looking for you.”

Janessa arched a brow; she’s not expecting a visitor today. She looked at her wristwatch then turned a wondering look to her café’s supervisor, Fely. “At this time of the afternoon? Who’s that?”

“He didn’t say his name but—”

“Wait, ‘he’?” she cut off, starting to get curious. “He… What does he look like?”

Her employee chuckled. “The man is certainly a drop-dead gorgeous, Ma’am.” Fely suppressed a smile. “He’s tall, golden, and handsome. He has deep-set expressive eyes—”

“All right, I’ll go down. Take him to my meeting table,” Janessa immediately cut her off. Is that Dave? Did he come back? Janessa’s heart jumped at the thought.

After Fely closed the door, Janessa takes a look at herself in the mirror on her desk. She put on some powder and glided a tint in her lips. Her heart started to beat fast. “Did Dave come back?” she hopefully asked. She fixed her messy short hair before deciding to go down in the café. She doesn’t want to look miserable in front of the man.

Janessa descended the stairs slowly. She’s nervous. She doesn’t know what she’s going to say if it’s Dave—her ex-boyfriend—that left her six years ago. Three more steps… She can see a tall man in black long-sleeve polo and white trousers standing near the production’s entrance. The man is busy talking on his phone. Janessa couldn’t tell yet who he is because his back is facing her.

Janessa frowned when the man brushed his hair with his fingers. He’s not Dave, she discreetly commented. Dave never uses his fingers to brush his hair, she added. Before Janessa could reach the last step of the stairs, the man turned around, and their eyes met.

Irritation immediately replaced her excitement. She looked away and intentionally showed her dismay to the man who will surely ruin her day again—the badass doctor of the dead, Ardin Cardiente.

“Expecting someone else?” Ardin sarcastically asked. He’s giving her again an insulting smirk.

Janessa rolled her eyes. “What kind of bad vibes brought you here, Mr. Cardiente?”

Ardin’s brow furrowed. “So, you're not just clumsy; you're forgetful too,” he said.

Janessa glared at him. He’s pissing her off—again. “Did you come here to ruin my day?”

“Before you get annoyed, Miss Bosetti. I want to inform you first that my day was also ruined. And it’s not just a typical day—it’s an important day,” he answered and crossed his muscled arms in his chest.

Janessa couldn't help but stare at his biceps slightly flexing in his fitted curled-up sleeves. "I-I don't care about your important day,” she stuttered and blinked twice to distract herself from the hot view in front of her.

“Well, I care. So, get yourself ready, I don't want my time to be wasted,” he said and strode to the exit.

Janessa was left wondering again, what is he talking about? She asked in her mind. As far as she can remember, their only appointment is the ridiculous cooking tutorial, and that was scheduled next week. But before she could think of an answer to her question, her cell phone rang. She looked at the screen, an anonymous caller registered.

“Don't just stand there, lady. I have a lot of works to do,” said the familiar baritone voice.

“What?” Janessa was puzzled. She looked around the café for Ardin and found him outside, leaning against the back of his car.

Ardin caught her eye and held her stare as if wanting to say something. Janessa felt something strangely familiar inside her chest. A kind of feeling that brought doubts and hesitations to her. She watched Ardin lowered his phone without even waiting for her to speak again. He put his hands in the pocket of his trousers, crossed his legs, and gave her now an impatient look. That pair of marble eyes is giving Janessa a set of different feelings.

Janessa looked away, turned her back to Ardin, and felt the weak thump in her chest. “Why am I feeling this kind of fear just by looking at him?” she asked herself. Why?

*

Ardin watched Janessa looked for him inside her cafe. He doesn’t feel that his time was wasted. He never felt that way from the first time he met her. And this feeling is nostalgic to Ardin. If it weren’t Janessa he would be dating, he might call it off right after the dinner date. But he didn’t, because he wanted to know more about Janessa.

He dated several girls in the past, and all of them are sophisticated and attractive. But they didn’t give Ardin the particular feeling that he’s seeking from a woman. A kind of feeling that will make him consider changing his mind.

“I finally found you again…” he said when Janessa turned her back to him. Even from a distance, Ardin can feel her reluctance. He can read everything in her eyes. Janessa is transparent, and he’s taking it as an advantage to do everything step-by-step.

He was about to enter the café again when his phone rang.

“Did you speak to her?”

“Yeah, she’s coming with me,” he answered.

“That’s good. Don’t rush everything, Ardin. Be gentle to her,” the voice on the phone warned him.

“I know. I won’t do anything that will scare her,” he assures. “She’s here. I’ll call you later.”

And right after he lowered his phone, Janessa approached him. “Is that my Lola?” she asked. “It’s her plan, right?”

Ardin wanted to laugh. “You seemed very sure, woman.”

“Am I right?” Her face is starting to get red in frustration. “She’s manipulating my life.”

“It’s not your Lola Imelda,” he corrected. “You’re overthinking.”

The woman crossed arms and blew her breath. Ardin noticed that she didn’t bother to change her clothes. “Are you saying that this is your plan? I thought your important day was ruined because you are forced to fetch me,” she added, stressing the word ‘important’.

“I don’t remember saying that I was forced to fetch you,” he corrected. “And, you’re coming with me in those clothes?”

Janessa glanced at her black shirt and faded ripped jeans. “Why? Are we going to a party? Should I change to a more fabulous dress?” she asked sarcastically.

“Not really… but—”

“What?” she asked irritably.

“Micrococci bacteria stay longer on Polyester fabrics," he said.

“Micro—what? Can you please speak English?”

Ardin scratched the corner of his brow. “Bacteria in bad odors can grow fast in that kind of fabric.”

Janessa’s expression suddenly changed, she smelled her shirt. “Hey! I took a shower!”

Ardin shook his head. “I didn’t say that you stink—“

“I don’t understand what you were trying to say, Mr. Cardiente,” she cut off and propped her hands on her waist. Obviously, beginning to lose temper again.

Ardin shrugged his shoulders. “I have no time for explanations. See it yourself.”

***