Chapter 4: Someone new

It was an another day at one of Mia's part time job in the cafe, her body still ached and her cuts and wound left a scar like her old ones, she look drained and exhausted no light or spark in her eyes. Clover her boss walked towards her "Mia can you mop the floor I have to drop by somewhere". "yeah of course" Mia tried to smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. It trembled , fragile, like it might break at any second. "thank you I'm heading out now please look after the shop for me, bye" as she said while headed out the door. She continued her work soon after Clover left.

 After a minute or so the door opened with a soft chime, and Mia looked up out of habit.

A man walked in -tall at least more than 6ft, black hair, dressed in a black coat, his expression unreadable he give off like he was someone powerfull with cold aura surrounding him. His steps were calm and confident, like he didn’t care who noticed him, but somehow, everyone did.

His face was sharp, serious. No smile, no polite nod. Just cold, black eyes that looked around once before landing on me.

He walked straight to the counter.

“One black coffee,” he said. His voice was low and steady.

“C-coming right up,” Mia replied, trying not to stare too long.

As she handed him the cup, our fingers brushed for a second. He didn’t flinch, didn’t react—but something about the way he looked at me felt… intense, he looked at my still not healed small cut and a small black and purple bruise for a good minute with a frown.

He eventually took the coffee, paid in card, and walked to the corner table without another word.

She watched him sit down, still quiet, still unreadable. Something about him felt out of place—but also like he was exactly where he was meant to be.

And she had a feeling this wasn’t the last time she'd see him.

Mia brushed it off she had other things she should be worried about, her shift was nearly ending and had to go home where there was someone she clearly wasn't looking forward to. The handsome man earlier had already left, by the time Mia's shift was over Clover came back just in time.

Mia had to stop by at the shop to get some groceries and make food for her dad, she quickly got the stuff headed straight home hopping not to be late, so she doesn't get all beaten up like last time.

Mia clutched the grocery bag to her chest as she hurried down the sidewalk, her thin jacket barely holding off the evening chill. The sky was already dimming, and the cold wind made her eyes sting. She didn’t check her phone—she already knew she was going to be late

Her heart pounded harder with every step toward home.

By the time she reached the apartment building, her fingers were numb. She fumbled with the keys at the front door, her hands shaking, either from the cold or the fear—or both.

She stepped inside, locking the door quietly behind her.

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