ENDS

Chapter 55- Replied

He folded the blankets with his sleepy eyes and an unusual ache in his back.

The ache didn't surprise him, what else was he to expect from sleeping on a solid not-so comfortable couch all night.

Iris took the room and he decided to sleep in the living room. It was either that or the floor of the room anyways so he really didn't have much of a choice.

He had a meeting with Mrs. Hao this morning. What he needed was a shower and a little breakfast which he presumed he can get at the café also.

He arched his back a bit to know if he could get a crack that might release the ache but it was to no avail, so he just went ahead with his daily schedule.

The door to the room was closed and he tried knocking to know if she was already up but not properly dressed or if she was sleeping.

After the third knock, he heard her say 'its open' from the inside. Only then did he open the door.

As he guessed earlier, she was still sleeping because the look on her face was obviously that of someone who had been woken up from her sleep.

"Good morning." He said to her first, but she only rolled to the other side of the bed and continued sleeping.

He wasn't sure if the action was still part of ignoring him or she was just extremely exhausted.

Either which way it was, he needed to be out as soon as possible.

He lathered some soap on his body and washed himself down as quickly as he could. The moment he was done, he wiped himself down with the shirt he took off and put his joggers back on.

His clothes were in his bags and he forgot to bring them with him to the bathroom because of his haste.

When he was out of the bathroom, Iris had already gotten up and was straightening out her sheets.

He thought about saying something to her or asking her how her night went but he wasn't quite sure if they were on speaking terms yet.

So, he decided to try his luck.

"Good morning." He repeated hoping that she heard and probably would respond this time.

"Morning." She said quickly while she fluffed her pillows back to shape.

To be honest he was not expecting a response even though he was the one who initiated the speech.

But he was happy he got one.

"If you're down for breakfast maybe I can wait for you so we'd go down to the café together?" he tried his luck again.

And almost immediately she muttered an 'okay'.

He wasn't aware when he let out a smile.

In fact, he wasn't aware how much her words affected him, he didn't realize how much he needed to hear her voice just to brighten up his day.

At least they were out of the ignoring phase and he was happy about that.

"Alright, ill be waiting in the living room" he said and gave her some privacy to clean up and get dressed.

While she was getting ready, he pulled out one file out of the bunch that was sprawled across the table in the center of the living room.

The major file that was designated for their present location.

He looked across the list of names on the paper over and over again, trying to know if maybe he could get a sign or possibly a hint of who it could be.

With each name he pictured the face, with a smile and an ever-warm embrace anytime he needed one.

He couldn't help the feeling of hurt and betrayal that coursed so heavily through his veins that it caused his eyes to sting and his mouth to develop a metallic taste.

At a point he tried to make them forget about this part of the plan, but Mr. Reid was keen on it being the first step to any answers he needed.

Either way this particular chapter went, he was only certain he was going to get his heart broken.

The sound of the room door being jammed closed pushed him back to his surroundings.

He quickly slid the document back into its envelope and held it firmly, he didn't want to leave it behind by mistake.

Hurriedly, he walked up to the front door and held it open so Iris could see it as a cue that he was ready to leave too.

She slowly walked out the door while trying to get her hair into a ponytail.

And Hunter didn't mean to notice it, but he caught a glimpse of her roots and realized how much it skipped his mind that her hair was never black in color but brown.

But he knew that wouldn't be such a nice thing to point out so he just waited for her to step outside and he locked the door behind him.

She walked faster and ahead of him which caused him to accelerate his steps to meet up with her.

"I saw you made a new friend last night." He said trying his luck again with another conversation

And maybe more details about the boy she was with.

Only this time, she ignored him because he was certain she had heard him.

Probably she changed her mind in the shower... he thought to himself.

They got to the café and he ushered her to a seat which she took and was glad she at least didn't sit elsewhere.

He also sat for a while opposite her before asking what she'd like to get ordered.

"plain." She responded and he hopped up as fast as he could to get her coffee delivered to her.

"Morning Tai... I'd like two plain please." Hunter said to Mrs. Hao's daughter who was writing something away in a notepad by the counter.

"oh, my mom said to call her when you're here. Be right back she's in the kitchen" Tai said and disappeared to the back.

She emerged a few seconds later with her mother who was holding an extra apron in her right hand.

"Here." Her mom says and tosses the apron into Hunter's hands.

He was clearly confused and she could see it so she decided to explain her actions.

"I can't just let a stranger go into the back; it'll be suspicious. Today you serve and work to get eyes off people wondering who you might be."

He saw a reasoning to her statement but it doesn't mean he was okay with it.

He didn't have much of a choice anyway.

"Here, take this tray. Use it to deliver the coffee and bring the files." Mrs. Hao added and disappeared into the back again.

Hunter rolled his eyes but went straight to do exactly as asked by wearing the apron on top his clothes and going to give Iris her order.

When he got to the table, he dropped her coffee and slid the file into the tray.

"I might be working today so we may be here a while" he said to her when he saw her looking at him weird.

She only nodded and returned her gaze to outside the window.

Hunter felt bad for leaving her all alone since he was the one who suggested they come out together.

"I can give you the keys so you'd go home once you're done with your drink." He suggested hoping it'll cheer her up.

"Oh... no, my friend would be here in a minute." And not up to a second after she said this, the bells above the doors chimed and the guy she walked with into the restaurant last night walked in.

"Oh... that's why you wanted to come to the café." He said a bit disappointed that its not because of him.

"Yeah, that's why." She replied.