SpecialTea For You // L. Ackerman

Chapter 1: Flashback

*10 Years Ago:*

It was midnight, and rain cascaded like a symphony of drums on rooftops. Bolts of lightning split the sky, igniting the darkness with thunderous roars. My fear of lightning held me captive in the waking world, prompting me to seek refuge in a secret room only I had ever ventured into. A sanctuary for moments of sadness, fear, and loneliness.

Before opening the door to that haven, a loud slam echoed from downstairs, jolting me from my nightly ritual. Clutching a pot from the drawer, I descended cautiously. As I reached the lower steps, a black shadow cowered beneath the counter, inducing a tremor of fear, a ghostly pursuit my mind concocted.

[Alyana's POV]

"Oh God, what is it?" I whispered, my mind racing. "No. It's fine, Alyana. Calm down," I urged myself, attempting to quell the shivers coursing through me. "Dammit! Stop trembling!" I scolded myself, hitting my knees in an attempt to silence the quivers.

In the direction of the black figure, I stumbled on the last step of the stairs, falling to my knees. As I looked up, the black figure's eyes pierced mine, observing me as if gazing into my soul.

Before I could scream, the figure pulled me to the corner of the counter, covering my mouth. Upon opening my eyes, I found a boy, nearly my age, with pale skin, raven hair, piercing greyish-silver eyes, and an expressionless face. In black pants and a white long-sleeved shirt with a sleeveless brown cloth, he exuded an enigmatic presence.

Outside, men with green capes and 3DMG were fervently searching for the boy, their hoods obscuring their faces. A tall man with blond hair's familiar voice commanded, "You, search on the left and you, on the right. Find him before dawn. Do I make myself clear?" He asked his comrads, and they replied with a salute. But then I asked myself, "Could it be Dad?"

The men with green capes dispersed, leaving us in silence. The boy released his hands from covering my mouth. "Haaa... *panting*," he sighed, leaning against the counter's wall.

Breaking the silence, I asked, "How did you even get in here?" A "tch" escaped his lips as he ran his fingers through his wet hair. "So noisy," he said, standing up, ready to leave.

I grabbed his wrist, discovering wetness beneath his sleeves. "You're bleeding!" I squealed, pulling him to a chair. Retrieving a med-kit, I tended to his small yet deep wound, a silence enveloping us. "Why were they looking for you? Are you perhaps a thug?" I asked, trying to break the silence. "None of your business," he replied annoyingly.

Standing up in defeat, I went to my kitchen and decided to make hot tea for him. When I looked back, he was gone. Following water dripping down my stairs, I found him on my second-floor couch, sleeping. Placing the tea on a nearby table, I walked to my room for a change of clothes and a towel. Returning, I dropped the towel on his head. "Go dry yourself and change," I instructed.

Minutes after, he went out wearing a grey hoodie and blak pajamas. "Sorry, that's the only men's clothes I can get from my closet," I said. "At least it smells like detergent. Still better than nothing." he replied, sitting beside me on the sofa. He reached out for the cup, took a sipped, and I caught him widening his eyes a bit in surprise.

"How was it? It's the first tea I've ever made," I nervously asked. "It's fine. Better than nothing." he replied, then continued with another sip. "Really!? That's great! I will add this to my menu." I exclaimed, giggling like a child. "Tch, you're so noisy," he remarked while I continued giggling.

As the night wore on, I made the unconventional decision to allow the boy to rest on my second-floor couch. Despite the common sense urging caution, especially for a woman alone, an unanticipated sense of ease surrounded us. It was almost as if we shared a preexisting connection, defying the notion of us being strangers. In him, I intuited a genuine goodness that eased any apprehensions.

Next Morning:

[The Boy's POV]

I woke up hearing her footsteps downstairs. I went down to see what she was up to, smelling the aroma of tea as she made it with elegant precision. She was beautiful. The air made her hair sway gently as she tucked a strand behind her ear. Observing a necklace hanging down her neck, I unintentionally muttered, "How beautiful."

She noticed me and said, "Good morning, want some tea?" I nodded, sitting in a chair near the opened windows of her café. Feeling refreshed as the air passed through my face, I sat back, taking in the moment. "I'm planning to open this café when I have enough goods to serve. Do you want to help me here?" she asked, placing my tea on the table as she sat in front of me.

I did not respond; instead, I looked at her. She was smiling at the skies as sunlight touched her rosy cheeks. "Are you hiring me? I asked. "Only if you want to." She smiled.

"My name is Alyana, what's yours?" she asked.

"Levi. Just Levi," I replied.

As time slipped away, we found ourselves immersed in months of crafting and refining the offerings for her café. Despite my aversion to sugary treats, together, we completed an entire menu. Somewhat unexpectedly, I agreed to work for her, driven more by a lack of alternatives and the perpetual pursuit I found myself entangled in. The plan was simple: earn some money and eventually resume my nomadic lifestyle. That's what I had in mind.

As our preparations reached fruition, we stood on the cusp of revealing her café to the world. Beyond just managing, I took on the role of a waiter while she worked her magic in the kitchen. Almost a year into our partnership, the café soared to newfound heights, becoming the talk of the town within the walls.

[End of Chapter 1]