Just like every day at the cosy Eternal Ember Tavern, Selina busied herself with her usual tasks, moving from table to another to take orders. As she walked past both familiar and new faces, she maintained a neutral expression in the warm atmosphere created by the customers.
With a tray of steaming porridge balanced in her hands, the creamy sauce aroma wafted past her, reminding her of how excellent their local pub was in their cuisine. She approached the man, a woman, and a little kid sitting at table seven, who seemed like a family.
With practised precision, she lowered the tray and carefully placed their orders before them. "Here's your potato soup. I hope you enjoy your meal and consider visiting us again," she said in a warm yet professional tone.
The woman at the table flashed her a smile. "We'll try it and see if we feel like coming back."
Selina adjusted the round glasses perched on the bridge of her nose, their frame adding to her nerdy charm. "I assure you, once you taste our dishes, you won't be able to resist coming back. They're simply unmatched."
The man sitting across from his wife and daughter gave a slight nod. "Okay, Miss."
She hummed in response, with her gaze lingering on the family.
The woman gently lifted her steaming bowl to her lips, blowing softly to cool it, before offering a spoonful to the child beside her.
"Eat slowly, dear," the man murmured, pushing a half cup of water toward the little girl, who nodded obediently.
A faint smile touched Selina's lips. The scene evoked a familiar, stirring memory of when her parents cared and cherished her. But those memories had long become distant, fleeting pieces of a past she could no longer grasp.
Her life was gradually growing cold without having that bond she had desired for so long with her family. If she couldn't have her own family's love, then at least life could be kind to offer her an unwavering love, a bond built on trust, passion, and a home filled with warmth.
Would that be too much to hope for? Would such a love ever be hers with the one she likes?
Selina sighed, tracing invisible patterns on her tray.
Lost in thought, she couldn't notice the little girl watching her. When their eyes met, the child grinned while her tiny white teeth flashing in delight.
The warmth of that simple expression pulled her back to the present. She smiled and winked at the girl before turning away, carrying that fleeting warmth with her to the next table.
As she approached, the quiet hum of conversation from nearby caught her attention. She halted mid-step behind them.
"Are you girls going to pretend you haven't heard the latest buzz in town?" asked a female customer, flashing a confused look at her companions.
The table perked up. "What news? Did anything huge happen?"
"You could say that! He is back in the country!" the second woman exclaimed, excitement creeping into her voice.
"Who are you referring to?" came an immediate response from the third lady.
"Zane! He's throwing a welcoming party tonight!"
The shocking news caused others around them to widen their eyes in surprise while Selina's heart raced rapidly once again.
She hadn't expected his return to become today's hot topic at the tavern which she had deliberately refrained from checking the news and focused instead on her tasks. Her smile widened as exhilaration surged through her, cutting through her restraint.
Without hesitation, she moved from her spot, their conversation fading behind her. She approached the counter and grabbed her handbag from its safe corner.
Selina sneakily made her way to the backyard with her unusual reaction that caught the attention of one of the female staff. Quietly, she closed the door behind her and leaned against the concrete wall, pulling out her phone.
She logged into Twitter and began browsing. Within moments, she came across articles about Mr. Zane's return.
Her breath caught midway in her throat as she swiftly covered her mouth with her palm to stifle an excited yelp.
He was truly back! She would no longer yearn for his return with unnecessary worries.
While her blissful eyes remained glued to the screen, she scrolled through articles featuring photos of a dashing and enigmatic young man clad in a tailored black suit. The captivating man had just emerged from the international airport, captured by a lucky paparazzo.
Since there was little information available about him, she didn't hesitate to save some stunning photos in her gallery. She was uncertain how long this news would stay relevant, given Mr. Zane's mysterious nature.
Selina marvelled at her crush's striking physique. "How can someone be so incredibly charming and perfectly masculine? Gosh!" she mumbled, nibbling her bottom lip as she felt her cheeks warming up.
He seemed just as gentle as the first time they met. But her smile faded as a troubling thought crossed her mind. What if he had returned with a well-matched partner?
Someone wealthy like him could have a potential girlfriend.
Her fingers scrolled faster through the articles, seeking distraction. After browsing through several articles, she stumbled upon a comments section where women shared their fantasy, much like her own.
She felt relieved. There was no news about him being taken.
Unbeknownst to her, still engrossed in admiration, her best friend quietly stepped out the back door. As she approached, craning her neck to see what had captured Selina's attention, Selina remained unaware.
A goofy smile spread across her friend's lips at the sight of the striking photos. "What's the latest news?" she whispered in Selina's ear.
Selina yelped as she startled with her phone almost slipping from her hand. "Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed, widening her eyes.
A deep frown followed as she realised who it was.
It was her best friend, Annabelle.
Annabelle wrapped a hand across her chest. "What have you so enthralled?"
"What?" Selina murmured, her lashes fluttering as if she'd misheard. "Oh… I was just checking if they accepted my submission," she said, injecting a hint of seriousness into her tone to sidestep Annabelle's suspicion.
Annabelle arched a dubious eyebrow at her flushed cheeks. "Did you get accepted? When will the interview be?" she interrogated, her tone oscillating between playful and serious.
Selina pressed the button on the side of her phone, making the screen go blank. "Uh…they haven't sent a response yet," she said, slipping the phone behind her back.
"I hope you get accepted soon. But that doesn't mean you can slack off here instead of serving customers," Annabelle uttered with a stern expression.
"Who says I'm slacking off?" Selina shot back. "I was checking if that, but then I thought I should check out for some home appliances since our laundry machine is on the fritz and the online discounts are much better than at the mall. And what else…?" She paused, glancing up at the dazzling sky.
Trying to sound casual, she concocted the story without revealing the truth.
Annabelle couldn't believe Selina was still attempting to deny her feelings when it was clear she was bad at it. She cut through Selina's haze. "We fixed that."
"Yeah, we did," Selina mumbled, looking away from Annabelle with a twisted face.
"Come on, Selina. Don't be shy. You've had a crush on him for ages. Now that he's back, maybe you'll finally get the chance to talk to him."
Nibbling on her bottom lip in embarrassment that Annabelle had caught her, Selina's cheeks flushed red.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her voice barely a whisper. "You think so?"
Annabelle nodded affirmatively. "I know so, because you two would make a great couple. You just need to take a chance and talk to him."
"But… Anna, I don't think he will want a girl like me. A girl whose life is already messy," Selina confessed, a mix of hope and uncertainty swirling in her voice.
Even if their worlds were apart and her appearance might be unattractive, she only wished that he'd remember the waitress he never noticed.
Sensing her best friend's insecurities, Annabelle cupped Selina's cheeks, her gentle eyes locking with hers. "Your life isn't messy, best. And even if it is, we can still fix it. Everything will get back to normal soon."
Selina let out a weary sigh. "Maybe I should keep waiting for his return here."
"Don't worry. He'll find you someday, just like the prince found Cinderella," Annabelle said with conviction.
Selina scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Are you trying to feed me more hope?"
Annabelle forced a valid smile. "Don't you believe in this fortune-teller?"
"No, she's just as delusional as I am," Selina taunted as Annabelle withdrew her hand, wearing an awkward yet stern expression.
Suddenly, the creaking sound of the back door opening pulled Selina and Annabelle into a serious posture. They both directed their stare toward the door, hoping it wasn't their boss, as they watched the door fully open.
It was just another staff member.
Annabelle sighed in relief.
"Selina, a young man is looking for you," the staff member informed, causing Selina and Annabelle to exchange puzzled glances.