The bell chimed as a lady standing 5 feet 5 inches entered the café. She gave out a small smile to the staff who greeted her.
"Lime"
A familiar male voice called out to her, catching her attention. Her eyes landed on the man who was wearing casual clothes that was sitting at the corner of the room.
"It's good to see you again, Lieutenant Kim" Lime said as she sat across the man.
"Hey, I am not on duty, look I'm wearing my casual clothes," he said, matter-of-factly. "I ordered your favorite coffee, I hope you don't mind." He said before taking a sip of his drink.
"Still the same Kiro" She shook my head as she held her coffee cup.
Lieutenant Kiro Kim was Lime's partner before when she was still working as a detective. They were competitors at first and kept on banging heads whenever there is a case. However, in a special case 3 years ago, they were assigned to work together. Ever since then, they became inseparable, and even though Lime already left the force Kiro still kept bugging her, persuading her to go back.
" What is your business with me? It is unusual for you to call me on such short notice" Kiro hates abrupt plans especially if they could be scheduled ahead of time. He is obsessed with keeping his schedule organized.
" I'll cut to the chase, I know how impatient you are." He cleared his throat " Mr. Lee escaped the prison 2 days ago. There was a riot at the prison and some inmates escaped including him."
The news kept her silent and her eyes glued to her brewed coffee, slowly processing the news. She cannot help but heave a sigh. Is this why she's been feeling uneasy these past few days?
"Any leads?"
"They are still on a manhunt." He crossed his arms " That guy is a tough nut, such a headache!" He exclaimed as his brows furrowed.
"Don't worry, with you on their team I know you can locate him soon. Just make sure you do it sooner" Her voice laced with finality. They knew how troublesome it is if Lee is out there on the loose. His case was a special one. Not the ordinary case that you see every day. It was morbid and horrifying.
"This is the time where the force misses you and your skills"
She gave him a small smile. Back when she was still working, everyone looked at her for her sharp abilities and resolved. They even called her Ms. Sherlock which Lime just brushed off, she perceives herself as nothing but a normal detective with average skills, it's just luck is always by her side when she needed it the most.
"Anyways, how are things here in your new town?"
"Everything's doing okay. Actually, there's a rumor in this town." That caught the full attention of Kiro which made her smile. He might be a strict officer but he loves listening to juicy gossip. " I heard from the old couple that lives next to me that this town is special."
"Special? How?" Kiro asked curiously.
She signaled Kiro to come closer as she leaned forward, and whispered, "According to them a lot of unexplainable and mysterious things happen here since this town was believed to have been blessed and guarded by a deity."
Kiro looked at her with disbelief "And you believe that?"
Lime shrugged "All I know is ever since I came to this town nothing happened but good."
"Since you've become a writer you started to believe nonsensical things," he said while shaking his head. Kiro is a person whom you can call a believer of the 'to see is to believe' quote. Unless he has seen it with his own eyes he won't trust your words.
Both of them continued to spend their day catching up together until it was already time for him to go back to the city. It was already dark outside and she was on her way home when she met the couple who lives next door.
"Good evening" Lime politely greeted them and looked at the paper bags they were holding. "Grocery shopping?" They nodded and gave her a warm smile. This is one of the reasons why Lime chose this town. It is a quiet and small neighborhood. In such a short time she already knew almost half of its residents.
"Yes, my wife here keeps on nagging me to cook her chicken porridge." The old man said which made his wife hit him on the arm. "What?"
"When did I nag you? You offered" Lime cannot help but feel envious of their little squabble. Love, as they have, is rare these days. Everyone would trade anything to get what they have right now. "How about you?" The lady asked.
"Oh, I just spent some time at the café. Let me help you with your bags" She graciously offered to carry their bags and walked with them side by side.
"You're pretty young my dear, don't you have any boyfriend?"
Her husband's light tugging on her arm did not pass her sight.
"Honey, leave her be. That is a private matter"
"Shut it! I just want to know since most of the time she's caught up in her house. I'm worried that she won't be able to marry in the future."
"I don't have any boyfriend" Which is true. She is now 28 years old and all those years she hadn't got herself a lover or anything that sort. Fully preoccupied with her studies back in college and work when she finally graduated. There are times when she started to question her life choices. Oh well, there's no use crying on spilled milk.
"Well..Actually" the lady smiled sweetly " We have a grandson that lives in the city. He is very handsome, kind and rich" when she mentioned the word 'rich' she winked her eye and gave a thumbs up.
"Maybe soon. After I am done with my new book I will meet him" the lady did a victory dance and all her husband can do is shake his head and give an apologetic look.
"I know my wife can be nosy at times," he whispered and looked lovingly at his wife as he continue "but she only means well." He gave out a soft chuckle "Don't worry our grandson is quite the catch."
The whole walk home was filled with stories about their grandson and how eager they were for them to meet. Lime can't help but shake her head and laugh it off. Maybe once she's in the mood she'll give in to their wish, going on a blind date set up by two old people might not be that bad.
After a refreshing bath, she took the liberty to grab herself a can of beer and sat on the sofa. In the middle of opening the can her phone rang. Lime sighed when she saw who the caller is. It's Lisa, her editor and she's been bugging Lime about the manuscript of her new book.
"Hell-"
"LIME!! OH MY GOSH! You finally answered my calls. Are the manuscripts done?"
"Yes, ma'am. You can attend my book signing event without any worries."
"Take a rest and don't you dare drink a beer before sleeping" She snickered. Well, her, on the phone won't stop her from drinking.
"Yes don't worry. See you tomorrow" She immediately ended the call and had her alone time. Her first sip of beer made her smile as she felt her muscles relax from the taste. She rested her head against the headrest and her gaze suddenly fell on the large bookshelf on her left. It is where she put all of her work. Both unfinished and published.
After taking another sip, Lime stood up and scanned her bookshelf. Silently deciding on which one she should read. Her finger settled on the book in her far right corner. She read the title and remembered that this was her first story since she moved in town.
Lime grabbed the book and placed it on her coffee table. Feelings of nostalgia crept into her system when she started to flip those pages. After a few trips down memory lane, she felt sleepy. Drinking the last of her beer, she made her way to her bed and stared at her ceiling covered with glow-in-the-dark stars. She reached out her hands.
"I hope you're still guiding my way, my lucky star"
she mumbled before drifting to sleep.
***
"I have been your fan since your first book" squealed a little girl in her school uniform. Lime already knew that this little fan of hers skipped school to attend her event. She wanted to be happy for an avid fan like her but the thought of her skipping classes bugs her.
"Thanks but I would be really sad if you will continue to skip classes because you wanted to be at my book signing events" she lightly reminded her. She might sound like a nosy mom but this is for her. Education is power!
"Aye aye, ma'am" she gave a snappy salute and then left the line.
"Double time, missy. You have a long line, your fans might catch cold outside." Lisa whispered which made her look at the long line up ahead. Being a successful writer is both a blessing and a curse indeed.
After a couple of hours more, finally, she signed the last book. At last! Lime shook her hands up in the air and did a little stretch. All that writing, sitting, and smiling burnt her out today.
"Good job, Lime!" a can of beer and a box of chicken landed in front of her "a reward for your hard work"
"Chicken and beer!" This is life! Nothing is more rewarding for a hard day's work than chicken and beer.
"Join me, Lisa. Let's have a slumber party at my house"
"No thanks," she fixed her glasses and gave out 'the smirk' which she knew so well. It only means that she has business with his boyfriend this evening. Her mouth formed an 'o' and nodded, Lime don't want to be a bother on such a special evening. Who knows there might be a little Lisa running around soon.
"I'll have my fun tonight" she winked at her and playfully catwalks towards the exit. Lime laughed at her because she absolutely flopped that walk.
Her gaze fell on the chicken and beer beside her. She lightly tapped the box " Well it seems that it's me and you guys tonight"
Lime dragged herself into the parking lot, each step filled with stress and fatigue. She cannot wait to go home and toast herself for a job well done.
"Let's go home little old single me"
The drive home was the same. The night is just extra quiet tonight. Somehow, after she made the turn on the curb at the right side of the convenience store she started feeling uneasy. Usually, when her gut tells her something is wrong it's correct. She started to slow down and keeps on glancing at her surrounding. While doing so, she sent an 'SOS' message to Kiro along with her home address and location.
Stopping in front of her house was very tense. Her eyes are keenly observing. Yes, her neighborhood is friendly but it has its own creepiness especially since there are a lot of dim streets near her house.
Unmoving and quiet, that is what she was doing for a minute. When nothing seems to be happening her tensed muscles relaxed a bit. "I might be paranoid!" Lime fetched her phone from the shotgun seat and started to text Kiro when a bright light suddenly focused in her direction.
She tried to protect her eyes, shielding them with her hands as Lime tried to see what is happening. It seems that it's a truck's headlight. She tried to squint her eyes to see the driver's face but the lights are blinding her sight.
When she saw the truck starts moving toward her, Lime immediately tried to remove her seatbelt to only know that it was stuck. "Dammit!" She tried one more time but it won't budge. All she could do was shield his head with her arms as she felt the impact.
Lime was lying against the car seat, motionless, unable to feel her body and her eyes are starting to close when she felt a shiver down her spine as she vividly saw the grin on the driver's face. Lime tried to have a clear view of the culprit's face but it was too hazy. Darkness soon dawned on her consciousness.