William opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling of his room. He was slightly out of breath. He then sat up on his bed. William swallowed his saliva to calm himself down after the horrible childhood memories appeared in his dreams.
"Damn woman," William cursed.
William grabbed his cell phone and looked at the clock on his phone. It was 6.00 AM. William finally got up from his bed and stepped into the bathroom to clean his body.
William returned from his bathroom after ten minutes had passed. He then straightened his appearance in front of the mirror in his room. William was silent for a moment when he saw his reflection in the mirror and frowned.
"I think I look a little different," William muttered.
Two days of not getting his hair done in the style William used to wear in Manhattan made him feel a little different. William's appearance looked much more relaxed than when managing a hotel in Manhattan.
Even the expression on his face, which had always looked like someone grumpy, now looked friendlier. William chuckled and turned his back to the mirror. "Maybe it's just me."
William finally walked away from his room. He would start the day again by walking to D'Amelie's restaurant and helping Esmee carry groceries for the restaurant.
Along the cobblestone streets he passed, William began to get used to smiling at the locals he met. He even had time to help an older man who almost fell because of the slippery road.
"You have to be more careful," William said as he helped the old man into the chair in front of his house.
"Thank you so much for helping me. What's your name?"
"I'm William. I work at D'Amelie," William answered.
"Oh, that's why I saw you with Esmee yesterday. I thought you two were dating," said the old man.
The older man who William helped then introduced himself. "I'm Michel. I've lived here long enough. I know the first owner of D'Amelie's restaurant."
William nodded. "Esmee said her grandfather took the restaurant's name from her grandmother's."
Michael laughed. "It used to be very crowded. I even worked in the kitchen of the restaurant. I'm sad to see Esmee struggle to keep the restaurant."
William sighed after hearing Michel's words. "Then I've got to go. Esmee needs some help setting up the restaurant."
Michel nodded. "Say hello to Esmee. Maybe I'll drop by."
William nodded while smiling at Michel. He then continued his steps towards D'Amelie's restaurant. William was surprised that he didn't meet Esmee on the street.
"Where is that girl? Why didn'tI meet her?" William thought.
William made a short stop around the corner towards D'Amelie's restaurant. He looked at the road he had walked with Esmee yesterday. He decided to wait for Esmee at the corner.
----
"Kriiing!!!"
Esmee fumbled on her bed to look up her cell phone lying on the bed. Esmee's hands continued searching for her cell phone without opening her eyes. She wanted to turn off the ringing of the alarm on her cellphone.
"Shit!" Esmee mumbled when she failed to find her phone.
Esmee was finally forced to open her eyes. She sat on the bed, looking for her phone again. Esmee took a deep breath when she finally found her phone had fallen to the floor.
She took her cell phone and checked it. "Fortunately, it wasn't damaged."
Esmee turned off her alarm ringing. Her eyes widened as she looked at the clock on her phone. "Gosh! I haven't shopped yet."
With lightning speed, Esmee ran to her bathroom. She washed her face for a while, then returned and put on her coat and beanie hat. Esmee hurriedly left her restaurant to go directly to Anne's grocery store.
----
William chuckled after almost ten minutes of waiting for Esmee, and the woman still couldn't see the bridge of her nose. He finally decided to turn around and continue his steps toward D'Amelie's restaurant.
"Maybe she finished shopping early," William muttered.
William continued his steps to D'Amelie. Not long after, William finally stopped in his tracks again. Suddenly he saw Esmee, who was walking in a hurry.
Esmee didn't notice William standing in front of her because she was already hurrying to Anne's shop. As soon as William blocked his way, Esmee lifted her head.
"William?"
"You haven't gone grocery shopping yet?" William asked, half in disbelief.
Esmee took a deep breath. "Join me shopping. I'm a little late today."
Esmee continued on her way. William stared at her for a moment before finally catching up with Esmee.
----
After walking for fifteen minutes, Esmee and William finally arrived at Anne's grocery store. Esmee deftly chooses the vegetables she will use for cooking today.
Meanwhile, William stood behind Esmee and followed her, carrying a shopping cart. As soon as they stepped into the cash register, Esmee suddenly fell silent. She then went back to check the ingredients he had bought.
"Looks like I'll have to reduce the stocks," said Esmee.
"Why do you want to reduce the stocks?" William asked.
"It's okay. I just wanted to minimize wasted food," Esmee replied. She then took out some groceries from the basket that William had brought.
After that, Esmee continued her steps toward the cashier. William noticed Esmee's expression when she paid for the groceries they bought. Esmee looks a little awkward dealing with the cashier.
William faintly heard the woman sitting behind the cash register asking about Esmee's debt payment.
"I'll be sure to pay off the other half before the end of the month, Anne," Esmee said.
"Don't forget that, Esmee. Or I won't allow you to shop here again," said Anne.
Esmee nodded her head. She then took out several bills from her wallet and paid for their groceries. Then Esmee asked William to leave the shop.
"Do you have any debt at the shop?" William asked as soon as he and Esmee left Anne's shop.
Esmee chuckled as she nodded her head. "You don't have to worry about it. I'll pay it off before the end of the month. Luckily Anne allowed me to pay half first."
"But the woman looked annoyed when you were paying," William said.
"Anne is like that. But she's a pretty good woman," Esmee said.
"Is everyone good in your eyes?" William asked.
"It's not like that, William. I can understand if Anne asks to pay. She also needs money to run her shop," Esmee replied.
"You look depressed too," William said, looking at Esmee.
Esmee suddenly stopped in her tracks. She turned and looked at William. Esmee just snorted, and then she resumed her walk.
"Esmee! Wait!" William exclaimed as Esmee walked away. Carrying shopping bags, William directly followed Esmee.
"Sorry if I offended you," William said as soon as he caught up with Esmee.
Esmee stared straight at the road in front of them. "It's okay. What you said was true anyway."
****
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