Chapter 25
Katarin wanted to ignore the group of guys and just have a quiet time alone, but it seemed it wasn't meant to happen. They were annoyed and now rowdy, knowing that one of their friends got rejected by a woman. Katarine was never a fan of guys approaching her with the full intent of using their fake charm and pickup lines; she mostly prefers accidental scenarios. Despite her best efforts to avoid confrontation, she found herself in the middle of a tense situation as the group of guys continued to push their friend's rejection onto her. She wished for a way out of the uncomfortable encounter, hoping that they would eventually leave her alone.
When suddenly somebody spoke up and broke the awkward tension,
"Excuse me, might I ask why you guys intruding into her space?"
" the hell do you think you are?"
" I am her boyfriend!"
Katarine was sipping her coffee while she looked up to acknowledge this. Ethan stood six feet tall, was physically lean, and was built to protect. His assertive tone and confident demeanor immediately diffused the situation, causing the group to back off and leave Katarine in peace. She couldn't help but feel grateful for Ethan's intervention, knowing that he always had her back.
She was still sipping her coffee and told him
"Why are you just standing there?"
"You just mentioned I am your girlfriend , right?"
"Take a seat and act the part; those fools are not that easily convinced."
"By the way, thanks."
Katarine's tone was a bit arrogant but Ethan already knew this was her way of showing appreciation. He chuckled and took a seat, ready to play the role of protective boyfriend for as long as she needed.
"By the way, what brings you to this part of the city?"
Ethan smiled and replied,
"Just following my favorite troublemaker around, as usual."
Katarine rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide the hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
" I am just kidding, but I did want to check out that new coffee shop everyone's been raving about." Katrine raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his sudden interest in trendy spots.
"Well, lucky for you, I happened to see you enter the coffee shop. when I was walking by."
"I never planned to do anything, but when I was placing my order , I noticed those guys were giving you a hard time. I couldn't resist stepping in." Katarine chuckled, grateful for his unexpected chivalry. "I owe you one again," she said with a grateful smile.
" I am getting used to it; you should just hire me to guard you."
Katarine smirked and gave out a hint of her attitude, but Ethan was already immune to her playful banter. "I guess you'll have to buy me a cake to make up for spying on me," she teased, knowing he wouldn't be able to resist the challenge. Ethan laughed, and instantly, the barista called his name. Ethan stood up and claimed his order.
"I don't know if you will the cake I ordered, but sadly, I was hoping to eat it by myself."
"As you said, you want cake, so here you can have mine."
Katarine never expected Ethan the person she was trying so hard to keep her distance from, to be so generous with something she also loved eating.
"Incredibly, this is the moist carrot cake in this area."
"Mr. Ping, the convenience store owner, told me about this place as his niece works here."
" who?"
"Ah, don't mind what I just said; here this is for you."
Katarine was a bit reluctant; their unusual encounters were a bit too much for her to handle. Their chance encounters were far beyond extraordinary to even describe. She felt fate was pushing them both to continue crossing paths, despite her efforts to avoid any further interactions. Among the countless possibilities he seemed to show up at the exact moment she least expected, leaving her feeling both intrigued and unsettled. Despite her reservations, Katarine couldn't help but wonder if there was a deeper reason for their constant meetings.
As she was looking at the cake, she wanted to decline, knowing she could easily buy the whole cake and the entire shop without breaking a sweat, but Ethan's voice was truly convincing, and she found herself agreeing to a slice despite her initial reluctance. She graciously accepted the slice of cake from Ethan. As she took a bite, she couldn't help but admit that it truly was the best carrot cake she had ever tasted.
Ethan is aware that Katarine is only putting on a front. Her true nature was not like this. Ethan never thought back on the times he was unable to recall their contact; instead, he imagined that everything had happened by accident or that his mind was shielding him from the trauma. So he just casually told Katarine.
"By the way, I hope you were fine."
"What do you mean, we are fine?"
" I mean, those times we…"
"Ah, that's perfectly fine; don't worry too much."
"Actually, I wanted to see you and ask you about the things that happened to us."
"I think it would be best to forget about it and just move on with our lives. Let's focus on the present and not dwell on the past."
"I agree; it's important to prioritize our well-being and not let the past dictate our future interactions."
"We can be civil about this and just treat each other with respect moving forward."
"That's a weird thing to say. Anyway, I get your point. Anyway, I might as well ask what perfume of cologne do you use?"
"Huh? I am not sure what you're asking. I don't wear perfume, but I do use normal soap and lotion. Is there a reason you're asking about perfume?"
"No reason, just making conversation. I respect your choice to not wear perfume,
I was just curious because you always smell nice."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Don't get any weird ideas, ok, I am just interested in knowing what makes you smell so good."
"I appreciate your curiosity, but it is already a strange question."
"Maybe, but it's just something I noticed and was curious about. I won't ask again if it makes you uncomfortable."
"Your weird,"
"Me, peculiar, look at the guy who likes to eat carrot cake."
"Hey, carrot cake are delicious! But I guess we all have our quirks."
"True, I'll let you off the hook this time."
"You just ate all the cake I gave you."
"Sorry about that; I couldn't resist."
"No worries. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Next time, I'll make sure to order a bigger slice."
"That would be great, thank you!" "
For the first time, they genuinely had a regular, open discussion as they continued to joke around and chat while Ethan and Katarine were lost in their little world. It was a refreshing change of pace for both of them, finally connecting on a more personal level. The laughter and easy banter flowed effortlessly between them, creating a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Katarine didn't even realize she was talking to a guy who was getting upset; his scent was making her feel giddy and lighthearted. Ethan couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and contentment as they bonded over shared interests and experiences.
Their newfound connection was unexpected, and the fact that he was set on also distancing himself but found himself drawn to her was both confusing and exciting. Despite their initial reservations, they couldn't deny the undeniable chemistry that seemed to spark between them, leaving them questioning and even asking themselves what was happening. As they continued to talk, it became clear that there was a strong attraction building between them, leading to a feeling of anticipation.
After nearly five hours Ethan and Katarine noticed that they were talking at the coffee shop for that long, and they didn't even notice those moments when one of them ordered more food to satisfy and indulge their conversation even further. Through the effortless flow of conversation and shared laughter, annoyance, and argument, they both shared many things about each other; they were opposite in so many things, but they also found out they were similar in some fundamental values, beliefs, and things they held meaningful and important.
They both like drinking tea and coffee, and pairing them with cake or pastries was their favorite way to unwind after a long day. They hate complicated scenarios and prefer to keep things simple and straightforward. Ethan was more mindful of his manners; he was more laid back and had a soft undertone in voicing his dislike , unlike Katarine, who was candid and direct in expressing her opinions, sometimes coming off as harsh. The manner in which she speaks tends to come across as rude and obnoxious , which often rubs people the wrong way. Despite their differences in communication styles, both Ethan and Katarine valued honesty and authenticity in their interactions with others.
Suddenly, Katarine's phone rang while they were still talking about the importance of the basic principle of seeing life as a whole and not getting consumed with material things based on what society dictates . She quickly apologized and excused herself from taking the call. She stood up and casually went toward a quieter area to answer the phone, showing respect for Ethan and their conversation. Her eyes widen, and her facial expression suddenly changes as she listens to the caller on the other end, indicating that the call was unexpected and possibly urgent. Ethan watched her with concern, recognizing that something serious must have come up.
After the call Katarine went back to her seat, gave out a deep sigh, and told Ethan she had to cut their discussion short because of a family emergency that required her immediate attention. Ethan nodded understandingly, expressing his concern and offering his support.
Ethan stood up and asked if she needed a taxi. Katarine declined and told Ethan she had just texted her driver to pick her up.
" really nice to have everything you need at the tip of your fingers."
"Not really, " Katarine replied with a small smile.
"Sometimes, it's nice to rely on others for help."
Ethan nodded in agreement. She added that she never liked the lure of money over the things she liked to do, pointing out that it was fun to get anything she desired at first , but soon everything became pointless and no longer had any meaning.
"The pleasure of finally being able to buy the shoe you've always wanted is more impactful on your overall happiness when you achieve it through hard work and diligence."
Ethan nodded, understanding the value of earning something versus simply buying it. Without "hard work and dedication, the satisfaction of achieving a goal is fleeting."
Ethan added,
"True happiness comes from the journey and effort put into reaching a desired outcome. "
"So true, I might have tons of money at my disposal but easily buy everything that I want without the effort and dedication put into earning it."
"The joy and fulfillment are not the same."
Ethan concluded. "It's about the journey, not just the destination."
After a few minutes , Katarine's phone rang , as she answered it was her driver informer her , he was in front of the coffee shop ,these situation instantly brought her back to reality, as excused herself in a polite and graceful manner,
Ethan also stood up and accompanied her and they were still having light conversation, and reminding him not to be so stiff, she wasn't a bad person, and gave out a mischievous smile,
"as if, i am thankful nothing happened when were talking."
" are you saying I am jinx?"
"i am not the one who mention it,"
"if you weren't smart and articulate, i could have just..."
"see the ice queen is back!"
"ha ha ha, ice queen, I like that,"
"If I am the ice queen , what should i call you then,"
"ah! my proxy boyfriend."
after the two chuckled and laugh together Ethan called her Ms IQ while Katarine called him Mr Proxy, The banter between them continued as they surprisingly enjoyed each other's company, their playful dynamic evident in their teasing and nicknames for each other. Despite the lighthearted tone, there was an underlying sense of closeness and mutual understanding between them. soon katarine climbed into the car, but before leaving
"By the way, do you want to have my number? If you would like to have it, anyway, I really don't mind."
Her tone was still arrogant and dismissive, but there was a hint of vulnerability in her offer. It seemed like Katarine was struggling to balance her desire for connection.
"Give me your phone, and I will add my number."
she said, surprising herself with the openness in her voice. Ethan handed his phone to Katarine while she was inside the car, and as she typed in her number, Katarine couldn't help but wonder why she was doing this—maybe because she was craving a genuine connection more than she cared to admit. She quickly finished entering her number and handed the phone back to Ethan, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Don't be a stranger, ok?"
she said, hoping he would understand the underlying message. Ethan nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face as he assured her that he wouldn't. With a wave goodbye, Katarine stepped out of the car, feeling a sense of contentment in taking a small step towards forming a new connection.