Chapter 2. Silver Hair.

Monday afternoon, 5:35 pm

Miku is on her way to work, still in her school uniform.

She had already skipped work the other day, if she didn't show up today, her manager might get a stroke from anger.

But it seems like the gods are holding a grudge against her today. She was only halfway to the café, when it suddenly started raining.

Miku didn't have any other choice but to run while holding up her bag. The rain slowed down by the time she reached the café, but she was already socked.

The letters "Bean & Crust" glowed in a soft cream color as Miku entered. The moment she did, the alluring scent of coffee beans and vanilla filled her nostrils.

Miku loved coffee, that is one of the many reasons she took her current job.

Another reason was getting to know people. There was a time when she was completely unable to form conversations with the people around her.

"If I work somewhere that involves talking to others....it might be helpful.." That was a thought that crossed her mind long ago.

"My, Miku dear! You are completely soaked!"

The worried voice of an old lady suddenly spoke from a nearby table.

"Hey, Miku! Long time no see! " another voice called out cheerfully.

Miku walked towards the staff room while greeting the surrounding customers. She didn't understand when and how she became so popular among them.

Miku found another girl just chilling in the staff room, she probably just finished her shift and was resting for a bit. Miku borrowed a towel from the girl to dry her hair, after that she changed into her uniform, which was basically a combination of a white button-up shirt with a black pencil skirt. She tied up her hair into a ponytail before putting on the brown apron that spelled the shop's name.

Miku scanned the surroundings before coming out of the staff room

"Amber isn't around, good." She thought before going out and bumping straight into a woman's back.

And who was that woman?

Of course, it's our "lovely" manager.

She looks up at the lady who was currently trying to burn Miku alive with her glare.

The words "Amber" on her nameplate gleamed under the golden lights and Miku had already started to plan her own funeral.

"You. Are so dead. You know that, right?" Amber fumed.

"Yes, ma'am." Miku shrank back

"I'll go get right into work!" She flees before her paycheck gets cut.

.

Miku was good with the customers now. The elders joke around with her, the youngsters like to share conversations or get inspirations and the teens treat her as a part of their own group. She genuinely enjoyed the time she spent in the café.

..Unlike the suffocating environment of her house.

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Miku was almost done with the day, so she leaned against a counter for a while. A coworker was beside her. Her nameplate said Stacy.

"Don't you ever get tired?" Stacy asked, her face showed signs of tiredness.

"I do." Miku replied casually.

"I am but blood and flesh, you know." she adds.

"Stop it, you sound like my headmaster" Stacy says and chuckles.

"I don't." Miku protests

"By the way, you know about the news of Fashion Everyday?"

(Note: "Fashion Everyday" is a weekly magazine that focuses on the latest trends, designer profiles, and industry news within the fashion world.)

"I don't read those"

"That's exactly why I'm asking you"

"..." Miku stayed silent, letting Stacy continue

"Recently, Katherine was ranked first world-wide as the first brand to gain the most popularity with one of the youngest CEOs in the nation"

The word "Katherine" made Miku's eyes widen for a split second.

"Katherine huh..?" her voice almost inaudible

"Sometimes, I feel so blessed to be born in the same country as him~" Stacy's voice becomes softer

"Him? Who's this him? " Miku raises an eyebrow

"The CEO of the Katherine company of course!" a shade of peach can be seen on Stacy's cheeks

"Hah!?" Miku practically gasps, utterly shocked

"You have a crush on him?! I thought you said men are trash!??" Miku starts going through the scene when Stacy says that after her ex dumped her.

"I did.. But have you Really seen Leonardo Katherine?" Stacy askes, pouting slightly

"I-"

"Of course you didn't!" Stacy cuts her off

"I really didn't" Miku admits

"Oh, how I love the Katherines' silver hair and all~" Stacy says, sounding quite dramatic

(Note: The Katherine Family is also famous for having natural silver hair. Every person that has the Katherine blood running through their veins has silver hair. It's been like that for centuries.)

"I'll admit that, silver hair does look pretty cool"

" I know, right?" Stacy giggles, Miku thought she looked like a child eating candy.

The rain was getting heavy again, it looked kinda good from inside the warm atmosphere of the café

Miku was enjoying the view, when she saw three guys racing across the road and barging straight into the café. All three guys were soaking wet. Many stared as they tried to get as much as water off possible from their clothes.

Among the three of them, one dude stood out. He was taller than the others, and he wore all black, which included a mask and a cap, even in this rain.

"Is that a celebrity or what?" Miku thought to herself, cause he was clearly trying to hide his face from people

Miku watched as Amber went ahead, offered them towels and guided them towards an empty table. She turned and signaled Miku to take care of the rest before going behind the counter.

Miku took the notepad and walked towards the guys to take their order. The other guys suddenly stopped complaining about the rain as soon as she stood behind the guy with the mask.

Noticing that his friends looked shocked, the guy with the mask also turned around to see Miku, and their eyes met.

Miku found his eyes quite pretty to be honest. His gaze was sharp and unwavering, ice-blue, the type of color that looked like crystals.

"May I take your order?" Miku asked with a gentle smile, the guy with the mask stared, the other two started whispering among themselves.

Miku felt nervous- no, scared. She was not trained enough for this.

"Are they mocking me? Do I have something on my face or what? Are my clothes looking wrong? Why the hell are they snickering like that??!"

None of the thoughts that raced across her mind showed on the outside, she maintained the professional face.

"Sir?" Miku slightly tilts her head, acting rather confused. The masked guy turned to friends and glared at them, they immediately stopped with the whispers and started placing their orders.

Masked guy ordered nothing, just asked for some water.

Miku bowed and walked back behind the counter. After a while she came out and slipped into the washroom area.

Stacy brought the guys' order shortly after.

" Dude, you should take that mask off, it's completely soaked in rain, you'll ruin that so-called beautiful face of yours" One guy says, grinning at the masked guy.

"I'll be going to the powder room for a bit then" The masked guy said before walking away

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Miku, now in the girls' bathroom, stared at her face in the mirror for a long time, trying to calm her nerves. She recognized them, recognized the sharp ice-blue eyes that stared at her just a moment ago. She remembers just how much of a hell those eyes made her life years ago. Acting like she doesn't know him did get her out of trouble for now.

But there is no guarantee, that he won't come back to torture her again.

Miku calmed herself and went out of the bathroom. But, before she could take more than two steps ahead, she felt a hand grab her arm, and forcefully pulled her into the men's bathroom.

.

Miku was slammed hard against the cold wall, the impact made a sharp pain surge through the back of her head and shoulders. She opened her eyes to see a tall guy pinning her against the wall. He was a head taller than her. The mask and cap were gone, which revealed his messy silver hair and pale skin.

Miku looked up to see a pair of ice-blue eyes staring down at her. A chill settled in her body, and those eyes seemed to reopen old wounds in her.

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