Chapter 3 - Intriguing Love Story (Part 2)

November 24th, 2017.

London suburbs. 20:00h

"Tonight will be the coldest night of this month. Prepare a hot tea, lit up your fireplace. This night won't be easy" Said the tv forecast.

"Did you see this Bob? Coldest night of the month" said an old man.

The old man said while taking a sit in the counter bench.

"Yeah, my balls are already frozen. This goddamn weather is killing me. Mike you want a coffee right?" asked another old guy.

"Two coffees please" said mike while showing two fingers to the waitress.

The blistering cold forced people to look for shelter in the hopes of finding something warm. Due to that, the store was filled with people both trying to shelter from and searching for something warm.

The design was pretty standard, it consisted of a counter that ran from side to side, giving enough space for 10 seats. Inside people could feel the warm and coziness of the place.

Jessica worked there as a waitress. And she was serving behind the counter.

"Sure, would you like the small or large coffee"

Smiled Jessica while writing the order.

She was wearing a black apron with casual clothes behind it. Her red hairs were tied with a ribbon to keep the hygiene while working.

"Large, and please add a sip of Cointreau, too give a better warm up. "

"Actually we are out of Cointreau, so I need to go over the stock to search for some. Can you wait a moment?" said Jessica.

Due to the sudden weather, a lot of people ordered the same drink, and eventually, the product has run out. Jessica called the store manager and asked for him to replace her in the counter. Receiving a nod, Jessica rushed to the storage.

The cafe had a backdoor, which was commonly used by employees and used to access the alley behind the facade. The 'storage' was actually a rented garage but the owner used the space for store stockpiled products and goods. Jessica entered the room and started her search.

"Cointreau.... Cointreau. " Jessica repeated while reading the bottles labels.

"Here" Said Jessica with the glass bottle in her hands while smiling with joy. "Now let's go ba–"

*Crash*

Jessica heard a loud sound.

It's was already dark, and London wasn't exactly a peaceful place.

"H...h..ello?" stuttered Jessica.

Lowering her voice she whispered "Hello? I...Is anyone there? "

Looking left and right, Jessica didn't see any movement, white puffs of breathing escape her mouth as she panted, London was cold in winter and Jessica fingers were frozen, being alone in a dark alley wasn't helping, being a girl alone in this scary place was sending icy shivers of fear down her back.

*Wheezing*

*Wheezing*

Her instinct ordered her to run from this place but her curiosity was yelling to her come closer. After considering both choices, she choose the wrong one ( of course ). Step by step she started to get closer from the sound origin.

Leaning on a trash can, a shadow was already visible. Closer than before, the shadow shape was already recognizable.

Oh my..., thought Jessica.

Fallen on the floor was a man. He had looked like a beggar, covered with dirt and stinking a lot. His clothes were ragged and couldn't protect him from the cold.

"Leave me... alone" stated the ragman.

"I can't. I can't do this, " countered Jessica. "and you can't do this to yourself."

The man lifted his head slowly. Both his hair and beard were messy and his face was dirty.

Their eyes met only for a moment but they both feel they could trust each other. Drowning in a vast green sea inside his eyes she didn't notice but she was already in love.

In another perspective, while looking at her, a blaze was ignited inside his chest. After so much suffering and loneliness, his soul was already frozen. He was lost in the middle of a snowstorm with no vision, no senses or even without any feelings, he was just an empty body keeping a slow march towards nowhere. A warm feeling crossed its senses. The heat was calling him. Although the cold wind was sharp as a blade, it didn't affect his body, but at each second he was in touch with the wind, he was pushed away from the heat source.

Gathering the remaining strength in his body, he stretched his arms desperately trying to touch the blaze. Struggling and yelling he reached the blaze, and the moment his fingers touched the fire, he felt something he hasn't felt for a long time: Will to live.

His fight was resumed with a single teardrop.