Take care

"Here," I said, handing a paper bag that has Eion's jacket to him in his office the moment I arrived before my shift. Emma was still here since it’s still her shirt. I actually drove here earlier to get his jacket, wash and dry it so that I could return it soon enough, and got in the store again. Good thing it dried enough for me to give it back to him now.

He looked at me, then to the paper bag on my hands before asking, "What's that?"

"Uhmm… your jacket?" Did he forget about it soon? Yesterday he was looking for it.

"Keep it." He said, "I don't want it anymore."

I looked at him carefully, not sure if I heard him right. He even came back last night to get the jacket from me, right? And now that I am giving it to him, he doesn’t want it anymore. That’s strange.

"Okay? I’ll just leave it here then. Thank you again for last night, Eion." I just left the paper bag by the door and returned to the counter. Guess he’ll just get that later.

Changing into my uniform, I went to the counter to help Emma serve. “What a miracle. You’re here early, Snow.” Emma stated, looking at me in awe. I shrugged at her as she wiped the utensils clean.

Just in time, the doorbell jingled and two guys walked in.

"And man, that girl was super clingy. I'll never date that kind again," The blonde guy exclaimed, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. The only two customers here glared at them for being noisy, but they seemed oblivious and instead, continued on conversing with each other loudly.

"Dax, you always say that," The brunette one replied as they stood at the counter.

"Leroy, everyone knows you're jealous," The boy who I now learned as Dax countered with a cocky smirk. From beside me, Emma smiled her fake smile to the customers, ready to take their orders but kind of pissed off at how loud they were. Well, I couldn’t blame her though.

"Good morning sir, what would you like to have?" I hear Emma asking. I chuckled, knowing she fully hates customers like these guys.

I glanced at them discreetly, "Well hi." The brunette boy, Dax, grinned at Emma, "Don’t mind me, how about you? What would you like to have, sweetheart?"

I gagged. Flirt. My inner feminist starts to awaken at this.

Emma's eyes widened and her cheeks flush, I could tell she hadn't expected that. She looked over at me, silently screaming for help. I shrugged and motioned for her to fight! Go, Emma! Don't let the women's pride be dragged like that! Show them what it is!

"What about you? What would you like?"

I saw Emma dismissing the guy who was flirting with her and turned her attention to the guy beside him. Dax doesn't look too pleased with the way she ignored him. I hide a smirk. Way to go Emma!!

"Sorry on his behalf," I could see the boy named Leroy glared at Dax. "I'd like to have a Vanilla ice cream, please.” Finally, a decent person to talk to.

"Coming right up," She was about to start to work, completely forgetting about the flirt guy with blonde hair, Dax.

"Are you going to ask me? Mine's rocky road," he said, the hint of cockiness in his voice lessened. Good, he should learn that he should walk through a needle first before having the guts to do anything like that. Especially now that I'm here, he better watches that tongue.

Emma nodded and started to prepare for work as the boys in front of the counter continued on massacring the shop with their loud voices. Once they received their ice creams, they paid the bill before sitting down at a booth.

As I gave a glass of water to another customer, one of the loud guys, which I know as Leroy, asked me, "Do you know where Eion is?" I remember him as Leroy. "He's your boss right?"

I stopped at that, "Uhm, yes sir." How did he know?

He smiled, noticing my curiosity. "I just asked because he's our friend."

I nodded in understanding, almost not believing it. Does Eion have friends? That's new. "He's in the office," I replied.

"I see. Can you ask him to come out?” He requested. “Geez, that guy's been hiding from us for weeks now. He really was just here alone."

"I'll see to it, sir.." I went inside the office and saw Eion still typing on the laptop while signing papers. "Eion?"

He looked at me, his face emotionless. "What?"

"Your friends are asking for you outside," I said.

"Who?" He asked, adjusting his eyeglasses.

I recalled their names, "I think it's...Leroy? And Dax?"

He immediately stood up and walked towards me. "Promise me something." He said.

I nodded. What is it this time? "Tell me what it is first," I said.

"Don't tell them about my favorite flavor." He said, waiting for my reply.

I looked at him in disbelief. Is he serious? Why does that bother him so much? Anyways, perhaps he has his own reasons. "Tell me why first."

He hissed, "Just stop asking questions. If you did tell them, I'll fire you."

I snorted, as if I am scared of that now, if anything, I would be relieved to leave this place.

He opened the door and came to greet his friends. Or more likely he was forced? He didn't even smile at them. Are they even real friends? I just can’t believe it.

"Eion, man!" shouted Leroy, patting him on the back.

"Hey, jerk!" Dax patted him on the back. "Why didn't you tell us about your store here? You should have treated us here!"

"I was busy," he replied simply.

And with that, they decided to sit on one of the tables and they chatted for an hour or so. However, in all honesty, it was just Leroy and Dax talking to Eion as Eion just kept on nodding. They said their goodbyes and decided to leave. Eion went back to the office after that Dax came to talk to Emma and Leroy came to me. He motioned for me to keep quiet. "He likes to order strawberry right?"

I stopped. "No..." I lied. Does he know? Why did Eion keep it a secret then?

"Don't lie. I know he threatened you to keep it from us. " He said. "Don't worry, we'll pretend we don't know for his pride. That guy keeps secrets from us. If his cousin Luke didn't tell us that he has a shop, we wouldn't even know." he said.

My mouth formed an ‘o’. No way? "Really?" I asked, now intrigued.

"And can I request...Snow? Can you keep an eye on him for me? I'll give you my phone number." I blinked at that. Keep an eye on EIon? He then wrote his number on my phone.

"Thanks. Remember what I said okay?" With that, he threw a wink at me before the two of them finally left the store.