49 | someone from the past

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AN:

Please make sure that you've read Chapter 48 first (Dead Inside).

***

I try to ignore the disgusted look from the customers while I'm working at the restaurant. As usual, on this Saturday morning, this place is quite packed with people having lunch with their family and friends.

Most of the glares I get come from girls, some of whom are new customers, and I wonder if they come here just to find out about me, Amelia Davis, who has just been kicked out of Cal Jackson's penthouse. Any fans would have been enraged if they knew that their beloved idol was getting stalked to that extent.

Unfortunately, I still have to show up at work because I need the money. How would Mom and I pay the rent if I didn't get my salary this month?

I can still choose to not go to campus, but I still have to go to work. I should be grateful that Mrs. Garcia still allows me to work here despite what she saw on the news, ignoring the fact that it would affect her customers.

I'm trying my best to live even though I'm dead inside.

A soft sigh leaves my lips while I'm cleaning the table. Their whispers echo again in my ears.

"She's a crazy bitch."

"She looks so innocent, though. Who would have thought that she's a lunatic behind that deceiving look?"

"So sad. She should go to a psychiatrist for having such an unhealthy obsession. Geez, it's so scary. I'm having goosebumps on my skin."

Their words mean nothing to me compared to Cal's words. Why should I care about what they believe when the man I love doesn't even want to believe me?

When I enter the kitchen to wash the dishes, Mrs. Garcia is there, monitoring the staff. She has a worried look on her face when she finds me, and I feel like crying.

I place the dishes at the counter and approach her. "I'm sorry for bringing such negativity into this place. I can't thank you enough for still letting me work here."

Mrs. Garcia gently holds my hand in hers and shakes her head, a sad smile on her lips. "Mia," she starts, and I can hear the sympathy in her voice. "I don't care about the news, my dear. You've been working diligently, and you've been doing your job well. That's all I care about."

Her kindness brings tears to my eyes. I'm thankful that she doesn't judge me. She pulls me into a hug, and I hug her back, grateful that I still have these people around me who still support me while I'm going through this hard time.

When we pull away, she lets out a soft sigh and pats me gently on the shoulder.

While I'm washing the dishes, I can't help but think about how I still have the strength to keep going. I have no other choice but to be strong, and I wonder if this is what Cal felt all those years ago when I left him in the dark.

Even before I came into his life, he'd already gone through so much. He'd suffered because of the people he loved, over and over again. His mother. His father. Me. All of us left him, betrayed him.

I chose my father in the end, and so I lost Cal.

After finishing my duty in the kitchen, I step out to the main area of the restaurant, ready to assist the customers again and clean some tables. On the way there, I bump into a male staff, but I regain my balance quick enough to not fall backward. "I'm sorry--"

"There you are," he says. "Someone's looking for you."

My brows furrow.

"He's a customer, though. At table 8." When he notices the worried look on my face, he adds, "Don't worry. He doesn't look like a reporter."

Slight relief washes over me, but it doesn't completely wash out my anxiety.

The male staff resumes his steps toward the kitchen while I continue my way with thoughts running in my head.

Who would be looking for me if it weren't reporters or paparazzi? It can't be Cal's manager, because Cal would have talked and explained to him.

Slowly, I approach the said table, only to find a man in his fifties wearing a jacket settling at it.

As soon as he sees me, he stands up. Relief crosses his expression. "Amelia."

A frown touches my lips. I can't remember who he is. I don't think that I know him.

"I'm sorry to bother you. I know that this might be too sudden for you and makes you question a lot of things," he says. "I've been looking for you."

I don't know what to say. I have no idea why he's looking for me. Who is this man?

He gives me a knowing look and sighs. "You might not remember me. I was Cal's neighbor. We met once when he brought you there."

My eyes widen in surprise. I'm still trying to absorb this information.

Indeed, it has been a long time, and I might have met him before even only for a short moment. Although it's vague, I do remember that Cal greeted this old man before I entered his apartment for the first time. I somehow remember it now, because it was the first time he brought me there.

"I need to talk about something important." His voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I quickly compose myself.

I look around, knowing that I still have work to do. But my curiosity strikes.

Why is Cal's neighbor suddenly looking for me? Did he travel all the way here from Florida just to see me?

"We can talk, but I still have to finish my shift," I say truthfully, glancing at my wristwatch. "It may take around one hour until my shift ends."

The man nods. "That's okay. I'll wait."

Mr. Lee and I end up in a coffee shop down the street. I watch as he drinks his hot coffee. His hair has turned grey, wrinkles visible on his face, showing just how much he has aged.

I've ordered a cup of hot tea, which is still untouched. My curiosity has taken over my mind that I can barely think about enjoying my drink.

Mr. Lee sighs after placing his coffee back onto the table. He looks up at me while I'm waiting in anticipation, wondering about what he would say.

"I came all the way from Florida," he starts, confirming that my assumption was right. "I'd been looking for you, Amelia, but you left the town two years ago. And after you did, Cal always refused to talk about you."

A sad smile forms on his lips. My heart clenches as I remember that painful memory. I don't know if I'm ready to hear this. To hear what happened to him after I left.

"He went to LA not long after you left, and I haven't seen him again until now. I mean, in person," he immediately corrects. "I still see him everywhere. On TV. On the newspaper." A small smile touches his lips, letting me know that he's happy for Cal, proud that he could achieve his success.

But then, sadness crosses his expression. He stares at me with a look of sympathy. "I finally found out about your workplace from the recent articles. I'm sorry about what happened to you, but we both know that it's not true. All those crazy reporters and people mocking you don't know anything about you and him."

I swallow a lump in my throat, remembering how Cal and I embraced each other that night, only for my heart to be crushed on the following day. The hole in my chest is now even bigger than before.

Mr. Lee stares at me, his expression turning serious. "I'm here to give you this." He puts a white envelope on the table and drags it closer to me.

My eyes zoom in on it, recognizing the small handwriting on the back of the envelope.

"It's a letter from Jasmine."

I look up at him, not understanding what he means. When I see the sadness in his eyes, I feel like I want to run away. I want to be anywhere but here.

There's a horrible feeling stirring inside me, telling me that I'm not ready to hear the truth.

"Things happened after you left, Amelia." Mr. Lee's voice is hoarse, filled with pain. "And it's a lot for him."

***
AN:
Chapter 50-51 are already up next.


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