A/N: The succeeding chapters will be about Ethan and Ellie's history from eight years ago. Please do not be confuse.

Happy reading! ;)
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Eight Years Ago

It was a bright Saturday morning, and Ellie decided to have a walk. School year has ended and she wants to congratulate herself with an alone time, maybe indulge herself with an ice cream or a cake. Studying is tedious especially for someone like her, she may be smart but she lacks funds for education. Her mother is working at a bakeshop run by a very sweet old woman - Mrs. Harvey, who have helped them when things went downhill. Her father run off with his mistress when she was only eight years old and since then, her mother tried her best to feed and send her to school.

She's helping her mother by having a full scholarship since high school; and now that she had finished her college with a degree, she can finally help her mother pay off their debts.

She continued her walk with a bounce in her step as she saw an ice cream stand.

"Can I have two scoops of mint chocolate chip ice cream please with sprinkles and marshmallow." She paid and thanked the staff when it was handed to her, she just love this flavor so much. She sat on a bench under a shady tree as she munch on her favorite.

"I never saw someone who ate her ice cream like a five-year old kid." The voice startled her, making her hand froze halfway to her mouth.

"Excuse me?!" She utter as her eyes landed to the man on her left. Her jaw fell as she take the man's appearance. A dark brown hair that is slightly longer for a man, a chiseled jaw and a deep blue eyes - the color of ocean on her hometown. She may have blushed if not for what he said.

'What? I ate like a kid? Do I have ice cream smudges on my face?' She thought to herself.

"Hi, I'm Ethan, and you are?" He said as he extended his hand to her.

She eyed his hand for a while, and replied as she brought her eyes back to his face. "Sorry, I don't talk to strangers." Then she stands and turn around while muttering to herself, 'He's handsome alright but obnoxious. Ha! The nerve of that man!'

---

The ringing of his phone brought Ethan's trance-like status after the woman left, hand still on air.

"Yes Zach?" He answered the man on the other side - his youngest brother.

"Yo Ethan, mom said to remind you that you should be here on Saturday for dad's birthday."

"Yes, tell mom I'll be there. I'll just finish my business here, then I will go right back home." He said back.

"Okay, I'll tell mom."

"Okay bro. Thanks." Then they hung up.

He tried to find the woman after the phone call but she's nowhere in sight. His mom will sure gonna beat him if she was there. His approach is kinda off, he knows, or the way he said those lines, but he was fascinated at the way the woman ate her ice cream. She ate it with gusto, like she doesn't care if it will make her fat, unlike all the other girls he knew.

'Damn!! That really came out bad.' He muttered to himself as he remembered what he said.

He already saw the woman even before she bought the ice cream. His eyes was drawn to her as she walked with light steps. A face that look so bright as she take her surroundings and a small enchanting smile plastered on her face. It made him wonder what made her so happy - it just shows on her face. So he cannot help himself to approach her, and no, she's not beautiful, she's stunning, with hazel eyes and pink lips. How he love to see her again, and when he does, he will make amends like a gentleman, the way their mother taught him and his brothers.

***

It's been two days since the incident at the park and she cannot shake the memory of the man from her mind. She shook her head to clear it off as she made her way to the cafe, she works as a barista in this cafe just outside school while studying, she may be a scholar but she still needs money for her allowance and other school stuff. Although her mother sends money, it is still not enough.

The tinkling of the bell send her back to reality again, the constant come and go of customers have made her busy that she forgot that blue-eyed man for awhile.

"Hey Ellie, can you also man the register for me? I need to go pee." Mandy, her friend and co-worker called out to her. She's also a student like her, they started almost the same time, that is why they became friends, although Mandy still has a year to go before she finish her studies.

"Okay, no problem. You can also have your break now. The customers are not too much at this time anyway." She answered while wiping the tables.

"Thanks. How about you?" Mandy asked which she answered immediately.

"I'll take my break later, I'm not hungry yet, anyway."

"Okay, just call me if it suddenly became busy." Mandy said while making her way towards the back.

"If it will." She shouted. "Because we both know it won't." She added with a laugh.

It's really not busy at this time of the day, when you have been working for some time in this cafe, you will know when and at what day it will be swamped by customers.

She's busy wiping the counter when she hears the tinkling of the bell.
"Good afternoon, welcome to Cafe by the Corner." The greeting just left her mouth automatically without glancing at the customer. "What will be your order?" She added still not looking up.

"I'll have a butterscotch macchiatto with whipped cream and a slice of pumpkin pie Ms. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream." Her head snapped at her customer with what she heard. Her jaw dropped again when she saw his face - the face of the obnoxious man at the park.

---

Ethan was shocked when he realized that the woman manning the counter at this cafe was the same woman that he had been looking for two days now after their encounter at the park, hoping to get a glimpse of this woman who have not left his mind ever since. Coming inside this cafe was just a whim, he was walking by the neighborhood after leaving the park when he suddenly craved for a machiatto.

"I'm sorry?" The woman's voice jerked him off his trance.

"I am ordering a butterscotch -" the woman interrupted him.

"I'm not asking what you ordered, I'm asking about what you called me." The woman said while raising her right brow at him.

"Ms. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice cream?" He answered with a smile that he knows many woman fall for. He saw the woman's lips thinned as she scowl, but didn't said anything as she made his order. Her reaction towards him baffled him so much. He is used to women batting their eyes at him whenever he gave them his signature smile showing a dimple on his left cheek. But this woman's reaction is not what he expects, there was a downright rejection without actually saying the words and it really is not settling well with him.

He continued to watch her without showing how much her reaction bothered him. He continuously smiled throughout the time she made his order.

"That will be $6 total, sir." She said as she handed him his order. He handed her a $10 bill and immediately told her to keep the change. She rose her right brow again questioningly at him which he answered with a dazzling smile while adding, "I insist."

"We don't accept any tip here sir. Better to put it at the donation box if you insist of not accepting your change." She answered him in a haughty tone.

"Well then, my lady, as you wish." He answered while extending his right hand with a slight bow then left the counter and searched for a table. Good thing there was no other customer aside from him so it is not difficult to look for a good table. He chose the one near the counter where he can easily watch her working. Then took his phone and dialed his mom's number. He was on the phone for several minutes, and the whole duration he can see from the corner of his eyes that the lady is still scowling - not a frequent sight with him around. After his call, he stayed for sometime, planning on his mind how to woo this lady whose frown is permanently etched on her face the whole time.

---

She put the change into the donation box while the man sat on a table at the corner. It is true that they are not allowed to accept any tip from the customer, it was emphasized on the written contract she signed when she applied in this cafe. The owner wants to help the poor in his small ways by putting a donation box near the register.

She continued her work while observing the man in the corner of her eye, he is talking on his phone with a smile. When she reach the end counter which is near where the man is sitting, she heard him said 'I love you' to whoever he was talking to. She didn't know why, but she suddenly felt a pang on her chest upon hearing those words spoken endearingly by him. She suddenly wished to hear those words coming from him. She swallowed while shaking her head. It will do her no good if she will think of having a relationship with any man at this point - especially this man.

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