Chapter 4. Familiarity

"Who's Evan?" As though a magician with his ability to appear out of nowhere, Anthony was already standing near the two women who were chatting.

Dahayu got up from the chair. "Ah, you're back. Please have a seat," she pleaded. "I'm leaving then. Please enjoy the view and the meal.”

Grace smiled at the woman who witnessed her friendship with Evan. "Thank you, Ma’am," she said before Dahayu left.

Anthony, who was already sitting on the chair, took his drink from the table. "So, who were you talking about? Evan? Who is he?" He again reminded her about his unanswered question.

"My old best friend," said Grace, taking her drink. She stirred the young coconut water in the glass while recalling the good memories she had with Evan.

Anthony frowned. "Old? Is he, not your best friend anymore?" he asked.

Grace shrugged her shoulders.

“What does that mean?”

"It's been years since he left and stopped talking with me," Grace said weakly. This reality was bitter that she couldn’t accept it.

"Perhaps he's forgotten you," said Anthony without thinking. It was really typical of an aloof and straightforward guy, as in Korean dramas, that girls adored.

Grace threw a sharp glance at him. "Why are you so outspoken? What a meanie," she replied in a cold tone too.

Nevertheless, they weren't fighting. The two of them used to throw around such words at each other but didn’t really mean it.

Grace's past personality, being inconsiderate when it came to talking, had once changed because of Evan. She was taught how to behave well and refrain from offending others. Unfortunately, losing him brought back her old nature, and in the end, made her go along with Anthony.

"Well, what's the reason then?" Anthony turned to Grace and raised an eyebrow. "Let me tell you from a guy's perspective. If a guy doesn't want to have anything to do with a girl anymore, he will cut off their communication. No matter what the reason is."

Grace didn't reply to his words immediately. She processed Anthony's opinion in her head and linked it to the possibilities that could happen.

On one hand, Grace thought that losing contact was the first possible reason. However, she always kept up with technological developments and Evan knew it very well. He should have been able to find her social media account. If Anthony was right, it would only mean that Evan wanted to forget their friendship. She wished it was not true.

On the other hand, Grace didn't believe that Evan could be such a person. He had once saved her life as well as her mother’s. Through the years they spent together, she learned his true nature. She knew for sure that forgetting her was an impossible reason.

"Hey. Why are you down in the dumps?” Anthony nudged Grace's arm. "Don't overthink it. Am I not here with you? You'll never be alone. I'm only one call away. Or rather, a few steps away." He wiggled his eyebrows and put a smile on his face at the same time.

Grace chuckled at his dad joke, then nodded. "Yeah. Thank you, Ant," she said. Then, she rapidly gulped down the young coconut water until it was finished, leaving only the flesh of the fruit. "Uh-oh, it's finished but I still want more. I’ll be right back, Ant. My belly is craving more coconut water." She rose from the chair.

"Grace, please buy some fries too, okay?" Anthony asked with one thumb raised.

Grace chuckled, finding his love for fries funny. Wherever they went together, he would order the same menu. "Geez. Okay, okay," she agreed.

As the sun was disappearing on the western horizon, Grace walked into the cafe. She showed her glass to Dahayu from outside the window with a smile. Her gaze was so fixed on the owner of this cafe that she didn't pay attention to where she was heading.

Grace almost bumped into a man in a long shirt coming out of the cafe. Fortunately, her reflexes were good so she could maneuver swiftly to avoid a collision.

But just as she was about to step into the cafe, Grace's eyes caught something that had fallen in the doorway. She picked up a worn-out keychain made of clear resin with half a seashell stuck in it.

"Could this belong to that person?" Grace muttered. She immediately turned to where the man had gone. “Hey, Mister! You dropped something!” Her shout, which sounded quite loud, didn't seem to successfully make the man stop walking.

Grace quickly ran toward the man to bring him this possibly important item. Unfortunately, she had to give up chasing him when he got into a car. It would be impossible for her to reach the car at such a speed.

“How do I return this item? Perhaps, I'll just keep it. Maybe one day it can return to its owner." Grace opened her right palm and stared at the keychain. "Anyways, why does this thing seem to be familiar to me? Hmm, whatever. It might just look similar to those at the market.” She didn't want to think about it and walked back to the cafe. Her stomach couldn't wait to be filled with more coconut water.

Dahayu welcomed her with the drink she would order again.

It made her smile. "Oh, I'm so glad you know me so well, Ma'am. Thanks," she said, still trying to catch her breath.

"What's wrong? Why are you running out of breath?" Dahayu asked.

Grace lifted the keychain as high as her chin. "Someone dropped this at the door. But when I wanted to give it back, he disappeared too quickly," she replied.

"Oh? The young man?" Dahayu made a guess.

"Well, I don't know if he's young." Grace shrugged.

Dahayu pursed her lips, thinking. "As far as I'm concerned, he is. And you know, I feel like he looks familiar, but I can't tell who he is because he wore a mask," she told her.

Again, Grace shrugged. "Anyway, just give me a call when the man comes back to get this. I'll come as soon as possible and return it to him," she said. "Oh, well, I almost forgot. I want to order another french fries."

"For him?" Dahayu motioned toward Anthony with her head.

"Yeah."

"Alright. It'll be coming in a minute."

"Thank you."