Ethan

I yawn as I walk out of the house. I'm so tired right now. I really should have slept early last night. But hey, that's what I always say anyways and never comply. I have to meet with Walter at the Café today. The main reason I couldn't sleep properly was because of Zane.

Just the thought of him makes me angrily kick a stone on my path. That idiot! Did he not understand what a good evidence I had found that'll solve the case in a flash? It was literally presented to him on a silver platter! How can he be so dense and think it might have been nothing. Maybe that's just his ego talking but he'll realise I was right once he gets the results from the tech team. I thought lying to him about Walter's call would make me feel better but it didn't have much effect. Well, Walter did say to just let him rest so I guess it was ok. I drank his iced tea too but it still didn't suppress my anger and frustration. Just made me feel pathetic.

I see many puddles as I walk. It gives me a strong urge to splash on them like we used to when we were kids. But hey, can't act like that now in public and also, I'm wearing nice shoes too so don't wanna get them dirty. I remember dad never cared about all that. If I was doing it, he'd just join me no matter who was watching.

"Please! I want that car too!" I hear a little boy yelling in front of a toy store pointing at a big toy car on the display window.

"You already bought a basketball set, let's go." Replies a tall man with a shopping bag in his hand.

"But I want that too!" The boy cries and his father drags him away by the arm as he keeps ignoring his demands.

I smile at that scene. It was the same way with me and my dad. I think I'll visit his grave on my way back home.

I feel my heart start to twist and my lips trembling. I place my hand over my heart. No, stop it! Dad told you to always keep smiling. It's ok. Just smile. You don't want your family to think you're back to your old self again.

Just stay positive...

As soon as I make a turn to another street, I notice a familiar face walking on the sidewalk across the road. Oh, Right! It's that girl who I mistook for morgan! It looks like she's in a good mood smiling and twirling with a spring in her step.

"Hey!" A sound of a kid across the street grabs my attention. A little girl was just pushed to the ground by two other girls her age and now they're walking away from her.

I sigh. kids these days are so ruthless. Bullying others like it's no big deal.

But just as I'm about to cross the road to go over to the kid, that high schooler who I thought was Morgan reaches her first. I can't hear what they're talking about but it looks like she's consoling her and sticking a bandage on her knee. Then she gets closer to the girl's ear and starts saying something while handing her a...
stone? The reason becomes clear to me as she points at the other girls.

She wants her to throw stones at those girls? Is she crazy? I feel like I should step in and stop her....but at the same time, I wanna see what happens.

The kid who was already looking scared runs away from her. This causes me to snicker.

"Scaring kids now, are we?" I finally decide to call out to her.

She makes no effort looking at me with an annoyed expression. Ha! Now, this'll be fun. As I cross the road to get to her, I notice her deep in thought. As I get near her, I'm beginning to see why I mistook her for Morgan. She may look different but her face shape, height and physique are similar to Morgan's.

I don't think it'll be surprising if it turns out she IS Morgan.

"Umm...you are?" She asks, clearly pretending that she doesn't remember me.

"You know, the guy who mistook you for someone else last night." I say deciding to play along.

"Oh it's you~ I remember now!" She exclaims with a surprised expression.

What horrible acting...

Smirking internally in my mind, I say " Really? With the expression you were making just now I thought you remembered." And give her an innocent smile.

She gulps.

"Not all, I was just annoyed by what happened with the girl." She says and starts to walk away from me.

"What happened?" I ask her as I follow her.

"Nothing, some kids were mean to her so I was just telling her to stand up for herself. But as you saw, she ran away." I notice her starting to walk faster.

"Ahhh~ I see. Well, you tried." I say sympathetically as I continue to walk behind her.

"Yes, well, It is what it is. Bye now" she turns back around after saying that and keeps walking.

It clearly looks like she wants to get away from me.

"Yeah, bye," I say and keep on walking thinking she'll make a right turn. But surprisingly she doesn't and keeps on walking. So I guess we're walking in the same direction.

How awkward.

As we both move onto the street on the left, I notice how her walking posture seems strange. Looking at her feet, it seems like she had maybe previously sprained her ankle.

"Is something wrong with your foot?" I ask her out of curiosity.

"What do you mean?" She looks back at me with a hint of annoyance and I look towards her feet.

"Well, I noticed your walking posture was a bit weird. Like you were slightly limping." I explain.

She looks a little confused and looks down too.

"Yeah, I kind of injured my foot a few days ago," she says and keeps on walking. It's actually hilarious how she's trying so hard to tolerate me and act like a nice, polite person.

We both continue to walk with me behind her. The way she secretly keeps glancing back means she thinks I'm following her. Not surprising, I mean I would think the same in her place. But I find it hilarious for some reason.

After a while, she stops in her tracks and turns around to face me.

"Excuse me, but are you following me?" She says and glares at me.

"No, we just happen to be walking in the same direction." I answer her as I shrug.

She keeps glaring but turns back and continues to walk.

As we make a right turn, I think maybe I should take another route. It'll be a problem if she shouts to everyone that I'm following her.

I look ahead and notice an alleyway coming up. Yeah, I'll go from there.

As I keep walking, I see an old lady across the street with a walking stick and a basket full of apples. She then suddenly trips on the edge of the sidewalk and falls down as the apples roll out of her basket. Some of them roll towards the road.

I quickly run over to her while avoiding the cars. She gets up and frantically starts picking them up.

"Ma'am, be careful! Just stay right there!" I call out to her as I get closer to her.

"Oh, It's ok, dear. I can get them myself." She says.

"I don't mind at all." I pick up all the apples one by one and put them inside her basket.

She smiles and pats my head, messing up my neatly brushed hair.

"Thank you, young man. You're so kind. Hold on a sec." She says and opens up her purse. Digging out a candy wrapped in a red packet, she gives it to me.

"Sweet! Thanks." I say happily and wave to her as she bids goodbye and walks away.

I put it in my pocket and look ahead. Yeah, figured she'd be gone by now.

I check the time and my eyes widen upon realising I'm going to be late. Walking as fast as I can, I make my way to the so-called Greenhouse Café.

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After walking for about 20 minutes, I see the giant signboard from across the street.

Great! Made it on time!

From the outside, the building looks aesthetic and fresh with green and brown walls and plants decorated near the entrance door.

I push open the door and the strong smell of coffee hits my nostrils.

The inside looks even more amazing. There are plants and flowers decorated beautifully on the walls and clear tables with crisp white chairs. This Café is not too big or too small. I'm beginning to like it here already. I look towards the counter and end up making the same shocked expression as the person who I'm looking at.

It's her. That girl from the street. It all makes sense now why we happened to be going in the same direction.

My expression then turns from shock to smug. Something about this situation is so amusing. Especially the fact that she was trying to get rid of me this whole time.

I walk towards the counter with a bright smile on my face. Meanwhile, she simply glares at me.

"Hi, there! I'd like to order now" I say as I look at the menu.

"What's with that stupid face?" She says bluntly.

"Oh, It's nothing! I'll have a hot americano, a slice of red velvet cheesecake and....a nice smile." I say to her as I smirk.

"Should I get you kicked out from here?" She says threateningly.

"Aww, are you finally giving up on your nice girl act?" I joke. She starts to type on the register.

"So you were following me. Are you a stalker?" She says as I take out the money from my wallet.

"Please. I was on my way to this Café to meet a friend. And how could I follow you when you clearly got here first." I give her the money and she hands me the receipt.

"Thank you. What's your name by the way?" I say with a grin.

"I don't give my name to strangers." She answers and walks away to the coffee machine.

Hmm. I remember Morgan saying that to me too when I asked for her name. The more I notice it, the more I'm and beginning to see Morgan in this girl.

I walk away to an empty table for two by the window. On the way there, my phone rings. Checking it, it turns out to be Walter.

"Hello. Ethan? Are you already at the Café?" He asks as I sit on the chair.

"Yeah. Where are you?"

"Just reached there. I see the signboard. Sorry I had to reschedule our meeting to afternoon." He says as I hear the sound of his car engine stop in the background.

"It's totally fine. I'm sitting by the window. See ya." I say and look out the window. Many people are walking by so it's hard to spot him.

"Here you go" I hear the girl-who-didn't-give-me-her-name place a cup of coffee and a plate of cake on my table.

I give her a sly smile as she rolls her eyes and goes away. Is it...possible that this girl is...Morgan? But why would she take a risk by working in the public?

The door of the Café opens and the person, in casual clothes, I know as Walter gets inside. He first walks over to the counter and places his order. Then he looks around for me and walks up to me after finding me.

"Why aren't you in your uniform.?" I ask him as I sip my coffee. Wasn't he at the police department before coming here?

"Had to request a day off. My mom's illness got worse today and she collapsed. She's in the hospital right now." He says as he sits down on the other chair.

"Oh, sorry about that. Hope she gets better soon." I say sympathetically. I take a bite of my cake. It's fresh!

"Yeah, anyways, I won't stay long so  here." He takes out a small white flash drive, places on the table and pushes it towards me.

I take it and inspect it.

"Honestly, Zane checked it several times, us too but there's just no sign of any Kidnapper." He says and sighs.

"You simply need a fresh new pair of eyes to look at it" I smirk and point at my eyes.

A waitress comes to us and places a takeaway coffee cup on our table.

"Thank you," he says and she leaves.

"Should I give it to you back afterwards?" I ask Walter.

"Nah, destroy it or throw it away if you want. It's an old one anyway and I don't use it." He says and checks the time.

"Time to go?" I ask him noticing his urgency.

"Yeah, see ya later kid. And stay safe." He gets up as he picks his coffee and walks away.

I drink the last drop of my coffee and get up too. Burying the flash drive deep in my pocket, I walk towards the door.

"Rachel! Over here!" I hear a staff call, someone.

It turns out it's that girl's her name as she goes over to a table where four ladies are seated and politely takes their order.

I snicker. There's that fake nice attitude. Turning back around, I exit the shop.