Chapter 7: A Familiar Face

A concerned expression of a man appeared in her vision, “That was a pretty awful bump you have there, here use this to ease the pain.” He stretches his arm towards Valencia with an item in his hand, it was a soda can. His worried gesture is insisting her to take the cold beverage.

Valencia pondered in a jiff before she decided to take the can in his hand, “Thank you” she replied with a meek tone and presses the cold can against her slightly swollen forehead.  She elevated on the ground and gave the man a quick head bow before leaving the building in a flustered state.

She crosses the pedestrian lane that is laid out in front of the entrance door of the condo after waiting for the cars to pass by and stood under the shade of the Pine trees to wait for a taxi. She stops pressing the cold bottle on her forehead after she felt the pain slowly subsiding and wipes the excess water on her frons with her free hand.

She lifts her right arm mid-air with her thumb sticking up, sending a signal to the taxi drivers that are available, a couple of taxis passed her by until a yellow cab halts in front of her. She peeks through the window checking the front seat and the back seat if there are any passengers before she went inside the vehicle.

“Please take me to the-“while she was fastening her seat belt her eyes caught a glimpse of a familiar face in the rearview mirror, “Wait, It’s you again from yesterday isn't it?” She uttered in surprise, the driver of the yellow cab is the same man who drove her to Jenna’s Liberia shop.

“Nice to see you again, Ma’am! I thought that it wasn’t you from afar, but my guess was right.” The man chuckled and continued, “So where are we headed to Ma’am?” he asked as he steal glances through the rearview mirror.

“Can you take me to Urban Café?” Valencia replied, The man tilted his head, addled by her order “There are two Urban Café, Ma’am, Which specific place do you want me to take you?” Valencia’s eyes widen in enlightenment from the man's statement, she almost forgot that there was a newly open branch on 13th Street, District 4 "I forgot that there's a new branch".

“The Urban Cafe on 8^th Street the one in front of a parking lot building.” Valencia apprises.  

The driver bobs his head with a grin on his lip, “Alright! Got it” he enthusiastically replied. The car left the condominium and drove to Valencia’s designated destination.

Valencia dazed through the window car with empty thoughts and placid stature with her back nestled on the seat but her tranquil moment was disrupted by a vibration coming from her bag. She motions her vision on her coffee-coloured sling bag and took out her phone.

She taps her phone screen twice and the mobile’s screen lit up revealing a notification message, she taps the screen once more unveiling a text from her friend, Cherry. “Damn, 3 months in waiting? That’s going to take a while, but did you search for other shops after that? Anyways, I’m going to your house later this evening to tell you the news because I’m not available at the moment. See ya!” the message implied.

“Hmn, since when did she become so busy all of a sudden?  It’s quite odd, she always slacks off most of the time.” Valencia was sceptical of Cherry’s unavailability because it only happens once in a blue moon. One time, when Cherry told her that she was going to be gone for a few days she came back with a warrant of arrest because she was accused of human trafficking, but later on, after Valencia hired a lawyer for her, she was declared innocent after they found the real suspect, however, this was a recent situation.

She took a deep breath before exhaling to calm herself from the anxiety her friend is giving her, “I hope she doesn’t bring trouble upon herself like last time, I swear.”

“What are you busy with this time? Getting involved with the country’s most wanted criminal? Give me a break, Cherry, you better come back with your hands clean, or else I’m letting the police put you behind bars so you won’t get yourself in trouble.” She pressed the screen, sending the message to Cherry before tapping her phone repeatedly deciding to continue her text.

“I’m still busy searching for shops that have it, and fortunately this time I hope there’s at least one out there.” Valencia clicked the green circle with an arrow pointing upward and sent the text before a voice took her attention, “Ma’am, we're here.” The young man spoke, Valencia flicked her head to the driver before turning her head to the window beside her to confirm his statement.

The taxi was parked in front of a seemingly busy shop named ‘Urban Café’ based on the sticker sign plastered on the window of the store, “That’ll be 20 Neta, Ma’am” he declared.

Valencia darts her attention to the man and said, “Come again? sorry, I wasn’t paying attention" The man tittered, “It’s alright, Ma’am." He assured, "you have to pay 20 Neta.”

She opens her bag and placed her phone inside before taking her wallet out of her little satchel then Valencia gave the driver her payment before pulling the door handle to exit the vehicle, “Wait, Ma’am, you forgot your change!” He called out, with a visible frantic in his voice.

Valencia turns her head at the young man, “The extra is my tip for you, so keep it.” She sent a smile at him before she pushed the door, however, she failed to heed the red hue creeping on his cheeks after turning her back against the car and walking towards the store.

Valencia pushes the glassed door and a chiming bell rang in her ears as it echoes in the semi-busy shop, “Good Morning Madam, Welcome to Urban Café! Is there anything you would like to order?” a short woman with red-coloured tips wearing a brown beret hat appeared beside her with an affiliative smile.

Valencia grins in return “Yes I would like to order a take-out.” The girl took out a paper and a pen from her apron pocket hoisted on her hips, “2 corn muffins, 3 cinnamon buns and an Americano, please”

“Copy that, May I Know your name, Madam?” The girl looks at her.

“Valencia.” She stated, “Alright Miss Valencia, please take a seat first, your order will be ready in a few moments” The girl left and Valencia began to search for an available seat to rest while waiting for her takeout until she saw a table in the far corner on the left beside the window.

She stroll towards the unoccupied seat and sat on the soft cushion of the armchair, she laid her back on the seat and pulls out her mobile device from her bag, she opens her phone and went straight to Wh@tsapp to message her younger brother.

“Hey, where did you park my car last night? I asked the guard yesterday and they didn’t see my car entering the parking lot at the condominium.” after she sent the text a couple of seconds passed her phone vibrated in her hand, “Relax big sis, I parked your car in the parking building in front of your favourite café shop and I paid for the fee as well before my friend, Neil took me home.” Her younger brother explained.

“Why did you park it in a different place and not near my condo? Did you know how anxious I was yesterday when I asked Mr Hale?” Valencia Answered before turning off her phone and placing them back in her satchel.

Her eyes wandered around the shop while inhaling the relaxing aroma of brewed scented coffee and newly baked pieces of bread and pastries that engulfs the place with a calming yet nostalgic feeling. She watches the crowd from her seat with a visible tranquil grin carved on her lips but her smile faltered when her pairs caught a glimpse of a familiar figure sitting across the room.

“Hold on, is that….” she leans forward with her eyes narrowing, assuring that her vision is not fooling her for a brief moment, "No way...." she scoffed.