Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Peppermint already pulled out almost all of her clothes from inside her closet and suitcases. All of her clothes were already piling up on the floor but it looked like she isn’t satisfied yet. She woke up early today, around five o’ clock in the morning. She’s been fidgeting all over the place, wide awake. She took a bath early, rubbed lotion all over her body and is currently busy rummaging all over her closet.

She frowned to herself when she realized she couldn’t find anything that satisfied her. With a weakened stature, she walked towards another bag of suitcase leaning against the door and opened it. There, she found a red dress with spaghetti straps. The length started from her breast until her knees. It looked good! She claimed it. But there was one major problem. That dress was given to her by Kael on their first anniversary. When he went missing, she stopped wearing it and only kept it as a memorabilia.

Peppermint touched the fabric and felt the sensation from the dress. She wanted to wear it but her conscience is being eaten away by her own thoughts. It’s not that she can’t wear it; she chose not wear it because it wasn’t Kael she’s meeting but instead it was Brenan.

That dress was only exclusive for Kael only.

Peppermint sighed to herself and put it back inside her wardrobe. She decided to wear long sleeves partnered by a coat and then office slacks. She fixed her hair into a bun, applied body mist and a small amount of powder on her face. She was surprised afterwards. She realized that she fixed how she looked like in front of a mirror even though she wasn’t going to some occasion or seeing Kael at all. Everything was for a man she just met a while back; Brenan.

She stopped applying lipstick on her lips and used tissue to remove it. Instead of a lipstick, she grabbed a lip balm and applied it on herself.

After she finished from all the things she had been doing to herself, she finally reached for her attaché case and filled it with loads of papers. When she walked downstairs, she noticed her maid, Tata Cecil who was busy fixing her breakfast and Tata Parita who was busy pouring juice on her glass. The table was long and designed by a famous furniture designer. It had five chairs included; in the middle where she seats, two for her mom and dad, one for Kael and another chair when Orange suddenly visits.

“Ma’am Peppy, we already cooked your breakfast. We specifically made your favorite fried fish with my special sauce.” Peppermint couldn’t help but smile at her maid. They know very well how she’s easily moved by their cooking and most importantly how she loved both of them.

“I’m sorry Tata Cecil and Tata Parita but I’m going outside to eat today,” she mentioned and the two nodded. She quickly walked pass by them and headed straight to the keys when one of her maids stopped her.

“Wait a minute, hija.” The woman who had stopped her grabbed something from behind the counters and gave her a lunch box. “Bring this lunch box with you and eat it later on your office.” Just by looking at the thing her maid gave her, it was obvious that the cooking was filled with love and they cared much about her. She nodded and took the box with her. It was three layered box wrapped around a red fabric.

“Thank you, Manang,” she mentioned before smiling at her again. Afterwards she finally headed straight for her garage and took out her car from within. As she started driving, she headed straight for the coffee shop and parked there. She tried peeking through the glass window if ever Brenan was already there but to no avail, he wasn’t there yet.

She took this initiation and headed to her Fragrant Hub office just across the street and gave her secretary all of the documents she was holding on. She wanted them to redo the misspelled words on some of their current enterprise proposals to be submitted tomorrow.

Her secretary started fixing her a cup of 3 in 1 coffee but she quickly declined the offer and made her drink it herself. From time to time, she would glanced along her watch and check the time. Peppermint thinks she went to work quite early today that she beat her co-workers to it,

When six o’ clock came, she fixed her table and removed the revised papers on her desk. She walked towards the office with her heels making all the noises. Everyone greeted her and to her response.

When she finally came out of the building, Brenan was already waiting outside with his blue Beetle Volkswagen.

The man approached her, “Good morning,” the man said with a beaming smile on his face.

“Hello, good morning as well.” Peppermint even blamed herself for being too formal from the inside.

But it looked like the man didn’t care much of it. “Let’s go?” the man asked and the two of them headed inside the coffee shop. They walked towards her favorite spot and let her sat down. On the other hand, Brenan ordered for the two of them.

While she was busy waiting, she couldn’t help but check him out from a distance. He had such broad shoulders and tall stature. She shook her head from all the imaginations she’s been having but she couldn’t stop herself. Her eyes landed on his nape. Who would think that she’s looking at a different man if they looked exactly alike. Where ever you look at, Kael and Brenan shares the same feature. She didn’t want to compare them but her mind just automatically does so.

Peppermint stopped thinking about it and looked towards the outside. She remembered promising Brenan that she would stop talking about Kael being the same as him. She promised so she should keep it.

After the order came, Brenan was the first one to open a conversation. He was talking about his business’s expansion. Peppermint couldn’t help but feel disappointed deep within since she’s been all over the place. She was fed up from all the business talks since she always does it on a daily basis. She expected more than this but her thoughts suddenly stopped when Brenan mentioned something.

“I’m planning to do a small business. I guess a shoe factory would be good,” the man started and then drank from his brewed coffee.

“It’s a good business.” Peppermint forced herself to agree with it but then followed up with a question, “Why did you want to sell shoes if you’re a famous hotelier now? Why not focus on the same area?” she asked.

“You’re right but it makes me feel bored, doing the same thing over and over again for so many years. I want to invest on something close to my heart,” he mentioned and looked like he was nostalgic for a few seconds there. “Originally, I just wanted to sell shoes,” Brenan said. He looked so sincere while talking about the matter and so she went with the flow.

"In other words, you love selling shoes." The man just nodded at her words.

A man who’s delighted on selling leathers and tic tacs reminds her of Kael. The both of them shared the same interests. There was even at that point where Kael had a few stores selling shoes but it wasn’t managed well for all these years. Auntie Paula and Uncle Harold couldn’t hold on to it and so they sold it.

“How about you? Why did you think of selling fragrances?” Brenan asked.

“I don’t know,” she started and shrugged her shoulders. Thinking of a reason before opening her mouth again. “I guess it’s because ever since I was younger, I’ve always been amazed by what perfume my mom and dad brings,” she sipped through her coffee and then continued. “Maybe that’s why I started making my own fragrance and then took a college degree focusing on scents and borrowed some capital from my dad and boom! I was able to make my own fragrant shops,” Peppermint explained while Brenan was slicing a piece of Coffee mustard cake.

“You must be a really hardworking woman,” he mentioned and gave her the piece he was slicing earlier. She couldn’t help but blush. Even if it were just a simple praise, she couldn’t help but feel excited from the inside.

"Are you single?" Surprised by the sudden question, Peppermint widened her eyes.

“H-huh?” Peppermint couldn’t help but look at him.

“I mean, you’re so busy with work. Do you still have time for romance?” he asked while pouting.

Peppermint stopped for a moment from taking the spoon onto her lips and said, “Before.” She looked down on her cake and then continued, “Before, I had my romantic half.”

“Ah, you’re talking about Kael,” Brenan said. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s fine,” Peppermint said.

“Can I ask?”

“Sure,” she answered with a smile on her face.

“Is Kael your first boyfriend?” Brenan looked like he was curious and so she nodded.

“Y…y-yes,” she answered shyly. She couldn’t help it. Brenan might think that he was the only man who courted her for all these years but the truth was, a lot of men wanted to do the same but she didn’t feel anything towards them. Until now, she’s still single because all of her thoughts were still flying towards Kael but not until now.

Peppermint couldn’t help but steal a glance at the man in front of her. Brenan was giving her all the Kael-like vibe that she couldn’t help herself. She even finds it difficult for her to describe how sexy the man is in front of her. He’s giving her a hard time.

“I heard, Kael’s been missing for three years now but you still haven’t had any boyfriend up until now,” Brenan mentioned and she nodded. “You really love him, don’t you?” he asked but before she could even open her mouth, he followed it up with another question. “Can you tell me what you liked about him?”

His face looked like he was filled with curiosity. Peppermint couldn’t help but stare at it for a few seconds before finally speaking.

“Maybe it’s because Kael is such a sweet guy,” she started. “He never let any important occasions of our lives slip out without any celebrations. He was like my typical calendar,” she giggled in between her story. “Other than that, he had a lot of characteristics that made me fall for him; just like being caring and understanding. Just a note, I’m actually quite demanding.” Brenan nodded after she finished telling hi,. She couldn’t help but feel embarrassed so she switched her gaze towards her cake.

“Then are you planning on dating another guy?” The man added to his question. Peppermint looked upward and saw how he was staring straight in her eyes, his fingers crossed.

She spoke, “Maybe,” she started. “But I rather it be close to Kael’s characteristics, though.”

Brenan couldn’t help but smirk at her, “Does that mean I pass?” She couldn’t help but cough while drinking her coffee.

“Sorry, sorry.” It looked like the man just wanted to tease her but ended up making her choke causing some of her coffee to splash through Brenan’s suit. She worriedly apologized for her actions but the man only giggled.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” he started. “I shouldn’t have said those words carelessly,” he added while wiping the coffee stain from his suit. After a while, she noticed how the man went back to staring at her straight in the eye. She felt butterflies in her stomach, like there were sparks floating while gazing at each other.

“Your eyes are beautiful.” With just those words alone, Peppermint turned red. It has been a while since someone complimented her that way especially, coming from Brenan who had such husky voice.

“Sorry, was I too straightforward?” Brenan asked when she remained silent. She shook her head. “I just couldn’t help but be honest when I see something beautiful. Is it weird?” he asked, scratching his nape while having such an awkward smile on his face.

Just looking at the same smile again, Peppermint felt like there were dozens of horse galloping inside her heart. The way he looked like made her heart thumped heart and body elevated from all the coffee and cake she’s been having. She averted her eyes from him. If she keeps looking at him and receiving his compliments, she might die from a heart attack.

She drank all of her coffee in one go and asked for cappuccino from the waiter. It looked like she’ll have more than her usual since she wanted her heart so stop pumping so much.

“Are you in a hurry?” Brenan suddenly asked.

“Nope, on the contrary I’m trying to add more time,” she said casually. She shouldn’t be tensed in front of this man. She wanted to add more time for them to casually talk that’s why she keeps ordering. Last night, she even made a script about how they’ll talk so that the conversation would be prolonged with Brenan.

Their conversation lasted for more than just a few minutes. He was such a good speaker. He was gentle and there was that air around him that makes you feel comfortable. He wasn’t the same as before anymore; rude and arrogant.

“I have to say, I’m impressed with what you did,” Brenan said in between their conversation. He put his hands on the table.

“Well thank you,” she answered shyly from his compliment before taking another spoonful of cake onto her mouth. Even though, it was the only thing she ate, it felt like she was stuffed.

When her gaze went up, she noticed how Brenan’s expression changed. It looked like he was having a fierced staring contest with someone else and so she raised an eyebrow and turned around to look at whoever he was staring at. It was none other than Vincent. Her eyes widened in surprised.

“Vincent what are you doing here?” she asked. The man looked like he can kill any moment and didn’t answer her question at all. He only approached the both of them and quickly grabbed Brenan on his collar. “V-Vincent what are you doing?” she asked.

The look on his face looked like he’d frown at any moment. Just from last night, the two seemed to share a friendly air around him but now it looked like they’re on each other’s throats.

“Vincent let him go!” Peppermint couldn’t help but raise voice as she realized something might happen inside the coffee shop. Judging but how they’re at each other, they might start a fight. Vincent let go off him as per her request but he couldn’t help but clenched his fist and his teeth gritting in anger.

"What's happening to you Vincent?" she asked. If something happened to the both of them, she might need to take responsible especially since everyone thinks she’s Vincent’s girlfriend.

"Let's talk outside,” Vincent’s voice was full of authority. She quickly promptly grabbed her purse and followed behind the two of them. She was nervous about the things that might happen.

Peppermint wished that nothing bad happened between the two of them such as doing a fist fight. She needed to come along to make sure nothing bad happens.

They all went at the back of the coffee shop while the two of them were having a serious talk. She couldn’t help but at stare at them from a distance until she decided to take a closer step and listen.

"Do you even understand when I said stay away from her!" Vincent said.

“And who are you to tell me what to do?” Brenan asked, creasing his forehead. “Might you forget but the game you played isn’t over yet,” Brenan said in response.

“Don’t you ever fucking lay a finger on her or I might do something to you!” Vincent warned. “Remember what I did to you before? I’ll make sure, this time you’ll disappear for good!” Vincent gritted his teeth, threatening him.

“Go on! Try me! You think you’ll be able to steal her away from me?” Brenan asked. “Now that I’m here, I’ll protect her and do everything just so she could stay away from!” Brenan said.

Peppermint was confused and wary about the situation. She couldn’t comprehend what was going on and what to do with them at all.

“I hate violence but this time I’ll do everything just so I can make sure, you won’t be able to have her!”

“Huh! If you do that I’ll make sure to spill your greatest secret!” Vincent warned him. “Let’s see how she’ll accept the truth,” he smirked.

“Oh really? We all know that I don’t have any secrets! Maybe you do,” Brenan returned the same thing.

“Really?” Vincent laughed in between their argument. “What about your identity? As soon as Peppermint knows of it, do you think she wouldn’t be surprised?” he asked. “Just think about it again Brenan. Lay a finger on her and I will bury you straight to hell using my shotgun.” It was an open threatening. Peppermint didn’t know what to make it off. Just hearing them about all sort of this made her feel like a lost puppy.

Men are ferocious when they’re seriously talking. It looked like she even heard them threatening to kill each other in exchange of something precious to them. But what mostly caught her eye was when she heard her own name and how they were talking about Brenan’s secret.

Was he from the syndicates? Does he do illegal businesses? She felt nervous deep within. As if there was cue, something stuck her. What if Brenan really was Kael? Right from the start, that what she was looking for.

She shook her head. That was not the time for this. She needed to do something about them.

The speculation inside her head can be dealt with later. She still needs a lot of time or better yet, for him to tell her himself.