Jillian is a type of person who does not like relying on others. She feels like she would be a burden to anyone so she rarely asks for help.
Even when it is something that she does not have control over, she would still keep silent about her trouble. There was a time when she was separated from her family members on their plane ride to Switzerland due to some mistake by an amateur flight staff, she had difficulty opening her food packet. What made her more irritated was that the pair of scissors that she brought along was in her mother's luggage. Groaning, she slammed her fist on the food packet in frustration, startling the passengers sitting around her. Sensing her trouble, a young man in his late 20s kindly offered his help to open her food packet. Even though Jillian threw him a blank stare (she was internally debating whether she should accept his offer or not), the man reached over and opened it easily in his first try. A red blush decorated her pale cheeks as she nodded her head in thanks to the kind man. After that incident, Jillian worked hard to open everything that she could get her hands on, from her father's beer bottles to the sugar packets in the shops she visited to all the food cans at home. The simple truth is that Jillian felt a moment of weakness when she was unable to open the food packet and the fact that the male passenger was able to do it so easily somehow made her feel small. Till this day, she did not know his name and since he was just a random person who she met in a plane, it was virtually impossible to chance upon him ever again.
At least, that was what she thought until one day when she was cleaning up a previously used table in a coffee shop that she worked in. From her peripheral vision, she could see a pair of legs covered in black slacks nearing the table before stopping in front of it. At first, she thought the person was merely waiting for another person since the person refused to sit down. That was what she thought until...
"Hey, it's you." At that, Jillian raised her gaze up before her eyes widened. The other person mirrored her reaction, his already big smile reaching his eyes.
"Hello! Do you remember me?" The familiar man gave a small wave at her. Jillian gulped nervously. Wait. Why was she nervous? And also, her face started to feel very warm. It can't be that she's developing a fever, right?
"I don't think I introduced myself the other day. Hello, my name is Xavier," the man, Xavier, extended his hand and Jillian glanced at it before staring back at him and accepted it.
"Fancy meeting you again! I thought I'd never meet you again ever since the plane ride," Xavier shoved his hands into his jeans pockets before he glanced at Jillian and studied her closely, making the barista blush madly. "Are you...by any chance...mute?"
Jillian tilted her head to the side, as if confused by the statement. Before he could speak again, she gestured using her hands, which said the words 'Thank you'.
A look of realization flashed across the man's face before he shot her a disarming smile back. "You're welcome!"
Xavier approached to her side and pulled out a seat before gesturing to her to sit down which she complied. He then walked over to his side to sit down. Leaning over in interest, he grinned at her.
"I think we have a lot to catch up on."
Jillian merely smiled back as she felt her heart flutter. Ah this must be the feeling that most people talk about.
Love.
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