章節 2: Could It Be Him?

The blue crystal master. Trisha, the master of the heart, told her many times he was her fate, that he was her destiny - the only person who would tame her strength. She pondered on the idea, asking herself, 'Could it be him?'

"Miss, I - just want to know your name," said the man before her.

She was still in a daze, unable to revert at his advances. She took a step closer and studied his angular face. He had a pair of deep-seated eyes, shaded between sapphire or deep blue, with long lashes and thick brows. His dark blonde hair was cut short while his chin up to his jaws had grown a quarter of an inch of beard.

He had a slender and pointed nose that barely flared even as he reacted to her earlier avoidance.

"Miss," the man said. "How about I treat you for lunch?"

It was because of her curiosity that Amanda reluctantly agreed and took the seat on the other side of the table. After all, no man nor woman has ever touched her for three years.

As she continued to study him, she realized how thin his lips were, and how slightly pale they were. The same could be said with his skin. If not for her supernatural powers, sensing the life in him, he would remind her of twilight's Edward Cullen, a vampire. His skin was so fair, it looked like he had not had any sun in years.

"What would you like to have?" He asked while smiling at her.

She turned to Tracy and saw the baffled look on her face. Her friend knew too well it was not like her to accept a stranger's invitation. She said, "It's okay, Tracy… I'll take my lunch with him… Can I have a tuna sandwich and orange juice, please?"

"Okay, if you say so," said Tracy as she walked towards the table and took Amanda's order slip. Turning to the unknown man, Tracy said, "Your orders will be ready in twenty minutes."

"Oh, and... I want my steak medium-rare," added the man.

"Sure thing!" Tracy confirmed with a smile before disappearing to the kitchen.

Amanda remained staring at him. She asked herself, 'If he is the blue crystal master, how come I am not sensing it? I should be able to feel the power within, just like the others.'

She thought perhaps a better concentration would do the trick. She recognized she required to touch him again and let the crystal do a better assessment. She needed to be sure… She needed to know if he was the blue crystal master.

"I know I'm handsome, but you don't need to keep staring at me like that," the man said, obviously giving a tease.

Hearing his incorrect assumption, she looked away, saying nothing and merely looking through the glass window.

"My name is Christopher. Christopher Towns," he introduced himself.

Amanda's eyes narrowed at him, doubting his last name. "Towns? Seriously?"

He smiled again and looked down at the table where his fingers were locked together. He gazed back at her green eyes and answered, "Towns. Yes, unfortunately, that is really our last name… You can call me Chris for short."

"And... you are Amanda!" He said, pointing out her nameplate.

"Can I ask you a favor, Chris?" She asked straight away, ignoring the fact he found out her name. Amanda had to get it over and done with.

"Anything!" responded Christopher.

"Can I - can I hold your hand?" She asked.

Christopher's earlier smile turned into a smirk. He then extended his hand to her and said, "My pleasure to hold a beautiful lady."

Amanda ignored his compliment and gulped at the sight of his hand. She lazily bought up her hand on the table to hold his. The moment she touched him, she was yet again amazed... Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened to him.

'Wow. Such firm hands,' she thought. For a second, she lost her senses, but she promptly shook her head and reminded herself of her goal.

"Look, "she said. "I'm going to pray."

"Hah? Are you - "

"Please, just do as I say. Can you close your eyes?" Amanda said. It was the only thing she could think of as an excuse to touch him longer.

"Pfft! Okay… If you say so," said Christopher.

Seeing him shut his eyes, Amanda looked around the near-empty restaurant before diverting her gaze back at him. The other customers were too far from where they sat, and Tracy was still in the kitchen. She determined it was safe.

The Southern Deli was just but a small restaurant cafe. Most of its customers arrive at night, after getting off from work.

This was exactly why Thomas Kent only kept three employees in the day, including his own son to manage it.

While maintaining her hold on to Christopher, Amanda also closed her eyes and covered them with her other hand. Silently, she instructed the occupant inside her body to feel the blue crystal.

As her powers promptly responded to her call, she felt her entire body heating up and her eyes slightly burning, but in just less than a minute she had found her answer. The crystal established he was not a master of any other crystal and there was none inside of him.

Amanda opened her eyes and let go of his hand in dismay. She told herself, ' Of course… not him again… I should not have hoped. I remain to be cursed.'

Realizing he was still at it, closing his eyes and waiting for her instructions, she said, "I'm done praying. I prayed you would help this restaurant get more customers… that you would be a medium for it to survive another year."

Christopher went chuckling. He leaned back and continued to control his laughter as he turned his gaze in different directions. He said, "You are a strange one."

Her eyes had already turned disinterested in him, knowing he was not the one she thought he was. She gave no other acknowledgments or any form of response after that. She just wanted to finish her lunch.

"Here you go," said Tracy as she served Amanda's sandwich and Christopher's steak. "I'll be back with your drinks."

Christopher eagerly sliced through his steak and realize there was too much blood. He hissed and said, "This is not medium-rare."

He looked up to find Tracy calling out to her. "Excuse me?"

Amanda turned to find Tracy as well, but she was nowhere in sight. She was about to send back the steak when he stood up and walked towards the counter. She then looked around and seized the moment.

Putting her hand on top of the steak, she gave it a lit, further cooking his steak. She then quickly took a tissue and wiped the blood that was earlier visible on his plate.

When she looked at her sandwich, she realized the bread was not toasted to her satisfaction. She also gave it a little heat, further browning the bread. She did the same on the other side.

She heard Tracy walk back with Christopher, saying, "I'm so sorry about the steak, let me - "

Tracy stopped herself from seeing the cut on the steak. It did not look rare to her. She turned to Christopher, who also had the same observation. The steak seemed more caramelized than how he remembered it.

Christopher sat back and sliced through the meat on another side. He saw just a touch of pink on the steak, suggesting it was cooked medium-rare. He pouted his lips and his brows drew together saying, "I - I guess I was imagining things."

"Maybe it was the juice from the meat… It happens," said Amanda before taking a bite of her sandwich.