Coffee Ever After

Sabi nila, everything happens for a reason. Kaya siguro madalas akong may presentation sa trabaho para makasilay ako sa barista ng coffee shop na malapit sa workplace ko. Kidding aside, I love staying here. Ang cozy kasi ng atmosphere, close na rin ako sa owner dahil palagi nga akong dito nakatambay.

"Here's your espresso."

Nagising ang diwa ko nang dalhin nya ang order ko sa 'kin. I don't usually order espresso except when I'm pulling an all-nighter.

"Another presentation?" he asked and I chuckled, making him raise his eyebrows up. "Am I wrong?"

"No," I answered. "It looks like sobrang dalas ko na talaga dito kaya alam mo na agad kung anong ginagawa ko." 

"Nah, I'm just attentive," he said. Another customer entered the café before I could say something.

My sleep-deprived self started to question that simple word. Attentive. Why use that if he can say 'observant'? I mean, they mean almost the same but observant seems more appropriate in the situation. 

O baka naman ibig nya talagang sabihin ay attentive siya sa 'kin?  O attentive siya sa customers nila? O kailangan ko na talagamg inumin 'tong kape ko para magising ako sa katotohanan? 

I quickly drank my coffee and continued working on my presentation. An hour or two has passed when my eyes roamed the shop. Kaunti nalang ang customers dahil masyado nang gabi.

Natapos ko na ang presentation ko pero hinayaan ko lang na nakabukas ang laptop ko habang pasimpleng sumisilay sa barista na abala maglinis sa counter. Kaka-order ko lang ulit ng kape pero parang gusto ko ulit mag-order na para makausap siya.

I started visiting this shop way before he started to work here. I still remember the first time I saw him. It's his first day and he's wearing a white long-sleeved polo and black pants with a black waist apron on.

I find him physically attractive, yes, but his personality made me like him. 

It was a hectic day. Bumabaha ng customers ang shop kaya abala silang lahat and obviously, pagod. He was serving drinks when a woman bumped into him causing the drinks to fall. I am expecting him to get annoyed at the least but, he just smiled at her.

He said that it's okay and cleaned the area quickly. The coffee shop's owner came and they talked. When the woman left, the owner immediately asked him why he acted like that to her. Like me, the owner is expecting a scene. 

"I got reminded of my mother. If she was in that situation, hindi ko gustong may mang-away na barista sa kanya," was his answer.

I found him sweet and remembered whispering mama's boy to myself that time. Hindi ko alam kung narinig ba nila 'yon dahil malapit lang naman ako sa kanila. 

I was smiling to myself while reminiscing when I noticed that he's now looking at me, too.

Nagpanggap akong nagtitipa nang makita ko siyang nakatayo na sa tabi ng upuan na katapat ko. 

"May I sit here?" tanong nya. 

"Oo naman," sagot ko habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa laptop. He sat in front of me, with his elbow on the table and chin on his palm.  And obviously, staring at me.

Ganito pala ang pakiramdam na matitigan. Gusto ko tuloy mag-sorry sa kanya sa daming pagkakataon na tinititigan ko siya habang nagtatrabaho. 

"Why don't you look at me now?" 

Kung may iniinom ako ngayon baka nasamid na ako.

"Gusto ko lowkey lang," sagot ko. "Kitang-kita mo na kung titingnan kita ngayon." 

He laughed.

"I'm not really fond of having things lowkey," he said. 

I raised an eyebrow asking him to continue talking.

"I like you," he said. 

I don't know if its the palpitation caused by the coffee but my heart started to beat faster.

"Why?" I asked. "Don't dare say like at first sight."

"It's a long story."

I closed my laptop and grabbed my untouched coffee.

"I'm wiling to listen."

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bonus:

GOT7 Jaebeom for imaginary purposes <3