CHAPTER 2

JUSTINE'S POV

The next day I planned all the things I needed to do and I plan to finish them all by Friday since today is Tuesday.

After class, Ayen and I doesn't have enough time to be together since I need to go to work immediately so that I can personally speak to the owner of the cafè and ask if I can take day offs on weekends.

I am working on a small cafè and we're just actually three there.

Me, then Sam, who is a friend of mine. He's also a gay but unlike me, he is brave enough to show the world who he really is but he doesn't cross dress. Every Friday he goes to different gay bars just to hook with someone.

He's twenty years old, second year college, taking up bachelor of science in hospitality management, but we're not in the same university.

He is just actually studying at the university, one block after this cafè. So, that means our university is not that far from each other.

I got to know him at a bar last year. I was just curiously to know how does it feel to go out by myself but it turned out it wasn't a good idea. Luckily he was also there that time and he actually saved me from some guys that were about to abuse me. That was so traumatizing that's why after that, I really doesn't go to any bar anymore.

Then our friendship started, he was already studying at the university where he is studying now back then while I was just in senior high school and studying in different school.

When he found out that I'll be studying at the university near them, he asked me if I want to have a part-time job.

So, that means, he's actually the reason why I'm here in the cafè.

Then we're also working with the owner, Ms. Lovely De Vera.

She's so kind and understandable.

We are all working all together that's why we can handle many customers. Also, we are using automatic appliances and tools that's why we don't really need to work that much. We just need to work precisely and fast.

After the rush hour, the orders became fewer which kinda relieves us.

I get the order of the last customer from the long line earlier then leave the counter first.

Surely, as what always happening here, this will be the last order for now then many customers will come again after thirty minutes.

I was making an iced americano coffee for the customer then I accidentally sighed.

When I finished it I immediately gave it to the customer.

I just looked around at the café first and saw that some customers were already standing up and preparing to leave.

I went to the sink first to wash my hand.

I immediately turned around when I felt that someone is poking my back.

I got shocked and didn't help it but to move away my face when I saw Sam's face is very close to me.

"If only I got a heart problem, maybe I've been attacked. Do you want me to die?" I politely asked.

Just like Ayen, he's also crazy.

"No, but I will kill you if you won't tell me what's your problem. You've been like that since earlier. What's with the sighing?" he asked and crossed his arms.

"Problem? No, it's just, uhm maybe I'm just tired," I answered.

"Really? But, seems like something is bothering you." He even raised his left eye brow.

"Stop, let's go back to work. Don't worry, it's not serious," I said and turned off the faucet.

I dried my hands with the towel and faced him.

Now his right hand is on his chin and gently touching it as if he's thinking deeply.

"Maybe you're daydreaming again about that hunk cam boy, aren't you?" My eyes widen at what he said.

"Oh my, stop! Someone might hear you!" I scolded him in a low tone.

He just gave me a suspicious look and smile. "Come on, don't be shy. It's just us right now! Tell me, are you thinking what would it feel if you two are having se---" He stopped and scratch his head instead when something hit him on the head.

"Stop talking about nasty things during working hours or else I'll reduce the time you two do chit chats on your salary!" It was ms. Lovely and she's holding a tray while pointing it on us.

"Sorry, Ms. Lovely! We won't do it again!" Sam and I said as we bow our head.

"You're always pesting around Justine, Sam, huh! Here take this and clean all the table," she ordered and handed the tray to Sam.

"Aw, why me?" his pout went very long.

"You want me to answer that even though you know the answer? No more questions and clean. After you clean help me in the storage room. I'll be back in ten minutes and if I saw you that you're already finished but choose to pest Justine again you'll be dead. Also, don't you dare to work slowly," she said and pushes Sam to go outside the counter.

"I'll ask you more later, Justine!" he laughed first before getting back to work.

"Such a noisy elf," Ms. Lovely said and shook her head while we're both looking at Sam.

"Okay, I'll be back at the storage room. Refill all the stuff that needed to be refill then take care of the counter, Justine." Ms. Lovely turned at me and tapped me in the shoulder once before leaving me.

I just then did all the things that Ms. Lovely asked me to.

Sam knows that I am madly obsessed with Grae_Wolf since I asked him sometimes about him. I thought that there's definitely no doubt that he knows him so I bravely asked him and told him how I really wanted to know who he really his. But, it turned out that he also don't know who was Grae_Wolf really is. He just said that there's many rumors and theory who he really is that made just the fans in getting more confused.

After my shift, I talked to Ms. Lovely and Sam and they let me have a two day offs as I explained well why I'm going to be.

---

My things were all set and I'm just waiting for dad to pick me up.

After a few moment a heard a car horn from outside. I immediately went out and saw that dad was getting out from the car.

He smiled when he saw me and so I did.

He come close to me and hugged me which I also did.

"How are you, kiddo?" he immediately asked after our hugged broke.

"Doing good so far, dad." He just chuckled at my reply.

"Are your things all set?" he asked again.

"Yup," I sparingly replied and looked at the suitcase beside me.

"Alright, let's go then. Let me carry it for you."

He then walk first to put my stuff in the car while I just locked the door of my apartment first then I immediately followed him.

"Who am I going to meet, dad?" I immediately asked as soon as I wore my seatbelt and he got inside.

"You'll just see." He just smiled and start the engine of the car.

Minutes have been passed since dad drove and we were just both silent.

After a few moments, I heard him cleared his throat first. "Uhm, Justine, can I ask you something?" he asked.

I immediately glanced at him. "Yeah, sure. What is it?" I also asked.

"So, the thing is uhm, if I will love again someone romantically, will you let me?"

I just furrowed at what he said.

"What are you talking about, dad?" I confusedly asked.

He let out a heavy breath first. "I'll be honest with you. I am already in a relationship again for two months now and you're sisters already knew it except you. Sorry, son."

My mouth opened a little because of this.

Maybe he noticed that I wasn't reacting that's why he said, "I'm just too scared to tell you since I know how much you love your mother. I thought that you will thought that I'll be replacing her but trust me, son, I won't. She will still be my first and forever love. It's just you know? I'm all alone now since you, our children, already grown up and currently taking your own path without us. It's so depressing to be alone... you know?"

I shut my mouth and looked away to think first.

Well, to be honest, what seems to be the problem there?

Who are we to take away the freedom of our dad to love... again? What he said we're all fact after all.

I inhaled first and said, "That will be just fine for me I guess. And I also guess that it will be just fine with mom if she can see us right now. You know, I guess she's now relieved that someone is also taking care of you except from us that are your kids."

I heard dad breath which I'm pretty sure means he did smiled. "Thank you so much, son."

I wonder who will it be?

/W.W/