Sip 2

*Oh my! My! My! Oh my! My! My!

Ah, my phone is ringing.

"Hello?"

[Ah! Kiddo! I can't make it right now, sorry but can we go the following day? I have an urgent thing to attend to, so sorry! I'll buy your favorite white chocolate! Bye!]

Call ended.

Curse you brother Ruel for ditching me.

"Ah, it can't be helped...but it was not white, it's dark chocolates elder cousin"

Disappointment flooded me, still, I decided to enter alone and charge into the café.

"Excuse me, I have a reservation here." I approached the staff and he led me to a table for two.

"Ah, I would be taking one seat only." I said.

"Ah, but these are a couples seat reservation and must be used once your companion happens to come later?" he asked, stabbing my heart. Well he doesn't know my situation right now.

"Ah no, it was only me. Then I'll just use it alone" What a waste, I am planning to come here again tomorrow, but the reservation is for a couple. What do I expect, it's from a couple as well. Good thing that the staff didn't press further questions.

"I see. Then I'll take your order when you're ready please call me.`` I feel wronged by the way he looks. Well, I am actually dumped by a guy, but it's my stupid cousin actually. Let's just see the menu.

While scanning the menu, there's so many choices I couldn't decide.

"I am sorry sir, but the tables are now full." I heard the staff talking to another customer who just came.

"I have just come from a busy schedule and I am rejected because there's no table for me to sit?" Oh, this café must be quite famous. People do insist on entering here. Sorry to you brother Ruel, you missed the chance to eat in this sweet heaven!

"We're really sorry but if it's fine, can you wait for a bit longer?"

"Then what about that side? Seems like the table is free, might I ask if I can share the table?" I feel like someone else's gaze is at me? Still I continue to scan the sweets printed on this fancy paper.

"Excuse me, Miss?" I looked up and saw a handsome man in front of me. I literally dropped my jaw.

"Uh? Me?" Just to make sure, I pointed to myself. Who is this handsome guy, is he an actor or a model?!

"Sorry, but do you have someone with you? If not, can you share the table with me?" I looked at the empty chair in front of me, not that I have someone expecting then the staff who’s stare seems to be urging me.

"..." After a second thought. "I don't mind, you can have a seat." I don't want to make things complicated and besides it's not everyday that you see a handsome guy like this who musters up his courage to share a table with an unknown person.

"Thank you.'' He smiled as he sat comfortably across from me. I tried not to notice but his every move was elegant. He slowly brought out his laptop and started typing. To turn my attention, I call to order a specially made Belgium cake and a latte to see how it goes with it.

I happened to see the staff coming and placed the order of the guy in front of me. It's only brewed coffee but no cake?

I look at him, and he's quite busy with his laptop. Maybe it's work?

I look around us, students, workers and family. Some people are busy eating and the others are busy with their phone screens.

"Excuse me! I would like to order another cake please!".

Look at these two. We are on our way to a summer villa to spend the rest of our vacation. Mia, Simone, Oliver and... An adult. He is Samuel, Simone's elder cousin, and the man I happened to share the table with at the café.

You are asking how?

Here's what happened the last time I went to the café.

[Continues sound of camera shutters].

I was taking a picture of the cake from different angles when I noticed that the guy across from me was watching.

"Uh.... Excuse me Mister, you have something to say?" I asked when, I am actually embarrassed but I got to ask him anyway.

"..." Ah, this is weird , is it a wrong idea to share a table with? I am just trying to do a good deed.

"Nothing, I was just distracted by the sound of the camera.” He has a low voice and it sounds so clear, I think I blushed with just those words. “Do young people really take pictures before eating nowadays?" He continued.

"Ahem! I am taking pictures to save memories! This is really a rare chance to eat good cakes, so I need to have it captured!" saying so, it seems like I made a fool of myself as he giggles or  more like snickering.

He put an elbow to the table and placed his chin on his palm then asked "Isn't the taste the one you need to remember? So you'll be able to appreciate it?" I knew that he was handsome the moment I saw him, however that pose is so lethal that it should be illegal. Does this man know how cool he looks right now?

To put it aside, I pouted, as he was scolding me like a child. Well, I am a child and he is an adult. 

"You have a point, it's the taste but I also need to remember this moment as well, that every time I see this cake, I'll say ah, I've eaten a good cake in this café, that's what I want!' Seems so silly, however, this is how I want to remember it as well.

"You don't need to force your smile, I understand we have things we want to hide and keep. We have different preferences and reasons. So, it's not okay to force yourself." 

I just stared, that caused me to remember all the things that have been bothering these past few weeks. What does this man know? Then unbeknownst a tear dropped down from my eye. I am not trying to be dramatic, but this guy in front of me, triggered the emotions I've been bottling inside.

Honestly, I overheard my aunt and uncle who are worrying about my college education soon. My mom left a good amount that could help me send me to a good university or college, but the other expenses for everyday life will be a problem. Soon, they'll be sending two of their sons to universities and it was their priority.

I am just being pitiful of myself, for being a burden to them. "We cannot support her anymore if she decides to enter those universities in the main city."

"I pity the child but we have our priorities and responsibilities too, I treated her like my own daughter as well but we can't keep going like this. The store is having a lot of competitors already, and the cost of living continues to get expensive." my aunt said as she massaged her temples.

"Hey, little kid? Why are you crying?" I got back to my senses and looked at the troubled face of this guy who triggered my emotions.

"Ah look, the guy is making his girlfriend cry!"

"Isn't she too young for her? Maybe he tricked her or what?"

"I... the latte is so hot my tongue got burnt!" Crap, we are in a public place and a lot of eyes around us! I couldn’t think of any excuse and just made up, actually the latte already got mild so it's impossible to say so.

“Pfft!” The heartful laugh is now for real, then the attention of those around just thought it might be just something to ignore and minded their own business.

"Mister, why are you laughing?" 

"You-... You are quite a unique little kid..."

"First you have a serious face when I ask to share the table, then you smile as if you're pissed off or something... Then when your cake arrived you smiled and started taking pictures, now you teared and even said hilarious things!" he said while laughing to his heart's content.

"Ah I am glad you were entertained by me mister, but I thought you were busy with your work and didn't know that I bothered you and that you have been watching my reactions right now." This is quite embarrassing.

"Sorry if I am being rude, you're quite amusing you know." he waved his hand to the waiter and finally ordered. 

"Oh, you're finally ordering something other than coffee?" Trying to change the subject and get myself out of my the hole I dug up.

" Ah, so you were watching me too, do you find me amusing as well little kid?" I was taken back with his words.

"You were really busy, and when the waiter came back you only got a coffee. I thought you liked the sweet things that you insisted on getting in here at the café and even shared a table."

"Why did you think a man like me would like sweet things? A café offers coffee and other food as well."

"Well, my cousins do love sweet things too. In fact, I came here because I wanted to treat him as well but he got an urgent matter to do"

"Is it that cousin of yours that makes you cry? It's not my business but I actually heard he dumped you earlier.” Surprised, I didn't know he overheard it. “Well, I think it's good that he dumped you, I got a better laugh thanks to that."

“ W-what?” 

“ So why did that cousin ditch you? Something else that you cannot tell others?” He seems like he got the wrong idea and my mouth is just blabbering out the real story of how I ended up having a reservation at this cafe. Time goes by, and we exchange a few more conversations.

"I see... It's not good to keep it all to yourself, I have a cousin as well, maybe around your age. He's quite careless and aloof too, but recently he changed. I think he has good people around him now and he started to open up." He said.

"If you ever feel down somehow, know to reach out for the people around you. You are never alone and you might not know it, but a lot of people still care for you." He seems so cool and mature, plus his handsome face softened you can't take away your sight of him.

"Mister you look so cool right now! Is that how all adults talk and think? How old are you? You look a bit mature, are you a graduate student? Married or working man?" I am amazed by the way he thinks and the advice, suddenly a heavy feeling in my heart was lifted, plus the handsome face is good in the eyes, his voice has a manly and soothing sound.

"Hey, what do you think of me asking so many questions like that?" and he laughed at me.

"Oh, are you an old man already!? Should I call you uncle instead?" This conversation was fun and I got a chance to tease him.

"What!?" he exclaimed and I laughed at that hilarious face. He is quite composed for a moment and now he acts so transparently.

Pfft!

"Finally you laughed for real."