VII

***

HER feet took her to a place he never thought she would return to.

This place reminds her of so many happy memories. Yet the moment she enters the coffee shop, she feels nothing but sadness and pain.

The coffee shop used to be her happy place. Her piece of heaven.

Not much has changed in that area. The tables have just been added, and the employees have changed, but the ambiance and the feel inside the coffee shop remain the same.

Her former university is just 2 blocks away. So many students were there today, some were just chatting with their friends and some were reviewing.

She sees herself in them.

Years ago. She used to be that university student in that very same spot. She stayed there almost every day early in the morning while she was procrastinating her papers that had to be submitted the next day.

She would order a cup of their cheapest coffee and would stay there for hours. This is also the same place where they've shared so many memories.

She immediately shook her head, maybe it would be better if she bought something to drink and found a seat before reminiscing about things. Unlike before, now she can buy their house specialty coffee. Even a piece of bread!

She ordered and then took a seat at the most isolated corner of the coffee shop. In the corner on the far side of the cashier. That's why she can see who’s at the counter ordering.

While waiting for her order, she takes out her laptop (which she has been saving for a long time) to start writing. She had started to write already when the waiter served her food. She looked up to give her thanks, but someone caught her attention at the cashier.

She didn't even get the chance to thank the server who delivered her food. She just stared at him the whole time he was ordering.

He ordered an Americano ice. Very manly.

Infinity immediately looked down, noticing that he had finished ordering.

She once again focused on her laptop, but she forgot what should be the next line in what she was writing. She's busy pretending to do something on her laptop when suddenly a shadow blocks the light in front of her. When she looked up, she saw him smiling at her.

"Hi." He said while smiling. He looked so happy as if no one could ruin his mood right now.

"H-Hi." She tried to act surprised, praying it didn't look awkward.

"I saw you the moment I entered the shop. It was so nice meeting you... Again." His smile is contiguous. His smile was like the smile of a boy who caught his partner in a game of hide and seek.

"Y-Yeah. Meeting again for the second time."

"Second time? No. This is the third time."

Infinity immediately frowned. The man in front of her already got what her frown meant and explained immediately.

"I saw you at the department store days ago?"

She immediately remembered. Infinity thought he didn't see her.

"Y-Yeah. I was at the department store that day. I-I didn't see you, sorry."

He just nodded his head as a sign that it was okay. No harm done.

"Do you mind?" He pointed at the empty seat on her table. "I know there are still plenty of vacant seats, but you know...it's sad drinking coffee alone."

“S-Sure!” She even arranged the table so that it had space. The coffee shop is big, but the tables are quite small.

Paolo noticed the laptop in front of her. "You're working." It's not a question.

"Ahmm. Yup! My story updates were every Monday and Wednesday and sometimes Sunday.”

"I don't know the process of writing, even the process The Journal is doing. But I admire writers. I have great respect for them, and for you too.”

Infinity’s heart stops beating for a second.

"W-Why?"

"Because writers have a strong heart. They can express their sufferings, frustrations, and pain through words. And then they can also share their happiness and accomplishments. Writers are good at expressing themselves through words and letters. You don't think about being naked in other people's eyes through your characters. It’s just amazing.”

She was stunned by what he said. But she recovered immediately.

"But not all writers choose to be naked. Sometimes other writers prefer to hide. They hide themselves with their stories."

"Like you?" He asked immediately.

Even though Infinity was not eating, she felt like she was, somehow, choking because of his question.

"Maybe." She did not answer his question directly.

Suddenly, the other person laughed.

“Why Infinity? Do you think I don't know what your co-workers at The Journal call you? Really? The tragic writer? Tell me. Who hurt you, and you are so angry that even your readers are affected by it.” There's a mix of humor in it.

"Come on! Not really. You know sir, writing is sometimes drawn from personal experience. Others, based on their critical thinking. Or others based it on their principles. They wear the shoes their character wears and then, from there, they decide what will happen in their story. Every writer has a different way of writing.”

“Then, how about you? What is your method?”

Infinity thought carefully about how to answer it.

"Maybe both. But almost all writers start with what if. What if the one you love so much broke your trust? What if fate is not in your favor, so you can't stay together? All stories begin there. Then the story will naturally flow. Writers are crazy. They will create scenarios and problems from what if’s and then choices will be presented. But they are also the ones who will choose, based on the character or principle of the character they have developed."

She was busy explaining, so she didn't notice the man was just staring at her.

"What if even you, the writer, make a mistake in the choice you chose for your character?"

"I will call it fate. It was fate that whispered to the writer’s ears to make the story like that. It's like us in real life. Fate will give us problems and fate will also give us choices. Then we choose based on our principles or based on what we want to do. Or sometimes, we choose that because we have no other choice.”

"Maybe the fact that we meet often is also due to fate. Then it's our choice to approach or talk to each other. Like what happened at the department store the other day and today! Fate brought us together, and it was my choice to approach you. Although I also have the choice not to show up. But I still approached you."

Infinity, once again, caught her breath.

"T-That's right, sir. It is almost the same scenario in writing.” She nervously sips her drink.

"Nonetheless, I am still fascinated with your career, Ms. Ramos. Not just you, but all the writers in the world! Because this is a profession that is not just about intelligence, ability, or strategy. I believe this is all about passion. I admire you.” It looks full of admiration.

"T-Thank you, sir. At least someone can appreciate our craft.” She said thanks.

"Oh, by the way, the coffee shop you went to seems to be far away. I believe your office is around *Mother Ignacia, but why did you end up in Taft? Don't get offended, but you've passed a lot of coffee shops around."

"I graduated from St. Therese, just 2 blocks away. I like it here because...because I feel at home whenever I am around the vicinity. So many memories, good or bad, it helps with my creative juices.”

His eyes immediately lit up with happiness when he learned that she had graduated from St. Therese.

"Oh really! What a coincidence! I also graduated from St. Therese. You know it's like fate is playing with us." He laughs because they have too many co-incidents together.

It is a hearty laugh because all the customers look at them.

But she doesn’t care. Her world stopped for a second, and she couldn't take her eyes off his face. He didn't realize that he was also staring at her full of wonder.

“D-Do I have dirt on my face?" This question brought her back to reality.

"N-Nothing." And to hide embarrassment she just smiled at him and faced her laptop. Once again she is pretending to type something.

After a while, both of them are enveloped in silence. The chit-chatting of the students around and the soft music playing in the shop were the only things they could hear.

This time, Infinity got the momentum and the emotions she needed to start writing. For real this time. She is so serious and focused on writing, that’s why she didn’t notice the stare that is admiring her.

He just looked and admired the scenario in front of him. She was so focused on writing that she did not notice her frowning, making faces, and sometimes anger in her face.

He can't explain it, but every time they meet, his heart beats very fast. He never experiences this kind of heartbeat. His body is familiar with her presence. There is something in her that makes him talk and share more. The girl is something.