Stir, Sip, & Stare

Eager is an understatement.

Ramdam n'ya ang panginginig ng mga kamay na kasalukuyang hawak ang manibela. Alert and anxious at the same time as she maneuvered the car.

She bit her lip and tears immediately formed from her eyes. Napailing s'ya at natawa ng bahagya.

Unbelievable...

Nang marating n'ya ang isang pamilyar na coffee shop, she parked the car and quickly went out. Lakad-takbo s'yang pumunta sa glass door ng shop ngunit biglang huminto nang matanaw n'ya ang pigura ng isang lalaking nakatayo sa counter.

He was handing two venti cups of caramel cappuccino with that bright smile.

That man...

A lone tear dropped from her eye as her smile slowly widens.

She gripped the piece of tissue from her hand and draw a breath before striding inside. Mabilis n'yang pinahid ang luha bago lumapit sa counter.

Nang makita s'ya ng lalaki, mas lalong lumiwanag ang ngiti nito at halos magningning ang loob ng shop. She took another breath - almost swooning at the scent of coffee swirling in every corner of the room.

She stared at him.

He stared at her.

No one utters a word.

Without breaking their gazes to each other, Giuli broke the silence. "One cup of black coffee, please. No cream and sugar."

The man nodded his head and listed it down. His mouth opened like he was about to say something but she quickly interjected.

"....just love." She whispered.

He froze from his spot when he heard those familiar words. Pinanood ni Giuli kung paano lumaki ang mga mata nito. He lifted his head slowly to look at her and she almost burst out crying when she saw the tears quickly forming from his eyes as well.

Ngumiti s'ya.

That's right. Whatever you are thinking, yes it's true.

Halos mabitawan ng lalaki ang hawak na baso. His throat bobbed up and down as he tried to calm the surging emotions coming from his heart.

"W-Would that be all, M-Ma'am?" Nauutal n'yang tanong.

She nodded her head and proceed to walk towards the same old spot she used to sit and chill. It wasn't long until her coffee is served.

It was nine in the morning. Alam n'ya hindi nito maiiwan ang trabaho sa kalagitnaan ng araw kaya pinili n'yang maghintay.

She stirred her coffee and glanced at him.

To her surprise, the man glanced at her too.

She lifted the cup and took a sip.

Calm down, calm down, calm down! She said internally - like a mantra. Naramdaman na naman n'ya ang pag-init ng mata at pagtulo ng luha. She opened her palm and caressed the tissue gently.

Muli n'yang binasa ang nakasulat.

["I like you too, Gorgeous Miss."]

She chuckled. That flirt!

Pinunasan n'ya ang panibagong luha na tumulo mula sa kanyang mata. Always been the lovely flirty dork!

For hours, she waited. Every little stir, every small sip, and soft stare kills her - she couldn't hold back anymore.

She looked at him.

Tinatanggal nito ang apron na suot at nagsimulang umalis ng counter - without breaking his gaze to her.

Giuli quickly stood up from her seat.

He walked towards her and grabbed her hand. Together, they ran towards the back of the shop and when they stopped, the man immediately kissed her deeply.

He broke the kiss and hugged her. "I'm sorry. It took a while to process it inside my head. I-I can't... b-believe it, Giuliana."

She closed her eyes and felt the tears streaming down.

"Y-You remember..." His voice broke. "Naaalala mo na a-ako?"

Giuli chuckled between her sobs and nodded. "Thanks to your constant coffee delivery at my hospital room, for always inviting me here at the shop every morning, for that familiar unique smell of coffee you're making just for me, your flirty remarks...."

Hinigpitan ng lalaki ang pagkakayakap sa dalaga habang pinapanood ang bawat patak ng luhang tumutulo mula sa kanyang mata. "At sa pag-amin na crush mo ako?"

She slapped his back playfully and that earned a teary but heartful laugh from him.

"With or without my memories, Aston.. my Aston, my heart will forever remember you, your love, and the aroma you bring."