Cafe Ojousama 1 - The Beginning

Cafe Ojousama

        Everyday life is a drag. People come and go, and everything about it is unexpected. The people you trust today can be your enemies tomorrow, and the people you hate today can be the shoulders you can cry on the following day. But one thing that amazes me is when we meet one person that can really fit with us personally. Through that, we end up caring for them and loving them. That, my friends is truly one of those miracles in one’s life.

                I’m Allen. I’m a normal college guy, who goes to a normal university, living with well-to-do standards, has a mom, has a dad, has siblings and definitely not someone famed. I’m usually described as a “Korean”, despite my pure Filipino descent. I am blessed in height, skin tone and looks according to people around. I am underweight for my age and height, and that makes me sexy. Hahaha. I have neck-length brown hair and black eyes. That’s pretty much it for the physique.

 I’m just normal. I have a life, but there was this one event that made me change my outlook. Three years ago, my girlfriend, Himeno, broke up with me. I don’t know why, but it just happened. She just left me hanging there like a monkey. I can’t do anything but accept the fact that she wants it to end. I loved her so much that I can’t even think of ways how to move on. From that day on, I never believed in love stories hanging up until the end of time. Believing them is too troublesome, and it can hurt you in the end. My parents told me many times to just accept it but no. Himeno still haunts me.

                Fast forward to the present, I’m gonna graduate soon. Many girls show their interest to me, but I really don’t like them. That’s because of my attachment to the previous girl I had a relationship with. My friends would always drag me to malls, bars, cafes and other sociable places for me to meet a great girl, but nope, none of them made my cut. Let’s just say that I stick to my preferences. One day, I saw a very lovely place. It’s the first time I saw it, knowing that I go through that street every single day to go home. It had very youthful interiors, candy colors and great murals of anime characters and splashy artworks hanged on the wall. I looked at the top part of the place and there was a big signage. “CAFÉ OJOUSAMA”. It’s a very interesting name for me, since I’m an Otaku, too. “I want to take a peek”, I told myself. I entered the place and I was very amazed. It was different from when I looked at it from afar. The walls were alive and preppy. Artworks were amazing. The interiors are perfect, just like the ones in Japanese maid cafes I see in Japanese travel books. I continued to look at the amazing eye candy of the café when I felt someone bumped me. It was a girl –a pretty one while I’m at it.

                “Oh! I’m sorry- wait… It’s too early to have a customer.” She told me in a sarcastic tone. I sighed and thought to myself, “So much for a sweet-looking girl working in a maid café”. She continued her query. “Who left the café door open? We’re not going to entertain customers until tomorrow!” It was too late for me to notice. Their cake chiller is empty, and they’re not displaying any food or drink yet. Another girl rushed towards our direction with a sorry face. “I’m sorry~! I forgot to lock the door and change the door sign. I went out to clean the front of the café.” The girl said in a sad tone, almost bursting to tears. The sad girl went outside again and cleaned the outdoors. I felt sorry for her, and I told both of them that I have to leave. “Uhh… Ladies? I have to leave now.” I said and felt a hand grab me. “What’s your name, sir?” The girl I bumped asked me. “Uhh..  Allen. Nice to meet you I guess, but I have to lea-“ I was about to end when she handed me a pamphlet. “I’m Mikki, and the girl outside is Jae. You’re welcome to join us tomorrow for our café’s opening day. And since we caused you a little bit of trouble, if you order a cake tomorrow, it’s on the house.” I accepted the pamphlet with a flushed face. So her name’s Mikki. I nodded and left the place, also bidding goodbye to Jae, who was busy cleaning and putting up signs for their café.

                Back to walking on my way home, their names just kept on ringing in my head. Mikki, eh? She looked like one of those ladies high street fashion shows. She had wavy, red hair extending below her bra line, and hazel eyes that can stare at one’s soul. She’s quite tall too- almost the same height as me, and she has a great figure. For otakus, girls like her are always being hit on in every anime series. Jae, on the other hand, was the usual “Loli”. She’s quite short and skinny. She has short, jet black hair and very big eyes. At first glance, you’ll really think that she’s a child. They’re both working for that new café, Café Ojousama. As I reached my apartment, I thought, “why not visit again tomorrow”? Mikki said that my order for tomorrow will be on the house. I’m expecting that to be real.

                The next day, I forgot that my classes are extended until evening, so I’ll be able to go home late. I doubted about dropping by to the café, since I don’t really know their store hours. What if they’re already closed by 7 in the evening? Still, I went. With the hopes of the store being open past seven, I went. Heading there, I bumped on two of my classmates. They said they went by to the café. Yes! I can ask about the store hours – and good news, their store doesn’t close until 9 in the evening! So I rushed to the café, and saw two familiar faces serving. First, there was Jae, who looked so cute in her Kigurumi pajamas. Then, there’s Mikki, who wore a very elegant Lolita outfit. With clothes like those, I really won’t expect that she’s only working for the café. I entered and headed towards the counter to order what I wanted to try from their wide range of menus. They served main courses, snacks, comfort food, desserts, and they also have a wide range of drinks from coffee, juices, milkshakes, tea, and yogurt-based smoothies. I ordered Strawberry shortcake and a Dark Chocolate Coffee mix. “May I ask for your name, sir?” The cashier boy asked. I said “Allen.” The cashier boy smiled and gave me my receipt, “So you’re the guy who entered the café yesterday. You’re shortcake is free of charge. Your order will be brought to you by your designated maid. Enjoy dining, sir!” I left the counter with a shy smile. “What did he mean by “designated maid”? Will someone really serve me?” I looked at my receipt and didn’t see another name except mine. I sat down in one of their comfy chairs, still thinking of what he said. Designated maid… It’s like one of those maid cafes I see in conventions. The difference is, they get to choose their maids, but here, it seems different. Still thinking of it, a maid approached my table with a tray. “Thank you for waiting, Allen-sama. Here’s your order – strawberry shortcake, and a dark chocolate coffee mix.” I looked up, and it was Mikki. She looked very elegant up-close. The dress suits her well, and she looked great. The orders were already on the table when she asked if she could leave, but I asked her to stay and sit down for a moment. That’s what maids do in a maid café, right?

                So she sat down with me, with a pretty smile on her face. I on the other hand, feel my cheeks turn red. She’s beautiful, after all. “I’m glad you came, Allen. Don’t be shocked that the counter guy, EJ, and everyone else in the café, know you.” She said. I can’t eat my shortcake at this rate. It’s too embarrassing in front of her. I was about to start eating the cake when she took the fork first. She sliced the shortcake in pieces and took the first piece in. “Allen-sama, say ‘Aaah’~” she said in a playful tone, almost singing. I took the bite, and the cake’s flavour just sank in. it was delicious. It’s like heaven. And being served by a very beautiful girl was a bonus of what I had! Seeing my reaction, Mikki giggled. “I’m glad you liked our shortcake. It’s one of the café’s soon-to-be specialties, aside the amazing maid service we can offer here.” She said, looking at the café. “We’re looking forward to see you more often here in the café.” She added. I hung out there until they have closed.” I’m a part of their café milestone”, I told myself. I went home with a full tummy and a full heart. Maybe this will be the beginning of a good friendship between me and Mikki. Or is it?