IILICIT AFFAIRS ━━ Lamelo Ball

1.2

Summer Keaton

When I pull up to Renato's parking lot, I realise that every spot is taken and I have to park on the street across from the café.  Apparently, everyone and their mothers are ordering coffee at Renato's at 10:42 am. The already tight café is further congested with a line of people. It didn't help that Renato's only had two workers working. In my limited time doing food services, I could only imagine the stress those two girls are going under.

Their method of attack was one girl would take the orders and the other would, as quickly and efficiently as possible, try to tackle the order. Some people were considerate enough to order less, but some people order some big, crazy order that doubled the wait time. The lady two people ahead of me ordered what seemed to be the entire store, leaving the bakery-café completely empty.

When it had been my turn to order, which was seven minutes after I arrived, the first thing the cashier said to me was it'd be a thirty-minute wait for all things baked. I let the person behind me take their order, as I wasn't sure if Priscilla and Laura were willing to wait that long for a cheese croissant. Laura texts back almost instantly.

Laura Kepner: Just as long as we get our food. We can wait

So much for being tight on time. I sigh and place our order. I ordered an iced coffee for myself. It boosted the total to 27 dollars, but I think I deserved a small iced coffee for my errand-running these past few days.

There isn't much sitting space at Renato's. I don't think they were prepared for this kind of rush. My eyes wander as I look for a place to sit. It's hard to find a seat with all the people standing; you couldn't tell if they were just standing or if they were about to sit. You'd think they would have left by now, but I guess Renato's is that good. 

My eyes scan the room, and that's when I see her. A couple feet away from me is Winona Rosario. She's seated next to a window, enjoying a cup of coffee in solitude. She looks peaceful as she figures out the crossword puzzle. She's even more beautiful in person. Her thick, shining raven locks cascade down her torso and her back. Her tan skin illuminates in the morning sunlight; I could only imagine how much more beautiful it'd look in the afterglow. If I could, I'd take a picture of her and hang in the Louvre.

From what I know, this is the first time anyone's seen Winona in ages, since last August to be exact. Her hair is grown out a little more, and she looks at peace. Last April, when the story first broke, she looked disheveled. She looked as if the last source of life was drained from her. 

I remember her last public appearance, as I'd written an article on it. I was apart of the group of journalists who asked her questions during that night. It was the draft combine, and she was scouting and observing to put out her mock draft for that year. Usually, it's the players who draw in the most attention. But that night, it was all eyes on her. The life in her faded immediately when someone asked why she was okay with being the other woman. 

Winona didn't stay at the combine for long. She left, and the last people saw of her was that day. She's been damn good at hiding herself this past year.

As I stand starstruck, I contemplate approaching Winona. I know that if I approach her, perhaps her life will return to the rocky state it once was. For certain, the serenity she's been eagerly hoping for will once again turn into calamity.