Flawed In Love with Kiku (LOVE COFFEE SERIES #1)

Chapter 2

"Domoimasuka? Hendesu yo ne?" I asked Min-chan as I handed over the change to a young girl with neon pink hair. I can assume that she attends the private high school nearby because of her chic uniform and due to the fact that she is allowed to sport that kind of hair and short skirt. She ordered a slice of blueberry cheesecake and a caramel frappuccino. 

"Kiku, you forgot to switch your subtitles!" Mindy complained then she pulled a little of my hair. Hidoi yo, Min-chan!  Pero sige na nga, okay lang mamisikal sya today since she is helping me  because Kaito nii-san is reporting to his office in Manila again. 

"Gomen, Min-chan!" I laughed while apologizing. "I was only asking if you also think that this is weird. I mean... it definitely is weird, right?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong sa kanya while I put the ice, sweetener, milk,  and the caramel espresso in the blender. 

"What is weird?" She asked in return as she grabbed a slice of the cheesecake from the glass display. I turned on the blender so it was a bit noisy and I had to speak to her in a slightly louder voice.

"I meant Errol! I was wondering why he is showing up every day!" I answered. Kasi yun naman yung totoo. Since the first time he'd been here, lagi na siyang napunta. Kahit minsan wala naman dito si Feli-chan, natambay sya alone–drinking his coffee and eating a muffin. Solid yun, every day talaga.

"Maybe he just likes the food you serve here...?" Sagot ni Mindy trying to burst my bubble of fantasy.

"Or could it be..." I grinned. "that he likes the pretty girl in apron who makes them?" I rebutted with a chuckle and may pa-cute blinking pa. Sinasalin ko na yung frappe na order sa isang thick, white paper cup na may printed logo ng KoiKohii Cafe. Our logo has the chrysanthemum flower at the center, surrounded by the serrif typography of the cafe's name around it. 

"Why don't you ask him directly so we can quit guessing? Tingnan mo oh, he's alone. He could be bored, try talking to him." She suggested. Another customer arrived so Mindy went behind the counter again after leaving the cake order near me. 

"Hmm, what if he might think I'm annoying though?" I said in low voice while adding a generous amount of whipped cream on the drink and topping it off with caramel syrup.

"What about me? Aren't you worried I think you're being annoying?" Banat sakin ni Min-chan sabay tawa. Pinalo ko siya sa pwet niya bago ko ipinatong yung frappe sa tray kasama nung cake.

"I know you love me so I'm not worried." I tongue-out sa kanya at naglakad na papunta sa table nung student with neon pink hair. Medyo malapit yun table niya sa table ni Errol.

"Hello po, ma'am. Here is your caramel frappuccino with extra whipped cream and a slice of our signature blueberry cheesecake. Enjoy your food po." I politely said. She said her thanks to me and I walked away. Napadaan ako sa pwesto ni Errol so I decided to talk to him a little. 

"Hi, Sir. How was the mocha walnut muffin today?" Bungad kong tanong sa kanya. Every day kasi ay muffin yung mine-meryenda niya, pansin ko lang naman. So far, wala pang nauulit na flavor ng muffin na ino-order, kaya naman I make it a point na iba ibang muffins yung sine-serve ko daily para di naman nakakahiya kay crush.

"Formal mo naman, Kiku. Errol na lang." Sagot niya sa akin. Naks, gusto niya first name basis na rin kami. Next time, baka gusto niya 'baby' na itawag ko. 

I stopped myself from smiling sa mga kalokohang naiisipan ko. Shikkari shiro, Kiku! Get a hold of yourself.  Work muna, lande later.

"The muffin's good though. I enjoyed it. Not too sweet and just the right amount of nutty." He told me. I was about to thank him for the review nung mapatingin ako sa screen ng laptop niya kung saan nagba-browse sya ng mga photos. More on mga landscape and sceneries yung mga pictures na kuha niya.