Their Parallel Universe ✓

Chapter 04

It's a busy street at midday. People rush to cross the pedestrian lane as soon as the traffic light flashes red. A black stray cat stops, lifting a paw to scratch its neck, right in the middle of the road.

That's dangerous, he thinks as he observes the scene through the glass wall.

"One iced cappuccino for Mr. Gayeli!"

His head perks up, eyes drifting to the coffee shop's counter where the voice came from. A short woman, who looks like a high school student, is holding a piece of paper and her eyes are examining the whole area. In front of her, there is an iced coffee cup placed on a small tray.

He watches as the young attendant knits her brows when she looks down at the piece of paper in her hand. Returning her gaze to the shop's dining area, she tries again. "Iced cappuccino for Mr. Gayeli?" Her voice is louder this time, but more insecure.

Still, there is no response.

Wondering why people are not picking up their order from the counter, he too looks around and realizes that everyone inside is busy with their own little world. Couples are flirting with each other. A few older people are playing with their little ones. And those who came here alone are engrossed with either their phones or their coffee and snacks. There are also some who look lost in their thoughts while looking outside. Earlier, he was one of those in the last category.

A middle-aged man draws his attention when he stands up. It makes him assume that the man is the owner of the iced cappuccino and he expects him to proceed to the counter. Instead, the older man walks to the corner of the coffee shop and goes into the restroom.

His eyes go back to the café counter and they fall straight into the eyes of the young worker. He finds himself being fixed with a stare. With the same curiosity, he returns the look.

The young woman tilts her head to the side, her innocent gaze never leaving him, as she asks him directly, "Sir Gayeli?"

Bemused, he blinks and tries to recall what he ordered. Indeed, it was an iced cappuccino but he is pretty sure this one is not his because he is not Gayeli. Why the woman would even assume that, he doesn't understand.

And then, it dawns on him.

He flashes the attendant a sheepish grin and immediately stands up to go to the counter.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize it was mine," he admits coyly as soon as he gets his drink. "By the way, it's geyl."

Puzzled round eyes look up at him, making him chuckle.

"I mean, my name," he explains, "Like the 'gail' in Abigail."

It is the young woman's turn to look embarrassed and give him an apologetic smile. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's alright. No harm done." He smiles at her one last time, noting with little interest the faint rosy tint that spreads across her face while she keeps staring at him. Whether the blush is still out of embarrassment or something else, he can't tell. And he doesn't want to know. "Nice meeting you," he pauses, long enough to look at her employee name tag, before continuing, "Melissa."

An iced coffee cup in his hand, he walks back to his table, musing, 'Of course, it's alright. It's not even my real name.'

And it's not the first time people mispronounced Gaele. It's almost always Ga-ye-l, Ga-e-li or Ga-el. And just now, it's Ga-ye-li. Despite the constant mispronunciation, he never gave his first name in restaurants and shops like this where they ask for his name instead of giving him a queue number or pager. He understands that these places are only trying to create a friendlier atmosphere but he doesn't really like it when his name is being called out loud by random people in random places. Besides, it's not like 'Eujae' is easier to pronounce.