The Wallflower

Chapter 2 - Coffee, Sweet Coffee

It took me 10 good minutes after the call with Coleen to get out of bed.

"9 days na walang pasok. I deserve this.", I said to myself as I walked out of my room. I reach the kitchen to turn on the electric kettle when my unit door swung open.

"I have a massive headache!", Ash said with his pa-cute annoyed voice.

"Ah, baka kasi you drank like a sailor yesterday?", I responded.

"I'm guessing wala ka pang coffee sa system mo. Here you go", he then handed me a paper bag.

"What's this?", I said.

"Food. From G and Coleen. I got mine too. Beef of course.", as he proceeded to go to my kitchen and grab an empty mug.

"Uhhh... Thanks! Teka, don't you have your own kitchen?" I snapped at him.

"Well, I ran out of coffee and sugar. Saka I'm toooo lazy to boil water. Plus, I like your coffee brand. And, you took wine from my stash last night. So, ganti-ganti lang.", he said nonchalantly.

"Fine! I give. Mainit na yung water. Ano? Ako pa mag titimpla ng coffee mo?", I snapped back.

"Yes, please! Thank you!", he said confidently.

"At least you said, "Thank you!" ".

We bantered some more while having coffee as our mood changed thanks to the caffeine.

"So, what's your plan for 9 days?", Ash asked.

"Uhm... Actually, wala. I was thinking na I just want to bunker down and rest.", I said while sipping coffee.

"Gaga! Go somewhere! Gumala ka. Sayang yung vacation mo kung gagawin mo lang staycation.", he annoyingly said.

"Parang 'di kaya ng social battery ko. I might go out and buy and read some books and then buy a bunch of yarn na rin. You know, the tito in me.", I responded.

Ash pursed his lips together as his eyebrows met in between. "I really can't with you sometimes. If it was me, baka I went off to Elyu na or somewhere else. But, hey, it's your vacation, not mine.", he said.

I just kept quiet. Ikaw kasi yun! I said in my head.

Ash then stood up and placed his cup in my sink. "Well, thanks for the coffee. I need to go. I have a meeting in 30 minutes, and I need to take a bath first. Amoy yosi and alak pa ako. Byers~!", he said as he exited my condo's door.

Alone. Again. Sanay na nanaman ako.

I found my self laying on the sofa while staring blankly at the ceiling. I turned sideways and my eyes fixed on the clock. Shit! 2:00 PM na. I hurriedly stood up, went to my room, jumped inside the shower, and took a bath. After that, I picked the most comfortable outfit in my closet (a pair of blue jeans and a black shirt), put on a bracelet and a watch, then got in to one of my rubber shoes. I picked up my bag and put my glasses on. And I'm off.

Actually, wala naman talaga akong planong lumabas today. Kaso di pa ako kumakain at tinatamad din akong magluto.

I was walking around BGC looking for a place to eat. But my feet automatically went in my favorite coffee shop.

As I stepped inside the coffee shop. I noticed that my favorite spot was free. So, I placed my bag there, took out my laptop, notebook, pens, and earphones. Then, I proceeded to the counter to order.

"Hi Sir Anjo, good afternoon po. Aga natin today ah.", the barista said in a welcoming voice.

"Hello! Wala akong pasok today. Mamaya pa nga dapat ako mag co-coffee, kaso andito na ako." I replied with a smile.