90210 (BINI Series #3)

Chapter 37: Take Me Back

Stacey's POV

I am seated here in Starbucks, looking out the window, watching every car that passes by. Coffee cup in my hand, my coffee now is cold, while the frosting on my cake trickled melted on the plate. I tried to take a sip from my cup but immediately regretted my decision as the taste stale coffee coated my mouth. Wiping my lips, I again looked out the window.

The manager threw a glance at me, rolling his eyes, obviously irritated at the customer who has hogged the seat for more than 3 hours, but has not purchased anything else from his store. I smiled at him, making him snort as he moved on to the other customers. I tried reading the magazine to while away the time but my focus was somewhere else.

"Hi, Dr. Sevilleja, anything for lunch?" I heard the barista asked me.

I was startled and I immediately checked my watch. It's past 11, I have been waiting for more than 4 hours, and still no sign of Maloi.

So, I guess that's her answer. How much more clearer do you want it to be? My mind taunted me.

"Thanks. I was on my way out." I smiled at her, picking up my bag as I stood up.

"Would you want this to go, ma'am?"

I looked at what the barista was referring to and I saw my untouched food. "No need. I'm gonna go now." I tried to sound jolly, but the quiver in my lips give a clue as to the sadness within me.

With lead on my feet, I started to walk away.

——-

Maloi's POV

I was in my clinic since 7am, but I asked Sab to cancel all my appointments and lectures today. I was just not feeling up to it, and anyway, I had a lot of paper works to finish.

"You owe it to yourself to find out if we are really over, Maloi. We'll start where we left off. I'll wait for you tomorrow, 7am at Starbucks."

"And what makes you think I would come?"

"I know that there's a possibility that you won't, but I will wait for you as long as I have to. But if you don't come, I'll know my answer and I promise to stay away."

Stacey's message yesterday kept repeating over and over in my head. Like a broken record, it refused to be silenced. I shut out all my thoughts and buried myself deep in my work.

I felt so tired and drained, but was surprised when I checked my watch that it was only 8am.

I focused on so hard on my patients charts that by 10am, my table was clean from all my backlog which had been seating on my desk for the past 2 weeks.

Walking around in my clinic,I looked around for something else to do, anything to while away the time. I decided on fixing my bookshelf and arranging all my research work. In the middle of the pile, I retrieved a copy of Stacey's, the one that caused us to cross paths again.

Standing up, I sat on my desk as I read Stacey's note on my copy. "Maloi, this wouldn't have been possible without your help. But more than the accolade, I am most thankful that this work brought you back into my life. With love, always, Stacey."