Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 5

"Good Morning! Welcome to Cascara Café, where the coffee served was never bitter! What can I get for you today?" I asked politely while entering the order into the machine.

"I'll get a medium iced caramel macchiato and a Black Forest mousse cupcake."

I nod, then repeat his order while keeping my eyes on the machine. "What name should I put on the cup, sir?"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin para ibigay sa customer ang buong atensyon. My eyes widened in an instant as the familiar messy hair welcomed my sight.

Yeah, I think you already know." I rolled my eyes while scribbling his name on the cup before handing it off to the others.

"So this is where I can find you when it's summer?" nilibot niya ang kanyang tingin. Marami ang tao ngayong araw ngunit hindi naman crowded ang café. Maaga pa naman at mas marami ang tao pagsapit ng gabi.

"I mean, y-yeah? I guess, you can say that," I answered, scrunching my nose as I watched him move aside, letting a new customer place her order.

I saw him in my peripheral view, leaning on the counter and gawking at me as I catered to the customer in front of me.

"You work here?"

"Actually—"

"Boss, ito na yung order nung Keaton!"

Gallo, one of my baristas, interrupted us. I shot him daggers, shutting him, "ang lakas talaga ng boses mo! Kahit kailan halos umabot na sa kabilang kalsada."

Kinamot niya ang ulo bilang sagot, umiling ako sa kakulitan niya.Kalaunan ay hinayaan ko na siyang i-take over ang counter. I don't really help much in the café now. I have four workers—three of them are baristas, including Gallo and Adeline, who handle the shop alongside me. When the shop was just starting, I did all the work. Eventually, the shop's income became enough to hire people to help me.

Gallo, who was the first person I hired which I think of as my lucky charm. Lumakas kasi ang kita ng café lalo na sa mga babae customer simula noong nagtrabaho siya sa akin. Gwapo rin naman kasi. Hindi ko rin maipagkakaila na matagal ang pinagsamahan namin, he was with me when I started on this journey. He was someone I considered a friend.

"Come on, let's sit there," iginaya ko siya sa lamesang paborito ko. From here, you can see the entirety of the café—the lights hanging from the ceiling, a set of tables occupied by customers, and Gallo at the counter, flirting with a customer.

Napairap ako sa nakita. Believe me when I say he's a professional! It's just that he can't refrain from being overly friendly with our customers.

"I thought you work here," namamangha ang kanyang tingin.

"Yeah, I think so?" Nahihiya at 'di sanay.

I just don't go around telling people that I own a café! I'm enjoying it as it is, and I believe they don't need to know things that aren't their concern.

"Matagal na ba 'to?" He scanned the area. Pati tuloy ako nahawa sa kanyang ginawa. "It looks new."

"Hmm, it's been years since I opened this. Maybe roughly two and half years."

There's bookshelves on the right side where customers can freely borrow books. Malapit sa glass panel wall ay may isang mahabang table at upan, kita ang magulo at busy na labas ng syudad. I designed the shop with a modern yet rustic theme—nostalgic and warm, yet industrialized to suit the city setting. Maybe I got lucky to have secured this place. Matao ang lugar at dagdag mo na ring napapaligiran ng mga naglalakihang building na puno ng office workers.

"Really?"

Tumango ako sa kanya, "kakarenovate lang kasi. Alam mo na may budget na para sa mga bagong materyales." natatawang saad ko.