Three Phantoms of You [bxb]

I Guessed?

Nolan:

The days are nothing more than normal. They're typical. If you describe the same feeling of routine bargaining for you to live every single day, you'll know how boring it is repeated. And in the living world?

"I need a long black; make that extra dark grande. I need to start my day awake." A lady in suit orders.

She seems to be in a hurry, and you can easily tell by how messy she looks. Not a dirty mess, but rather a hectic mess. There are many of those here, especially in the morning. They're more impatient, too.

"Busy day, eh?" I say while I'm finishing off her order.

Your words can either lighten or piss off their moods, and for a lady like her, it's for piss. She's annoyed, shooting me straight, sharp looks as if I just asked her to write 100 back-to-back documents.

I'm one to really care if someone annoints me annoyance in the first meeting, but I'm used to it by now. She's probably broken. And for a businesswoman like her, bitterness is never unnoticeable.

"Easy for you to ask. You're never busy," she replies.

I told you. Bitter.

Work is never really that deep of a reason to put your rage on other people, since I learned that while I'm still spectating. There are layers to it. It goes love-people-work, and minor inconveniences top them all. If everything in your day is going accordingly and you still manage to be hot-headed, then love it is.

I pin my hands on the counter, looking at the lady in front of me while she's on her phone. She looks pissed at texting, so I think my guess is right. "Now, who broke your heart? Tell me."

She shot her gaze above to level with mine, giving me another bad look. "Shut up," she warns, still not budging.

I know I sound assured with my words, even if it pisses her off, but hey, I don't really care if she reports me anyway and does not come here anymore. I'm one to be stubborn. And it's impossible not to give in to talking to me, even if we're strangers. I'm charming as hell.

"If you say so." I trail and sigh. "I can be a big help. Was it Nick? or Neil? I don't really know. Anyway, just wait for your order."

She definitely knows that I meant what I said. However, don't act as if I have the secret power to know a person's partner. I do not. But I do remember some, especially if I watched them before. Hell, I had all seven of Kiev's exes on my mind.

I just have this supernatural ability of being nosy and peeking at her phone. I saw Neil in her messages, so I figured it was her boyfriend.

"How'd you know?" She asks, confused.

I just shrugged and continued my work. Being a cashier is sometimes fun. Especially with customers like this.

"Tell me," she begs. "What do you know about me and Nick?" Oh— Nick, my bad. Good thing I had options.

"Well, you told me to shut up, so it's really my business."

In reality, I don't know what the fuck is up with them or how I can help, but it keeps her interested, and I may get a tip if I am wise.

She shoots me another glare, but this time with a tease. "Fine, I give in," I say. "Tell me more about what happened. My knowledge about you two is limited."

She goes on to vent to me about their problems and how Nick fucking forgot their anniversary. Great. You might as well break up at this point. But that's not what a guru like me should advise.

"I'm sure he just got the dates mixed up. I do that all of the time with my friends' birthdays. Doesn't mean I care less," I say, trying to comfort her.

She sighs and goes through her phone. "Yesterday was just so special for me. It's our third, and somehow, I feel like I'm forgotten. Hell, I even booked us on a date, and he had the audacity to ask me, What for?"

Tsk. Poor Nick.

"And what did he say after that?"

"Well, he kept texting me and saying that he was joking and would never forget about it. But I just left him on read."

Well...

I sigh. "If you see to it that it's better for you to conclude already than to see their perspective, well, I don't know how else you guys will resolve it. Love isn't really that special. You're the one making it special, and I doubt any other person would appreciate your efforts more than him."

She gives me a smile. The lady who told me to shut up earlier and gazed me dead actually had a heart for what's love. She hears it, and it probably helped. I have that power to please, I know.

Her long black was half-warm once we finished, yet she said she didn't mind and even handed me a tip.

Another tip I'm not happy to suck and see, however, is Kiev walking through the door of the cafe.

I tried not to think about him anymore, and after some deep contemplation, I stopped stalking him and focused on how I'd make my life all lavender instead.

But he's here. And I'm nowhere moved on.

"What can I get you?" I ask.

Look at me being such a decent barista.

I give him my friendly smile, hoping he won't bring up anything about school, him and Nolan's feud, or just straight-up me stalking him. I like entertaining customs, but from a stranger's perspective.

"Oh, you're here again."

I roll my eyes at him and reply teasingly, "No shit. I work here."

He once again glares at me with those alluring eyes, which I have grown to be accustomed to whenever he sees me. Even when I'm out of work and we meet, he never fails to stop a minute to snatch a look at me. He's consistent. I like it.

"You really amaze me," he starts. "One minute you're at campus, and the other you're working. Are you teleporting or something?"

"Eh, not really." I shrug. "I'm just a good multitasker."

He chuckles at my response as if it's the silliest thing he has ever heard. "You're funny."

What else can I say? Me and my phantom are nowhere near the same. He's rude, as Kiev said, which makes me more of a comedian than him.

Yet he doesn't wipe away all seriousness and heartlessness within him, as we joke. He's always cold, even when he brings his phone out and places the screen in front of me.

It's a text. Multiple actually. From somewhat of an unknown number. "What does that have to do to me?" I ask.

"Stop messing with me," he warns. "I know it's you who have been texting."

I have to talk to you.
I'm watching.
Meet me at the cafe in front of the school.

It says.

Okay... creepy. And it's definitely something I won't say to anyone, not even my worst enemy. I have integrity, at least.

"That's not me," I say, because in no way would I fold in his accusation.

"Who would want to meet me here and talk to me?" Uhhh, probably someone else? "Besides, I know that you're watching me."

I cross my arms in front of him because I'd rather not be blamed for doing that stalker shit again. Hell, I don't even have a phone to begin with. "What is there to watch anyway? Only if you're naked will you ever interest me," I joke, and his face suddenly reddens from what I said.

I'm half joking, but seeing him like this excites me in some way. He just sighs and puts away his phone. "Fine, but if I catch you staring at me again, no-actually, just looking at me, I'll make sure to show you something far worse than what I'm already showing you," he warns.

Hmm, I wonder what could be worse than all this coldness he is giving me. Probably a straight-up winter of delusion? Who knows.

He keeps his eyes on me as he walks to the door. Even that won't do anything with his exaggeration of censure. However, as he gets out of the door, another ring chimes from his phone, leaving him more fraught.

What could it be?