Two Sides of Love

13

"One medium caramel macchiato, please." He ordered nonchalantly

He wears a navy blue sweater that accentuates his broad shoulders, paired with slightly faded jeans. His sneakers are something I couldn't afford, laces casually untied. A silver pendant necklace peeks out from beneath his sweater.

The barista nods and starts preparing the drink.

Ang kanyang makulot na buhok ay nagbibigay-buhay sa kanyang mukha, bumabagsak sa kanyang noo. Kapansin-pansin ang kanyang makapal na kilay na nagmumula sa pag-iisip o pagkamangha. Ang kanyang mga mata ay mainit, kulay kayumanggi, na nagtataglay ng mga lihim at kabaitan. Ang kanyang ilong ay tuwid, may bahagyang tuktok sa dulo.

He turned to me "You sure you don't want hot chocolate? Coffee isn't your thing"

"Ayos na ayos. I'll have the same. Caramel macchiato."

Esmael raises an eyebrow, studying me.

"Extra sweet, right? You're not exactly a coffee aficionado."

My jaw drops.

Before I response, he turned in to the barista again.

"My friend isn't a big coffee fan, so can you make it less strong? Maybe add some whipped cream on top? And, um, sprinkle a little cinnamon too. She loves that."

What the actual fuck.... How did he knows I love cinnamons?

The barista nodded gracefully "A mild caramel macchiato with whipped cream and a touch of cinnamon. Anything else?"

"Oh, and write her name on the cup. She'll appreciate the personal touch."

Mama! mamamatay na ako ako..

"Absolutely! Your girlfriend name it is. Anything else El?" Said the barista, teasingly!

Mukhang matagal na siya dito, kilala na siya ng barista eh, pero ano daw? G-girlfriend? No! Hindi!

"Mark, she's a friend of mine" he explained to the barista

"Whatever the son of this coffee shop says, I'll believe" the the barista named Mark laughed

Ano? Magulang niya rin ang may ari ng coffee shop na 'to?

"She'll hear you, damn" naasar ngunit ka

Esmael pays, and the Barista starts working on the drink. Esmael glances around the coffee shop.

Naka upo na siya ngayon sa harap ko, habang ako'y kunwaring nag ce-cellphone.

"I'll be on my work by 6, don't forget the dinner this coming saturday, mom expects you to come" he said softly in his manly deep voice

Oo nga pala, 'yung dinner!

"Y-yea, I'll come" sagot ko sa kaniya habang nakatuon pa din ang atensyon sa cellphone

"Esmael-"

"Hmm?" He cutted me off

"Why you wouldn't work here at the cafe? Or your dad's other business?" I asked out of the blue

He sipped his coffee and looked at me "I don't wanna be a nepo baby, I want to earn my own"

"Nepo baby? Eh 'di ba ayun 'yung nakilala lang dahil sa mayayaman nilang magulang? Bakit ka naman magiging ganoon?" I sipped my caramel macchiato "iba ka naman, hindi ka ganoon"

He smirked "I'll be donating in a fundraising soon, I want to donate my own money, in fact, pang palipas oras na rin. I like these electrical things"

I nodded and continued browsing in my facebook feed.