My Last And My Only

Chapter 172: Last Orders

Saturday arrived with clear skies and the familiar scent of freshly ground coffee.

Khae unlocked the café a few minutes before seven.

The streets outside were only beginning to wake up.

She switched on the lights one by one, the warm glow slowly filling the room.

A moment later, the front door opened again.

Lindtsey walked in carrying two paper bags.

"I come bearing breakfast."

Khae looked up from arranging cups.

"I was going to buy some."

"I know."

Lindtsey placed one of the bags on the counter.

"That's why I did it first."

Khae peeked inside.

"Pandesal?"

"And coffee."

Khae smiled.

"Buying coffee for people who work in a café feels a little funny."

"It was free."

"That explains it."

They laughed as they settled behind the counter, eating while the café was still quiet.

For a few minutes, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn't awkward.

It felt... familiar.

Lindtsey took another bite of her breakfast.

"You know..."

"Hm?"

"This is our last shift."

Khae looked around the café.

The tables.

The pastry display.

The espresso machine she had once been afraid to touch.

"...It is."

"You'll miss it?"

Khae didn't answer right away.

She simply looked toward the front window where the first rays of sunlight spilled across the floor.

"...I think I will."

By eight-thirty, the morning rush had arrived.

Office workers lined up near the register.

Students claimed their favorite seats.

The café slowly filled with the comforting rhythm Khae had grown used to.

"Good morning!"

Fea walked in carrying her apron.

"Morning."

Angela followed close behind.

"Please tell me the rush hasn't started yet."

Lindtsey pointed toward the line.

"It started ten minutes ago."

Angela sighed dramatically.

"I asked the universe for kindness."

"The universe said no," Fea replied.

The morning passed quickly.

Orders came one after another.