The Tuxedo Project | DISCONTINUED

The Tuxedo Project | The Toasts

Chapter Two | The Toasts

"Welcome to The Toasts!" The worker greeted me once I stepped inside the coffee shop. The smell of the Arabican coffees and cappuccinos filled my nose and filled my entire lungs. I sighed with content and smiled when I saw my friend, Emma brewing a coffee for the customers.

I stepped closer until I reached the counter. On the mean time, all of the workers stopped from whatever they are doing and turned to me. I looked at them, smiling and nodded curtly to them for continue their work.

"Can I help you?" Emma asked me without looking up. I chuckled and her head jerked up almost immediately.

"Oh gosh, Dee. Sorry, I didn't-"

"No, it's okay. You look busy though so I'm good. Can I have warm coffee with quarter milk and half spoon of sugar please?" I ordered and she nodded with a grin.

"Anything for the boss," she said before strolling away to make my coffee.

It has been five years and now, aside of making designs and move all around the world, I decided to open up a coffee shop near Cheshire Street. It was still early in the morning but the costumers were already packed with people wearing coats and suitcases at their sides. I took a seat near the huge glass window and placed my coat and suitcase at my side. I looked around the coffee shop and smiled to people who is currently staring or looking at me.

"Here for you boss," Emma said once she placed down my coffee in front of me on the table.

"Please don't call me that please," I said and she laughed.

"You're the owner of this place though," she said and I rolled my eyes.

"Have a seat Em," I said, gesturing on the chair opposite me and she obligated. Emma is a very good friend. Her red hair was pulled into a bun with some tendrils escaped from her bun and hung around her face.

I knew Emma since we were in college. After graduated, Emma got an offer to be an editor for Lesquered Magazine and at the same time she needed more money to pay rent of her apartment. I've repeatedly told her that she could move in into my apartment so she doesn't have to pay the rent but she was so stubborn.

In the end, the least that I could helped her was giving her a job as a manager and also a barista in my coffee shop. I wrapped my fingers around the paper cup of my coffee and smelled it before I took a sip.

"So, don't you miss him?" Emma asked.

I raised an eyebrow at her in confusion. The air and sound around us went back to normal; chatting people and some classic song was playing, filled the entire coffee shop.

"Who?" I asked. I placed down the coffee on the table and moved my hair that falls in my face.

"That boy from your high school, Alex," she said and I stopped on my track.

"No, I don't," I said flatly and she sighed. I lied. I do miss him but after awhile, it feels useless because he will never missed me since that day we fought.

"Diana, do you want to watch us practice?" Myrse asked. I was placing my books in my locker and locked it before turning to face her.

"Petanque practice?" I asked and she nodded. I know that Alex is the captain of petanque team and maybe I could give him some support if I come to watch them practice.

"Yeah, sure. When?" I asked Myrse that was waiting for an answer from me.

"In an hour," she said and I nodded. We bid goodbyes before I walked out from the school and drove home.

After I took shower and changed into t-shirt and skinny jeans, I drove back to school to watch them having their petanque practice. Today they are having their selections of players for the competition that will be held around the corner.

I walked to the bleachers and slid into the bench with a cup of milkshake in my hand. I saw everyone was there except Alex. Myrse waved at me once she saw me. I waved back at her and followed by Richard that was trying to throw his petanque ball.

"Where is Alex?" I asked Meera that was sitting near me. She looked up from her sketch and shrugged.

"I don't know...wait, there he is," she said, pointing at the other side of the field and I followed her pointed finger and it landed on Alex that was playing hockey with his friends, Quinn.

After awhile, Alex ran to the petanque field and once he saw me, he tried to make a small smile and starting his practice. I sighed and rubbed my temple using my palm. I didn't realised that Meera was watching both of us.

"Best friend becomes boyfriend now?" she asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Please," I snorted.

We don't know what we are now. Since that night, we become someone else. I don't know what kind of spell he put on me but since that night, I fell for him.

After the practice, I went home and decided to text Alex. The whole practice this evening, he looked distracted and he didn't even look at me after the first glance.

Diana
Hey bud. Did I do something wrong?

Alex
No.

Diana
Okay. Then why are you being like this?

Alex
Being like what?

Diana
I'm done okay?

Alex
Same.

Diana
Why cant we just act like what we used to before?
Why we should get on each other's throats every time we talk?
Why this happened actually?
Because both of us are so fucking ego to let something go?
This is not what we are.
And I don't know what to do anymore.
What happened to us?
Everyday every night and every time I'm always ask myself what the hell that I've done to make us become like this and I fucking hate those feelings that can't stop running on my mind.
If this can't be fixed, if our paths were wrongly crossed, I'll take a step back and let you go.

I typed it as fast as I can because anger started to fill me up and tears are threatened to escape. After awhile, my phone rang and I got a reply from him.

Alex
Just to let you know, I need my own time.
I can't have that someone that's gonna take care of me when I'm sick or in trouble.
I like living my life as free as I can.
I don't know why but it's just me.
I'm not forcing you to do anything.
It's your choice whether to take a step back or not.

And because of that I cried the whole night.

"Dee, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry." Emma's words brought me to reality and I unconsciously wiped my wet face that already covered with tears. Emma handed me tissues and I took it.

"It was just a painful night," I said before grabbed my coat, suitcase and my paper cup of coffee and walked out from the coffee shop.