One Two Three Days

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1 | One Two Three Days

Mocha Frappes and Mint Toothpaste

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"Hi, ma'am Maine, your usual?" Benji asks and I nod, paying for the drink. He goes off to make my order while I check for an available table.

"How many times should I tell you to drop the formality and just call me by my name? We're almost just in the same age group," I laughed. Being a regular customer has made me friends with the staff in here: Benji, Lucas, who is mopping the floor at the far end where some people accidentally spilled their coffee, and Elle, who is serving someone by the glass windows.

"Rules," he smiled at me.

"Forget the rules. I'm just Maine. Customers' always right," I winked and he laughed.

"Sure, ma'am, but I want to keep my job," He laughed. "Here's your order, mocha frappe with jelly," Benji handed me my drink after a couple minutes of waiting.

"Thanks," I said politely, taking an experimental sip of my drink while scanning the room again for a place to wait. None. Surprisingly, the coffee shop is full. I'm a regular here, and Nostalgia is almost always empty. It's located at the outskirt of the town where a few people wander by. It's a nice place for people who wants peace and quiet away from the bustling of the city.

"No available table right now, sorry. It's unusual having the shop so full. Are you sure you didn't endorse this place or something?"

"Nah, you'll have to pay me free frappes if I do," I joked. "And it's okay. I'll just wait for him outside. He should be here any time now anyway. He just had to get some towel in his car so he let me come here first."

"Nice. Good thing you're wearing a cap today, else you've been mobbed the moment you stepped in through those doors. Have a good day, ma'am."

"It's just Maine!" I playfully hissed at him (he just laughed while shaking his head) as I walked out the door.

Early morning sun hit my face as I stepped out. Yeah, good thing I wore a cap. People think I do so I could somehow disguise or hide away from the prying eyes. In some way, yes, it could be, but the main reason why I wear caps is so I could wander around and look a bit presentable when I'm too lazy to even comb my hair. Just like today.

I waited somewhere covert beside Nostalgia (really, just a darkened alleyway where the dumps are, right next to the shop) and texted RJ so he can find me. Not long after, I heard quick pacing near where I was slumped, my frappe finished.

"Enggay!" he whisper-shouted. It is our protocol not to call each other by our screen names as to not attract attention when we're trying to be invisible from everyone, like now.

"Here," I replied.

It amazes me how someone considered as the King Bae is scared of the people he rules. He can make the crowd go wild with just the deepening of his cheeks, girls chase after him with the small upturn of his lips. A few knows but the truth is if either, or worse both, happens, you will see him running for his life because behind all the damned dimple and boyish smiles, the king is scared of his kingdom. My best friend is such a paradox.

I put on my best annoyed face as he reaches me. "You made me wait," I deadpanned. If I want my plan to work, I have to be the best supporting actress that I am. Not that I think I deserve it or anything because I still don't, but anyway...

"I need," he pants. "I need a... I need a hiding place."

I frowned. "Why would you need to hide?"

"Just... Maine!"

"Okay, okay, fine. But you do as I say, and you owe me a month's worth of Kenopsia or Starbucks."

"You're seriously blackmailing me into this?" he protested as I dragged him farther into the alley because what else can he do? It's either the king does what the young maiden says or he face his kingdom.

"I'm doing you a favor here, 'Koy. This time, I just want something in return," I smirked.

"But a month of frappes and coffee? Too much caffeine won't-"

"They're almost here," I say matter of factly, hearing some footsteps nearing us. Sometimes, fan girls could be insensitive, forgetting how we feel about getting mobbed. It's flattering that they love and support us, but friends, who likes being in the middle of a stampede? "Didn't you stop for a few pictures?"

"I did but then the three girls became ten teenagers and then they just multiplied!" he answered, flailing his arms as he panicked.

I laughed. This guy in front of me is just too cute for his own good.

"Okay, so a month of Kenopsia or Starbucks?"

"But Maine-"

"Did you see Alden? He ran this way."
"OMG! Alden as in Alden Richards?!"
"I think I saw Maine around here too!"
"He said they went jogging together."
"Are they dating?!"
"Shocks, AlDub is dating! MaiChard is real!"
"I think I saw them going that way."

Shrieks.

"You got me into this?!" I hissed.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to say so they'll let me go!"

"So you thought dragging me into it might do us good? RJ, I swear if news got out-" I took my cap off and hit it on his head, then properly putting it on him. "Take that jacket off. They know what you're wearing."

He quickly unzipped it and turned around so I could pull it off him. I did and threw it in the dumpster.

"Hey! That's-"

"Kiss me," I said as I pulled us deeper in the alley, somewhere near the overgrown bushes so we can hide.

"W-what?"

Footsteps.

"RJ, I-"

Oh. My. God.

Did he-Is he-Oh. My. God. He did. RJ is.

I did not mean kiss me kiss me. I meant pretend we're making out so we both can hide our faces kiss me. This guy never lets me finish whatever I'm saying. Though on the other hand... I never knew mocha frappe tastes this good combined with mint toothpaste. I don't think I'll ever get enough of this.