Here For You

Chapter 10

Kristina's POV 

Hillary did not speak about the date anymore. We both focused on the discussion since our final examinations are not until next week. It's our card to success as graduates of Dental Medicine. This is one reason I didn't want to wander around thinking about Nathan. This examination is so important to me I cannot fail it.  

I sent Jerry a message that I will be thirty minutes late for work because of some library work I had to do. Being the nice boss that Jerry is, he let me do as I want as long as I get to the café as fast as I can.  

Hillary and I did some research with our classmates. I am happy that my class is focused as I am. I don't think I would like to be with some foolish, distractive guys. Our work was good and easy. My friends went by twos and threes and fours and fives. I was on my own, hurriedly walking to the subway to reach the café as fast as I can, like Jerry said.  

I reached the café about half past the hour of eight. It was a bit busy as usual. There Jerry was clearing some tables and Ron serving orders. I will probably take over the counter tonight. 

"Hey, Jerry. Sorry to be late." I said. "Are you okay? Need any help?" 

"Oh there you are. I'm okay. I have work for you anyway." 

"Yeah? What is it?" Jerry handed me an order slip. I read it to him. "Large cappuccino, two apple-cinnamon swirls, one bagel, and a tin of peppermint Altoids. And an address?" 

"Yes, my dear Kristina. That order is for delivery." 

"Since when did we have deliveries?"  

"Since tonight. Now will you please prepare the orders? The customer is waiting. And you can go home after that, by the way." 

"Are you sure?" Jerry nodded. "Okay." So I headed to the kitchen and made the orders. It took me ten minutes to finish everything. I slid them inside paper bags and started walking to the address. It wasn't that far from the café. I guessed this person must be a regular customer of J's. He knew our menu as well as he knew our contact number.  

I reached W Residences in a short matter of time. I walked in the lobby and found my way to the elevator. I wasn't alone. There's this couple holding hands on my right. I felt very awkward like I was this waitress disturbing their moment.  

Thankfully, the couple got off on the fourth floor. Thirty seconds with them felt like thirty minutes to me. I was still twenty eight floors away from our customer. On the 25th floor, my body started to shake suddenly.  

Ding. The elevator door opened for me. This is it, I thought. The address is at room 3241. When I found where it was, I knocked on the door. I didn't know if there was any doorbell. I was too nervous to search for it. "Come in," a man's voice from inside said. 

"Good evening, sir. Delivery from J's Café." 

His penthouse is undeniably creative. I can see its elegance through the darkness of his place. There is a window wall from across me. It has a perfect view of New York City. On my right is the dining area and a clean kitchen with a fruit basket on the counter. Farther from it was a bedroom. I could say 'cause there were no doors to hide it. Across me, a black furniture set in the living room contrasts the white walls. On the farthest part of the room was a home office, which is not separated from the living area. The place was big for an individual but enough for a rich kid.  

I walked towards the man seated on his office chair, looking down NYC.  

"Here's your order, sir." 

I almost fainted when he turned around to face me. It was Nathan, Nathan in his undone business attire. 

"Kristina?" 

"Nice place you have here... I didn't think it was you." I tried to keep myself from blushing which apparently I failed to do so.  

"Yeah, I didn't expect you to bring me those." He eyed on the paper bags in my hand. "So, you work for J's?" 

"Yup. So uh, here's the receipt." I handed him. I was so shy.  

"Oh, yeah. Here." He gave me fifty bucks which is thirty seven much excess. 

"Don't you have any smaller bill? I don't have enough to give you your change." I said professionally. 

"No. Please take it, Kristina. I can't help my conscience to have you walk all the way here, in the middle of the night, you know. I'm sorry to bother you." 

"No, Nathan, it's okay. This is my work. Maybe you can just drop by the café tomorrow and pay there. Enjoy the food. I'll go ahead." I smiled and turned away from him but he stopped me. 

"Kristina." 

"Yeah? Need anything else?" 

"I was thinking maybe you could stay here? Just for a while. Keep me company." 

Nathan must have seen the hesitation in my face. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have." 

I felt guilty to let him down. He's been nice to us so there's no reason for this. "No, it's, uhm, it's okay. I don't really mind." I finally said.  

"Wonderful. Feel at home, my lady." He said in British accent. While he was preparing the meal in the kitchen, I roamed around his home office. I didn't want to go overboard, though. There were some pens and paper carefully organized. He had a photo of him and which I guess is his father. 

"Would you like champagne? Or wine?" He suddenly asked.  

"No, thank you. I'm fine." I said, not looking at him. 

"I'll take that as I'll-have-coffee-instead." He insisted. I turned to him and said he was ridiculous. We both laughed at each other.  

Nathan asked me to join him in his meal. I sat across him. We were talking with smiles on our faces. Nathan shared his food with me.  

"You know what, when I was preparing your order back at the café, I though you were a big man with three chubby kids, having a midnight snack." I blurted out. 

"No, miss Lopez. You are not saying that!" He defensively said. We were laughing and laughing and laughing until our conversation started to loosen up.  

"You're so fun to be with, Kristina. Did you know that?" Nathan calmly said. He was looking straight to my eyes. I felt the sincerity in his voice. 

"Well, I don't think I am." I tried to crack the topic but I then found myself talking about who I really am. "I'm not the kind who goes clubbing and partying all night, you know. While the other girls are drinking and smoking and dancing, I work at the café to bring home food to my mom and Mary." 

"My kind of girl." Nathan said. He didn't wait for my answer and went on. "Since when did you start working at the café?" Nathan asked. His eyes were beautiful. 

"Since I stepped into college." 

"So I suppose that was four or five years ago, right? I wonder why we haven't met there." 

"I work at night. Jerry gave me a night shift so I could still attend my classes. I badly want to push through my degree, you know. There aren't much customers til eight which I guess is your time to unwind at the bar or somewhere else." 

It is not impossible for a rich guy to go clubbing. I knew that. But he disagreed with me. 

"Nope. I don't go for places like that that much." He said as-a-matter-of-factly.  

"Yeah. I like it better in places with peace and quiet. I can live there." 

Nathan wasn't speaking, wanting to hear more. "I don't really speak that much. I guess that is my weakness. I cannot really mingle or socialize or whatever with other people I'm not used to be with. So I don't think there's fun in me." I suddenly thought why I'm speaking out to him.  

"I don't see you that way, Kristina." He held my hand and locked his gaze in mine. "You are special." After a few moments of silence, he pulled me up and led me to the living room without a word. He reached for his home entertainment system and played a slow song. 

"Dance with me."