Two Cups of Cappuccino (BoyXBoy)

The Last Meeting

After that day, Luffy and I had a few conversations here and there. You could say we became friends. I learnt more about his boyfriend. His name was Zoro, apparently, and he had green hair. I also found out that he disliked sweet things, and thus, the cup of cappuccino with less sugar was for him.

Every time we talked about Zoro, Luffy had this loving look in his eyes, and his cheeks would sport a light blush. And every time I saw it, I felt envious of this Zoro.

One day I noticed the necklace he wore. It was a ring, hung into a chain, and worn as a necklace.

He noticed my staring, so he removed his necklace and allowed me to take a look at it.

And I saw, there, engraved on the inside of the ring, were the words, “Luffy X Zoro”. I felt a pang as I saw it. I wonder what it was. I handed the ring back to him, and he took it and wore it back as a necklace.

“We were engaged.” He explained, “Zoro worked so hard and saved up for quite some time just to buy this ring.” He had a distant look on his face, and there was that love that I always saw in his eyes again, and a light tint of a blush on his cheeks.

And then he whispered out, “I wonder if we still are.” Which I almost failed to catch.

Why did you break up? If you have already broken up, why is there still a question as to whether you are still engaged? Separation…or did you not break up? Did something happen?

I wanted to ask all these but I resorted to shorten it, “Why?”

He looked at me while chuckling, which turned into laughter. I wonder what he was laughing at, nothing was funny.

His laugh sounded really desperate. Like he had to laugh, or something bad will happen. His laughter sounded choked, and I realized that he would have cried if he hadn’t laughed.

“You don’t have to hold back. You can cry if you want to.” I voiced out before I could stop myself. I didn’t want to see him like this.

His laughter died down after that, and he looked downwards at his cup of cappuccino, and stared. His long fringe shadowed his eyes, so I couldn’t make out his expression.

“Are you-” before I could finish my question, I saw a tear trickle down his face and drop onto the table, which was soon followed by another tear, and another. He was crying.

When I came to that realization, I panicked. I didn’t know how to comfort someone. So I just did what popped into my mind, I stood up, walked over to him and hugged him, while patting his head. It was the best I could do.

I could feel a part of my shirt become damp, the part where his head was resting on. He started sobbing into my shirt as I continued to pat his head. I looked around and noticed that there were less and less customers left in the café as more and more people left. It was approaching the café’s closing time, which was 10 pm.

I checked my watch for the timing, and noticed that it was 9:38 pm. He cries and sobs died down at around 9:57 pm.

“I’m sorry,” He sniffed and wiped his face, “for breaking down like that, and having you to comfort me.”

“No…it was no problem at all. So…I’m sorry for asking, but why?” I still haven’t gotten my answer.

“Because…after all, you can’t be engaged to a dead man,” the revelation came with a bitter smile.

“Sanji! It’s time to pack up!” I hear Nami-san’s voice. And for the first time, I was hesitant to go straight to her.

“Hai, Nami-san~!” I replied. “I’m sorry, but I have to go…pack up, you know.” I explained to him.

“It’s quite alright. I have to go too. After all, it’s the café’s closing time, isn’t it?” He smiled, this time with gratefulness.

As soon as he picked up his bag, I cleared his table of two cappuccinos, one cup empty, the other cup full. I turned around and was about to walk away when I heard him say, “Thank you.”

I replied while smiling, “Your welcome.”

After walking three steps away, I heard his voice again, this time a parting, “Goodbye.”

I turned around to look at him, and I saw a sight that I would never forget---on his face was a serene smile, and might I say, the most beautiful smile I have ever seen.

“Goodbye.” I replied, bowing my head a little, and as he started walking towards the exit, I, too, started walking away.

After that day, I never saw Luffy again. He hasn’t visited the café for two months now.

It has been five months since Luffy started waiting here for Zoro knowing that he would not be coming, and three months since I started working here and since I met Luffy.

It has been two months since Luffy stopped waiting for Zoro, and I wonder if I should be happy that he has finally stopped waiting, or sad that I would never see Luffy again.

It has been two months since I last saw Luffy, and had all those questions answered. But now I have new questions lingering in my mind, like, “Where is he now?”, “How is he?” and, “Has he forgotten about Zoro?”, “Does he remember me?”

I have been promoted to assistant chef recently, and I wonder if it would make those people back in Baratie proud. I should probably visit them soon.

More often than not, I find myself staring at the seat at that same corner of the café where Luffy usually sits; that same spot where Luffy waited all alone for Zoro for three months.

This longing feeling… I wonder if I miss him. I barely even knew him. All I knew was his name, and that he had a boyfriend named Zoro. But I feel as if I have an indescribable bond with him. Something special. I wonder if he feels it too.

I regret not asking for at least his number. Then, I could at least still contact him, or hear his voice. But then, I wouldn’t have a reason to.

Sometimes when I am free, I would sit in that seat he used to sit in, and stare out the window like he used to, like I am today. The first time I sat in that seat and stared out the window, I realized that all this time, he was staring at the dojo. Figures.

“Sanji?” I hear Nami-san’s sweet voice.

“Hai, Nami-san?” I asked in a soft tone, all the while staring out the window.

“What are you doing?” She asked, not in an angry tone, but more of concern and curiosity.

I smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of my neck, replying, “Waiting.”

She frowned at my answer, worry and concern showed on her face, and I feel bad for worrying her.

“For whom?” She asks.

“Ahhh..” I run a hand through my hair, and wonder if I had the answer to that myself, “No one. No one in particular.”