A Cup of Coffee

c h a p t e r 1 3

Adam

The coffee shop was packed today so I was pretty busy. Elizabeth kept coming up in my mind but I tried not to let her distract me. I needed to be with Phoebe for as long as I can, my requested break isn't going to last forever and I need to finish up my last semester soon. At night, when Phoebe had gone to bed, I take out my school materials to keep up with my revisions. It just came to me that I wanted to try something new, so I gave it a shot this time round, though I already have a decent paying job and a degree, what can I lose? I already lost both of my parents and I'm basically on my own. So why not live my life and try different things.

I graduated high school two years early and used it to my advantage, by going to college immediately instead of taking a year off. I obtained a certificate in photography and now I have tons of experience under my belt but for some reason I decided to take up some courses in the Computer Science almost three years ago. I managed to finish the four year course in less than three. If I can finish up this final semester, I will be able to graduate, again and get my bachelor's degree. Plus I completed all my majors last year so all I'm tackling are my extra subjects for example, Literature for some odd reason and Marketing.

After being a photographer for almost three years now, I wanted to try out different jobs. I guess photography wasn't my calling even if I am skilled with a camera. I get fat paychecks every month especially when the clients are from wealthy families but it wasn't enough for me to be able to save up and buy myself a house. I'm only twenty but I wanted to be able to travel and live a life without having to worry about money all the time. Most jobs nowadays require computers and advanced technology so I though it would be smart to get a degree in Computer Science in case I ever planned on having a family too, it was more like a safety blanket financially.

The day was nearing the end, and the sun was setting. I was waiting for the customers to finish up their homework and coffee so I could close up. I wonder how Phoebe does this. She opens before the sun even rises and closes the shop way past sunset.

After an hour, the guy who was typing away in his laptop, finally left. I thought he wanted to live here. Because Phoebe was on her own, she couldnt handle keeping the shop open 24/7. I cleared all the tables and brought the cups and plates to the kitchen. After searching the entire place for the rags, I heard the coffee shop doors opening. I headed out to check on Phoebe wondering if she was still letting customers in.

"What brought you here?" Phoebe asked the moment I stepped out to interrupt them "Where are the rags?" I asked, rather annoyed because of the lack of rags in this place, then I saw her. She was wearing a red sweater and blue jeans, she looked so gorgeous and all I wanted to do was go up to her and hold her. She was hugging Phoebe, exchanging a few words with her while smiling widely.

"Oh dear sorry, at the tables," Phoebe said gesturing to the booth she was wiping as she turned back to Elizabeth.

"I was actually here to," she paused and looked at me across the coffee shop as I went to take the rag, "I was here to have a word with Adam."

Wait.

What? With me? What own earth do we have to talk about?

"Oh okay, of course Dearie," Phoebe smiled widely and gestured for me to come to them. She took the rag from him and headed to the kitchen behind the counters.

"Hey," I greeted, wiping my hands on the back of my jeans. I wanted to not have this conversation.

"Can we talk?" She asked nervously, she kept fiddling with her fingers and looking at everything but me.

"Yeah sure, you wanna go out?" I said, gesturing to the benches outside.

"Here is fine," we slid into one of the booths and sat there in silence for a moment.

"And what was it that you wanna talk about?" I raised my eyebrow, startled green eyes stared right at me. She took a deep breath as I continued looking at her with a questioning stare. I know exactly what she wanted to talk about but I am trying to not go there.

"Umm I'm not sure if you believe in soulmates and the whole wrist thingy and how they countdown one year before you meet your soulmate. Mine appeared more than a year ago and I kinda met my soul mate? Not really but like my wrist was zero but I was distracted and I never met mine but with you around, my wrist just hurts and they said that -,"

"Breathe," I gripped her cold hands with mine as I stared at her, quite amused. I was surprised with how much words she can say in one breath but was amazed me was the fact that I grew some balls to even touch her.

"Well okay ummm so my wrist hurt whenever I'm around you which was like three times and I don't want to seem like I'm too forward because I'm usually not like this but like -," I cut her off and she finally took a breath.

"ELIZABETH," I smiled. She was very nervous and it was so adorable, but I can't be dealing with this right now.

"Yes," she whispered, looking at me with the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.

"Calm down, I felt it too remember,"I said to her and I reluctantly let go of her hands, "I've been meaning to ask you as well. Were you here last Saturday around noon?"

"Yeah, I was heading out," It means she was the girl I collided with and she definitely is my soulmate.

"Well, I was heading in and this shorty didn't watch where she was going," I rolled my eyes, trying to make the situation lighter.

"WELL EXCUSE ME, I WAS NOT THE ONE ON MY PHONE," She was so riled up and now her face had gone red.

"So you do remember?" I smirked, looking at her with amused eyes.

"That was you?"

"Obviously," I rolled my eyes and drummed my long, slender fingers on the table. I could sense how tense she was, this was not something I expected her to do. To come up to me and suddenly expect me to have answers.

"Okay,"

"So do we like do? Do we just move on with our lives?" A little part me of wanted her to stay forever.

"I don't know, I never really thought about it. I was hoping you knew," she responded, looking away as if to recollect her thoughts. She was so genuinely so beautiful and I wanted to protect her. From me. From everything I am. I can't let her get too close to me.

I don't want to end up falling in love with her and have her leave me. To have her, just give up on me. I can't handle losing anyone else. As much as I didn't want to lose her now, I will eventually. Even if we were each others' soulmate. I needed to protect myself and to protect her from me.

"Well then, you can go. I have enough on my plate and I barely know you," She stared at me, seemingly horrified at the words that left my mouth.

Honestly, I was horrified too because I didn't mean it. A little part of me wanted her to stand up for herself and say something back. But she didn't. And I think that made it worst. She just took one long look at me before heading out without another word. She didn't even say goodbye to Phoebe so I know I messed it up like I always do. I buried my face in my hands and just replayed what happened in my head, how she looked before she left.

"Go after her Adam," Phoebe told me after appearing in front of me. She stood at the counters and looked at me with an expression I don't recognize. I nodded, we didn't need to exchange anymore words to assess the situation.

I took off my my apron, threw it on the table and ran after her. She was out of sight by the time I reached the dorms. I still remembered her dorm room so I took the stairs as the only elevator stopped at her floor. As I reached the door, I couldn't bring myself to do anything. I just stood there, my head against the wooden door as I listened to Elizabeth crying.

My wrist was starting to hurt again and all I wanted was to hold her. From the door, I could hear her sobbing her eyes out and it was my fault. I feel terrible but I don't see this going anywhere. I stayed by the door until I heard her stop crying. She cried for almost an hour. And I told myself, I can never do that to her again.

A/N: Okay so the story left off here but I just tried to show both sides. I hope you liked Adam's point of view!! Anyway please we comment or vote. It means a lot to me. I'm sorry for the late one (as if anyone reads this hahaha but I've been studying) Thank you for the support 💕