Love Stories Over A Cup Of Coffee

Coffee

It's a Saturday morning and I don't have anything to do today. I've done all my schoolwork yesterday while on duty at the coffeeshop. I did the laundy on Thursday night. And I do not have duty at the coffeeshop today, it's P'Apple and manager's duty today.

Someone is knocking on my door. I don't want to get up but the person outside has been knocking for so long already. I got up and dragged myself to the door. It's P'Kao.

"What is it, Phi?" I asked him as I stretch my arms.

"Let's go have breakfast." He told me. He's not asking, he's telling for us to eat together.

I frowned. "Phi, I can sleep for a few minutes, I'm really tired and-"

"Natouch"

"Yes, P'Kao, I'll go eat breakfast now." I said as I get out of my room and immediately head to the dinning room on the first floor. I did not even fix my bed. When P'Kao starts calling me Natouch, it means he's on level 1 angry. I don't want it to reach level 3. It's quite deadly.

It was just the two of us eating breakfast. I'm pretty sure it's P'Apple who cooked the food we are eating, P'Kao doesn't know how to cook. Even manager, tho he likes arranging food. Usually, the lunchboxes he prepares for me, he asks P'Apple to cook the food and he arranges them.

We're having friend eggs, rice, and sausages for breakfast. P'Kao is drinking his brewed coffee while I'm drinking tea.

While eating, P'Kao asked me about school. Apparently he heard about the mentor-mentee competition.

"How's your mentee? Is he nice? Are you going along with him well?"

"Yes, Phi. P'Ohm is quite nice. He's okay, I must say." Now he's staring at me. "Why Phi?"

It took him a while to respond, as if thinking very well what he'll tell me. "Fluke, be cautious. Watch how you feel."

"I don't understand you, Phi" what is wrong with everyone? Is he also shipping me to P'Ohm????

He gave me a smile. "Just be cautious. And look after your heart." Then he stood up. Took his plate and cup. But before he goes to the kitchen, "watch also your cheeks and your ears, they give away too much information."

Uyyyyy do I really blush when I talk about P'Ohm? Why is this happening??? Mild told me that I like P'Ohm but...I don't really think so. Can I really like him without me realizing that I like him?

I asked the same question to P'Apple when I visited her at the coffeeshop.

"Isn't that you only realise you like a person when you are deeply into them? I mean how do you even know you started liking a person? Do you need anything, like a reason, for you to like a person? Isn't that liking a person or loving someone doesn't require any reason? You just like or love them."

Wow.

"But Phi, how do you know that you are into someone or you like someone?" I asked P'Apple while she's cleaning some mugs. I saw her smile.

"To be honest, I really don't know. But all I know is that when you like someone, you should not be afraid to express how you feel. Even in the smallest possible way, express it. But make sure that you are not hurting anyone."

I was about to ask more but P'Earth and Mild entered the coffeeshop. They're with P'Ohm.

"Hello P'Apple, hello my dear friend!" Mild greeted. He looks so happy today. Seems like he's having a good time. "Oh, where is the manager?" It's only now that I've noticed that manager is not around despite him being on duty today.

"He went out to buy something." P'Apple explained. "Hello, Earth. Hello Ohm!" P'Earth and P'Ohm greeted her back.

"P'Apple,you already know P'Ohm?" Because if I remember it correctly, I have not introduced them formally.

"Yes. He usually comes here to buy Tawan some drinks." I looked at P'Ohm.

"Really? How come I've never seen him before? I mean the first time I saw him was when you asked me to go to P'Tawan's store."

"Maybe because you're not on duty when he comes. Sometimes he comes with Tawan. But he usually seats in silence with his coffee. Unlike Tawan who is so noisy and full of energy."

Ohhhh, so there is a possibility that I've seen him before but I was not able to notice him. But it's quite impossible for me not to notice himmmmmmmmmm.

The three ordered their drinks and sat on the table near the counter. They asked me to join them. I sat beside P'Earth and across Mild.

"So, how come the three of you came here together?" I really need to ask because this is really an impossibility.

"Ehem, ehem, you really want to know?" Mild said to tease me. I just gave him a sharp look to silence him. But P'Earth suddenly pinched my right cheek.

"You're really cute when you're pissed off." He's laughing with Mild now. P'Ohm's eyes tell me he is surprised with what P'Earth did.

I think P'Earth sensed that P'Ohm got surprised.

"Oh, sorry about that." He's looking at me but I feel like that's for P'Ohm. P'Earth shifted to P'Ohm. "Sometimes you can't help yourself but to pinch his cheeks because they're so fluffy."

"Yes, yes. Even I pinch his cheeks sometimes." Mild said. And I want to add that I hate it when they do that. Skincare 101, don't touch anyone's face!!!

"Oh," Mild said, as if remembering something very important. "Have you learned first aid?" Mild suddenly asked. I know where this is going but P'Ohm don't, that's why he gave Mild a puzzled look. P'Earth suddenly laughed realizing what Mild is trying to say.

"Yes, yes. You have to know how to apply first aid because as his mentee, you will spend more time together, especillay with the ongoing competition. If there is one thing you need to know about Fluke, it's that, accidents love Fluke so much." He and Mild laughed.

"What do you mean, Phi?" P'Ohm asked. Still puzzled.

"Fluke falls down easily. There was one time he fell on the stairs because he missed a step, then one time he fell down face first because he was not able to see a stone on his way. Oh, and one time, he visited me at the school's pool, we were just talking then the next thing I knew he's already in the pool. He slipped. And I don't even know how it happened." Now their laughter became louder.

"Yes, Fluke is like that." Mild said while laughing. "You know what" he's talking to P'Ohm, "one time, we went mountain climbing, P'Kao never get go of his hand until we reached the peak because he is afraid that Fluke might miss a step or slip. He is also very clumsy! When you eat out, make sure to put a napkin on him otherwise his clothes will get dirty. He always drop his food!"

"Hey, don't say that." I said in protest. P'Ohm is already laughing a little bit. I saw the dimple on his left cheek. How cute.

"Calm down, Fluke" P'Earth told me trying to make a straight face but couldn't and ended up laughing again.

The smile in P'Ohm's face is still there. The dimple is still visible. He is looking at me. I couldn't look at him in the eyes, so I just looked at his lips. They're pink and thin, and-

Beep.beep.beep.

P'Kao: Watch your cheeks and ears.

I looked around to see if he's there but I couldn't find him.

I touched my cheeks, they're warmer than usual. Ugh,I'm blusing againnnnn 😭