Love Stories Over A Cup Of Coffee

Macchiato

It's the last day of the exam week. I'm waiting for P'Ohm and Mild at the coffee shop. They said they wanted to relax after the exam.

Mild looked like a zombie when he entered the shop. Strength seems to have escaped his body.

"Fluuuukeeeeeeeee something to drinkkk," he begged. After that, he went on to sit on the table at the corner of the coffee shop.

"How about you?" I asked P'Ohm.

He smiled at me, "Iced coffee, please." Then went on to sit on the same table as Mild.

I made a green tea latte for Mild, and coffee for P'Ohm. I personally delivered the drinks to their table.

"Mild, here is your drink." P'Ohm let out a laugh. "Is there something funny P?"

"He's already asleep."

"Oh my goodness. He must be very tired. I've never seen him like this before. P', help me."

"What do you want to do?"

"Let's get him upstairs so he can sleep comfortably." P'Ohm stood up.

"Okay, then, I'll carry him." P'Ohm carried Mild on his back until we reach the house. I really felt sorry for P'Ohm while we're climbing the stairs. But oh, well, I'm too small to carry Mild anyways.

We laid Mild down on the couch in the living room. I took his blanket to cover him. Yes, he has his own blanket already. He has slept here a lot of times. I also reserved a space for him in my closet.

"Fluke," P'Ohm suddenly said while I'm fixing Mild's blanket. "Do you have something to do tonight?"

Laundry, check! Exams, done! Coffeshop duty, none!

"None, P. Why"

"Do you want to go with me?"

I turned around to face him and ask him further what he is talking about but before I could speak, I saw the two ticket he is holding.

"What are those for P?" I asked.

"The same gallery we went to last time."

"OH MY GOSH. REALLY?" I exclaimed. I've been trying to buy tickets to visit the gallery but I was so unlucky. It's always a sold out. "Wait, their exhibit ended yesterday, tho." I've double checked it yesterday. I really wanted to go."

"Well, I have a friend who has special access to the gallery anytime."

"Ohhhhhhhhhh, wait for me here P, I'm just going to change." But it took me an hour to choose what to wear because I realized I'm going with P'Ohm.

I apologized to P'Ohm for being slow but he just smiled at me and assured me it's alright.

When we arrive at the gallery, P'Ohm immediately showed the tickets to the curator, the same one we met before, and she allowed us to enter.

"Hello, nong, it's nice to see you again" she greeted me.

"Hello P. How are you?"

"I'm very fine. Ah, I have to show you something." She left her desk and pulled me to the middle of the gallery.

And there, we saw a black and white photograph.

"It's the second photo." She said excitedly.

It's the second photo from the mysterious photographer. This time, its the upper left side of the subject's face. The eye and the hair can be seen.

"This time, our gallery's theme is happiness. And tho it is a black and white photo, you can see the happines in the subject's eye."

I was not able to answer because something caught my attention. The eye, it looks happy but I am sure it is not. I've seen eyes like that before. They look happy, but sad. The happiness is trying to hide sadness. Sadness that was hidden in order to try to live a normal life again. Who wants to live in sadness anyways? But the sadness will always be there, and so it will and will always show itself. Only when you have moved on or dealt with your sadness that it will slowly fade away.

"Fluke," I heard P'Ohm's voice. He sounded very concerned. I didn't notice him. And I didn't notice the curator left.

I faced P'Ohm and smiled. Sigh. "I'm fine P', don't worry."

He smiled back. Let out a sigh, he's relieved.

"Are you done?" I nodded even if I've only seen the black and white photo. "Follow me." And he started walking.

I thought we're going somewhere, but he just led me to the café. It looks the same, it's just that all the chairs and tables are gone.

P'Ohm stood in the middle.

"Fluke," he said as if telling me to go to him. I walked towards him.

"Fluke," P'Ohm paused. "I will not be around during Christmas, so I wanted to give you a gift."

"It's okay P. You can just give it to me anytime. What's important is you remember me this holiday season." I smiled. I keep smiling when I'm with him.

"Can you close your eyes, then?"he asked me with a gentle voice. Ooooooohhhh I want to pinch his cheeksssss.

I nodded and closed my eyes.

Suddenly, I felt the warmth. The hands on my back. The chin on my shoulder.

"P'Ohm." That's all I could say at that time.

"Fluke. This is the only thing I can offer you now. This is the only thing I know that I can give you to ease whatever pain or sadness you are feeling."

My tears began to fall.

"P'Ohm" and I cried again. This time, I'm crying harder. Not because of the sadness anymore but happiness. I am happy.

We stood there like that for a while. P'Ohm did not let me go until I stopped crying.

When P'Ohm let me go, he looked at me in the eyes. He keeps on sighing. I'm sure he wanted to tell me something but I guess he's not yet ready.

"Can I ask you a favor?" He finally asked.

"What is it P?"

"I promise it won't hurt you. May I?"

I did not answer because I'm still trying to figure out what he wants from me.

"Na~, na, naaaaa" he said in such a cute way that I just nodded.

A KISS IN THE FOREHEAD. That's what he is asking. I was so taken aback that I was not able to move.

He chuckled when he saw my reaction. And he smiled throughout the night.