Disturbing The Calm Water

Chapter 33

Baby

"Hey Yani!" Bati ni Kuya John.

The afternoon of our 1st day of soft opening, dumating din si Ate Mish, Ate Ellie, Kuya Flint and Kuya John. Pinakilala ko sila sa staff as my investors.

"Your office is quite nice! Hindi naman gaanong kaliit dahil mag-isa ka lang." Ate Ellie commented.

They were touring around the café at huminto sa office ko para tumambay. I brought them food and drinks dahil may kakaonti na rin kaming mga customer sa baba.

Some employees from the offices upstairs come to buy coffee during their break time.

At 2pm, Aya's shift started kaya mas madami silang nasa baba para magbantay ng café. I took that time to have an afternoon break and join my sister and her friends at my office.

Nagtatawanan sila sa couch nang pumasok ako.

"He're the owner. Whoo!" Tumayo pa si Kuya John para bigyan ako ng baso at nakipag-toast sila.

They stayed for a bit more at binigyan ako ng napakaraming advice bago nagpasyang umalis. They even invited me to have a celebratory dinner kaso lang I wanted to stay until closing hours.

That was my schedule for the whole soft opening week. Maaga akong nasa café, I do my morning baking then take some break. After lunch naman ay ang afternoon bake ang pinagkakaabalahan ko at tutulong kay Aya sa gabi pagka-uwi ni Migs at Kelly.

Aya and I stay until the closing time. We stop receiving guests an hour before our closing time and when there are no more customers, we clean up a bit pa. May nakilala rin ako, si Manong Jerry. He's a janitor on the building upstairs and I hired him as our part time cleaner kapag gabi na.

11:30PM na akong nakakauwi araw araw and it's tiring of course but I love it. I love baking and seeing our customers enjoy the food we prepared. Unti-unti rin namang nasanay at nakapagadjust ang body clock ko sa new schedule.

As days goes by, mas nasasanay na kaming lahat sa routine namin inside the café kaya mas mabilis at mas comfortable na kaming magtrabaho.

I go to my office whenever I have breaks. Ang mga employees naman hinahayaan ko lang din magchill kapag wala masyadong customer. As long as their jobs are being done well.

Aside from cooking for the customers, Kelly also cooks for our snack and lunch. Kasama kasi iyon sa benefit ng employees, ang meals nila. That was a good idea though, dahil halos dito na ako nakatira sa café at mas napadali na hindi na ako mag-iisip pa kung saan bibili ng pagkain.

I got busier as the end of the week is approaching because we were planning for the grand opening. ExAd did most of the organization but they coordinate with me most of the time to let me decide on which to choose.

I have already sent out the invitations to a few of my friends and family. I told Finn to invite whoever he wants because I don't have that many friends anyway.

When Sunday came, maaga palang ay kompleto na kaming nasa café, even the part timers are here. I requested for everyone because we will be extra busy for today. It's the grand opening!

We did not hire catering services because we will do the cooking by ourselves. Kaya maaga kaming pumunta dito para maghanda. Sinama ko rin si Ate Stella para tumulong kay Kelly magluto.

When I finished baking, I looked at our pastry shelf na puno na ngayon. I baked some cakes yesterday at today naman ay puro confectionery ang ni-bake ko.

We have an almond caramel cake, a classic vanilla buttercream cake, a healthy carrot cake and I even added the red velvet maple cake we made years ago for our project. Aside from those may croissants, cookies, brownies, egg tarts and puddings din.