chapter 1- The Latte Incident

When hate tastes sweeter than coffee... baka love na yun? 💖

Rina's POV

“Kuya isang caramel latte, large, with extra drizzle, please. At wag niyo pong kalimutan ‘yung art sa foam, ha. Malungkot ang buhay, kailangan maganda ang kape.”

Ngumiti si Kuya Barista, sanay na sa arte ko tuwing umaga. I hugged my planner closer to my chest as I inhaled the sweet scent of coffee beans mixed with the familiar smell of old books. Heaven.

Pagbukas ko ng pinto ng shop ko, Reyes & Reads Book Café, I took a deep breath. Today will be a good day. No disasters. No drama.

Tapos, parang sinadya ng universe na sabihing, Ha! As if!

“Wow. Still open ka pa pala? Akala ko nag-close na dahil sa competition.”

I froze. That voice. That smug, irritating, mayabang na boses.

Turning slowly, I came face to face with Dominic Delgado. Tall, dark, and annoyingly handsome in his blue polo shirt and dark jeans. May hawak siyang clipboard at parang nag-iinspeksyon lang ng kung anong mali sa paligid.

“Dominic,” I said, fake smile plastered on my face. “Anong ginagawa mo dito sa maliit at humble kong tindahan?”

“Just checking the site next door. The new café I’m designing? You know, the one na magta-take over sa market share mo?”

He grinned. Yung ngiti na parang sinasabing, talo ka na.

I gripped my latte tighter. Don’t. Waste. The coffee.

“Good luck,” I said, sweet as poison. “Baka lang makalimutan mo—people come here not just for coffee. They come for the books. Something I doubt your soulless café will ever have.”

“Ouch. May hugot.” He leaned closer. “Inggit ka lang kasi may budget kami for real design. Hindi tulad nitong shop mo na parang pinulot sa ukay ang mga furniture.”

My cheeks burned. How dare he?

Sa inis ko, my hand jerked—and my latte sloshed straight onto his expensive-looking cuff.

Shit.

Dominic stared at the brown stain spreading on his sleeve. Then at me.

“Oops,” I said, trying not to laugh. “Pasensya na ha. Nagulat lang.”

His eyes narrowed. “Ginusto mo ‘to.”

I took a sip of what’s left of my latte. “Prove it.”

---

Dominic's POV

I walked into that bookstore slash café because I needed a break from the chaos sa construction site. Sino bang mag-aakala na ang first makikita ko ay si Rina Reyes in her natural habitat, looking all cute with her messy bun and oversized sweater?

Focus, Dominic.

I tried to keep it civil. Honestly. But the way she looked at me—parang gusto niya akong batuhin ng libro—made it too easy to tease her.

And then, the coffee.

Tumapon.

Mainit. Malagkit. At ngayon, ang designer shirt ko, may caramel stain na.

“Ginusto mo ‘to,” I said, wiping my sleeve.

Pero imbes na mag-sorry, she just raised a brow. “Prove it.”

God. She was infuriating. And kind of adorable when she’s mad.

---

Rina's POV

“Hindi ako mag-aaksaya ng oras sa’yo, Dominic. May tindahan pa akong aasikasuhin.”

I turned, heart pounding—not from guilt, pero dahil ang kapal ng mukha niya. He acted like he owned the world.

Pero bago pa ako tuluyang makalayo, narinig ko siyang magsalita:

“Bukas ng gabi. Charity festival meeting. Magkasama tayo.”

Huminto ako. “Ha?”

He smirked. Again. That stupid smirk.

“Mayor assigned us as co-chairs. Apparently, we’re the dream team. First meeting, 7 PM, sa community center. Don’t be late.”

At bago pa ako makatanggi, nakalabas na siya.

I stared after him, coffee cup trembling sa galit.

Dream team? More like nightmare pair.

---

Dominic's POV

Sa totoo lang, I didn’t want to co-chair anything. Pero nang marinig ko kay Mayor na si Rina ang magiging partner ko for this year’s Harbor Heights charity fest... hindi ko na tinanggihan.

There’s something about her fire na nakakatuwa. I needed that spark. Lately, puro stress na lang ang buhay ko sa trabaho.

And okay, maybe I wanted to see her fume again.

---

Rina's POV

6:58 PM.

I stared at my reflection sa glass door ng community center. You can do this, Rina. Charity lang ‘to. Hindi mo kailangang patulan si Dominic.

I walked in, and there he was—seated, legs crossed, looking like he owned the place.

“Two minutes early. I’m impressed,” he said, that familiar teasing glint in his eyes.

“Hindi ako nagpunta dito para ma-impress ka.”

He laughed softly. “Of course not.”

Ugh. Why is his laugh kinda nice?

---

Dominic's POV

She sat beside me, as far as the small table allowed. I could smell her perfume—something soft, like vanilla at tsokolate.

Focus, Dominic.

We started reviewing the festival plans.

Pero every suggestion ko, she had a snarky comment.

“Let’s do a modern theme this year.”

“Para lang matalo ng café mo ang tindahan ko?”

“Fundraiser concert sa main square?”

“Para magmukhang concert ground ang bayan?”

I tried not to grin. She was feisty.

---

Rina's POV

I wanted to scream.

Every suggestion niya—may hidden agenda, I was sure.

Pero then, nakita ko how he listened when I proposed the book drive for kids.

“Actually... that’s a great idea,” Dominic said, voice softening.

I blinked. “What?”

“I said it’s a great idea.”

For the first time that night, we smiled at each other. A real smile.

And that scared me more than all the arguing combined.

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Dominic's POV

There she is.

For a second, hindi na galit si Rina. Just a girl who cares about her community.

And damn. That smile.

Maybe this charity festival wouldn’t be so bad after all.