Chapter 3: Caramel Latte

“Oo, Ash! Wait lang,” sagot ni Jordan at mabilis na tumingin sakin. “Bakit hindi ikaw ang gumawa ng order niya as your first task as our new barista?” he added and tapped my shoulder. “You can do it! Simple lang palagi ang order ni Ash,” dagdag niya pa ulit at tinuro ang counter sakin.

So, Ash pala ang pangalan niya. I looked at Tyrone and saw how he grinned at me, “I will just go there.” Paalam ko sa kanila at unti-unting lumapit sa counter kung saan naghihintay si Ash.

“Use this apron para di madumihan ang branded mong damit,” pabirong bulong ni Jordan at binigay ang apron sakin. 

I wore the apron and went to the counter right away. This would be our first interaction, and I was hoping that it would be fine.

“Good day! Can I get your order?” I asked Ash while she was scanning the menu in front of me.

“May bago palang barista sila kuya Jordan,” she murmured and looked at me. “Caramel latte please,” she added and handed me some cash.

I looked at Jordan to ask how much she ordered, and he pointed out a chart in front of me. I checked the prices at binuksan ang cash register to get some coins for her change. “Here’s your change, just wait for your order,” I tried to talk to her casually, and she nodded her head at me.

Ashanti’s POV

Sa lahat ng stress na nakuha ko sa rally ay kailangan ko muna ng pampagana ngayong araw. Pumunta ako sa cafe kung saan ako laging pumupunta at nagtaka ako dahil wala pang masyadong customer maski late na. Nakita kong may kausap si kuya Jordan at sila yung mga nagbigay ng pagkain samin kanina. Mukhang mga bago silang salta dito sa Benito Soliven kasi ngayon ko lang sila nakita. 

Sinabi naman na ni kuya Jordan na bukas sila kaya pumunta na ako sa harap ng counter para umorder ng caramel latte na favorite ko. Nagtataka ako at hindi si kuya Russel ang gagawa ng order ko kasi yung isa sa bagong salta ang inutusan ni kuya Jordan na mag-serve sakin. 

Pinapanood ko siya hanggang mag stop siya sa harapan ko. Wait! Galing ba siya sa movie or pocketbook? Bakit ang perfect ng feastures ng mukha niya? Binayaran ko na ang order ko at hinintay ito sa isang table kung saan malapit sa glass wall. Nakatingin ako sa mga sasakyang dumadaan hanggang sa tawagin ang pangalan ko dahil tapos na ang order ko. 

After kong makuha ang order ko ay bumalik na ako sa may city hall kung saan kami nagpro-protesta para sa mga tao.

Timotheo’s POV

Jordan told me that I could start as soon as I wanted, so I didn’t dare to waste any of my time. Sinamahan ako nina Tyrone sa apartment na kinuha ko habang dito ako nakatira, and I guessed it fit my taste. Once I settled, I took a rest because I would start working tomorrow. 

The next day came, my shift was at 10 am so I went there thirty minutes earlier. Jordan looked surprised when he saw me enter the cafe and said, “Damn, ang aga mo.” 

“Of course! In corporate our time is precious,” sagot ko at lumapit sa kanya kasi ituturo niya muna sakin yung mga gagawin ko sa counter. I listened to whatever Jordan was telling me until I mastered all of it.

“Nakuha mo ba lahat?” Jordan asked after he told me what I should do at the counter. “Sasamahan ka naman ni Russel sa unang week mo sa counter para hindi ka mahirapan,” he added.

“Nakuha ko naman and I guess kaya ko naman gawin maski mag-isa ako,” sagot ko even though nagmumukhang mayabang ako. Well, I am! Kasi may ipagyayabang naman talaga ako, I can do whatever it is. Nagsimula na ako sa shift ko at kasama ko si Russel para i-guide pa rin ako maski hindi naman kailangan.

After a few orders I did, Russel praised me because I am a fast-learner. One week passed, hinayaan na ako ni Russel na solo sa counter kasi alam niyang kaya ko naman na mag-isa. It was hard at the beginning, but when you loved what you were doing, it would be great. For the past days, bihira ko lang makita sa cafe si Ash and tama si Jordan, iisa lang palagi ang order niya. I guessed she really liked caramel latte, so I made sure that I would do it perfectly.

It was my remaining hours of my shift when the door bell rang, I immediately lifted my head to find Ash with a man and a woman. I stood straight to ask and prepare for their orders.

“Order lang kayo, my treat,” sabi ng lalaki habang pinagyayabang ang hawak nyang wallet. As if it would be worth millions or billions like I did. 

“Talaga ba? Nagpakitang gilas ka lang naman kay Ash eh,” sagot ng babaeng kasama pa nila at pinalo nang mahina ang lalaki sa braso nito.  

“Ano ka ba, Isco! Hindi mo naman kailangan na ilibre pa kami,” sabi naman ni Ash at humarap sakin. “Caramel latte po,” dagdag niya pa.

Tumingin ako sa mga kasamahan niya at tinanong sila, “Kayo?” 

“Ay ang pogi!” mahinang sinabi ng babaeng kasama ni Ash.

“Ikaw naman basta pogi ang bilis ng mata mo,” sagot sa kanya ng lalaki.

Well, I couldn’t blame her. She was telling the truth.

“Isang amerikano at isang cappuccino,” dagdag ng lalaki.

“Got it!” I said and told them the total price of their orders.

That guy named Isco paid for their drinks, but he didn’t dare to order some pastries. What a great guy!

They went to an empty table, so I started making their order. It didn't take long when I finished their orders, so I looked at them to call them, but I stopped when I noticed how Ash laughed while talking to that damn guy.

I smirked and got a tray because I would deliver their orders at their table. I was carrying the tray and walked towards them. They looked surprised when I appeared beside them.

“Ay kuya hindi po kami umorder ng cheesecake,” Ash said when she noticed that I add some pastries on their orders.

“Don’t worry! Sagot ko na,” I answered and looked at her seriously.