KABANATA 5

Betrayed

"H-here's your order, sir."

As I shakily placed it on his table.

"Thank you, Miss."

And he drank his cappuccino coffee.

"Have a nice day, Sir Zexchiel."

And I left without another word.

We met again. That kapre guy, I mean, Zexchiel. The one who saved me by using our lips. I'm so embarrassed to the point that I want the ground to swallow me up.

I went back to the counter and started taking the orders of our customers one by one. Meanwhile, Eliza and Cyrus were making coffee together. They still weren’t okay with each other.

While I was getting their orders, Zexchiel kept glancing at me as he drank his coffee.

What does he want now?

"Ang childish mo talaga, Eliza!" I shouted at their drama.

"Hindi mo talaga ako gets, Aifia! Hindi ka pa nga kasal, malalaman mo rin yan."

Do you really need to be married to get jealous?

"Kami nga, hindi pa kasal. Nagseselos na ako," I said in a pouty voice.

She just rolled her eyes at me.

"Kung ako pa sa'yo, Ai, break off ko na ang engagement niyo!"

I just stared at her because this woman has no shame!

"Mahal ko pa eh, ano magagawa ko?"

*

"I ordered matcha with strawberries on top!"

My customer shouted at me and I felt like a standing worm ready to be buried in my counter.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll tell my co-worker to make another cup. I'm terribly sorry," I kept apologizing while she complained.

I forced a smile and she rolled her eyes.

"I ordered matcha with strawberries on top, while what I got is cappuccino caramelled chocolate? If I were you, you need to be better. Tsk!"

I felt embarrassed and ashamed of myself.

I glanced around and saw that all the attention of the other customers was on us, including Zexchiel.

_ground, eat me now!_

She was about to leave when Eliza appeared out of nowhere.

"Ma'am. May I ask? Di ba order mo matcha with strawberries on top?" she asked her.

"Yes! But that stupid girl gave me the wrong one! Where's the manager here? She needs to get fired!"

And I froze.

"M-ma'am, let's talk this out—"

Eliza interrupted me and Cyrus ran to us.

"Oh, not again, Eliza!"

He facepalmed and so did I.

"You really have no patience, ma'am. Yung cappuccino caramelled chocolate ay sa ibang customer po."

And he pointed to the man wearing a mask.

"W-what?! Akala ko ba first come, first served ito?! This is disappointing—"

Eliza shouted at her.

"You're totally right! This is first come, first served. Yet your name is in twenty-seventh while his is in twenty-six?! Explain it to me!"

I felt like I was watching a drama. I really need popcorn tomorrow!

"Y-you are not even the owner of this cafe! How could you shout at me like that!"

Eliza turned as red as a tomato.

"I. Am. The. Owner. Of. This. Fucking. Cafe!"

She was too stunned to speak.

"Dapat marunong kang pumila. Di lang ikaw ang customer dito."

Eliza smiled while the woman was humiliated.

She grabbed the right cup she wanted and ran off.

"You're too soft, Aifia! Marunong ka dapat lumaban!"

Eliza scolded me again for being too soft and a people pleaser.

While Cyrus was massaging her shoulders to calm her down.

"I'm sorry, Eliza. I just don't want to ruin your reputation while I'm here," I sulked like a puppy.

"Gosh! That's not important! You need to fight for yourself. Do you want to get fired?!"

I shook my head.

"No! I don't want to!"

And she hugged me.

"Hindi! Hindi ko yun gagawin, noh! Wala ka na bang magagawa sa buhay mo?"

I laughed. She was right.

I checked the time and it was already one, and I still hadn’t had a chance to eat breakfast or lunch.

I saw Zexchiel still here, sitting for almost half an hour.

I told Eliza and Cyrus that I was going to eat outside.

"Sure ka? Pwede ka namang sumabay sa'min kumain?"

I shook my head.

"Nope, no thank you. It seems you two still have things to fix."

And I left.

I texted Arthur for us to have lunch together.

My little bunny💞

Hi, good aftie, Arthur^^ let's have lunch? We should date and eat together. It's been a while, right?

Hello? Are you busy? Should I go to your workplace, my love? I'm going there.

I was excited for us to go on a date! I couldn't wait to see him. It's been one year since we last went out. I hope we have a great day today!

I was humming as I went inside.

I waved to Arthur's co-workers and gave them a warm smile.

"Hi, Miss Beautiful. Are you looking for your husband?"

I nodded.

"Yes. Saan ba siya, Keille?" I asked Arthur's best friend.

"Lumabas siya kanina pa," she said, like she was hiding something from me.

"Sino kasama niya?"

She hesitated, unsure if she should tell me or not.

Then Yayealle appeared behind her.

"Kasama niya si Miss Cruz, Ai!"

She smacked Keille on the head.

"A-aray naman, Yaye!"

She rubbed her ear.

"Napaka-loyal dog mo talaga! Batukan kita eh!"

"S-sorry na, mahal! I love you!"

And I left them there.

My heart felt heavy again. And I had never felt this way except last night. I hope it’s not what I think it is.

I walked out of the building and headed to the parking lot. I was about to get in my car when I heard a familiar voice.

I saw Arthur's car and I was right. That was his plate number!

I walked slowly so I could hear and because I couldn’t believe it.

"Aifie. You are the most beautiful girl I've ever laid my eyes on."

I flinched at the horror of what I heard.

"Oh, stop it, Arthurie! You are making me cry!"

I cried silently while listening to their conversation. But my chest tightened even more when I heard those words from Arthur himself.

"I can make you cry in bed too. Screaming my name and asking for more."

I couldn't handle it.

My vision blurred and that was the last thing I remembered in the parking lot.

I fainted!

"Oof. Thank heavens I got here just in time..."