Sweet Nothing

III - Tahanan

The moment the bell above the café door chimed, Michelle's initial impression curdled into a familiar disdain. The woman who walked in was a walking advertisement for wealth, a living, breathing embodiment of everything Michelle resented.

Glancing outside where the girl's expensive car was parked, she already knew this was exactly the type of person Michelle despised – someone whose problems seemed crafted from first-world inconveniences.

So there was absolutely no reason the barista was trying to strike up a conversation with the said stranger now. Except, the woman looked like she could use a friend.

"This isn't your everyday store-bought wine," Michelle explained, setting a paper cup beside the bottle, shrugging at the girl to say they don't really have wine glasses at the café.

"It's bugnay wine. A ration from one of our local regulars. It's got a kick, but it'll help take the edge off," she added.

Taking a tentative sip, Anntonia was surprised by the burst of tartness followed by a hint of floral notes. "It's... different," she admitted, surprised by the complexity of the flavor.

"Different is good," Michelle replied with another shrug. "Now, about that phone..." she gestured towards the lifeless device on the table. "We don't normally offer charging, but seeing as you seem to be in a bit of a bind..."

Anntonia hesitated, then finally relented, handing over her phone. The other girl plugged it into the closest outlet.

"You know, offering alcohol to a stranger might not be the best business practice," the model said.

"Business was actually closed when you came in," the short-haired woman answered.

A mix of surprise and realization washed over Anntonia "Why haven't I noticed I was the only customer since I arrived?" she scolded herself internally. The model began to feel a twinge of embarrassment and guilt. "I'm sorr--"

"It's fine," the barista said. "That only means I'm off the clock."

They locked gazes for a moment until Anntonia broke the silence by glancing at her wristwatch. It's now past 10 PM.

"I don't think I can finish an entire bottle by myself," she said. "Plus, I'm actually a beer and hotdogs kind of girl."

Michelle raised an eyebrow at that "That's a surprise," she said talking to herself.

"Give me a moment," the barista told Anntonia as she grabbed another paper cup then proceeded to sit across her unexpected visitor. "Cheers!" she said raising the cup to propose a toast.

The small smile that played on Anntonia's lips as she sipped the wine wasn't lost on her.

As soon as her phone came back to life, the model notified her assistant where she was. The other girl immediately replied saying they're on their way to pick her up.

"Why didn't you deny me earlier?" she asked the girl in front of her. They've been drinking quietly for almost 2 hours now. Her assistant will be here any minute.

"You were an unexpected guest," the girl said, "but not unwelcome," she added. Michelle pointed at the café sign above the counter; Tahanan.

"Home?" Anntonia asked.

"It also means 'tahan na,'" Michelle said offering a soft smile.

As Michelle's words washed over her, Anntonia felt warmth spreading through her chest, a sense of comfort settling over her like a familiar embrace. The unexpected acceptance from someone she had initially perceived as standoffish filled her with a sense of belonging she hadn't realized she had been craving.

Headlights suddenly glared from outside. "I think that's my ride," Anntonia remarked, her voice tinged with reluctance as she gathered her belongings. Anntonia reached for her purse, instinctively wanting to pay, but Michelle's hand gently reached out and stopped her with a shake of her head. The unexpected gesture sent a shiver down Anntonia's spine, a mix of surprise and something else, something intangible that sparked a low hum in her chest.

"I should get going," she said reluctantly, "Thank you for the wine, Michelle, and for the unexpected company."

Michelle waved off her gratitude with a smile. "Anytime. And hey, if you ever find yourself in need of a break from the chaos out there, you know where to find me."

After offering a brief apology to the driver she had left abruptly earlier, Anntonia handed him the keys to the car she had driven in earlier that day.

The model was now seated in another car driven by her assistant. "What happened? We've all been worried sick," Nicha asked. Anntonia could only manage a sigh in response, the weight of exhaustion returning in full force.

As the car sped away, Anntonia stole one last look at the cafe's warm glow, "Tahanan," she whispered, the word now holding a new meaning.