We met in a Starbucks cafe five years ago.
My aunt and her family invited me to come with them to have a trip to China. I was that awkward fourteen-year-old girl with untamed hair and pimples over my forehead and chin, approaching a counter to purchase a favorite drink. He was that slim-figured sixteen-year-old Chinese boy with a pretty smile, serving customers their cups of coffee.
I looked at his name tag and but unfortunately can't read the words printed. As my turn came, he politely asked for my order in Chinese. Suddenly realizing he's Chinese, I said, gesturing, "One--" raising my index finger, " chocolate chip--" pointing at a menu list in the counter, and then gesturing big to him "grande."
His face evolves into a smile and cracks a laugh a bit, giving me a thumbs up. "Okay," he responses. "27 Yuan."
I reach in for my pocket and got out the exact amount. He says "Thank you," which I find cute. "What's your name?"
Name. Oh. My name. "Ynna."
"I'm Tao." He pointed at his name tag. He smiles again, and it brings me a warm feeling.
After a few minutes of waiting, another barista serves me my drink. I walk out of the shop to find my aunt taking pictures of herself.
"O? Ba't ka nakangiti dyan?" she said. "Siguro may nameet kang cute boy dyan noh!"
"W-Wala ah! C-Cute boy ka dyan." I stammered. Heh.
"Marami naman dito ah!" Siniko niya ko, tumatawa. "Tara na nga. Hinihintay na tayo nina tito mo sa hotel room. Dalin na naten to sa kanila."
I nod, stuffing my earphones on my ears. While walking, I came across a song that matched my mood. It was Jason Mraz's I'm Yours.
