Sovereign Academy

Chapter 15: Rutherford

Stella's POV

I stared outside as establishments started to surface on the sides of the road. It's a sign that we're getting close to the town that I haven't been in for a long time. Kahit noong kasama ko pa si Mama ay bihira lang din naman akong pumunta rito.

Julian and I used to come here to play and have fun, but since he left me, I didn't have much to do here.

"Which way to go?" Caleb asked, drawing my attention again back to reality.

"You can go straight down the road and just turn left once you see the tunnel," I answered. Hindi na siya nagsalita pa ulit at sinunod na lang niya 'yong sinabi ko.

Surprisingly, he's easy to be with today. Maybe I have misunderstood him due to the circumstances that we had before? I just hope he would always be this approachable.

"We're here, park there!" Itinuro ko sa kaniya 'yong parking spot na available sa labas ng establishment at mayamaya pa ay huminto na ang sasakyan.

"A coffee shop? Really?" nagtatakang tanong niya pero binuksan ko na lang 'yong pinto, kaya wala siyang nagawa kung hindi sumunod.

I looked at the view from where I am. This place still feels like the good old days from my childhood. That's what I like about here, walang nagbabago. They still keep the store classic yet elegant.

"This is not just a normal coffee shop. Come this way," sabi ko at imbis sa harap ng Shop, ay sa likod kami pumasok. When I opened the back door, the kitchen showed up and Tatay Bernardo was there.

Napalingon siya sa akin habang gumagawa ng order at nanlaki ang mata niya. "Stella!"

"Tatay!" I hugged him and he did the same. Hindi ako makapaniwalang pagkatapos ng ilang taon ay magkikita ulit kami.

This is Julian and I's go-to place when we were young. We always had a chance to make our own beverage and bake some cake as much as we want. Tatay Bernardo and Mama are good friends, and that's how I met him. Dati ay ako at ang parents ko lang ang bumibisita, hanggang sa sinasama na rin namin si Julian. Without realizing it that time, this place held a lot of memories from our childhood.

"May kasama ka pala! Ikaw na ba si Julian? Nag-iba yata ang itsura mo?" tanong niya kaya nanlaki ang mata ko.

Caleb was silent, but I could feel his aura becoming dark. Tila ba bumibigat ang atmosphere kaya naman napapikit na lang ako, and I cleared my throat. "Tatay, he's Caleb. My classmate!" pakilala ko sa kaniya, to at least make the room less awkward.

Tumawa si Tatay Bernardo at kinamayan si Caleb. "Pasensya ka na, hijo. Nasanay lang akong palaging magkasama ang dalawang 'yon. Ikaw ba ang napupusuan ng batang ito?"

"Tatay!" sita ko sa kaniya at narinig kong tumawa si Caleb. Why is this so funny for him, when it becomes really awkward for me? "Anyway, we came here to drink your specialty! I missed that!"

His face even brightened up at pumalakpak siya. "Kung ganoon, hintayin niyo ako sa harap at siguradong ipaghahanda ko kayo!"

He cleared the counter which was close to the register. Doon niya kami pinaupo ni Caleb para makapag-usap pa rin kami kahit pa may ginagawa siya.

There were a few customers inside the store, as usual. Maganda rin kasi ang spot ng Coffee Shop na ito, dahil nasa bandang gitna ito ng bayan.

"It's cozy here," Caleb said while eyeing the whole shop. "I wish I'd brought Kaia with me to see this place."

I smiled. Pareho sila ni Kaia na maalalahanin sa isa't isa. "Isama natin siya sa susunod. She would love it here."

He stared at me and smiled just a bit, but there was something about his smile. As if he was remembering something. "She wouldn't leave that place."