Gerbera After Summer

Chapter 2

Phone

In the midst of midterm studies, the delicate sound of the door bells drew my attention away. Temporarily setting aside my tablet, I smoothly transitioned to the counter to serve customers at Kapehan, where I work part-time.

"Could I have a Spanish latte, please?" the customer requested, followed by a chocolate croffle and the breakfast combo.

With a friendly smile, I confirmed her order, "That will be eight hundred forty-eight, ma’am," seamlessly working with Louise, the cafe's owner, to fulfill the request.

After processing the order, I returned to the table where my learning materials were placed. I am grateful for Louise's understanding in allowing us student-workers to study during quiet moments in the shop. Settling in, I delved into another article, one that I needed to dissect for an upcoming paper. Before diving into my studies, I took a moment to ensure that the surroundings were tidy, that way I could tell myself that I deserve the quiet time to focus on my reading.

Since that event last month and the subsequent photograph, my following requests have skyrocketed. Initially, I attempted to ignore them, but with almost two thousand notifications flooding my feed, I decided to switch my account to public to escape the never-ending barrage of pings on both my phone and tablet. Although I could simply disable notifications, I value staying connected with the people I follow.

It's as if my subconscious has programmed me to spring into action whenever I hear the door chime. I immediately settled behind the counter and lifted my gaze, I experienced a momentary lapse— it was CJ. He looked effortlessly stylish in a dark polo, loose blue jeans, and classic converse shoes. The way he casually wore his gentle monster glasses, tucked behind his head, only added to his appeal.

He approached me with a smile, “Can I get—”

Before he could finish, someone interrupted, “Ceej, I already ordered your combo.”

Turning to acknowledge the previous customer, he offered a nod of apology. Despite my surprise, I managed to return his smile. My eyes followed him and the woman from earlier, they seemed like close friends.

With my forehead creased in thought, I returned to my table, but my concentration wavered as my eyes kept drifting back to him. It felt like he could sense my gaze, as our eyes would occasionally meet, prompting me to quickly divert my attention to my tablet. Yet, despite my efforts, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling and I felt a strange mixture of curiosity and unease. He has a girlfriend, huh?

Letting out a resigned sigh, I gathered my materials and stowed them away in my bag. As I stood up, a pang of regret washed over me, realizing that my actions had drawn both their attention. I offered a slight bow in apology before taking a decisive stride towards the staff room, where I could stow away my bag and collect myself.

My shift ended with me not feeling the mood. They were gone when I went back to work earlier but the uneasiness lingered inside me as I ended my shift.

“Alis na po ako,” I bid my goodbye and didn't wait for their responses since I still had two subjects to attend to this afternoon; COMM101 and PATHFIT1.

As the COMM101 class was unexpectedly canceled, I decided to use the time productively by working on the new task assigned to us—a review paper on a Filipino movie I had watched four years ago. Opting not to waste the opportunity, I settled into a carrel in the silent room, ready to revisit the film and capture its essence through my words.

The movie, with its two-hour runtime, offered a powerful narrative about pursuing your dreams and not losing yourself in the process. With the storyline fresh in my mind, I wasted no time in delving into the review paper, eager to articulate my thoughts and reflections. In the span of just under an hour, I managed to draft two paragraphs, the ideas flowing seamlessly as I typed away.