Chapter 14
“ARE you being paid in this job to search for your crush’s name on the internet using the provided computers of your company?” Hyacinth asked when she caught her typing Benjamin’s full name on her computer.
“I’m done with my assignments for today,” she said, continuing on browsing the internet. “And, my scheduled meeting with the clients will be later this afternoon—oh! Look! I found him!”
Hyacinth leaned forward on her computer monitor. “Oh, he looked younger in those photos.”
“And, handsome…” She commented while scrolling on the list of links.
“So, you’re a stalker now? You changed your career?” Hyacinth taunted, but her eyes were still focused on her monitor. “What are you expecting to find on the internet?”
“Everything about him,” Caroline replied, not taking her eyes off the monitor. And his wife… she added in her mind.
“Wait, wait, stop right there,” Hyacinth leaned closer. “OMG. He’s the Café Demitasse owner?”
“I guess so? That’s what written here. Why?” Caroline asked, confused by her friend’s surprised expression.
“I love their milk tea!” she said in a shrill voice. “Remember the coffee that I ordered for us when you were telling me your dramas about the first rain showers of summer? It was from them!”
“Wow, what a coincidence,” she commented, a smile is forming in her lips. “The universe has started to make ways for us.”
Hyacinth snorted. “That’s just a coincidence, you know. It just happened that their milk tea was on top of the recommended list on my Food-2Go App.”
“That’s what you called destiny,” Caroline drawled, her hands glided in the air, nudging Hyacinth’s face on purpose. “Oops, sorry.”
Hyacinth rolled her eyes. “Lines of the hopeless romantic.”
Caroline continued to scroll until her eyes caught an article linked on his surname. Caroline froze in her seat as the article contents flashed in front of her eyes. “Camille Monticello…” she whispered while staring at the picture of a smiling woman flashing on her computer monitor.
“Is she Benjamin’s wife?” Hyacinth asked. “Wait… 2012 plane crash? OMG…”
“She… she was one of the passengers that died in the plane crash,” Caroline said in a gasp. She covered her mouth in shock. “She’s dead… Benjamin’s wife is dead… the twins… Antonette and Anastacia…” Caroline started to cry.
She heard Hyacinth’s deep sigh. She grabbed the pile of tissue in her desk and passed it to her. “I thought you’re expecting it—”
“But, not in that kind of horrible accident,” she retorted in between tears.
Caroline felt like something was squeezing her heart inside her chest until she couldn’t breathe. Sadness was eating her from the inside as she thinks about Benjamin during those tough moments of his life. How he told his twins that their mother—their beloved mom was gone and will never come back. Caroline couldn’t imagine how the kids cope up with such sudden loss of their mother. And, Benjamin… he must be very distraught and broken.
Caroline held her tightening chest due to too much crying. “Now, I know why his eyes were sad every time I look at him. Why every time we asked about her wife, his expression changed and showed sorrow… Now, I understand the reason for Antonette’s improper attitude… why Anastacia almost cry when we asked about her mom…” Caroline wept in tears. “Now, I know why I met him again…”
*
“SO, what’s your plan?” Hyacinth asked after they pulled to a stop in front of Café Demitasse.
They’re just on the other side of the road, and Caroline can clearly see the crowded dining area of the coffee shop. “I just want to see him,” she murmured.
After she met with the clients, they went straight to Bel-Air Street Makati, where Café Demitasse was located. Caroline wanted to see Benjamin. She has been missing him for almost four months, and that feeling just intensified after she learned about his wife’s death. She wanted to see the kids and check if they’re okay.
Caroline heaved a sigh. Her eyes never left the Café Demitasse entrance. “I just want to know if they’re okay.”
She heard Hyacinth’s frustrated sigh. “Are you saying that we drove for almost an hour just to sit our ass here while watching the people come and go in that coffee shop?”
Caroline turned to look at her friend. “As far as I can remember, I didn’t ask you to come with me here. It was you who insisted to—”
“Okay, okay!” Hyacinth dismissed her with a wave of her hand. “If we’re just going to sit here in the car, your chance to see the man of your dreams is just like this.” She showed her her pressed forefinger and thumb. “Tiny.”
Caroline sighed and looked at the coffee shop again. “It’s fine with me—”
“Well, for me, it’s not,” Hyacinth cut off and drove the car to the Café’s parking space. “I’m dying to try all kinds of their milk teas!”
“Wait—”
Caroline didn’t get a chance to stop Hyacinth when she got off the car and walked towards the entrance. She shook her head and decided to follow her inside, but before she gets off the car, she checked herself in the rearview mirror. It’ll be the first to see him again after four months. She has to look beautiful in his eyes.
She found Hyacinth stating her orders in the counter, instead of approaching her, she looked around the spacious dining area of the café. The ambiance was serene and cozy, perfect for students who wished to review their lessons while having a coffee, for business meetings, or even for a friendly date. There are lounges and couch on the corners that looked comfortable and inviting. In the middle were wooden tables and stools for two or more people who wanted to have a casual talk while listening to the low sound of instrumental music playing in the whole café. She also likes the idea of putting wind chimes on the front door. It attracts positive vibes and relaxing energy.
“Caroline!” Hyacinth waved at her. “Help me get our orders. I’m not Squidward Tentacles, I only have two hands!”
Caroline frowned at her friend. “Lower down your voice. We’re not in the streets to shout at each other.”
Hyacinth just rolled her eyes. “Whatever—”
“I’ll call for a diner to assist you, Ma’am,” the cashier offered. “Where’s your table?”
“Oh, thank you. I thought you wouldn’t come up with that idea,” Hyacinth said sarcastically to the cashier.
“Hyacinth, stop it,” Caroline warned her and smiled at the cashier who returned her smile hesitantly.
The cashier spoke in the intercom. Seconds later, Benjamin came out from the kitchen wearing a white half sleeve polo with a black waist apron and black pants. Caroline wasn’t prepared to see him—and she always does. As their gaze met, Caroline accidentally dropped the cup of frappe in her hands. Its content spilled on the tiled floor of the coffee shop. She heard Hyacinth gasped, followed by low whines that stopped when Benjamin dashed towards them. A male employee approached them and cleaned the floor quickly. Caroline felt the heat rising in her cheeks. She apologized to the employee and to Benjamin, who was now standing in front of her.
“Are you okay?” Benjamin asked, sounds worried. “I’ll replace your drinks. It’s our fault because we didn’t provide your assistance.”
Caroline managed to smile despite the shameful thing that she did. She wished to get disappeared right now. But, she doesn’t want to leave Benjamin. She looked at him and saw the same sadness in his eyes again.
“Benjamin…” she murmured as tears started to moisten the corner of her eyes.
***
