Chapter 15
“I’M really sorry about earlier, Hyacinth. Café Demitasse doesn’t have enough employees right now.” Benjamin bowed his head as he apologized to them. “I hope that your not so nice experience today won’t prevent you from coming here again.”
“It’s okay, Benjamin. Don’t be like that, it was Caroline’s fault,” Hyacinth answered and glared at her. She’s kicking her feet under their table.
“It was really my fault,” Caroline shyly admitted. “I got surprised when I see you come out from the door behind the intercom…”
Hyacinth chuckled. “She thought you’re the diner that will assist us to our tables—”
Caroline nudged Hyacinth in the waist. “No, it’s not that, Benjamin…”
Benjamin smiled at her, and it was the sweetest smile Caroline has ever seen.
“Actually, it was really me,” he said with a shy smile. “My staffs were busy on their own work in the kitchen, and I was the only one with spare time to attend the customer’s need.”
Caroline felt embarrassed about what they have said and done. And, she’s sure that Hyacinth felt the same too because she suddenly stopped kicking her feet under their table.
“So, what brought you here? It was quite a coincidence to see the two of you here,” Benjamin said when they remained silent. “Especially you, Caroline. I was stunned to see you again.”
They occupied the table beside the window, and Caroline can see now that the rain has started to pour. Caroline can feel the heat in her cheeks as Benjamin gives her again a look that attempts to penetrate her soul. She tried to avoid his eyes but decided no to when she remembered the reason why she’s here.
Hyacinth kicked her feet again. When she glanced at her, she rolled her eyeballs heavenwards.
“We have a business meeting here, Benjamin,” she heard Hyacinth answered, and then laughed awkwardly. “We didn’t know that you work here. That’s why Caroline was shocked when he saw you come out from that corner, right, Caroline?”
“Uhm… yeah, Hyacinth’s right,” she said and smiled at him. “It’s good to see you again, Benjamin.”
Benjamin’s smile widened, and it made Caroline felt light in her seat. She can feel the familiar butterflies again flying in her stomach. When was the last time she felt giddy towards a man? She can’t remember. Oh, it was when her high school crush glanced at her during their flag ceremony in school. And, that boy was Benjamin. It was always him.
“Wait, before you continue to stare at each other, I just want to ask you Benjamin about something.” Hyacinth’s question shunned the imaginary stars and glitters surrounding them. “I’m just curious. When you apologize to us a while ago, you bowed your head, and I also saw your daughter did that too when she bumped with some kids at the Balloon Fest—”
“He’s half Japanese-half Filipino,” Caroline answered. And it was too late when she realized what she just said, because Benjamin was already looking at her with a confused look—or surprised, rather.
“Wow, how did you know?” Benjamin asked, bewildered by what she said.
Caroline bit her lip. “I heard one of your classmates said it… when you were talking with them at the library. Actually, that was the only thing that I remember about you,” she said and smiled awkwardly.
Benjamin nodded. “Well, that was a decade and a half ago. Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t recognize me, Caroline. We seldom see each other at school grounds, and I haven’t got a chance to talk to you—”
“Right!” she cut off before he could say something about the incident at the gym. “You were so busy with the school council back then.”
Benjamin took moments to answer. Caroline felt uneasy in her seat. Does he really know? She asked in her mind. Should I ask him? No. It will spoil the moment. And, Hyacinth doesn’t know about it.
“Uh, Hyacinth, is there an update from our client that we’re supposed to meet her?” she asked her friend, who was just busy with her milk tea while listening to their throwback conversation.
Hyacinth arched her brow. “Oh, I thought you forgot that I’m here.”
Caroline ignored her friend’s sarcasm and turned to Benjamin. She stood up and dragged Hyacinth’s arm to stand. “I think we have to go—”
“Tita Caroline?”
Caroline turned around upon hearing her name. She saw Anastacia running towards them. The girl was wearing usual clothes that seemed inappropriate for their father’s working place.
“Anastacia, you’re here!” she said, surprised and, at the same time, glad to see her again.
“How did you know that it’s me?” the kid asked.
Caroline can see in his eyes the same amazement she saw in Benjamin’s. This sweet kiddo got his father’s expressive eyes, she thought.
“Same question. How did you know that she’s Anastacia and not her sister?” Hyacinth asked too.
Caroline shrugged her shoulders. “It’s because of her smile,” she said and pinched Anastacia’s cheeks. “Where’s your sister Antonette?”
Anastacia crinkled her nose. “She’s taking her rainy nap upstairs.”
“Anastacia often talks about you. In fact, I thought you’re here because she messaged you to come,” Benjamin went to his daughter’s side. His hand caressed his daughter’s hair affectionately.
Caroline’s heart was touched by what Benjamin revealed. She looked at Anastacia, whose cheeks were already blushing. “Is that true? You wanted me to come here?”
The girl nodded. “I thought you forgot about us.”
Caroline heard Hyacinth snorted from her back. Her friend wasn’t fond of kids, and she doesn’t’ understand why. That was also one of the reasons why she couldn’t convince a client to buy a property with playground spaces.
“That will never happen, baby,” Caroline told Anastacia and give her a bear-hug. When she released her, she caught a glimpse of Benjamin’s wounded face. And, it broke Caroline’s heart again.
“Will you please stay here for a while, Tita Caroline? It bores me to just watch the T.V. all day.”
“I wish I could, Anastacia—”
“She has to go back to work, Anastacia,” Benjamin said. “Tita Caroline will come back tomorrow.”
Anastacia looked at her hopefully. Caroline smiled. “Yeah, of course.”
“Girl,” Hyacinth nudged her from her back. “How will you do that? Our office is in Paranaque—”
“Is it far from here?” Anastacia asked, her brows furrowed. “Will you visit us often, Tita Caroline?”
“Dad? What’s for dinner?” Antonette was descending the spiral stairs, and when they see them, her eyebrows furrowed. “Are they stalking us?”
Benjamin gave them an apologizing look again for his daughter’s attitude.
Caroline nodded and smiled. But, a question came to her mind. “Do you always bring your kids to work?”
Caroline noticed that he’s hesitant to answer.
“We live here, Tita Caroline,” Anastacia said and held her hand. “That’s why I’m inviting you to come here often. We can watch Daddy made an espresso drink while trying the Demitasse new pastries.”
“You live here? How? Where?” Caroline couldn’t help but ask. The coffee shop building wasn’t that big to be a combined property—for housing and business.
“We sleep at Daddy’s office on the second floor,” Anastacia said. “We have comforters, and Dad sleep on the couch—”
“Anastacia,” Benjamin squeezed his daughter’s shoulder. “Can you please, ask your sister what she wanted to eat for dinner?”
When Anastacia left, Caroline spoke again, but Hyacinth stopped her.
“We just moved in a couple of weeks ago,” Benjamin said. “It’s for temporary while I’m still looking for an apartment—”
“Apartment? I—”
“Caroline, we have to go,” Hyacinth held her arm. “The rain has stopped, we can run to the car.”
But, Caroline ignored her friend’s warning tone of voice. “You don’t have to look for an apartment—”
“Caroline!” Hyacinth’s voice raised. It attracts the attention of some of the employees and customers dining nearby.
Caroline frowned. “But, I’m still talking to him—”
“We have to live,” Hyacinth said and turned to Benjamin. “Sadly, our client won’t make it here. We gotta go, Benjamin. Thanks for the drinks.”
Hyacinth didn’t wait for Benjamin to answer, she dragged her towards the door straightaway. Benjamin and some of his employees were left wondering.
“Hyacinth, what’s happening to you? Do you have an upset stomach?” Caroline asked her friend when they reached the car.
“Get in the car,” she said instead.
With a knotted forehead, Caroline opened the car and get inside. “Did you forget your manners? I’m still talking to Benjamin—”
“I know what you’re thinking, Caroline. And, I won’t let you do that,” Hyacinth declared.
Caroline arched a brow. “And what do you think that I’m going to do?”
Hyacinth looked straight in her eyes. “You’ll let them stay at your house.”
***
