Chapter 5 5

In Natasha's perspective:

"At seven in the morning, I opened the coffee shop. The weather is beautiful today since the storm passed a day ago. Today is August 25, and a lot has happened in the past days. Shaira stayed because she and Jacob haven't patched things up yet. I don't understand that guy; he even dragged Shaira into his emotional mess.

I sighed, setting up the free flavor for today's promo. My shop has been doing well lately, attracting many customers, especially students. As I went inside to get a cloth, I saw Shaira coming down the stairs with graceful movements.

I raised an eyebrow. 'Early riser, huh?' She gave me a languid look as she approached; the shop's door was still closed. I was about to lift the gates when she said, 'I'll help you open.'

She walked out, effortlessly lifting the metal gates. I watched her, slightly puzzled, and went back inside, contemplating if I should raise the gates first or clean my glasses.

"Do you have work today?" I asked her, and she nodded casually. I kept my gaze on her, asking again, "Are you okay?" Unsure if she's moved on, relationships are tricky. I haven't officially dated anyone since my legal transition. Timeout from men.

"Yeah, why?" she replied.

"Just came from a breakup, just concerned," I said. She nonchalantly shrugged off the breakup, surprising me.

"I look up to you, Shaira. If possible, show Jacob that nothing happened."

"That's what I'll do. If he won't talk to me, I won't bother. I'll give him enough time."

I sighed. "Not like that, not so passive."

"Why not?" she asked, seemingly puzzled. I knew how to catch men's attention, even though I've never been in a relationship.

Expert mode.

"You should chin up, ignore him, don't respond even if he talks to you. Let him regret and realize he still loves you."

"But what if that doesn't work? Jacob has a lot of pride; it might not be effective."

"How would you know if you don't try?" I smirked, and her reaction indicated she might be convinced.

If I were in her shoes, I'd do the same. Men are like that. Even if Jacob took Shaira's virginity, I'd say he's the one at a loss.

She had a goddess look.

Even her cousin Noah seems captivated by her.

"You know, Shaira, knowing that Jacob is head over heels for you, he won't resist you. You're beautiful and sexy." She nodded, and I tried to push away thoughts of that guy entering my mind again.

The conversation continued, and I was confident Shaira would follow my advice. The shop was quiet as we arranged things at the counter until the wind charm alarm rang. I looked to greet the first customer, but my mood soured.

"Damn," I whispered, looking away. "A pest." Shaira stood up to check, a handsome pest.

He might be handsome, but he didn't even notice me when he saw Shaira.

"Patty!" Shaira called out, and Noah, looking handsome in his uniform, came out to greet her. He sparkled, especially with the color of his hair.

But still, he didn't notice me."

"Order, huh?" I was the first to speak, raising an eyebrow, but he just smiled when he turned to me.

Tsk.

"Sure, how much for two cups?"

"Just affordable," I handed him the menu; his hands were long, effortlessly reaching for it.

He went to the middle with the flavor list, then snapped his fingers.

"Waiter!"

"We don't have a waiter!" I hissed, rolling my eyes.

"Oh, aren't you?" For the third time, he mistook me for a waiter. I couldn't tell if he was joking or if something was off in his head.

Shaira approached, her smile forced, and whispered to Noah, "Don't bother him!"

"Is it fun to tease? Gets irritated so easily..."

"Who's irritated?" I must've looked like a volcano about to erupt; I don't know why this guy annoys me so much.

"But seriously, not that good-looking."

"Are you talking to me?"

"Not particularly handsome either!"

"I'm not that bad looking!" I yelled back, irritated, even though deep down, I knew he was attractive. I just didn't like that only I seemed to see it.

"You're the only one who said that, Armalite woman..."

"What did you say?"

"Amazing woman, Natasha, calm down, he's a customer," Shaira tried to intervene, but I didn't like the nickname.

I'm not an armalite!

"That's not what I heard..."

"There, there. I'll just take his order," I sighed, trying to calm down. The morning would've been great without this annoying customer.

"Order so he won't transform," Shaira suggested, and I finally managed to calm myself.

Maybe I should forget that night, forget that someone once helped me. If he doesn't remember me, I'll force myself to forget him.

Okay, enough. I sound more heartbroken than Shaira.

I sighed, grabbing the lucky charm vase, placing it on the counter beside the tissues. I bought this vase in Binondo, and it brought luck since I put it in front of the counter.

After arranging it, a new customer arrived. And I can say, he's literally handsome.

"Miguel!" I couldn't help but scream; he smelled amazing. I often saw him at the club, a customer, not interested in women.

"You're handsome! The real handsome one!"

"Tsk!" I heard Noah's voice. I raised an eyebrow and saw him crossing his arms.

"This place is cool," Miguel praised my shop, walking towards Noah, who seemed cooler than my shop.

"I want a cappuccino," he ordered from Shaira, but my friend seemed starstruck.

"Don't stare, Shaira. He wants a cappuccino," I whispered, and before I looked at Miguel again, my eyes met Noah's.

He rolled his eyes, and I don't know why he acts this way towards me, despite being handsome. He should just be grateful for his looks and maybe narrow his eyes more!

They stayed for almost ten minutes; Miguel ordered from Shaira. It's always Shaira who gets noticed; my beauty and sexiness are just extras.

"Tss, who said Patty is ugly?" Noah joined the conversation among my student customers, talking about Shaira. "That kind of face has a future..." I smirked; it's nice to be praised. Shaira is indeed beautiful.

"Your right, I like her e--" Miguel's words were cut off when Noah suddenly interrupted.

Honestly, he's so noisy.

"What!" Miguel rolled his eyes at his friend. Well, I know they're friends. There are five of them, and almost all are Monteclaros. I don't really get along with the two Monteclaros.

"What do you mean you like her?!" Miguel spat out the coffee he was sipping at Noah, who was surprised by his friend's shout.

"Not that totally like, I just want to say that I like her eyes, tsk.." I sighed into the air. He's quite the reactor just because he finds Shaira attractive.

But my friend here has a heart that belongs to Jacob.

"Why did you spill coffee on me?"

"It's that an accident; it's your fault."

"Then you should have clarified right away that you don't like her."

"Then you should have let me finish first."

They were really arguing about that, but Noah seemed annoyed because of the coffee on his shirt.

Suits you right.

"Sh*t.." Noah cursed before standing up, wiping his shirt with tissue before walking towards the counter. He grabbed a tissue but accidentally hit the vase next to the tissue organizer.

I winced and widened my eyes as I saw the lucky charm vase fall to the floor.

It broke, and I almost lost my cool before approaching him.

"I told you this would happen!" If I were a dragon, I might have set him on fire earlier because of anger. "Why are you causing trouble here?"

"Pardon?" Noah raised his eyebrows at what I said. He better not say he still has the energy to be angry in this situation.

"I said, why are you disturbing my shop?"

"I'm not causing trouble; I ordered, didn't you see?" He wiped his uniform with tissue while I composed myself again, looking at him.

But when I thought about my lucky charm, I sighed, sat down, and picked up the pieces of the vase that would never be whole again.

But because it was sharp, I got cut. My finger bled as I stood up.

"D*mn it!" I cursed when pain hit my finger, but nothing hurts more than losing luck in this business.

"Who said you should pick it up?" I was surprised by Noah suddenly raising his voice. "You know you'll get hurt, yet you did it?"

I withdrew my hand, thinking he was concerned, but he suddenly turned his back on me. I hastily raised my hand to slap him.

But because my wound was stinging, all I could do was shout at him.

"It's your fault!" And because of that, the new customer walked out. I closed my eyes because I might not be able to sell anything today due to bad luck.

"If I don't make a sale today, you'll hear from me!"

"What!" Noah couldn't believe what I said.

"You broke my lucky charm! This is lucky; it brings good fortune!"

"Tsk.." he rolled his eyes. Maybe what I said meant nothing to him because he's not like me. Meanwhile, he doesn't need to work hard because his family is already rich.

"I'll buy you a lot of these; do you want me to fill your shop with vases?" I rolled my eyes at his arrogance. "Don't worry; you'll earn double today." I raised an eyebrow, still looking at him with disdain. I still think he won't change.

"Really? Can you sell fifty cups?"

"It's just a small and simple issue for me." He looked at Miguel, who was still sitting, relaxed while finishing his coffee. "He can help me." Miguel looked at him lazily. How can he help him? Do they plan to buy the 50 cups I want?

"I can't help you, sorry." Miguel stood up, about to leave, but Noah grabbed his sleeve.

"You can help me; it's your fault!"

"What's my fault?"

"Whatever, just help me! Come on, let's go over there!"

They left, and I have no idea what they're going to do, but I let them do their thing. In the end, customers overflowed because of Noah's gimmick.

And it annoys me too much.

He's kissing and hugging just to get students to buy here. He's really arrogant and full of himself.

"So, those students really like her, that's why they patiently queue at the counter.

In those few hours, Shaira and I sold not just five hundred, but I don't know how it happened because it's the first time I ran out of stock.

I earned a lot, and the cashier wasn't handling things well due to the money Shaira handed over.

"Do you guys want coffee?" Shaira offered coffee. Miguel shook his head while I waited for Noah's response.

"Passed!" I stared at Noah as he ran his fingers through his hair. He's cool, but I'm still annoyed.

"Can I have a tissue?" Miguel asked, and as he did, I quickly grabbed one and glanced at Noah waiting for me to hand it over.

"Oh, tissue!" I tossed a tissue pack to his thigh, rolled my eyes, and tried to avoid his gaze.

"Are you jealous?" I heard Shaira ask Noah, and before he could answer, I changed my seat. I didn't want to hear his worthless response.

"I'll go first," Miguel said before Shaira went upstairs. She planned to go in, but I convinced her otherwise. If she stays here, her studies will suffer because she's just avoiding Jacob.

I sighed when Miguel's car left. I was thankful he only gave me a nod. In the end, Noah and I were left in the shop in silence. I swallowed because of the quietness. I stood by the door while he sat on the side near me.

"Hey," he stuttered when he spoke. I looked at him without any reaction because I'm still in a bad mood, slightly hard, even.

Okay, you're really stubborn.

"I'm sorry about that. I'll just replace it with a new one," I pouted, slightly tilting my head. Am I being weak?

"I like your stubbornness; that's what you should embroider!" I rolled my eyes again, smiled, and left because I don't know why I feel this way.

I was about to close and lower the gate when I stopped by a hot body behind me.

It's Noah.

He himself handed and effortlessly lowered it. Before he left my back, he apologized again.

"I'm sorry again."

Okay, forgive that weakness."