A calm tune echoes throughout the quaint little bedroom. Miguel slowly opens his eyes to the sweet and diabetic music, his preferred way of waking up. The few people who have heard his wake-up call found it very odd he can wake up to such serene tunes, comparing it to their own which is just a blast of cacophonous bells and sirens. He sat upright, letting the grogginess wear off a bit before he goes about his day. Rubbing his eyes until most of the crustiness is gone, he stood up, stretched for a bit, and prepared to groom himself before opening up for the day. A quick shower, a light breakfast, a simple white long-sleeve shirt, some black slacks complimented with the black shoes he has worn for the past 10 years, and a positive go-getter attitude makes him ready for the day. Miguel headed out of his small apartment, turning the doorknob a few times to make sure it’s locked. Now he believed he is ready to head to his café, his large, concrete baby.

While taking several sprightly jigs, Miguel could not stop thinking about his first customer, a tall, slender young man who ordered 6 cups of cappuccino. The man was not buzzed at all by the caffeine he was drinking, much to Miguel’s surprise.

“Wonder if he’ll come again,” Miguel rubbed the back of his nape, “Maybe it was just a one-time thing. He just said that so I won’t feel bad.” The man shook his head and shrugged, emptying his mind before it goes to a place of endless negativity. Instead, he continued his confident strides, before walking normally realizing he might have looked strange.

A few more steps and he has finally reached his destination. No matter how many times he looked at the brick-laden façade of his establishment, he has never been sick of it. And, how can he be sick of it, when immediately, there are two people waiting in front of the café, one of which was a familiar face; the man from yesterday.

“Good morning! How may I help you?” Miguel waved.

“Ah, hey there! Miguel was it?” The man said.

“Yes. How did you know my name?”

The man pointed at the sign that said ‘Miguel’, “I just assumed.”

“Oh, right.” Miguel laughed awkwardly, forgetting for a moment that his café aptly has the same name as him.

“Anyway, me and my friend are here to get first servings, right before our class.” A smartly-dressed girl waved from behind.

“Oh, you two are in college now are you?” Miguel headed to the door and unlocked it, holding it open for the both of them, gesturing a welcome, “Wouldn’t want you to be late now, would we?”

The two headed inside and took their seats next to the counter. Miguel handed the two their menus, hovering with anticipation.

“Hmm,” the girl looked over to her friend and said, “Hey Joseph, what are you having?”

“I’m thinking the mushroom omelette and a cappuccino,” the man, Joseph, said, lowering his menu to look at the girl, “How about you?”

“I think I’ll have an omelette too, but with ham and cheese instead.” The girl said, pondering a few seconds before deciding. “Yep, ham-and-cheese omelette for me please. Great choice for breakfast don’t you think, Miguel?”

Miguel nodded in affirmation, repeating their orders. Once everything has been rechecked by the customers, Miguel set out behind his counter to work on their orders.

“You’ll want to watch this,” Joseph whispered to his friend. “It’s pretty amazing.”

Miguel, slightly powered-up by the overheard compliment, cracked four eggs in one swift motion, dropping its contents into a bowl. He whisked the eggs briskly, careful as not to overbeat the egg. Setting the bowl aside, he brought out the fillings for the omelette, slicing the mushrooms and ham with precision and finesse, and grating the cheese with grace. Finally, he stands in front of the stove, ready to cook the ingredients on a gentle-flame.

“Isn’t it amazing?” Joseph said.

“Yeah,” the girl replied, “I thought you were lying because you suck at making food, so anyone cooking would look amazing.”

Joseph gave the girl a playful dig on the arm, “Shut up Celine.”

“But yeah,” Celine replied, rubbing her arm that got victimized by her friend, “He is pretty graceful.”

A few moments later, the Miguel brings the duo their orders, carefully setting the plates down.

“Your order is ready, hopefully you’ll enjoy it.” Miguel stuttered, obviously still a bit flustered.

The two nod their heads and took their first bites.

“Oh my god,” Celine said, “This is good!”

“You’re right,” Joseph said, or atleast that’s what everyone thinks he said, if his face wasn’t filled with egg.

“Nasty” Celine said, wiping a bit of chewed-egg out of her arm.

“But you’re right,” Joseph smiled, “With something simple as this being this good, I can’t imagine how more complex dishes will taste.”

“Really?” Celine questioned, “Does it really work that way?”

“No,” Joseph looked at where the large man was standing, “But I can believe in Miguel over here, right?”

Miguel froze at the compliment, touching his pointer fingers together out of embarrassment.

“Aww, look, you made him all red,” Celine reprimanded, “Look at him, you’re making him uncomfortable.”

“Not at all!” Miguel replied, “In fact, I’m very happy that you like what I prepared.”

“Is that so?” Celine smiled, pointing her fork at the dish “Well in any case, this is good. The egg turned out fluffy, the ham is well cooked, and the cheese is all-melted. Is this the cheap-brand you could see and get anywhere?”

“I wouldn't call it cheap, but yes.” Miguel affirmed.

“-and you made it taste expensive. Amazing!” Celine finished, putting a bite of the omelette in her mouth. “Can’t wait to tell our friends about this place later!”

“I’d like that” Miguel smiled.

A few moments later, the two were finished with their eggs, fully satisfied. A few exchanges between the friends, some debating, and a pinch of anger, Joseph and Celine were finally able to calculate the split between their bill. Joseph stands up and heads to the cashier to pay. Miguel rings up their order to complete their transaction.

“Say,” Joseph, with his wandering eyes catching something, pointed at the receipt on the refrigerator. “Why’s my receipt posted up? Did I do something wrong?”

“Oh, no. I was just super happy that I had my first customer, you, yesterday.” Miguel explained. "I have to thank you, to be honest, you saved my day from being horrible. I'm really glad you liked my coffee."

“I see,” Joseph laughed, with a tinge of relief, “You’re quite adorable, aren’t you?”

Miguel froze over.

"Adorable?" he thought.

“At any rate, we should get going, me and Celine have a class to catch. We’ll come back!”, Joseph said cheerfully. Turning around, looking at his friend, who has both hands over her mouth out of shock. “What’s wrong with you?”

Celine shook her head, trying to stifle a giggle all the way, “Nothing, let’s go!”

And so they did. The two headed out for the door, with Joseph waving through the window, and Celine still smiling ear-to-ear, looking at her friend, obviously wanting to tease him, but waiting until the moment is right, like some predator wanting to maul a defenseless animal.

Miguel waved back with an empty gaze directed at no one. After the two were out of sight, Miguel slumped over the counter, plopping his face downward feeling an intense amount of heat all over his face countering the cold surface of the cash register. He let out a squeal crossed with a tiny scream, which seemed impossible to come out of a man of his build, accompanied by the ding of the machine, with the cash tray hitting him in the gut.

“He called me adorable.” Miguel stammered out of embarrassment and a little bit of pain.