Francis looked up at the sky, loving how the sun was trying to peek out of the pile of clouds. Almost as if it was trying to say ‘Fear not, I’m still here!’ He made a mental note of that, and smiled to himself. Maybe a short story about the sun would be a good mental exercise for tonight. Although he’s been writing nonstop this whole week, leading him to staying up ‘til the late hours. Oh, well, another night wouldn’t hurt, right?

He looked at his parked motorcycle one last time, and gave himself a thumbs up to hype himself. Without looking back, he opened the door to Buns & Beans, the bell jingling to indicate he had arrived. This coffee shop was fairly new, and it was quaint and cozy with only one floor. Almost like a country cottage of sorts. He found himself liking it. There were tables of different sizes, and the chairs were never the same. Was this intentional? It could be. The color theme was pinks and browns, with hints of silver, reminding him of candies.

With at least two customers— now three including him— in sight, he figured this must be after the rush hour (lunch time). The two baristas greeted him when he walked by, though one of them had her eyes on him when he gave the menu a glance. Drinks and sandwiches were on there, but none really called out to him. When he made it clear that he wasn’t going to order, she left him alone.

He looked down at the paper at hand, a flyer announcing that help was wanted in this coffee shop, and looked back up to his surroundings. Here’s to hoping he could get the job. But first, he wanted to snoop around and see where things were. There was a full length mirror near the restroom, and Francis stopped and stared at himself. Surely, he looked okay for today.

His shoulder length black hair— layered and tied up into a half ponytail— looked tidy enough, and his brown eyes twinkled with determination. While he had eyebags, he mentally applauded himself for not looking like the dead. His baggy jeans were folded at the ends, and his cream colored dress shirt (a must for their baristas, according to the coffee shop’s hiring post) was loose, showing his black shirt underneath. His red converse looked worn out, but that was fine, right?

“Spanish Latte for Aki?” The barista announced.

Someone made their way to the counter to retrieve their order, and Francis watched at how both the customer and the barista interacted. Something seemed to be happening after the customer named Aki tried to spell a request out. This made the barista fumble over her words. Whatever for? This made Francis join in the scenario.

“Is something wrong?” He asked as he pocketed the flyer.

“Hello.” Aki looked over at him. “I was just, uhm, asking something.”

“Which is what, if I may ask?”

“If she could elevate my coffee a bit.”

“Oh! I’m sure she can, right, miss?” Francis then looked at the barista.

“I can try? Although I’m—” She then continued to mumble her words, sheepishly looking anywhere but Aki’s face. Both Francis and the customer shared a confused look, then leaned forward to hear her properly.

“But if it’s too much trouble, then you don’t have to…” Aki lowered his head and looked down at his coffee. “Sorry about this.”

“No, no, I’m sure she can do it for you.” Francis encouraged, putting an end to the barista trying to form her words. She looked thankful for that.

“I’m sure she will, but I also don’t want the taste of my coffee to change too much. What would you recommend, miss?”

“There are different ways to elevate the, er, coffee.” The barista said this while staring at his mushroom beanie.

Was eye contact a sin? 

It was a bit funny to see this, what more when the woman was bigger and taller than Aki. She could easily overpower him like a bear if she wanted to, but something seemed to reduce her into a shy mouse in front of him. Francis watched how the barista glanced at Aki’s face when he wasn’t looking at her, and he decided then and there that this must be love at first sight. Cupid definitely came through and shot his arrow right through her heart without warning! Would love bloom in this coffee shop? Maybe there was magic in the air right now with how lovestruck the barista looked.

“Would it be okay if she adds a dash of cinnamon on your Spanish Latte?” Francis asked, gesturing his hand as he did so. He might as well help her.

Aki smiled at that. “Yes, please.”

“Thank you.” The barista mouthed at Francis as she took back Aki’s order to do as what was suggested.

Aki bowed his head at him as thanks, and Francis went on his way to the cashier. It was time to stop dilly dallying, and get to it. Now that he knew he sounded fine and not like a man who pulled an all-nighter, he opened his mouth to speak up again. Though he was beaten to it.

“What can I get for you?” The other barista asked.

Francis smiled at that. “Actually, I’m here because,” he took out the flyer once more, “of this. Are you guys still hiring?”

Both baristas shared a look with a smile, before the man took charge. Just like that, Francis was told to wait by the table before the interview could start.

***

Francis can already hear his older sister complaining as soon as she finds out what he has done. Sure, their family business was running the Knead Bread? bakery, but did he want to work there? Get a position so easily just because he was their son? No, he wanted to get a job on his own. Even if it meant his sister would give him an earful about his decision. If he couldn’t get a job here, then he’d go and find another place.

He imagined himself a mercenary trying to go rogue, and his sister being a knight who followed the family tradition. If she was here right now, they’d be clashing swords and exchanging insults like a bunch of hooligans. It was best she never found out about this, and maybe even his parents as well. He didn’t want to start drama at home, but he also didn’t want to think of this. So he opted for his eyes to wander.

There was chatter in the coffee shop with customers coming in despite the place being almost empty just moments ago. The barista behind the counter worked double time. Might be because the other barista was seated with him on the table closest to the counter. Francis noted it was just these two who worked here, hence why they were hiring.

The barista who was interviewing him— and, boy, did he have such an odd name— tapped his finger on the table as he read through the resume the second time. Did he find something odd? Was the resume ugly? Or did Francis answer a question wrong? So many questions piled up in his head, and the silence from the barista wasn’t helping.

“Francis Castillo.” The barista finally said.

Francis coughed to clear his voice. “Yes, sir.”

“Don’t call me sir.”

“Okay, sir.”

He raised a brow at Francis, but said nothing for a few seconds as his eyes trailed back on the resume. And when he did speak up again, his voice was a tad bit more serious. “Why do you want this job?” 

Francis smiled at him, then at the tag he had on his apron. His name was You, and he wasn’t sure if it was real or not. “Because I need the money.”

You only stared at him, but the other barista laughed.

“Besides the money, I’m hoping to get some hands-on experience working with customers. I make a mean coffee too, promise.”

You leaned back on his seat, his blue eyes never once leaving Francis. Almost as if he was trying to figure him out, so Francis did the same. You wore a long sleeve black turtleneck underneath his cream dress shirt, and his pants and boots were black as well. His right ear had two earrings, while his left had none. His blond hair, which was pushed back, was styled in a way that came off as messy but neat all in one. Francis wanted to ask him if he did his hair every morning, but held back his tongue. 

They weren’t close… Yet, at least.

“Don’t we all need money.” The other barista agreed as she made another coffee order. 

“Hear, hear!” Francis chuckled.

“I say we should hire him, You!”

This one, the big woman, had her short hair dyed orange and tied up into two buns. Her brown eyes sparkled in a way that made it look like she belonged in a fairytale. She wore a choker around her neck, and didn’t fold the sleeves of her dress shirt like You. Although she seemed to have paired it up with wide orange slacks. Something about her overall appearance made her look easy to talk to, what more with her smiles. Though this was quick to turn into a frown the moment You opened his mouth.

“Hey, no, this is why I’m in charge of the interviews.” You grumbled, waving the resume at her.

“At some point, you’re going to have to trust me, you know?” The woman pouted, hands on her hips and everything.

“Please, you’ll hire just about anyone!”

“No, no! I swear I have a good feeling about this guy.”

“Lala, you can’t just hire someone willy nilly.”

“It’s not willy nilly. It’s called trusting your gut!” Lala stuck her tongue out at him. This, in turn, made her almost drop a mug, but that was enough for You to scold her again.

Francis watched them then, seeing how these two were not only coworkers, but friends as well. They had this easy banter going on, and so who was he to stop them from talking? Though he wondered why Lala couldn’t be like this with Aki earlier. Now that the customer was gone, she was bubbly and chatty. If it really was love at first sight, maybe she was the type to go speechless around her crush.

“If I may suggest,” Francis raised his hand, stopping the two, “why don’t you hire me on a test run? See if I’m fit for the job or not.”

Both You and Lala stared at him for a second, before turning to each other once more.

“I think that’s a good idea.” Lala finally said, nodding her head.

Francis hoped You would agree to it too. Already, he liked the vibes of the coffee shop, and he could even see himself working here. It was only a matter of getting hired before his sister found out about his plan. So when You shifted his eyes back on him, he smiled the most polite one he could muster. It didn’t take long until he heard the question he hoped he’d hear.

“How soon can you start?”