Go, August, Go! FS2 ENGLISH

six: proposal

Setting foot on the threshold of the coffee shop was like stepping into the territory of an enemy unarmed. My heart was pounding like it never had been before. I was breathless and my body stiff. Standing by the door, I clutched the books around my chest and looked around for a particular frame and face. August was nowhere. Five minutes and he wasn't emerging from the kitchen.

"Excuse me," a guy's voice from behind startled me. I quickly moved to the side to let him pass. A student from some school nearby. He walked past me and went to the counter. That was also when I noticed that the same man and the lady working there were already watching me oddly.

I cleared my throat and forced my feet towards the vacant seat on the corner. It was the same table from the other day. My pace quickened as the newcomer guy was about to go there. I got the table before him. His eyes were wide so I smiled and put the books down and my bag, leaving him to find a new seat to order my drinks.

The lady smiled at me from behind the counter. I smiled back and glanced back at my table to ensure the boy didn't take the chair across from mine. I really wanted to have the table by myself. Gladly, there were more empty seats and he found his place somewhere else.

"Venti Vanilla Bean Frappuccino," I smiled at the lady.

"No cream," the guy who was working on the machine turned at us with a smile.

I was truly surprised and my lips parted. His wide smile gradually faded but before that, I nodded at him.

"Uh, yeah," I nodded at the lady. "I'll be studying my lessons here so please add a blueberry cheesecake. Thank you." After writing my name on the cup, I was about to turn around when I remembered something. Their eyes were expectantly on me.

They were naturally attentive to the customers but it was apparent they were extra aware of my presence. I could tell August told them nothing about me. It could be because of the scene yesterday. Or my odd questioning, which I wasn't done for yet.

"Can I… get your names? You see, I really like this place and I want to be a regular so… Of course, you don't have to if—"

Both of them reached out from the counter and showed me a black plaque with a gold imprint of their names: Wax and Lauren. I blinked at the huge smiles on their faces.

"We have them but we were told last week to keep them until we're allowed to wear them again. Some customers here already know our name but since you're a new customer and you're asking, I guess it's fine to tell you?" Wax eagerly informed me. He must have noticed my confusion. But he got the wrong reason.

I nodded and stayed my gaze at Lauren who also had a warm smile but was not as elated as Wax. "What about the name Bree?" I glanced past their shoulder and to the intricate design of the name on the wall. "Uh… that's someone else's name, right? Or you chose it because it meant 'God's bravest woman'?... Just as you said," I glanced at Wax and went back to Lauren again. "Are you the brave woman?"

Their smiles faded as innocent confusion took over their expression. They turned to each other askance but none seemed to understand my constant questioning.

I cleared my throat as I paid for my orders. Shifting on my side as I nervously tucked strands of hair behind my ear. Lauren processed my parents while Wax stayed stunned.

"Nevermind. It's just my curiosity. I'll go back to my seat, then. Thank you!" Lauren returned my card. Without waiting for their response, I went to my table and pinched my fingertips. Am I making a fool out of myself again? My inquisition to know more about August might make these people assume I'm ridiculous.

Who walked around at a new coffee shop for two consecutive days and asked them questions about the shop and now, even their names? Regular customers usually just learned that after a few visits, or when they became regulars.

I sighed and pulled the chair across from mine out. Bringing it to the other table so that no one could sit next to me. The boy from earlier noticed. I shrugged and moved on with my business. Perching on my chair, I opened a book of Business Management (SL) first. I was never the type who purposely worked for advanced lessons unless my parents and the tutor agreed with it. I rarely worked hard to be far ahead of the rest. I liked the thrill of learning everything spontaneously. The downside was… I was not a fast learner. I think it aligned with the fact that I was not a grade-conscious student. I wasn't brilliant, nor was I stupid. I just don't understand the competition around the school. I gave up on it without even trying.

So I brought the books from the previous semester. The two were merely reviewers. It should be easy for me now to review and comprehend them. Dad told me the new tutor would focus more on my failed tests since I am retaking them, while he strictly warned me to focus on my present lessons in class so the tutor and I could focus on the previous semester's lessons alone.

I read the first sentence in my head: The role of business is to combine human, physical and financial resources to create goods and services.

I brought out a notepad from my bag so I could jot down important notes. I remembered most details but their definition hardly retained in my mind. I should work on them for the test.

"Your order, Miss Rox," Wax stood in front of me with the tray of my order. My eyes widened at him. I glanced behind him to see Lauren accommodating the customers.

"Oh!" I muttered apologetically while he put down the drink and the plate of cake with the tablespoon.

"We called you but you're busy." He smiled. "How were you yesterday? You ruined your uniform." He glanced at my clothes after setting everything on the table. The tray was in front of him and against his chest.

I blinked. "It's… I'm fine. I'm sorry for the mess I left on the floor yesterday."

"It's nothing." He shook his head like it was indeed not a big deal to him.

A reluctant smile crept on my lips. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you… I guess, I'm busy." I frowned. Did I just become engrossed in reading a book? These people might assume I'm smart or studious studying here in public. Little did they know, I was failing badly, and I needed to make up for it.

"Don't worry; my voice wasn't loud so I understand that you didn't hear it." He leaned in a bit to whisper the words and gave me an 'okay' sign with his thumb before playfully blinking one eye.

My smile came out naturally. "Thank you."

He straightened his body and nodded. "Study well." And he turned around.

I watched him dumbfounded. Was it part of their work to be too friendly and kind? Or was it natural? How could they act so comfortably with a total stranger?

August's face when we first met flashed in my mind. He seemed… kind, too. It was expected for him as part of his job, I guess. He was welcoming to his co-workers and customers, too. It could be natural, but then… I was a customer yesterday, and yet…

I shook my head and returned my attention to the book and my notes. Do I really expect him to be kind and welcoming to me after what I did? I would despise anyone who dared put me in that situation. Why was it difficult to understand his hatred for me?

As countries become more developed, they move towards secondary sectors, and

eventually tertiary and quaternary sectors.

It was a miracle that I was reading a book for the longest time by myself. It had been almost an hour when I lifted my eyes off the book and the few notes. I enjoyed reading more than taking notes. Although I understood what I just read, I would still be needing to add more on my notes that would indeed appear on the exam. Sometimes, it wasn't enough that I understood the lesson. I had to memorize questions and the answers to make sure I would get the proper result on the test.

"Can I get a glass of water, please—" I nearly got choked with the words stuck in my throat when my eyes met with August's cold ocean orbs. I felt the chill on my skin again. He was standing behind the counter. Wax and Lauren were with him but they were busy, too.

I didn't expect him to be there—I mean, it was expected, yes, since he worked here, but I had forgotten about it until I saw him again. I had no idea he was here! Since when? For how long? Did he see me at my table? Did he watch me approach the counter only to be startled by his presence?

Wax and Lauren noticed nothing odd. They clearly knew nothing, although it was evident in his eyes that he wanted to drag me out of the shop. He warned me anyway. But I didn't give him a promise.

"I heard you asked for water?" Wax stood next to him and handed me a glass of cold water.

I meant lukewarm since I was already feeling cold but I could not say a word with August glaring at me. I cleared his throat as my hands trembled when I reached for the glass. Wax glanced at him with an innocent smile, unaware of his co-worker's indifference to me. When August noticed his close intrusion, he looked away to watch my hands on the glass but didn't leave the counter.

He wasn't telling them anything. It would be easy for me to pretend like it was nothing no matter how rigid the atmosphere between us was. Besides, with that look, I was afraid he would actually throw me out if I dared say a word. I could almost hear his threat from yesterday ringing in my head, demanding me to leave.

But instead, I turned around and went back to my seat, muttering a low 'thank you' at Wax. It was time for me to go home, anyway—nothing registered in my head when I tried reading again. Earlier, I thought I was cold beneath my school uniform because of the air-conditioned just behind me, plus my cold drinks. Going back to my seat, I realized that was not the reason.

It was the pair of dagger eyes piercing my soul. I couldn't even move a muscle! I had to count up to twenty before peeking at the counter under my lashes and almost fell on my chair when our eyes met! He didn't leave his spot!

He was supposed to be working, was he not?

I looked away instantly and reached out for the glass of water. I turned on my side and finished it halfway, only for my knees to wobble with the cold.

When I turned to them again, Lauren said something to him about the screen in front of her. He broke his eyes off me to attend to her, and before it shifted back to me, I peeled my eyes away.

Had I not noticed our car pulling from the distant driveway, I had no idea how I would be able to leave the place. I quickly returned my notes and pen to my bag, phone, and wallet and piled the book. My bag was on my shoulder as I hugged the books in front of me. I kept my eyes on the floor when I left my table. But halted in the middle and front of the counter when Wax exclaimed: "Thank you for coming!"

Without properly looking at him, I tipped my chin and forced a smile on the floor, knowing August was watching me. To make the situation worse, I struggled to open the door. Someone had to open it for me.

"Thank—" It was August. He towered over me, and his scent got mixed up with the fragrance of the flowers.

He followed me. I moved a little on the side so that Wax and Lauren wouldn't see us.

"Why are you here again?" he asked through gritted teeth. "I warned you—"

"I wanted to talk to you—"

"What else—"

"I have a proposal," I cut through his anger and bravely looked him straight in the eye. "It could…" I trailed off as his eyes narrowed. "Hear it out first, okay? It's…"

Randy stepped out of the car as I took longer. I knew he saw me come out and now talking to August. He couldn't see him as his back was on me. I would be doomed if he recognized him and once Sandro realized why I was coming back here.

"What is it?" August demanded disinterestedly. He was impatient. I could tell he only wanted to hear it so he could push me away. So that I would have no reason to come back again.

Randy was walking towards us through my peripheral view. I pursed my lips and sighed. August noticed my unfocused eyes. He saw Randy but Randy didn't see him as he looked around the place. I moved to my left until I was in front of the glass door. As expected, August's eyes went back to me.

"I have to go now. I'll—"

He grabbed my arm and dragged me closer to him and on the side. Mild musky scent and brewed coffee. That was his scent. It was intoxicating with the proximity. My eyes grew wide at him. His hand quickly let go of me before I could distinguish whether his fingers were calloused or soft. Someone stepped out of the door that almost hit me.

Unfazed, I continued in a rush. "I'll tell you later. My guard is here." I finished circling him before walking past him. I did it so that Randy wouldn't recognize him with his back. He strode towards him. He was curiously watching my back so I walked past him, too.

"Let's go, Randy. I need to prepare for dinner," I told him through gritted teeth. It was enough to keep him moving and together we went to the car. I was breathless the entire drive until we pulled out in front of the house's circular driveway.

Why does that August always have to send me home scared to death? I'm trying to make amends, okay? Why…

"We're here, Miss Roxette," Randy informed me as I stayed in the car. His eyes followed my hand that was absentmindedly caressing the part where August had touched me. My uniform was long-sleeved. Of course, I wouldn't feel his touch underneath.

But I did feel as though he burnt my skin. I even had to lift the sleeve but found nothing odd.