"Pft."

Papasok na sila sa café nang biglang matawa si Carter. Hindi talaga niya planong tumawa pero hindi na napigilan ng sarili.

"Hm? Ba't ka natawa?"

Umiling lang si Carter at nagpatuloy sa loob. Napanguso si Rook sa hindi pagsagot. He hurriedly caught up to her, desperate to know what's funny.

"Carterr," he almost-whined. "Ano 'yon? Ba't ka natawa?" agad niyang hinawakan ang mukha. "May nakakatawa ba sa mukha ko?"

Carter, who was still amused, immediately frowned. "Ba't napasok mukha mo sa usapan?"

"E kasi tumawa ka!"

"Wala namang nakakatawa sa mukha mo. You look handsome as ever."

Agad nawala ang kakulitan ni Rook dahil tila naging balloon ang puso at utak niya dahil palipad-lipad na ito sa hangin.

"Talaga?" he confirmed with a dumb smile, as if he doesn't mention how handsome he is every week.

Sa tabi nila ay isang café worker na abala sa paglilinis. Ngunit nang marinig ang usapan ay biglang nawala ang mood niya. She's been working for ten hours and she's seriously got enough romantic exposure for the day. It's not like she's bitter (she is) but hearing the same cheesy line for the nth time is just-

Ay. Natigilan siya nang makita ang reaksiyon ng dalawa. They look so awkward, stealing glances and observing each other, that she deduced they're new. Either new lovers or approaching that path.

Hmm. Well, they look cute together so ship niya na lang.

Carter didn't notice the café staff who was smiling and nodding as she passed by them because she was busy staring at Rook.

"Are you really that curious?"

He stopped whispering at himself to purse his lips. "Medyo lang naman." he glanced sideways. "Bakit ka nga ba natawa?"

Now that she's reminded, Carter tried to stopped herself from laughing again. Ayaw niyang sabihin ng malakas kasi... baka mainsulto ang ibang tao na nandoon. 'Saka, siguro hindi naman siya talagang nakakatawa. Carter was just stumped at how direct it is.

"The name of this place." she softly chuckled. "Kapehan. That's clever."

Rook burst out laughing at that, remembering how hilarious it was for them the first time they went here too.

"Right? And Ross was the person who showed us this place. Noong una, akala ko he found the place funny, until we realized that his family owns this place and he's the one who named it." natatawang umiling si Rook. "But then, knowing Ross, being creative in a literal and direct sense is just how he is."

Tumango-tango si Carter. So this is Ross' family business. Probably a small part of it. Remembering how he acted the first time they met, she can visualize him naming this coffee shop with a blank face while everyone's questioning whether he's serious or not.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakaabot sila sa cashier na agad tinanong ang order nila.

"Just a tall strawberry and cream frappe."

Rook glanced at her. "You really like strawberries and cream, don't you? Ito din 'yong ni-story mo no'ng last."

He still remembers that?

Tumango siya. "It's a delicious pair."

"Hm. Do you like sweets?"

Tumango ulit si Carter. It's not really a secret. Besides, she'd take any sweets disguised as a gift.

"May gusto ka bang kainin sa pastries nila?" Rook smiled and pointed at the strawberry slice. "Like that, perhaps?"

Carter's eyes were practically sparkling when she noticed the three small strawberries atop the slice of cake and it was enough answer for Rook.

"Two slices of the strawberry cake too and just my usual, Tara. Wala si Vick dito ngayon?"

"May make-up class siya ngayon. Pero nandito si Raisho kung gusto mo silang makausap."

"Nah. I'm not in the mood for his annoying rambles, today."

Carter stopped drooling when Rook started conversing with the lady on the register. It seemed like they knew each other for a while, with Rook using 'his usual' upon ordering. Although, it's probably not a surprise since this is owned by his friend. Madalas ata siyang pumupunta dito.

What made her curious was the lady's quick glance on her way before saying, "I'll distract him from your side of the café. Ayoko namang masira ang magandang mood mo ngayon."

Natawa si Rook. "Kaya paborito kita dito, Tara!"

"Huwag ka nang mambola," she rolled her eyes. "Anyway, that's four-hundred forty pesos."

Rook whipped up his card just in time for Carter to take her wallet out. He gave it to the lady named 'Tara' without even waiting for her to get the money out. Confused, tinapik niya ang balikat nito.

"Rook..."

"Mm?"

"Akala ko ba hati?" Did she misunderstood the meaning of KKB by any chance?

"You can just treat me next time." he answered with a grin. "Ngayon, huwag na. Nakabayad na ako, e."

"E'di babayaran na lang kita."

"Too much work. Mas convenient kung libre mo na lang next time, 'di ba, bossmam? Para quits, hehe."

Well... it does sound reasonable. Still, Carter can't help but tease.

"You just want to have an excuse to grab coffee with me, don't you?"

The boyish grin did not leave his lips even as his cheeks slightly flushed. "Bistado na ba?"

"Possibly. If you want to hang out, you can just tell me though. I won't deny you. Since... nagkita naman na tayo personally."

Rook maintained his cool facade even as his grip on the register counter tightened. He challenged Carter's teasing stare. As if having her within his proximity is not enough, she has the audacity to show hidden soft smiles that makes his mind go blank.

His fast-beating heart only slowed down when someone behind them spoke.

"Tapos na ba kayo mag-order? May pila pala. Baka pwedeng tumabi."