Trying something out here, stay with me, or don't idc.

Love, Mahina hated that word. It drove her mad how that was all anyone would talk about. Where ever you when you'd hear people talking about there most recent tally and who they thought it was.

It disgusted her.

Sure she might just be bitter that she had never gotten one, but she was still allowed to be bitter, there was no law against it.

Mahina sighed, trying to get rid of the hatred building in her gut at the thought. She decided a coffee was what she needed to calm herself.

She walked into the small shop at the end of the street and got in line to order, planning what she'd say will waiting.

"I can take the next customer over here!"

Mahina heard what the cashier said but couldn't respond. She felt stuck, and all she could do was stare as her body moved on its own to the gorgeous cashier.

"What can I get for you?" Her voice was high pitched and sweet like syrup, filling Mahina's brain and refusing to leave.

"Can I get a small iced vanilla latte to go please?" Her name was Araw, it was unique, Mahina loved it.

"Oh course cutie~" Araw walked to the back and started getting Mahina's drink. Araw was interested in the newcomer. She wanted to get to know here more, she was determined to.

'Oh god, I can't do this, I can't fall in-' Mahina shook her head, trying to get the thought out of her head. She won't let it happen so easily.

"Here's your coffee Ms...." Mahina stumbled on what to say, she wasn't prepared to answer this

"Marinara.... I-I mean Mahina! My names Mahina!" Araw chuckled, this 'Mahina' was too cute for her own good.

"Well, here's your coffee ma'am, feel free to come again!" Mahina nodded and walked outside the coffee shop, practically melting from the cute cashier.

'Oh god, please don't be a mark, don't be a mark'. Mahina looked at her wrist. There wasn't a line. She breathed a sign of relief and took a sip of the coffee.

The coffee was amazing. She turned it around in her hands, looking for the shops logo when she saw the writing on the cup.

"***-***-**** Call me if you wanna meet up~" Mahina smiled at the thought of seeing Araw again.

She might just call the number.

*****************

It had been 3 months since Mahina went to Carina's Coffee for the first time, and she was now a patron of the small cafe. She'd go every morning for a vanilla latte and a pleasant conversation with Araw.

Araw had gotten to know the smaller woman a lot since there first meeting, like how her hair was dirty blond, not brown, or how her favorite book series was The selection by Kerala Cass, and that Mahina had never gotten a tally mark.

Araw was quite the opposite, she had 13 tallies at the time of there meeting and now has 14 that she proudly shows to the world. She had only ever been in one relationship and it ended because Araw moving to a different city, but it was fun while it lasted.

Mahina was happy she meet Araw and even considered her a friend now, though she sometimes wished for more.

Mahina was contemplating what she'd talk to Araw about at the shop that morning when she felt a slight tingling on her forearm.

She immediately looked at her arm and saw the one thing that she was dreading to find. A tally mark. A black tally mark.

Mahina managed to remain calm during the walk to the coffee shop, but was starting to get extremely anxious when she reached its front door's.

Maybe if she was lucky, Araw wouldn't be there today, and she could get her coffee in peace. Maybe was thrown out the window when Araw opened the door for Mahina to walk through.

"Heya La'Luna~ Hows the prettiest girl in town doin?" Mahina was flustered but responded in the usual sarcastic manner that the too had created.

"I don't know Araw, how are you doin?" She flirted back, oh no, this isn't good. Was Mahina on to Araw's advances? Did she realize that she had fallen for the short temperamental girl? Had she-

" So Araw, I was wondering if you were free this Saturday?" Araw froze. She resisted the urge to look at her wrist.

Araw knew the feeling of a new mark all too well, she knew that because she had gotten the mark first she wouldn't feel it change color.

"Ya, I'm free." Mahina wan't prepared. She wan't expecting Araw to say yes to her, but then again if her hunch was correct-

"So, do you wanna go to the movies? We could go bowling after." Both Araw and Mahina were silent.

"We, we could just hangout, if you don't wanna-" Mahina cut Araw off with a quick 'yes'.

"Bowling sounds nice." Araw smiled, she couldn't believe she was this lucky.

"I'll pick you up at 5:30 then." The small blond chirped, eager to retreat from the shop so she could let out the emotions building inside her.

Araw nodded in response and bid the woman a farewell, confused at the fact that she hadn't ordered a coffee before leaving the shop.

Mahina was beginning to think that the tallies weren't all that bad.

Sorry, this took longer then expected and I'm happy that I have it out now at the very least. Hope you enjoy, until next time, Sabor out!!!
Word count: 936