Chapter 8
Aiah arrived at Beanie Cafe a full 20 minutes before 3 PM. She didn’t want to be late—especially not for something like this. The last thing she needed was to keep Stacey waiting again and risk making another bad impression. She took a deep breath, relieved that she’d made it on time, and quickly pulled out her phone to send a message to Stacey.
"I'm here."
After sending the message, she placed her phone down on the table and pulled out her notebook. She flipped it open, the familiar pages offering a bit of comfort as she began to jot down some topics they could include in their reporting. She tried to focus on the task at hand, knowing that whatever awkwardness might come with working together, they still had to get the job done.
With only five minutes left until 3 PM, Aiah checked her phone again. She noticed that Stacey had already seen her message. Aiah felt a slight flutter of nerves in her stomach, but she tried to push it away, focusing instead on the notes she was writing down.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a sleek pink Lamborghini pull up outside the cafe. She didn’t even need to guess—it was unmistakably Stacey’s. Aiah didn’t feel surprised anymore. Over the past few months, she had gotten used to the idea that Stacey had this life—glamorous, effortlessly stylish, and a little out of reach.
She watched as Stacey stepped out of the car, her movements slow and deliberate, almost like she was in slow motion in Aiah’s eyes. Stacey was wearing a cute skirt and a pink top that hugged her figure perfectly. Everything about her seemed to glow, from the confident stride to the way the sunlight caught her hair, making it shine.
Aiah couldn’t help but ask herself, Why is she so beautiful right now? Mukha siyang anghel na bumaba sa lupa. The thought came unbidden, but it stayed with her. Stacey looked effortlessly perfect—too perfect—and it made Aiah feel both a little awe-struck and self-conscious.
She quickly looked down at her notes, trying to distract herself, but her mind kept drifting back to the image of Stacey stepping out of the car. She knew they needed to focus on the task at hand, but for some reason, everything about the moment felt charged, like the air was filled with unspoken things.
Aiah couldn’t figure out why it was suddenly so hard to ignore Stacey’s presence.
Aiah didn’t lift her eyes from her notebook until she could feel Stacey’s presence right in front of her. The moment she sensed her approaching, her heart skipped a beat. The silence in the cafe only made everything feel more intense—more awkward. It was the first time it was just the two of them alone, and Aiah wasn’t sure how to break the ice.
Stacey sat down across from her, her movements calm, but there was a slight tension in the air. Aiah could feel her own pulse quicken, the words stuck in her throat.
“Sorry if I kept you waiting,” Stacey said, her voice smooth and gentle, though her expression was more neutral than Aiah had expected. She wasn’t smiling, but her tone wasn’t cold either.
Aiah quickly shook her head, trying to make the moment feel less awkward. “It’s okay, hindi pa naman ako matagal dito. Besides, ang ganda pala dito.” She gestured around the cafe, trying to make small talk.
Stacey nodded, her eyes softening just a little as she glanced around. “Yeah, I used to be here palagi every after shoot,” she said, her voice holding a hint of nostalgia.
Aiah nodded, silently impressed. It made sense that Stacey would have a place like this to unwind after long shoots. The vibe of the cafe was calm, with its cozy atmosphere, dim lighting, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the air. It was exactly the kind of place Stacey would come to relax after work, Aiah thought.
The silence lingered for a moment before Aiah cleared her throat and tried to focus back on their task. “So, about the report...” she began, but her voice faltered for a second. She couldn't help but wonder if Stacey noticed how nervous she felt.
“Let’s order first before talking regarding the report,” Stacey suggested, her tone a bit more casual now. Aiah nodded, grateful for the small shift in energy. The last thing she wanted was for the conversation to be strictly business right away.
Stacey raised her hand, signaling the waitress, who quickly approached their table. “Can I have 1 tall matcha with coconut milk and an Alfredo pasta, please? How about you?” she asked, turning to Aiah with a gentle smile.
"Uh, I’ll have a caramel macchiato, please, and maybe just a sandwich," Aiah replied, her voice a little quieter than she meant.
“So let’s make this quick lang,” Stacey said, her tone casual but efficient. “I think it’s much better na mag-focus ka sa globalization, then ako naman sa modernization. Tapos gawa nalang tayo ng PowerPoint for both.”
Aiah blinked, momentarily taken aback. She hadn’t expected Stacey to suggest something so straightforward. It almost felt like she was taking charge of the project. While Aiah was impressed by Stacey's decisiveness, the idea didn’t sit right with her.
“Errr, I think it’s much better na magkasama natin gagawin ‘yung PowerPoint,” Aiah said, her voice hesitant but firm. She didn’t want to seem like she was disagreeing just for the sake of it, but something about Stacey’s plan felt off to her. “Para mas coordinated lahat ng sasabihin natin sa report.”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, not wanting to come off too strong, but she couldn’t help how she felt. If they did it separately, it might lead to two very different approaches, and she wasn’t sure if they’d blend well. It wasn’t that Aiah didn’t trust Stacey—she just felt that teamwork, in this case, was crucial.
Stacey tilted her head slightly, studying Aiah for a moment. “Hmm, okay, I see your point,” she said, her tone thoughtful.
Aiah nodded, relieved that they were getting somewhere with their plans. But before she could respond, Stacey’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Pero hindi magkakatugma ang sched natin, Aiah,” Stacey said, her tone a little apologetic but still practical. “I have shoots lined up this week, and I’m not sure kung kailan tayo pwede mag-meet.”
Aiah felt a slight pang of disappointment, but she kept her expression neutral, not wanting to show it. She had hoped they could work together on everything, but it seemed like scheduling was going to be another hurdle.
When they order came, She took a sip of her caramel macchiato to give herself a moment to think,. “Hmm, okay... then how about we split up the PowerPoint work for now? I can finish my part of globalization, and you can focus on modernization. After that, we can meet and combine everything. Make sure it flows.”
Stacey looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. “That could work,” she agreed. “We just have to make sure we’re in touch about what we’re doing. I don’t want to end up with a mismatch.”
Aiah smiled a little, relieved that Stacey was still on board despite the scheduling conflict. “Yeah, I’ll message you if I need anything,” she said, feeling a little more confident now. “We can always do a quick call or chat if something doesn’t feel right with the slides.”
“Perfect,” Stacey replied, her tone lightening. “We’ll make this work. I’ll try to free up some time this weekend for us to review everything together.”
Aiah nodded, feeling more at ease now that they had a plan in place, despite the challenges. “Alright. Thanks for being flexible about this.”
A heavy silence settled between them, both of them unsure of how to bridge the gap. Aiah felt the weight of the quiet, wondering if Stacey was thinking the same things she was. She wanted to ask about that strange look Stacey had given her during the pageant, the one that had lingered in her mind for days. But she quickly brushed the thought aside. It’s probably nothing, she told herself. If I ask, she'll think I’m trying to get too personal.
Instead, she let the silence stretch, until it became a little too thick to ignore.
“Mag-gabi na pala,” Aiah said, finally breaking the quiet, her voice a little softer than usual. It wasn’t an awkward attempt at small talk—it was just something to fill the space between them.
Stacey looked up from her phone, where she’d been quietly checking her messages. “Ah, yeah,” she replied, blinking as if she’d been snapped back to reality. “We’re done for now, right?”
Aiah nodded, standing up from her seat and slipping her notebook into her bag. “Yeah, I think so.”
There was a brief pause before Aiah spoke again. “Uwi na ako,” she said, not making eye contact as she gathered her things.
As Aiah made her way toward the door, she felt a soft tap on her shoulder. She turned around, slightly surprised to see Stacey standing behind her, looking a little uncertain.
"Uhm, gusto mo sabay ka na sa'kin?" Stacey asked, a small crease forming on her forehead.
Aiah’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Stacey is offering me a ride home? she thought, the surprise clear on her face. Is this some kind of gesture?
"Wag na, baka maabala ka pa," Aiah replied quickly, not sure how to react. The idea of accepting a ride from Stacey felt strange to her, especially after everything that had happened between them.
But Stacey shook her head, a determined look in her eyes. "Nah, I insisted. I don’t have other things to do naman, and besides, mahirap mag-abang ng sasakyan sa labas pag ganitong oras."
Aiah hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit torn. She had always preferred to keep things simple, especially with someone like Stacey, whose world seemed so different from hers. But there was something about Stacey’s offer that felt genuine—maybe even kind or baka naguguilty lang ito na iwan siya mag -isa.
“Sige, salamat,” Aiah said, still a little surprised but trying to sound casual as she accepted Stacey’s offer.
Stacey gave her a small smile and pressed the button on her car key, unlocking the doors with a soft beep. As they walked towards the car, Aiah couldn’t help but glance at it. The sleek, polished exterior of the pink Lamborghini caught her eye, and she felt a flicker of amazement. Rich kid nga
“San kita ihahatid?” Stacey asked, her hands effortlessly guiding the wheel as she pulled out of the parking lot.
Aiah cleared her throat, trying to sound normal despite the surprise of being in the car with Stacey. “Sa Springfield subdivision.”
Stacey nodded, signaling as she turned the car onto the main road. Her movements were smooth, almost fluid, and there was a quiet confidence about her that Aiah couldn’t help but notice.
As the car glided down the road, Aiah couldn’t help but glance at Stacey. She was focused on the road, but there was a certain ease to the way she drove—the way her fingers gripped the wheel and the casual flick of her wrist when she switched gears. She looks so... cool doing that, Aiah thought, her eyes lingering for a second longer than they should have.
She quickly looked away, focusing on the passing scenery outside. But the thought stuck with her. She’s really good at this... There was something effortless about Stacey, from the way she navigated the car to the way she carried herself in general.
Aiah found herself impressed, and she couldn’t deny it anymore—Stacey was way cooler than she’d ever imagined.