Kazuha stretches her back as soon as she closes her laptop on the library table at the last row near the stairs towards the second floor.
It has been two hours since she started skimming through book reviews from different people regarding the literature they were assigned to read and yet, she hasn't made her conclusion yet. Only documents full of scribbles and a Pinterest website that kept her company when her mind was wandering.
She looks around and sees a few people from different departments evident in their college shirts, rows away from each other and all are busy because of their individual shenanigans. She looks at the LED clock near the entrance of the library and sees it's almost 8 P.M. so she decides to grab her things.
The walk at the campus in the evening is frightening. Kazuha heard a lot of stories about unidentified people roaming around at night and groping girls causing them to disappear. There were cases of women hearing noises at the grassland when they were paving their way towards the exit. But despite the seriousness and severity of the case Kazuha took note of, neither the police nor the authorities made an action or investigation to at least solve the mysteries in their academy to the point that sometimes, it makes Kazuha think, what if all the stories were just made up to scare them enough to not lurk around the premises at ungodly hours?
She heaves a sigh of relief when she finally steps her foot out of the building, luckily, she survives three minutes of hell and terror but unluckily, she feels her eyelids starting to get heavy and a yawn escapes her mouth. She can't sleep, she thinks. She has piles of papers to accomplish and she just finished the ¼ so the majority is still pending.
Kazuha remembers the coffee shop she often passes by whenever she's on her way home, down the street and near her apartment. Though she hasn't tried visiting it, she thinks their coffees are good because of feedback she heard from her friends. Heavenly, her friends described, so Kazuha is always intrigued.
She peaks at the glass window and hardly sees any people inside. She pulls the door even though there is a sign that says push. She stumbles on her feet and loses balance but someone bump behind her when she is about to step back when her mind tells her to just go home and make her own coffee.
“Careful.” a gentle voice reminds her.
Kazuha's feet are frozen as the voice sends shivers down her spine. And slowly, she cranes her neck to see the woman behind her only to be more astounded.
The blonde haired woman pushes the door open and gets inside, Kazuha is still standing near the glass door, and can't take her eyes off the pretty girl.
“Are you just going to stand there?” the girl asks and wipes her hand with a cloth she picked near the counter.
Kazuha blinks when she realizes she looks dumb standing frozen in front of someone she has been crushing on for three or four months now.
Yes. The reason why Kazuha is astonished is because of the fact that the woman who just opened the door a few minutes ago is the woman she's admiring from afar or what she calls, her bus girl.
Every morning, Kazuha rides a bus on her way to the university and then sees a girl her age sitting in front of her. Her hair is golden and skin is pale white, her headphones are hanging on her neck. Sometimes, the girl is drawing something with her eyebrows curled due to focus. There are times the girl is reading crime fiction, sometimes drama or slice of life but inside the four months, she hasn't seen her reading romance literature. So Kazuha thinks, maybe, the girl is not interested in love at all.
And at the second to the last stop towards Kazuha's drop off, the girl raises her head, their eyes meet and the girl smiles so Kazuha smiles back and raises her hand a little to wave.
Few instances, the girl mouths a compliment to her. “Nice fit.” or sometimes, “Pretty earrings,” pointing to her earrings.
So in order for the blonde to often flatter her, she chooses the best clothes to partner. Oftentimes, she will rummage her sister's closet to find a piece that will make her look beautiful. But despite the mess Kazuha created in hopes of trying to pick a dress she can borrow, Mina, her sister, never got mad or frustrated.
And despite the compliments they give to each other every morning, despite the cute and tiny movements their hands and lips are doing to acknowledge their presence, despite the stares and urge to initiate a conversation, none of them really approached to prolong their talk or at least, get to know one another more than their mere observations and conclusions.
Kazuha clears her throat and opens the door. Every step she's taking is vigilant, as if she is walking on a fragile glass, afraid to fall and break. While her crush is watching her move like a robber in a silent mission. The girl chuckles and goes inside the personnel's room.
Kazuha heaves a sigh and pinches herself. Don't look dumb, she mutters. She roams her eyes around to find the best seat and sees the table near the counter, beside the bookshelf.
The coffee shop is minimalist, with white and beige color around the area. All the furniture including the doors are wood with varnished surface and there are paintings covered in glass frames hanging between glass windows. When you stand in the entrance, the counter will welcome you with their pastries and little menu board. When you turn on your left, you will encounter a door that has a “personnel's use only” sign, beside it was a table good for six people. And beside the counter on the right side has a pathway with a bathroom and arrow sign. The lights are yellow-ish and mellow, suitable for people finding a serene nook to continue their agendas. But Kazuha thinks the best part of the cafe's facade experience is the smell of coffee lingering around the area.
She sits on the chair and grabs her laptop to put on the table. Then she realizes her laptop is in low battery, she rummages her bag but recalls she left her charger in her room. She mentally curses herself. Out of all day, why did she forget to bring it this day?
Kazuha stops dismantling her organized bag when she hears footsteps approaching the aisle. She sees a glimpse of her bus girl on her peripheral view. She sits back and tucks her hair behind her ear.
“May I take your order, ma'am?” the lady asks as soon as she reaches Kazuha's table..
Kazuha nods. “Uh…uhm..” She stutters, she pinches herself. She should memorize her order because she always purchases it. “Uh.. I.. uhm..”
The lady chuckles and sighs. “Calm down.”
“I.. uh..” Kazuha clears her throat. “I'm sorry..” she apologizes.
The blonde shakes her head and smiles reassuringly..“No, it's no big deal. It's totally acceptable.” She takes out the paper from the pocket of her apron and a ballpen. “You know.. students oftentimes struggle speaking at the end of the day because of exhaustion so no need to apologize.”
Kazuha nods but even though the girl told her it's alright, she still feels embarrassed because of it.
“Here.” She slides the paper and a pen on the table. “Just write your order if you're having difficulty in talking.” she states.
Kazuha picks the pen and writes. “Iced Matcha Tea Latte with Vanilla Syrup and a blueberry cake” She hands it to the girl behind her who's been observing her patiently.
The girl reads it and smiles. “Same. I also like matcha with vanilla syrup though I prefer cheesecake over blueberry.” she comments as soon as she finishes reading Kazuha's order.
Kazuha smiles and tilts her head slightly. “Maybe I should try that this time.” Kazuha thinks loudly..
“Your voice is cute, I shall hear it often.” she talks.
Kazuha's eyes widened. “Oh..”
The bus girl chuckles. “Is this your final order?” She asks and points at the paper with her pen.
“Can you replace the blueberry cake with cheesecake?” Kazuha asks, looking up.
The latter nods and smiles. “Of course.” She takes a glimpse of Kazuha before leaving her table.
Shortly after her order, the blonde arrives with a tray with her order on it. She gently puts it on Kazuha's table. “Enjoy.”
Kazuha picks up the straw and put it in the glass of matcha. She gently mixes it with the straw and takes a sip. She smiles when she realizes that her friends were right, heavenly. But maybe, Kazuha is playing favoritism because she's aware that her crush was the one who made her drink.
“I love it. Thank you.” Kazuha says.
That's the cue for the blonde to leave. She nods and picks the tray, she walks away and halts. Then she looks back at Kazuha. “I don't usually take orders on the table.” she randomly says.
Kazuha's forehead forms a crease. What does she mean?
Five, Kazuha recalls. It's been five days since she and the lady from the coffee shop haven't seen her hop on the bus for a couple of days. She wonders if she just happened to ride the wrong bus or the lady changed her schedule. Nevertheless, she's sulking about it.
“Why don't you try to ask her name or her phone number?” Chaewon asks her on her side.
Kazuha shrugs. “I don't have the guts.”
Sakura nudges her. “You have to talk to her now or else, you'll die regretting you didn't converse!”
“I'm fine admiring her from afar.” Kazuha simply replies.
Chaewon shushes and makes a face. “Stop being a coward and let's go.” She encourages me.
Sakura pushes the coffee shop's door to open and immediately drags Kazuha on her wrist. They settle on the table beside the counter, near the personnel's room.
“Why isn't she here?” Kazuha whispers to her friends.
She sees another woman at the counter and realizes that the blonde girl isn't there or maybe, her shift is later in the evening. She sighs and looks around.
“Your long face is starting to annoy me.” Chaewon comments. “Cheer up! We're here to refresh and boost, not for your corny love sick happy crush.” She rolls her eyes.
Kazuha chuckles and nods. “Okay, I'm sorry. I'll be the one to make it up to you.”
Sakura smiles and hands her the money. “I will go with my usual order.”
“Same with me.” Chaewon says.
Kazuha walks towards the counter and looks up to the menu to check the availability of her friends' drinks and sure enough, those are there.
Before Kazuha can speak, the barista looks at the clock and speaks. “Yunjin! I need you here, I have to call someone.”
The barista turns to her and smiles. “Sorry for that.” she says.
Kazuha just nods and smiles.
The barista looks behind her back and moves a little. A familiar face welcomes Kazuha's sight. She sure is beyond lucky because the woman standing in front of her is her very own bus girl.
“She'll take care of your order.” The barista says and pats the blonde girl's shoulder.
“Welcome to ffeelings! May I know your order, miss?” she asks.
Again, just like a lovestruck person, Kazuha starts struggling with words. “I.. uh.. My.. uhm.” She clears her throat.
The lady chuckles and again grabs her paper and pen inside her pocket and slides it in front of Kazuha. “Here. Let's do it the same as before.”
Kazuha smiles shyly and picks the pen to write. She notes her orders and slides it back to her crush who openly accepts it.
Kazuha's crush is nodding while reading her order silently. Then she asks, “Are you with your..?”
“Friends. They are only my friends.” Kazuha clarifies and looks away.
The latter nods and smiles. “I'll just call you when your order's ready.”
Kazuha turns and sees her friends smirking mischievously, definitely teasing her with that kind of smile. Kazuha wiggles her eyes and walks towards their table.
“All that small talk and yet, you don't know her name.” Sakura mocks.
Kazuha ducks her head on the table. “I don't know how!”
Chaewon pats her head. “You will know how. Trust me!” She cheers.
Little did Kazuha know, Chaewon and Sakura plotted a scheme for Kazuha to gain confidence to know the barista's name.
“But your crush is pretty…” Chaewon says out loud. “If you don't make a move.. then it's alright for you to remain as someone she doesn't know.”
Kazuha immediately faces Chaewon with an eyebrow raise. “What do you mean?”
Chaewon smirks and plays with her fingers above the table. She remains sheepish.
“Kazuha.” Sakura calls and puts her hands on Kazuha's shoulders. “What she meant is, if you don't make a move then Chaewon will be the one to steal her!”
Kazuha's mouth agape and turns to look at Chaewon, she squints her eyes. “As if I will let you do that!”
Chaewon moves closer. “Prove me that you are deserving!”
“I will!” Kazuha eagerly tells and rolls her eyes on Chaewon.
Sakura and Chaewon look at each other secretly and cheer in silence, they finally pushed her to do it.
The lady paves her way towards the trio, holding a tray with their orders on it. She smiles at them and gently places their drinks on their table. “Enjoy your drink.” she says.
Chaewon clears her throat and grins. “You're so pretty.” she speaks.
The lady looks at Chaewon and smiles gently. “Thank you.”
Kazuha, on the other hand, is looking at them with sharp eyes and by then, she knows she has to do something to Chaewon.
The entire drink, Chaewon and Sakura were the one talking while Kazuha is trying to think of better and less cringe ways to approach her bus crush. Chaewon and Sakura could acknowledge it but of course, they refuse to say a word. Of course, they want their friend to feel less pressure despite what they did.
Sakura signals Chaewon to leave but Kazuha is too cloudy to notice it. “Zuha, we'll leave first.” she bids.
Kazuha looks at them and nods. “I'll stay here for a while.”
The three stand and kiss Kazuha's cheek for goodbye. Then Kazuha goes back to her seat the moment she sends her friends off.
“Hey.” the golden girl sits in front of her.
Kazuha flinches a bit but later on gains composure. “Uh.. I.. Hello..” Again, who is Kazuha with her without struggling?
The girl chuckles and nods. “Are you usually like that?”
“Like.. what?”
“That.” she points to Kazuha. “You always stutter whenever you're talking to me.” She pouts. “Am I scary?”
Kazuha shakes her head immediately. “No.. Not at all.”
“Then why?”
“It's just.. that.. I..” Kazuha clears her throat and looks away. “You're just too pretty.”
The girl blushes and bites her lower lip. “How come you're also straightforward?”
Kazuha laughs and looks at the girl. “Do you happen to..” The girl raises her brow, waiting for her new words. “know me?” she asks.
The girl grins and places her chin on her palm above the table. “How would I forget you?” she asks. “You are my bus girl.” she says and playfully stares.
“You are my bus girl too!” Kazuha cheerfully replies.
The lady sees the cat in the cafe and couches to caress it. She then comes back to Kazuha's spot with the cat still on her lap.
“Do you like cats?” the girl asks her.
Kazuha smiles and nods. “I have three cats.” She reaches for the cat and pets it. “Their names are moonbi, sunbi and shinez.”
“Cute names but why?”
“Moonbi because she is a black cat, short for moonbeam. While Sunbi is—”
“White? And sunbeam?” she asks.
The black haired nodded. “Yes! While Shinez is a ginger and white cat. The color of the sun when it shines..” she dreamily says.
“You love them so much, don't you?”
Kazuha nods. “Of course! They are my children.”
The lady chuckles. “Do you want to go to a cat cafe then?” she asks.
Kazuha blinks, trying to process what her crush just said. Is she really inviting her to go together? She hopes. “Of course, I would love to.”
The cat jumps from the table and the lady turns to look at her. “My name is Yunjin.” she introduces.
Kazuha thinks her name is beautiful. Yunjin. What a beautiful name for a pretty person.
“Kazuha.” she replies.
Yunjin smiles. “You have a pretty name that compliments you.”
Kazuha blushes. “You too.”
“Yunjin!” Kazuha hears someone call her.
Yunjin looks back and then faces Kazuha. “I should go.”
Kazuha nods so Yunjin stands but before she can walk, Kazuha speaks. “May I get your number?” she asks.
Yunjin nods. “Yeah.. Of course.”
Kazuha fishes her phone from her pocket and hands it to Yunjin. The latter presses her number and saves it on her contact list.
“May I message you some other time?” Kazuha hesitantly asks.
Yunjin chuckles and nods. “You can call me 24/7, I won't mind.” She winks and walks towards the counter.
Kazuha is left at her table, heart pounding madly. A smile plastered on her lips and cheeks are red as cherry.
“I am in love." she whispers and clenches her chest.
What Kazuha doesn't know is Yunjin is peaking through the counter, pinching herself because finally, she got her crush's name and number after two years.
Yup, two years.
Indeed, Yunjin fell first.
But Kazuha fell harder.
Nevertheless, they will fall deeply and madly into their own wonderland full of buses, paper and pens, and coffee shops.