ISLA
ONE YEAR LATER
"Isla, new customer at table 10."
"Yeah sure."
I brought with me the metal pitcher of water, a glass, and the menu as I approached the customer on the said table. It was a young man and he was wearing a black jacket and black cap, his head turned down and he was in the middle of playing something between his fingers, the reason he didn't even raise his head up.
"Here's the menu. I'll be taking up your order, sir."
I gave him the small menu of the coffeeshop and he took it without even raising his head. He seemed like he was uninterested in looking at me.
And because I am just a waitress, I didn't mind it. I placed the small glass on the table and poured some water on it and waited half a minute until the man pointed out the cappuccino from the menu.
"This," he said.
"Alright. Your order will be up for three minutes."
I picked up the menu and walked away from him to start preparing his order.
"Wow, Isla. Your Korean is improving," the manager praised me.
I smiled at her. "Are you eavesdropping, dear manager?"
She laughed with guilt. "Well, it's just…"
"Thank you," I ended our conversation.
After graduating from SADI, I decided to work a part-time job in a coffee shop in Gangnam. Ji-hoon suggested his mother's coffee shop and I agreed. I've been doing this for half a month and even though no one's perfect, I do learn my lessons.
"Isla eonni, doesn't your customer look so familiar?" Su-min asked me. By the way, she tagged along when I'm looking for a part-time job. That's why she ended up working with me.
I glanced on the customer I just assisted and his head is still turned down.
"I'm not sure," I said as I look back at Su-min. "His style might resemble someone I know, but don't you think majority of Korean guys dress like that?"
"You're right. They're all the same, aren't they?" Su-min pouted.
I continued to complete the order given to me by the customer by arranging the small milk pitcher, then the cup that has the black coffee mix, placed everything on the tray before bringing it to the awaiting customer.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Here's your cappuccino," I said as placed everything on top of the table.
"Miss, one spaghetti please…" Another customer from a different table caught my attention. Since I'm done with the previous, I decided to accommodate the other.
This coffeeshop serves the customers' favorite that's why there's spaghetti. And the shop was just small, meaning two patisseries and two waitresses were the only staffs doing the job. It's a good thing that this shop doesn't need to hurry things up, just relax and enjoy the coffee.
I became very busy during my work schedule. And even so, I couldn't help but still notice the presence of the customer who has been in the coffee shop for a few hours already.
He's playing with a ring between his fingers. And everytime I pass by on his table, he's kept doing it. I have never seen him look up, maybe he does everytime I wasn't looking. Unfortunately.
I wonder what's wrong with him.
What's with this customer? He doesn't leave yet? Is the coffee finished already?
As for the final time I passed by his table, I noticed him not there anymore. However, there is the ring left above the table. I immediately look for him after taking the ring from the table in order to return it to him.
Turning towards the door out of the coffee shop, I saw him standing by the door and opened the black umbrella since it was already raining outside.
So, I sprinted toward him and called his attention.
"Excuse me, sir. I think you left your ring..."
As soon as he turn around to look at me, I was completely stunned. I stared at him like the way he stared at me. I never expected for this moment to happen. We've met once again.
After all this time, I didn't had the feeling that he'll be appearing in front of me again. Seeing him again triggered something in me, a memory that I am supposed to forget already.
And with that being said, I'm going to pretend like he never existed in my life before. Total strangers.
I nervously brought up the ring that was placed on my palm and reached it out in front of him as his sight went on my action.
"You forgot your ring." My voice was faint.
He looked at me for a few more seconds before smiling and looking at my hand. Slowly, he touched my hand and folded it, keeping the ring in my palm.
His smile was accompanied by tears as he speaks, "It's yours."
My heart is battling with my mind once again. The last time, I obeyed my mind. Should I obey my heart this time? Could this be the second chance?
I held his arm as he was about to turn away from me, the reason he remained to face me. "Wait."
He stared at me again. "My sixty seconds is over. I'm sorry, but it's time for me to leave."
"Did you ever wanted to leave?" I asked him.
Those were the last words I could ever say to him, knowing that there's no way for me to get him back because of the fact that he wasn't supposed to be someone I would love.
In the end, he walked out of the door without giving me the response I've been wanting to hear ever since he chose to leave.
My heart started to build up the pain. I was still affected. I can't hide what I really feel because it will kill me inside, I know it.
Should I chase him?
Tears formed and flow down from my eyes. I tried to look at the ring and only the beautiful memory was reminisced…
A YEAR AGO
Right after the graduation event, Soo-jin told me about Eun-woo's departure going to the USA just like what Lav told us before.
And that exact time, I didn't waste any more time. I rushed out of the university and went straight to the airport with the help of Ji-hoon.
Luckily, he was a quick and safe driver, the reason we immediately arrived at the airport. But, after getting inside, I totally got lost.
So, I took my phone and called Eun-woo's phone. I just wished he pick up and not ignore me. I know I did him wrong by leaving him alone fighting for what he really feels about me.
But, he wasn't answering at all. I gulped as I looked at the time and it was already twenty-five minutes past five. Only five more minutes left before his flight and it's impossible for me to do what I need to do.
Even so, I didn't want to give up. So, I went around every corner as well as the rest room of the airport but I could not see him. I don't have enough time to talk to him anymore.
Until the feeling of disappointment, anger, and sadness attacked me, the reason I crouched down somewhere in the middle of the crowding passengers. Did he leave already?
"I heard everything you said during the graduation speech..."
Huh? What am I suddenly hearing from my mind? I must be getting crazy.
"I'm glad to be your step brother."
Okay. I'm not hearing voices in my head. It was a real voice!
I quickly got up, turn my head, and looked behind me. There was Eun-woo standing while looking at me.
"What are you doing here?" He asked. "Ji-hoon told me–"
I immediately approached him and held his hands in between us. "I only have 2 minutes left. Let me have it all."
He looked confused and shocked before nodding at me.
"I know it'll be too late for me to say this to you, but… I just want to let you know that I'm sorry for not being able to tell them the truth. To tell them how much I love you, Eun-woo," I told him sincerely. "The intense love I felt for you will never be taken away from my heart."
"Thank you for being honest. But, I don't know if there will be another chance for us again," he said.
"It doesn't matter. As long as I tell you everything, that would be enough," I said.
He nodded. "I learned that if you really love someone, you have to let them go and just be happy for them. And that's what I'm doing now."
"It's not always right, Eun-woo."
"By doing that, I can prove to you that I didn't just feel infatuated for you. Everything was pure."
I looked at my phone to see the time before looking back at him again. "One minute left. Do you still have something else to tell me?"
He shook his head as he smiled.
"I have already said everything I have to say to you. But, I have to use the rest of the minutes before leaving," he said.
"What are you going to do with it?" I asked him confusedly.
Words are not enough to tell thousands of feelings. And that is the reason he approached me carefully, gently touching both my cheeks before I closed my eyes.
We spent that final minute and kissed each other, not caring about whoever will see us.
Because a kiss blown is a kiss wasted.
The only real kiss is a kiss that is tasted.
~ END ~