casa de dulce. - prologue; part one.
Raphael Castañeda may be a lot of things, but he never expected that a petite Political Sciences student would become his roommate and a person who'd make his sweet life even sweeter.
"Order for table 26! Takeout!" A click of the bell, pressing numbers on the counter, proceeding to take the next order, creating their orders, calling them, and repeat. This was Raphael Castañeda's usual routine in his coffee shop that he named "Casa de Dulce" or House of Sweetness. The name was coined in his high school days, dreaming to take up culinary arts. He is currently taking up the course in St. Dominic Institute, the best university in the area, and in his second year; a vacant building space near the school was gifted to him by his parents in his eighteenth birthday, but it's his allowance that got him to where it is today. It's a hit in the area since it's nearby a train station, a lot of schools are around, and office buildings as well. They find Raphael's desserts and pastries enticing, in which he always gets flustered when they compliment him face-to-face. 'There was still something missing,' he often thinks, 'and I don't know what it is.'
He doesn't really know that the answer to his thoughts came inside his café with a chime to the bell, although this setting is more of a cliché perspective. The wide-eyed girl, with medium length brown hair and round frames sitting on her nosebridge, looked really tired and wary of her surroundings that she kept looking around, clenching on her luggage tightly until she reached the counter. She was unfamiliar, he thought, probably someone new.
His train of thoughts is interrupted when it was her turn to order, but rather he became momentarily flustered at how her brown orbs scanned the menu, as if she was trying to memorise its entirety. "Dine in, please. A strawberries-and-cream frappuccino, the tallest cup, and half of a whole NY cheesecake."
Raphael's eyes widened at the peculiar order. Was she serious. . . ? "Sorry, I didn't get the last part. How many slices of cheesecake?"
"Half of a whole." She confirms. "I haven't gotten a wink of sleep as class starts the day after tomorrow, and my parents only let me out last night. I just arrived."
"Oh, really?" He hums, punching her order. "Do you want espresso shots to come with your frappe? I could arrange for that." The brunette shook her head and formed an X-sign with her arms. "I do not handle my caffeine well." She giggles, taking out her credit card. "I'd rather run on sugar rush than on a caffeine boost, I guess?"
Usually tired people wouldn't pass up the idea of a booster in their drink but somehow she declines it. That made Raphael curious in a way, but then as he swiped down her card he could really sense the tiredness in her voice. "What's the day today again? I lost track."
"It's a Saturday, ma'am. . . . what's your name?"
"Ion. To spell it, I-o-n." He faintly blushes at how seemingly innocent her tired voice is, while writing her name down the cup. "Your order will be up in a few. Please be comfortable here, and thank you for choosing Casa de Dulce."
The girl gave him a grin before settling down on one of the window seats. He found her to be quite odd, stealing glances at her whenever he can while making her order, plating four slices of cheesecake in a large platter, even putting fresh strawberries on top of each, before chiming the bell, signaling that her order is ready.
Perhaps he would like to admit to himself that he finds her adorable savouring the cheesecakes and the frappe. It shows a bit of her personality, from his perspective. From swinging her legs in every bite, the excited sounds she makes as she pops a strawberry in her mouth. A part of him hopes they go to the same university, but there are a lot of universities in this area. While his café is not yet busy because of the early time, (5:45, he notes as he glances from the clock) he didn't realise he was still staring at the cheesecake girl.
"I'll just make more cakes at the back." He glances at his coworker before entering the kitchen. It might be enough to clear his mind.
His phone buzzes in his apron before preparing what he has to do, stopping him in his tracks. It was one of his older friends, Charlie, who was overseas at the time due to work, and thus he answers the call. "What's up?" He asks, rubbing the sleepiness off his eyes. "Remember the bet we agreed on and I won?" The other line instantly said.
"Yeah, I do." He mumbles. "You told me you'll probably be needing my help when the time comes. What do I have to do now?"
"Well, there's this cousin of mine. She'll attend your uni, first year in Political Sciences. She could use my apartment but I forgot to give the key to her, and I have to be away for like, 6 more months."
"Uh huh. So what do I do. Break in?"
"No, idiot." Charlie sighs through the phone. "I want to ask you if you could take her in while I'm gone. Just six months. I'd even pay you if needed."
"Are you serious? You used female pronouns so of course it's a girl. You know how I already told you guys I never let girls stay, or even come, into my apartment."
"It's just for a while. She can cook and tend to herself, you don't need to babysit her. I'm just asking you to let her stay." His friend tries to persuade. "She's a total introvert despite her sugar rush, and if you had anyone over they wouldn't even know thst she's there. Please?"
"Sigh. Give me her name and phone number."
"Yes!" The worried tone of Charlie's voice became a relieved one. "I'll text you. Thanks a lot."
"Yeah, yeah, sure. I owe you big time anyway."
It was quite true, the older became the latter's emotional support and was one of his first friends.
her name's marion, eighteen, really pretty. you have to get through me first if you like her, though! her phone number's ****-***-****.
i'm not interested in relationships, you know that. but thanks anyway. less hassle
Typing the phone number and dialing, the other person picked it up immediately. There was both a sense of familiarity and unfamiliarity with her voice. "Hello, who is this?"
"I'm your cousin's friend, mayhaps he entrusted you to my care. Where would you like to meet?" He responds rather immediately. She hums, trying to remember her location. "I'm in Casa de Dulce Café. Is that near your location, or should I move to a different place?"
"No! It's okay. It's convenient." He steps out of the kitchen. "Perhaps you could tell me which table you're in?"
"Hm, table. . . 13." She quips. He scanned for the location of the table in his shop, and found himself walking towards an unexpected person.
okay i finished part one!! yay
drop by at my curious cat [ curiouscat.qa/kyeeoot ] if you have suggestions or comments or anything aaaa
