Work Text:
“I’m gonna tell Mom that you stole my car,” banta ni Jaemin sa kapatid na si Sungchan sa telepono.
Sungchan will have a business trip in Manila for a day and he has to pick up their family car—which is currently being used by Jaemin. Wala naman sanang kaso, pero mahirap kasi mag commute sa lugar ni Jaemin, lalo na at hindi pa uso doon ang taxi.
Narinig niya lang ang tawa ni Sungchan mula sa kabilang telepono. “Wala ka na magagawa, Kuya. Mag commute ka na lang muna, madali naman mag commute dyan.”
“Sinong may sabi?”
“Ako,” halakhak ni Sungchan at napailing na lang si Jaemin. Ano pa ba naman kasi ang magagawa niya ano? “Bye, Kuya! Ingat sa pag commute!”
“Na Sungchan!”
“Bye! Labyu!”
Jaemin could sigh, holding his phone and setting his alarm, so he can wake up early to catch the earliest bus trip to the next city.
-
“Pucha,” napamura siya nang biglang tumulo ang napakalakas na ulan bago pa man siya makaalis ng condo niya.
Wala siyang payong.
Anong kamalasan ba ang dumapo sa kanya at bakit sunod sunod ang kamalasan niya sa buhay? Hindi rin niya alam. But Jaemin is hoping for a good compensation. Something worthy of all his ‘sufferings’.
He had no choice but to wait for the rain to stop, causing him to go to work 2 hours late. Mabuti na lang at hindi pa siya nala-late kahit kailan simula noong pumasok siya sa kumpanya. That was the only reason why his boss let this slide, ngunit paano siya sa mga susunod na araw? No idea.
Working all day, he had a wide smile on his face while timing out in the hall. Hindi umuulan so he can drop by his favorite coffee shop—near the bus stop—which favors him even more. Siguro ay ito na nga iyong compensation na kanina niya pang hinihingi.
He went inside to order his usuals, Mocha Latte and Matcha donut. Weird combination, he’s aware, and it made him like this combi even more.
“Sorry po, Sir. Wala na po kasing Matcha donut na available. Bukas na po ulit,” tila ba nanlumo siya sa narinig.
He’s taking it back, this is not a good compensation!
“Wala na ba talaga?” God, he knows how dramatic it sounded, but he’s craving for Matcha donuts and he needs to eat it.
“Uh, wala na po tala—”
“Oh, okay lang. I’ll just get Mocha Latte and any donut available, take it out please. Thank you.”
He had the longest face inside that coffee shop while waiting for his order. He didn’t know that someone who thinks he’s familiar has been watching him the moment he entered the coffee shop.
-
Mark was adamant. He’s thinking that maybe he can offer his Matcha donut—the last Matcha donut from that coffee shop—to the person he thinks is familiar with. Hindi niya maalala kung saan niya nakita ang binata, but he’s certain that it wasn’t the first time he saw him.
Kahit naman gusto niyang iabot ang Matcha donut, hindi na rin niya magagawa. The guy has left the coffee shop already. Who knows where he’ll be able to see him? He still didn’t know why he asked for the donut to be taken out and went out of the coffee shop to go home.
Walking to the bus stop on his way to his condo, he saw a familiar figure from the back.
And maybe this time, Mark won’t hesitate.
-
“Hey…” Jaemin almost jumped out of the bus stop seat when someone pulled the hem of his shirt.
“You scared me!”
“Sorry!”
Jaemin realized that it was his neighbor. The guy next door he rarely saw—maybe twice a month. Mark Lee.
“Uh, do you want to…”
Itinagilid ni Jaemin ang kanyang ulo, waiting for Mark to continue what he’s about to say.
“Hello? Kilala mo ba ako?” Tanong ni Jaemin kay Mark na hanggang ngayon ay kumukurap lang.
“You’re familiar… I did not catch your name before though.” Napakamot sa buhok si Mark, thinking that it was rude of him to forget someone’s name.
Natawa si Jaemin at iniabot ang kamay. “Hi, I’m Jaemin Na, pwedeng Jaem or Jaemin na lang, kapitbahay mo.”
Mark poked his cheeks using his tongue, preventing himself from smiling over knowing the latter’s name and why he has been familiar of him. He then extended his hand to introduce himself, although Jaemin looks like he knows his name. “I’m Mark Lee.”
“Hmm? Nice to meet you! Bakit mo nga pala ako tinawag?”
Ayan na naman. Umuurong na naman ang dila ni Mark sa pagsasalita. But he doesn’t want to fail to give Jaemin his Matcha donuts.
“I was wondering if you’d like to have some donuts over my unit?”
That’s it! He did it!
Jaemin could smile and nod, “Gusto mo ba exchange tayo?”
“That would be great, but I’d like to have your number as well.”
Nagkaroon na siya ng lakas ng loob, bakit nga naman hindi niya pa sagarin, hindi ba?
“Sure thing.”
Matcha and Mark.. not bad for heaven's compensation.