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MIA HENSHAW

Here we are. Another day. Working hard, pulling through, making the grind, the hustle to qualify in this rat race called life.

I was where I usually was at 2-5pm every weekday or if I work a shift during the weekends then 1-4pm – except I got into an accident or something then I might come in late – my workplace, Sugar Cubes.

It's a cute cafe where we serve coffee, ice cream and pastries. Its decoration from inside out always comforted me. From the teal blue and coral walls to the little bookshelves with a tasteful selection of books. The custommade tables and their glass tops with intricate designs which looked quite fairy-tale like and their matching seats. There were also the booths for larger parties. Each furniture seemed perfectly in place, one could see they were picked with care. The lighting and Aircon was just superb, so was the service and food.

This place was seriously a hidden gem, a diamond in the rough. You know those sayings. It really didn't get the popularity it deserved.

I was quite happy today. Cindy finally gave her pass to let my pastries be served to the public. Though I had to come in early to bake them, I was still excited. People were going to try my creation. For Cindy to give her approval meant a lot to me. It meant she trusted me. That or she hoped I would be discouraged by the customers' reactions and finally stop pestering her and stick to manning the register/ waiting on tables. I'd rather believe it was the former.

Unfortunately, today was a slow day. We barely had customers, the ones who came in just ordered a coffee or a ice cream cone and it was driving me crazy. My excitement had really winded down.

It's been an hour since a customer last walked in.

I looked at the door wistfully. ‘Please, anyone listening. Just one customer who will order a pastry I made. Plea... ’

I wasn't done pleading with the deity when the front door jingled. I looked up in surprise. ‘Did that actually work?’

I looked at my customer. He was dressed in a simple white tee, jeans and sneakers. He had on a black snapback and a facemask. He was really tall and seemed to tower above everyone — the one person— in the cafe. He took off his shades when he entered.

I looked at him subtly, hoping he was actually here to buy something and not just use our toilet. He finally made his way to the counter which earned him a smile from me. "Welcome to Sugar Cubes. How can I sweeten your day?" I asked cheerfully. He honestly saved me from death by boredom.

As he got closer I noticed his stormy blue eyes. They were pretty. Like what you'd imagine the ocean to look like on a stormy night.

"I'd like an iced Americano." He said.

Come on, that can't be all? "Will you be having it here?" I asked.

"Yes." He replied, walking to a booth after placing his order.

I almost deflated. I quickly made his coffee. ‘I can't just give up. Marketing. Salesman tactics. I gotta sell it to him.’

I walked to his table, my smile returning to my face from my pep talk.

"Would you like anything else?" I slid the dessert list on the table. He glanced at what I dropped for a few seconds. The longer I waited by that table, the more sure I was about his rejection.

I was just about to leave awkwardly when he spoke up. "The creampuffs then, three."

I looked at him trying to hide my surprise. My mind kept celebrating ‘He ordered a pastry. He ordered a pastry. He ordered a pastry.’

It took all I had to not start thanking him profusely. I couldn't hide the utter happiness from my smile. "I'll be right back."

I hopped back to the kitchen happily.

"What's got your panties in a twist?" My coworker, Justina — or Tina as I liked to call her— asked. She was temporarily in charge as Cindy wasn't around.

"I'm selling my first baked goods. This mysterious customer just came in and he actually ordered creampuffs. Three creampuffs." I told her, unable to hold back my grin.

"I'm happy for you." She smiled, squeezing my arm. "Now get to serving, chop chop."

"Thank you." I grinned, my seams nearly bursting from happiness. "I'd need a cup of iced Americano please. Could you get it ready while I serve the pastries?"

"Sure thing, dear." She replied and got to work immediately.

I hummed happily as I placed the creampuffs on a plate and an additional cupcake on the house to celebrate him being my first customer.

"The coffee is ready, Mia." Tina announced, placing the tray on the counter. I placed the pastries on the tray and made my way to where the mysterious customer was sitting.

"Here's your order, sir." I said, placing the tray in front of him and proceeded to stand before him to gauge his reaction to my baking.

"Thank you, you can leave." He said, not looking at me.

‘Well, that's a bummer. I was hoping you'd allow me watch you take the first bite and dance for joy at how delicious it is.’ I wanted to say but instead I asked. "Do you plan on eating with your mask on?"

He looked up at me with an icy glare befitting his stormy eyes. "Is it any of your business if I do?"

My smile faltered for a brief moment but was replaced almost immediately. "Of course not, I was just concerned but never mind, I'm leaving now. Enjoy!"

He didn't spare me another glance as I walked back to the counter.

I sat down at the counter and watched him take off his mask and snapback.

He was breathtakingly beautiful, if you could describe a man as such. His side profile looked great and his jaw seemed so sharp, it could probably cut me in two.

He lifted the first creampuff and turned it around in inspection before taking a bite. His eyes closed momentarily as he took another and another till he was wolfing down the whole thing.

A satisfactory grin was plastered on my face and nothing could wipe it off. As if feeling my gaze on him, he lifted his head and our eyes met.

My breath hitched as I looked away as quick as possible. He seemed to be in a bad mood and I wouldn't like to bare the brunt for it.

‘What if he isn't in a bad mood and that's just how he behaves?’ My inner voice questioned.

That'd be a shame for such an handsome face.

I heard someone knock on the counter and looked up. There he was, standing in his full glory before me —sadly, his mask was back on— and glaring at me.

"May I know why you were watching me eat?" He inquired.

"Was I?" I asked, feigning ignorance. His eyebrows twitched.

"I'd like to pay now but before that, can I get some creampuffs and cupcakes to go?" He said, choosing to let me off easily.

My grin returned and I was up in an instant. "Of course. Any amount you'd like."

"Can I have everything available?"

My jaw dropped open. "Everything?!" I asked, dumbfounded.

He nodded. "Please be quick about it."

"Of course, of course sir." I rushed to the kitchen. "Tina, I'm so excited!" I announced, grabbing a paper bag.

"What's up?"

"That mysterious customer just ordered all the creampuffs and cupcakes I have available."

"Really?" She asked, shocked. I nodded frantically as I sealed the paper bag. "Cindy will be so happy."

"I bet she will." I replied with a smirk. "I'll be right back." I told her, rushing back to the counter.

"Here you go." I placed the pastries on the countertop. "And here is your bill."

He opened his wallet and dumped a fat wad of cash beside the pastries without looking at the bill.

"Th... thank you so much." I stuttered, dumbstruck.

He didn't reply as he reached for the pastries and went out the way he came.

In my two years of working at Sugar Cubes, I've never encountered someone like him and if he keeps on coming everyday, I'd be rich in no time.

Thank you, mysterious customer.

"You have a shit-eating grin on your face, what's up?" Tina asked as she came round the counter to join me on the seat as the cafe was now empty.

"Guess!" I told her.

"The customer gave you a huge tip after he bought all you had available." She said.

"Huge is an understatement." I told her as I dumped the wad of cash on the countertop.

She gasped in shock. "This is a lot."

"I know and this is what is left after removing what he's supposed to pay. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it. Do I keep it till when next he comes and then give it to him?"

"Now that's just foolish. If he wanted you to return it, he wouldn't have given you in the first place."

"True, so what do you think I should do with it?"

"He gave you so it's your choice." She shrugged.

"I'll ask Cindy when she's back." I said, finally coming to an decision.

"You do you. I think we should close up, no one seems to be coming in again." Tina said, heading into the locker room. I followed her, changing out of the Sugar Cubes' shirt into the blue shirt I wore in earlier in the day.

"Do you want to grab a late lunch?" I asked Tina, retouching my makeup.

"Sure, I'm famished." She replied, straightening her hair. "Where should we eat? I want to try something new, I'm tired of eating at the same restaurant everytime."

"Okay. I'll look up a nearby restaurant now." I switched the sign and declared us closed then left Tina to lock up.

~•|~•|~•|

"Katieee..." I cried out as soon as I got home, throwing myself against her. She grunted, pushing me to the floor.

"Hey! Why'd you do that? Is it wrong to express my affections towards you?" I asked, sitting up.

"You sly fox. What's in the bag?" She responded, getting up from the couch and coming towards my bag.

"Stay back, I'm armed." I told her, wielding my pen as a weapon. She giggled like a fiend and lunged at me, wrestling my bag from me.

"You..you thief!" I screeched as she ransacked my bag and brought out the food I'd gotten for our dinner.

"You're such a cutie." She said as she walked to the kitchen to dish out the food. "How were your lectures today?"

"Stressful as always. We even had a surprise quiz." She dropped the plate and waddled towards me, extending her arms for a hug.

"It will all be fine. You just need to persevere for a little while longer."

"I know it will be fine. Even if it isn't, I will make it." I told her, falling into her embrace. "Thanks for being there."

"I'd be nowhere else but with you." She said and I knew she meant it. Together forever.

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