Chapter Text
Maloi opened her eyes as the sunlight crept through the window blinds. "New life, new beginning." she keeps repeating her mantra as she starts to move out of her bed.
Today marks her first day in her new apartment, in a new city, a new environment, new faces, new people to know, new places to explore. Maloi sighs as she reminisces about her past life with her friends, how she missed them already. She took her phone and looked for the only contact there, her father; she typed a message and hovered her finger at the send button, contemplating if she'll update the old man or just ignore him for the meantime.
The thought of starting a new life away from everything she's used to have and know is making her giddy, a little bit scared, but she's also excited. She's an artist; she draws and releases digital art under a pseudonym, a personality that no one knew she had, and she's thankful that her father suggested that because right now that's the only reason she can continue being Dandelion.
Maloi stands in front of her vanity table, thinking about where to start. "Food. I need food."
--
Colet ran out of her home office when she heard her bestfriend yell.
"What happened?" she asked the girl standing on top of the gaming chair.
"Spider." a short reply from the younger girl, voice trembling from fear.
She chuckled but proceeded to kill the tiny spider on the floor. "Done. Go down before you hurt yourself" she said before stepping out of the other girl's room, almost missing the faint thank you from Sheena.
Colet makes a final look at the portfolio before shutting down her computer, she double-checks herself in the mirror before stepping out again. She stood in Sheena's doorway, waved her hand when she noticed that she got her bestfriend's attention, "I'm off to work." she said, receiving a nod and a flying kiss from the other girl.
Colet can't stop herself from laughing at her friend's antics. She closed the front door and proceeded to go to the cafe where she works, opting to walk as the cafe is only 2 blocks away.
--
Maloi entered the coffee shop, eyes fixed on the menu while her senses were being filled with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. She stands in line, still doesn't know what pastry to get.
"Hi! Good morning, what can I get for you today?", the friendly staff asked, the smile not leaving his face.
"Uhm, can I get a hot Spanish Latte and.. uhm, can you recommend a pastry?"
"Do you want to try our Blueberry Brioche? It's a seasonal thing, you might enjoy it. Or our chocolate muffin if you want to play it safe." the staff said, still smiling, too smiley in the morning.
"I'll get the Blueberry Brioche, thank you" she said, taking out her card to pay.
She waited for her order while looking at the cafe's interior; it's a mix of modern and vintage, something pleasant in the eyes. She decided to spend the morning there, searching on her phone about the area, looking for places she could visit, enjoying the city like a tourist.
When Maloi is walking out of the cafe, a girl bumps into her, making her lose her balance but not letting her fall on the floor.
"Sorry." the girl said, hand still on her waist, supporting her until she can recover from the impact. She stood straight. "It's ok, I'm not really looking at where I'm going." Maloi said with a small smile. The girl let go of her and proceeded to the counter, continuing her day as if she didn't make Maloi's a little bit rocky.
Maloi looked one last time at the girl, shaking her head with a bigger smile on her lips before closing the cafe's door, walking straight to the grocery to buy some supplies.
--
Maloi was looking through the stacks of books, looking for something interesting when she noticed the girl at the end of the aisle, looking intensely at the books in her hand, maybe contemplating which one to buy. "Cute" she said to no one.
Maloi picked a few books, 5 to be exact, to start anew her mini library at home.
She just finished her transaction when she heard the cashier talking to another customer, "Have you finished that last one?"
"HAHAHHAHHAHA, No. I got bored when I reached the 10th chapter." the other person said. That's when she noticed that it's the girl from the cafe.
Malo smiled, she didn't look back, she finished putting everything in her bag and said a faint thank you before stepping out, a small smile on her lips. Her bag is a little heavier, but her steps are a little lighter.
--
Colet is the only one in the cafe at the moment, as Andy is running late, a little grumpy for being alone, but still takes to the customers with a smile on her face.
Regulars keep coming in and going out with coffee in hand. Colet can't help but be proud as she survives the morning rush.
"Hi, what can I get you today?"
"Uhm.. can I get a Cold Brew Latte and.. Oh" the girl stopped, eyes locked on the pastry shelf. "You don't have the Blueberry Brioche?" the girl asked, disappointment visible on her face.
"We do at the back. Sorry, I don't have time to restock the shelf." Colet said, an apologetic smile plastered on her face.
"Oh!! I'll get that too." the girl smiled, a smile that makes Colet smile too.
The girl paid and took a seat in the corner of the shop. Colet made her order and took the pastry, restocking at the process, mind still on the beautiful girl in the corner of the cafe.
--
The next time Colet saw the girl in the cafe was on her day off, she went there to get something she forgot the previous day and then proceeded to just have her breakfast there, convincing herself that she's not waiting for the girl who always orders the Blueberry Brioche.
--
Maloi entered the cafe, book in hand, order already memorized.
"Hi Andy, Caramel Macchiato and Blueberry Brioche, please" she said happily, eyes roaming around, searching for a certain barista. She became a regular in the cafe and became friends with the baristas. She found the barista that she was looking for at a table by the window, not in uniform and busy with her phone.
She took her order and proceeded to walk to the girl. "Can I sit here?" the girl looks at her and nod, she proceeds to sit in front of the other girl.
"It's weird seeing you not in uniform." she said, starting a conversation.
"I forgot my wallet in my locker, need it to buy groceries."
"Oooh, I'll be going to the supermarket too! Wanna go together?" a lie; she just went there yesterday.
"Sure, let's do that." a smile, small and quick, but it didn't escape Maloi's eyes.
They spend a few more minutes finishing their breakfast before walking to the supermarket, hands brushing off while walking side by side.
--
The next time they meet outside the cafe was in a local gallery, hands intertwined, eyes fixed on the art hanging on the wall.
Maloi looks at their hands, thinking if Colet is worth the pain.