Chapter Text
The coffee shop nestled at the end of a cobblestone alley had become a sanctuary from the summer rain that seemed to persist like a quiet guest overstaying its welcome. Its fogged-up windows blurred the world outside, transforming the vibrant greens and blues of summer into a gentle watercolor haze. Inside, the warmth of the shop wrapped around its visitors like a nice fuzzy blanket, the air filled with the familiar scents of freshly brewed coffee, buttery cookies, and the nostalgic aroma of well-thumbed book pages from the small shelf in the corner. Amber wall sconces bathed the polished wooden tables in a soft glow, their light adding to the cozy charm of the space. Smooth jazz hummed softly in the background, creating an intimate rhythm that paired perfectly with the tappity-tap of raindrops against the glass.
Ken occupied a table tucked against the window, his usual spot. He liked the way it felt secluded, yet allowed him to watch the rain race down the glass. He sat with his shoulders slightly hunched, his slender fingers wrapped around a mug of black coffee so sweetened it could have passed for honey syrup. His blonde eyebrows furrowed slightly as he focused on a sketch forming on the napkin beside him: a toy car with exaggerated wheels and sleek details. Through the rain-streaked glass, rivulets of water played like tiny rivers, capturing his gaze between moments of concentration.
Rainy days carried a routine Ken knew by heart: coffee, sketching, and the soothing white noise of storms enveloping him like an old friend. He was so absorbed in the lines of his drawing that the door's creak barely registered, followed by the faint chime of the bell above it.. Only the sharp burst of cold air that prickled the nape of his neck startled him back to reality, scattering his thoughts like leaves in the wind.
“Whew. Ang ginaw, gagi!”
The voice rang out boldly, echoing across the cozy shop like a splash of color on a monotone canvas. Ken glanced up, just in time to see a figure stepping through the doorway, shaking water from a small, black umbrella. The guy was around Ken’s height, perhaps a tad bit taller, with wide shoulders and a small waist emphasized by the fit of his hoodie; navy blue and oversized. The hood was pulled up, but sagging slightly to expose his soft black hair tied loosely in a half manbun. Droplets of rain clung to his hair, glinting in the warm light like tiny stars in orbit. His glasses fogged as he pushed them up the bridge of his nose, revealing dark, deep-set eyes.
“Grabeng ulan yan, napindot yata si anger ah. Parang engot lang,” the guy muttered, shaking his hood down with a casual tug. The messy cascade of damp hair spilled free, catching the amber glow as he laughed; a sound so effortless, so genuine, it rippled through the room like sunlight breaking through clouds. Even the barista behind the counter, caught off guard, responded to his eagerness with an involuntary smile. “Ay, ang ganda naman ng smile ni kuya. Nakaka good vibes!”
Ken lowered his gaze again, intent on his sketch, though he was keenly aware of every movement the stranger made. The quiet shuffle of sneakers as he approached the counter, the soft melody of his voice while ordering a caramel macchiato topped with whipped cream; it all seemed to echo faintly in the corners of Ken's mind for some reason. His grip on the coffee mug tightened as he took another sip, grimacing at its bitterness. Still unsatisfied, he reached for another sugar packet, his focus now torn between his drawing and the stranger’s perky presence.
The guy stood at the counter, scanning the room until his gaze settled on Ken, or more precisely, the empty seat right across from him.
“Hello! May kasama ka ba? Wala na kasing vacant seat eh. Kung mag-isa ka lang, pwede bang makiupo?” The man’s words spilled out continuously like an open faucet. It was fortunate that the stranger’s tone was light and casual, otherwise, Ken might’ve been irritated. Nevertheless, there was a flicker of mischief in the other’s boyish gaze that Ken couldn’t quite explain, but he couldn’t seem to ignore, regardless.
“Hello po? Luh, bingi ba ‘to o banlag?” The stranger mumbled, leaning closer and waving a hand in front of Ken’s blank stare. Without waiting for a reply, he pulled out the chair opposite Ken as though the space belonged to him all along, making it impossible for Ken to do anything but watch as the stranger settled in. “Uupo na ‘ko ah? Tulala ka lang diyan eh. Thank you na rin, hehe.”
“O-Oh, sorry.” Ken blinked, startled, his deep voice coming out softer than he intended. “Sige lang. ”
“Akala ko pipi rin eh. Uy, joke lang ah? Baka bigla mo ‘kong sapakin.” The man grinned, setting his cold beverage down and sliding into the chair with a fluid motion. He shed his hoodie in one swift motion, showing a long-sleeved shirt underneath, which was slightly damp at the shoulders.
“Thanks. I’m Stell, by the way. Stellvester for long, Tey-Tey for short. Ah nevermind, basta Stell na lang. Pero pwede rin namang baby. Yiieee, char.” Stell’s hand shot forward with an exaggerated flourish, his grin infectious as he laughed at his own introduction. His voice filled the café like a burst of sunlight breaking through heavy clouds, brimming with energy that almost seemed out of place in the gentle calm of the café.. “Ikaw? Ay wait, I’ll take a guess. Based sa itsura mo, parang introvert, artistic, medyo nerdy din. Hmm, Arthur ang name mo ‘no?”
“Uhh, nope,” Ken said, scratching his head in confusion.
“Piolo?”
“Hindi rin.”
“Alden!”
“Actually it’s—”
“Hinde, teka lang! ‘Wag mong sabihin! Wait,” Stell interrupted, narrowing his eyes as though preparing to crack a huge mystery. He squinted dramatically, his brows furrowing in concentration.. “Henry?”
“No.”
“Victor? Leon? Albert? Raymond? Alfonso? Frederick?” Stell reeled off names with the speed of a main rapper, his breath hitching in frustration when Ken shook his head with a laugh at every guess.“Weh ba? Sa dami ng binanggit ko, walang tumama kahit isa?”
“Wala,” Ken said with a soft chuckle, as he extended his right hand toward Stell. “It’s Ken. Just Ken.”
“Talaga? Ba’t ‘di mo agad sinabi! In fairness ha, wala sa itsura mo yung name mo. Nice to meet you, Just Ken!” Stell repeated, mock-serious, before leaning forward slightly. “Alam mo ba, share ko lang ‘no? Tinitignan kasi kita from ther counter eh. Medyo may pagka-mysterious energy ka eh. Parang brroding-artist, musician vibe, ganon. But anyway, ano pala yan?” He pointed at the napkin sketch, his eyebrows arching inquisitively.
“Ah, ito?” Ken’s lips curved in amusement as he turned the napkin toward Stell, offering a clearer view of his sketch. “Wala, sketch lang ng sports car.”
“Hoy, anong sketch lang? Ang ganda kaya n’yan! Artwork yan! Hindi pa nga sa papel dinrawing!” Stell quipped. His voice was so animated, it was practically spilling over with enthusiasm. “Grabe, ang angas ng dating ah. Ang pogi mo siguro kapag eto dina-drive mo, ‘no? Madalas ka mag-drawing ng ganyan?”
Ken nodded slightly, his response brief, as always. Yet something about Stell’s energy was disarming, chipping away at Ken’s usual reserve. “Kapag wala lang magawa,” he admitted.
“Yabang naman. Bored ka lang sa lagay na yan, tapos masterpiece agad,” Stell teased, grinning widely. “Ako na malapit nang mag trenta, stick figures pa rin drawings ko.”
Ken chuckled, shaking his head. In all the years he’d frequented this café, this was the first time he’d encountered someone so exuberantly talkative, so unreservedly excited toward a stranger. And yet, against all odds, Ken wasn’t the least bit annoyed. If anything, Stell’s theatrical energy felt oddly endearing, even tugging an occasional laugh from Ken, which was a rarity in itself.
As the storm outside grew fiercer, their conversation flowed endlessly like the soothing aroma of freshly brewed coffee: unhurried, warm, and laced with unexpected richness. Stell spoke with unrestrained energy, literally a whirlwind of words. He talked, and talked, and talked about anything and everything as though it was his lifeforce. He rambled about the absurd size of the puddle he’d stepped in, or how he’d spent twenty minutes debating whether to brave the rain for coffee (and losing spectacularly), and how, in his humble opinion, the whipped cream on his caramel macchiato was the real hero of the day.
Ken listened quietly, his lips curving into a faint smile. He rarely offered more than a sentence at a time, but Stell didn’t seem to mind. When Ken did speak, his deep voice cutting through the storm of Stell’s chatter, making Stell pause mid-sentence and grin, as though each word held so much more significance simply for just being said.
At one point, Stell leaned in closer, his gaze fixed on Ken’s mug with much scrutiny. “Hoy? Pang ilang sugar packet mo na yan? Parang hindi ka natatapos maglagay ah. Pinanonood lang kita, tumataas na blood sugar ko, amp!”
Ken’s laugh emerged as a deep rumble, which, once again, momentarily silenced Stell’s playful reprimand. “Stell, ‘wag mo na lang itanong baka sermunan mo pa ‘ko lalo.”
“Okay, fine. Pero kapag nahilo ka d’yan sa taas ng glucose level mo, don’t expect na itatakbo kita sa ER ha?” Stell shot back, teasing.
Time drifted by unnoticed, like the rain running down the café windows. Stell’s hoodie dried on the back of his chair, and Ken’s napkin sketches began to pile up, each one discarded until he paused on a single creation: a quick, unfinished drawing of Stell, caught mid-laugh, leaning on the table. When Stell noticed, he gasped
“Hala! Hoy, ako ba ‘yan? Gagi, ang galing mo! Pati hair ko kuhang kuha mo rin. Grabe nainlove yata ako, haha!” Stell chirped happily, but the amazement shining in his eyes and smile were unmistakeably sincere. “Pwede magrequest? Lagyan mo nga ako ng halo.”
“Halo? As in yung sa Angel? Halo?”
“Oo, baket? Mukha naman akong Angel, ‘di ba?” Stell snorted, crossing his arms and leaning back with feigned indignation. “Tapos yung jawline ko, medyo taliman mo pa ng konti. Ganito oh.” Stell turned his face slightly to his side, tracing a finger from the bone of his jaw all the way to his chin with a melodramatic flourish. “Kuha mo? Yung parang mananaksak.”
Ken rolled his eyes with a giggle. “Okay, fine.”
As the rain eased to a gentle patter, the world outside remained drenched, but quieter somehow. Stell sighed as he looked out the window, rising slowly to collect his umbrella and hoodie. His smile was easy, almost dismissive, as he glanced back at Ken, who returned the gesture with a simple nod of acknowledgment. Yet, as Stell reached for the door, his hand hovered uncertainly over the knob, hesitating as though caught between the urge to leave and something else entirely.
Ken’s gaze lingered on Stell, unconsciously hopeful, though he’d never admit that. Of course not.
But then, Stell turned with a smile so warm that it hit Ken like a spark catching in the quiet, his heart leaping to his throat.
“Andito ka ba ulit bukas?” Stell suddenly asked, tilting his head slightly, his grin seemingly almost shy.
Ken nodded, feeling an unfamiliar thrill bloom in his chest. “O-Oo. Same time.”
Stell’s smile widened after that. “See you tomorrow then, Just Ken.”
Ken watched As Stell stepped out into the rain. And all of a sudden, the café felt different, as though the echo of Stell’s laughter had left behind a tangible ray of light. The fading notes of jazz and the soft pelts of the rain seemed awash with a wordless kind of magic, the kind that stayed behind even as the world resumed its mellow pace. Perhaps it was just Ken’s imagination. Or maybe, it wasn’t.