“MA’AM, I know I am nosy, but what happened yesterday between you and Sir Fuego? Have you two broken up?”
“You are not just nosy, Jennifer. You are also insensitive. Do you really think it’s all right to ask Ma’am Clara that?” Agnes scolded.
They were eating lunch at the counter together. Clara treated them because she felt lonely eating alone.
She had not felt any better after the incident yesterday. She had not heard anything from Fuego, and she was not expecting him to.
“Yes. I realized I don’t really like him at all.” Clara faked a laugh. Jennifer and Agnes only stared at her, but they obviously did not buy it.
“I guess you’ll never really understand what letting go of someone you love meant unless it happened to you.”
Jennifer and Agnes exchanged sad looks.
“It’s complicated, seriously. Fuego deserved someone who could love him freely.”
“That’s sad. Because I really saw how much he loves you.”
Clara stared at Jennifer.
“D-do you really think so?” Tears welled up from the corner of her eyes.
Because it was funny. Fuego never told her he loves her. Clara, too. She kept her feelings to herself because she was pathetic.
“I should not have brought it up. I’m so sorry, Ma’am Clara. Please don’t fire me.”
“It’s okay. I understand that you’re only concerned. How could I fire one of the most trustworthy employees in the world?”
Jennifer beamed.
“T-thank you, Ma’am Clara. And you are the prettiest boss in the world.”
“You are still lucky,” Agnes teased.
“Just stay strong, Ma’am. If two people are meant to be, they will always find a way back in each other’s arms.”
“Jennifer is right. We are rooting for you, Ma’am Clara.”
“Thank you.” Clara smiled, and she meant it.
CLARA volunteered to wash the cups after lunch to keep herself distracted. But it only triggered her memory of the days she spent in Fuego’s farm.
“I’m sure I’ve seen him somewhere before. He’s so gorgeous!”
“Agnes, he looks just like Sir Fuego.”
Clara almost dropped the cup on the sink and looked over her shoulder, her eyes wide.
Josef was already standing at the counter while Jennifer and Agnes looked lovestruck fools. She almost forgot about him because she was occupied with Fuego.
He smiled when their eyes met. Jennifer and Agnes stared at her in surprise.
“Hi. It’s me,” he said.
“J-Josef.”
“I THOUGHT I would see you bossing around your staff. But here you are, doing the dishes and making coffee for me, ” Josef said as Clara put two cups of cappuccino on the table.
Clara smiled awkwardly.
“I have to be very flexible, you know. Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Clara sat across him and caught a glimpse of the spot where she and Fuego used to sit. Someone was already sitting there. “I assume you were not busy since you got the time to drop by.”
“Even if I was busy, I would still make time. Everyone deserves a break, you know.”
“You’re right.” Clara brought her cup to her lips.
“Is there any problem, Clara? Are you sick? You look pale to me.”
Clara looked away as Josef studied her face.
“E-everybody has problems, Josef, ” she said as she put her cup down. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be all right.”
“Is that something you can’t tell me?”
“I-I… I just don’t want to ruin the moment.”
“I understand. I can’t expect you to trust me right away when we just met.”
She stopped. Not in Fuego’s case, though. He was wrong to think that she did not trust him. She would not give herself to him if she did not. She even fell in love with him in just a short time.
She cleared the imaginary lump in her throat. It was not the perfect time to be emotional when Josef was around.
“It’s not weird to cry around a stranger, you know, ” Josef said as he watched her as if trying to read her emotions. “Do you want to cry?”
She shook her head at once.
“I-I don’t want to. That would be very embarrassing.”
“Who made you cry, Clara?”
Clara froze when Josef cupped her cheeks. It was awkward. She felt like running away. She was scared he would find the truth from her eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Josef let go of her. “Do I make you feel uncomfortable?”
“Almost.”
He threw his head back and laughed heartily, drawing the attention of other customers. But Josef obviously did not care. And Clara could only imagine Fuego in his place.
“I did not know you have a shallow happiness, ” she said.
“Well, now you know.” Josef glanced at the man sitting on the other side of the shop.
Clara followed his gaze and saw that the man seemed like he was taking pictures of them. Or so she thought.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
The man stood up and walked out of the shop casually.
“Nothing. Just ignore it, ” Josef said.
The man was a little suspicious, but Clara decided to take it off her mind. He must have recognized Josef, and he happened to be a fan of him.
“I’m going to get you a cheesecake. I’ll be right back.”