Professor F

Chapter 4: Morning Brew

Students are starting to fill the tables at University Coffee & Brew as Augustine waited for the manager,

Henry Gibbs, from the corner table of the coffeeshop.

She approached the cashier named Pam when she arrived at nine. She said Henry would be in by ten.

It's nine thirty when she looked at her watch. And for the past thirty minutes, aside from watching

students and professors coming in and out of the coffeeshop, her thoughts wandered back to that

incident earlier that day.

The hot creature who keeps glaring at her is her neighbor! Her ultimate crush is not just in the same

college as her but also on the same floor in the same building of her apartment!

I’m not sure if that's something you can call lucky but it would be exciting to see him everyday on his

pajamas, say, just for inspiration! But I think, it would be bad if I keep hurting myself when I do, like this

morning.

She giggled inside and blushed at the thought, not realizing she's already grinning at herself.

Then a slice of red velvet cake on a plate was placed on her table next to her cup of coffee. She looked

up, looking confused as she saw the guy who just placed the plate on her table. He's wearing a red,

plaid long sleeves and jeans paired with his converse sneakers underneath his brown Brew & Coffee

apron, smiling at her and pulling a chair to sit on.

"Do you daydream a lot?" He asked, still smiling as he rested his chin on his right palm.

She blushed when she noticed the small dimple on his left cheek. The guy is an eye-catcher. She

looked around and saw few girls looking at him. He has a natural wavy brown hair.

”I—I wasn't. I don't." She stammered.

He smiled. "Good. 'Cause we're pretty busy almost everyday. I'm Henry Gibbs." He offers his hand for

a handshake.

She panicked, pulled out her hand and stands up as she bows her head. "Oh—I'm August—

Augustine." Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

He chuckled. "Hey. No need to be so formal." He didn't release her hand. His grip tightened.

She got confused. And then he moved his thumb up while still holding her hand. He looks at her, as if

encouraging her to do the same. She raised her right thumb, still looking confused.

He moves his thumb up and down twice, she follows him. He nods again in approval. He shakes her

hand twice, release her hand and then closed his fist for a bump which she did, now she's smiling with

him. He raises his pinky finger, she did the same. He looks at her as he sips on an invisible cup of

coffee with his pinky finger still raised.

She giggled as she followed his gesture. He looked so cute and funny. She clapped her hands softly,

trying not to be so loud and disturb the customers who are in the cafe. "Wow! That's so cool and cute."

He smiled proudly and bows his half body. "Thank you. And welcome to the brew!"

"Oh my God! I'm in?"

He looked at her still smiling. "You learned the handshake so yes! You'll start observing today."

“W—What? But I have to process my college admission at elev—"

"I'm kidding." He tapped her shoulder lightly. "You can go ahead. You'll start next week. Just drop by

anytime to get your apron and tag. Come on! I'll introduce you to the morning brew."

Her smile widens as she followed him behind the counter. She saw two guys and a girl mixing coffees

and drinks. "This is Tom, Paul and Kitty. They're professional baristas here. They're the regular full time

ones!" The people waved their free hand while they continue to make coffee. "This is Pam and Gail."

He said, referring to the two pretty girls on the cashier. "Pam is also working part-time and an art major.

Gail here is also a regular full time." Both girls smiled at her.

"Guys, this is Augusti—"

"Just August. Just—uhm—August. Please." She interrupted, smiling shyly.

Henry nodded. "I'll have your name tag changed then. I should've asked you first." He scratched his

cheek.

"Oh—no! That's okay." She assured.

The busy crowd then went to a buzz when the door chimes and a tall guy wearing a pair of black

oxfords walks in. She blinked twice, as if in slow motion, his long legs stride smoothly and gracefully in

his dark brown khakis that matched his black sweater over a sky blue collared shirt.

She glanced around and saw most of the people at the coffee were turning their head to look at him.

And as her eyes traveled to see his face, she went pale. Her mouth dropped open as he turned to look

at her direction and his gaze met hers. She held her breath and immediately covered her face with her

hands as she turned away, as if doing that would help her hide.

Why? Why did he have to look this way? I wish the ground breaks and eat me up!