The Story of Us
The next day, the opening of the cafe.
After weeks of preparation, the soon to be open sign has been removed. A rectangular sign with the word 'open' was hanging by the door of the cafe.
10 minutes before the opening, people have lined up in front of the close door so as soon as Alexa flipped the signage around, people started coming in.
A soft piece of music was playing on the background. Ethan and Leo were at the table, asking for the customer's order while Alexa was behind the counter, taking orders from the customers who want to take their orders out.
Louisa was hiding at the corner. Her mother has forcefully dressed her in a pink floppy long dress with cupcakes printed around it. Her bangs were slicked back with a flower pin while her hair was ponied into half like a cheerleader.
Her sister Alexa has colored her cheeks with a blush on and her lips were so glossy that anyone can use it as a mirror.
Despite crying, her family refused to let her remove the makeup and the dress which looked so awful.
She could see all the customer without her bangs covering her eyes. Some were chatting while looking at her and a group of teenagers was asking her to take a picture with them.
Every time Louisa will say no, her mother will come and pinch her side waist. Causing her to silently moaned in pain.
Her mother doesn't usually force her to do something she doesn't like but, since she gets to keep most of her unsold toys, her mother told her that she will have to be the mascot for the opening.
She gulped and glared at the teenagers. Her eyes have turned into black which made the teenagers to squeal but, not in fright but amusement.
Her popularity has suddenly increased, people who were sitting and waiting for their order has suddenly got up and started asking for pictures.
Louisa sulked but, she made a promise to her mother, therefore, she could not back out. She stood there, with her lips pouting in anxiety. Flashes from the camera kept on flickering as the people stood next to her to take pictures.
Standing behind the counter was Alexa, her head shook as she watched her sister getting a lot of attention from their customer.
"Goodness! If I know that wearing that dress will make me popular, I should have offered to be the mascot," she murmured, eyes were gawking at her sister with envy.
"I would like a large cappuccino please, to go," a woman voice spoke. Alexa diverted her eyes in front and found a woman, her face was perfectly contoured though her dress didn't match her looks.
Alexa bit her lower lips to prevent herself from saying a word.
"Large cappuccino. Would you like to pay cash or card?" she asked, fingers typing on the keyboard to record her order
"Card. Anyway can I ask you a question?" the woman hesitantly asked.
Alexa lifted her sight, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"Sure what is it?"
The woman pointed at the open kitchen. When Alexa followed her finger, she found him aiming at her father.
"Is that Evan Su?" there was uncertainty in her voice, making her think that if she said yes, the woman will definitely believe it.
But to avoid busting her mother's mood, Alexa gently shook her head, a thin smile was on her lips.
"No, that's my dad. He always got mistaken for Evan Su but, actually, they are two different people. Really different,"
The woman suspiciously looked at her with narrowed eyes, weighting if she's telling the truth.
Alexa avoided her eyes, she doesn't want the woman in front to just suddenly screams if she finds out that the man brewing a coffee in the kitchen is the real Evan Su.
Confidently, she placed an elbow on the counter and leaned closer. Her convincing eyes shone as she stared at her.
"Look, miss. Can you imagine Evan Su in the kitchen, making coffee while getting scolded by his wife?" she coolly said, making sure that the woman will buy her story.
The woman's head tilted in difficulty, Alexa added, "Do you think the real Evan Su will let his wife treat him like this?"
Then, her finger pointed at her father, standing by the sink, listening attentively to her mother as she directs him on how to properly grin the coffee.
With her eyes full of disbelief by how her mother was treating her father, she turned to the woman. Unlike earlier, the woman's face has been cleared from confusion.
"You know what. You are right. This Evan is nothing compare to the man I read in the news, they are very different," the woman was staring at Alexa's father with her head slowly nodding, convinced by her words.
Absently, Alexa also looked at her father. Unlike earlier, her mother was no longer ordering him, instead, her mother's arm was around her father's waist. The two were talking to each other with smiles on their lips.
"Yes, he is not like the man you read. Because he's my dad and he's very different," he proudly stated. She had also read what the news had written about her father. And she can't blame them, her father rarely smiles in the camera unless it was asked by his kids or wife. He never stayed more than an hour in any of his business gatherings as he was so eager to come home, unlike what the news was saying that he's a prig and a cold person.
Despite her father's cold look, a gentle and loving father was hiding. He smiles, laughs and even sulks whenever he was around his kids or wife.
Alexa sighed, (One day, I will get a man just like daddy) she said to herself, a hopeful smile was on her lips.
"Here's your card. And we also have a promotion. For buying 10 coffee in a month, you will get a free large coffee and pastries for free," she cheerfully said.
Alexa handed the woman's credit card and the membership card, but before letting it off, her eyes narrowed like a lion studying her prey.
"Don't even think about cheating us. I have a good memory so I know what kind of card I gave to you," she spoke in a threatening tone.
The woman was startled by the sudden change of her attitude, with her hand slightly trembling, the woman pulled the two cards from Alexa's hand.
"Sure, but one advice. Don't threaten your customer. It's not good for the business," she said and went to get the coffee that was waiting for her.