6 - Accidental or Coincidental
1190 Words
Yunah’s POV
“Girl, what’s your plan for the long break next week?” Ree asked, twirling her straw in her drink.
We were at Nova, eating lunch. Ree sat beside me, while Clare and Kaycee were across the table. Crista was beside Iyah, both hunched over their notes.
“None yet. What about you guys?” I asked.
They all shook their heads in unison.
Thankfully, we’d found a solid circle of friends in our block. Six months into the semester and the bond had formed naturally—shared stress was a great glue.
“Crista, seriously, eat something first. You’ve been staring at that page for the last ten minutes,” Ree chided.
Crista didn’t even look up, and Iyah was equally lost in her notes. They’d been reviewing since we got here, but I couldn’t blame them. They were med students, and hell week before the holiday was pure chaos. This was the first time in days we’d all managed to sit down together, and even then, half of us were mentally elsewhere.
“Yeah, girls. Eat before you pass out,” Kaycee added.
“Wow. Says the people who didn’t even lift a finger for their thesis,” Iyah shot back.
Kaycee and Clare were scrambling to meet their Friday deadline—and it was already Wednesday.
Ree and I weren’t exactly off the hook either. We had reports due tomorrow, but we’d already finished half the requirements, so now it was just reviewing for exams. Food first, chaos later. Priorities.
“You two sure you’ve got nothing to do?” Clare asked suspiciously.
“Looks like nothing… but there’s something. There’s always something,” Ree replied, smirking.
“We’ve got reports tomorrow, but obviously, eating comes before trouble,” I added, high-fiving her.
“Any updates from Moreng or D?” I asked mid-bite.
“None. They haven’t replied yet. Acting like celebrities,” Iyah said through a mouthful of food.
“They’re busy,” Clare defended. “Moreng’s graduating, and D’s swamped in the medical field. Just like you and Crista.”
“Crazy to think you’re graduating next year, Iyah,” Kaycee said.
“Shhh. Don’t jinx it,” Crista warned without looking up.
“When the break’s over, our internship starts. I’m not ready,” Ree groaned.
The relief of finishing today’s exam felt like taking off a backpack full of bricks. Just tomorrow’s report left, and I’d be done for the week.
“Yunah! Where are you headed?” Justin slung an arm over my shoulder.
“Home. I need to work on my report.” I shrugged his arm off—it felt like carrying a sack of rice.
“Are you sure? You sound like you’re secretly going somewhere,” Ree teased.
“I’m not convinced,” Justin added.
“Nope. No plans. Just me, my laptop, and my suffering.”
“Alright. My dad’s picking me up. See you both,” Ree waved as she walked away. “Bye, papi Jus! Bye, girl!”
Justin and I walked toward the car park. Clare had already gone home, and Iyah had buried herself in the library for overtime review.
“Got plans for the break?” Justin asked suddenly.
“Nope. I’ll probably just rot at home.”
“You should come with us!” he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Where?”
“You don’t know?”
I shook my head.
“Ej’s birthday next Wednesday! Since it’s the break, we’re going out of town—Batangas, three days. Just to escape for a while.”
Oh. Right. Ej’s birthday. Totally slipped my mind.
“I’ll… see if I can go,” I said. I wasn’t sure if I actually wanted to.
“C’mon, he’s definitely going to invite you. Hello? You’re one of the people he talks about the most.”
I stared at him. Me?
“Yeah, you. I honestly thought you two were a thing at some point. Then I found out Kit talks about you too.”
I thought it would be Rai. But why would I expect that? He’s probably forgotten I exist.
God, you’re such an i***t, Yunah.
Justin waved goodbye and drove off. I made a detour to CoffeeTeà for a snack before heading home. No need to bug Ate Cindy to prep merienda when I could just buy it.
Besides, I still couldn’t cook to save my life.
While waiting for my name to be called, I started working on my report.
“Ms. Yunah.”
I stood and headed to the counter.
My phone buzzed—Mom.
“Yes, Ma?”
“Where are you?”
“At a coffee shop.”
“Why there?”
“Class just ended. I figured I’d finish my report here.”
“Alright. When you get home, check the file on my desk.”
“Got it, Ma.”
I pocketed my phone.
“Caramel Macchiato and cookies and cream cake,” the barista announced.
I took the tray, inhaling the sweet scent. Caramel Macchiato was my comfort drink, and cookies and cream cake was my weakness.
As I sipped the coffee, I frowned. Something was… off? Not bad—just different.
“Uh, I think that’s mine.”
I froze. Slowly turned.
Rai.
My heart skipped, and I hated that I noticed.
“Sorry, what?” I asked, blinking like my brain had hit the blue screen of death.
“That’s my order,” he said, nodding toward the cup.
I glanced down. Written in bold marker: Rai’s Caramel Macchiato.
Oh. My. God.
I’d already sipped it.
Heat crawled up my neck. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I didn’t—uh—I already drank from it.” I quickly set the tray down, feeling like my ears were on fire.
“You got Caramel Macchiato too, right? And cookies and cream cake?” he asked, totally calm.
“Uh… yeah.” My voice barely made it out.
“Then we’ll just swap.” He smiled casually and slid my tray toward himself like it was no big deal.
Effortless smile. Not forced, not smug—just… natural. And somehow, my knees felt weaker than they should have.
He went back to his table. I shuffled to mine, which, unfortunately, faced his.
I poked my cake with my fork, sneaking glances at him. He was bent over his laptop, sipping from the cup with my name written on it.
Wait. He didn’t hide it. The side with my name was facing me.
Why would he do that?
He set the cup down and looked straight at me, lifting an eyebrow like he was daring me to react.
And suddenly, I was smiling. Why? I didn’t even know.
Was it nerves? Excitement? Why did my chest feel warm and my brain feel like scrambled eggs?
I tore my gaze away and focused on my cake.
But… why did it feel like something had just shifted?
This was coincidence, right? Just bad coffee shop luck.
Then why did I want it to happen again?
- Writer
