A week working in a doughnut shop and living with Eloisa is surprisingly easy. Eloisa is so caring and as days pass by, she reminds me of my best friend Katie - so talkative, but in a graceful manner. I also love going to work because of Renzo, he’s the only person who reminds me of who I really am. Though he thought I’m crazy for suspecting he was from 2020, we still became good friends.
I try my best everyday to stay calm and not freak out that I am still not dragged back to 2020. But one day, what I thought a typical Teusday would be, gave me more hope of going back to my life.
“Leonardo?” I whispered under my breath as he enters the shop.
It gave me flashbacks of what happened at the party, I felt my heart thumping and my knees soften. I couldn’t help it, I started to feel dizzy and about to pass out. His eyes widen and immediately grabbed me by my waist.
Our faces were so close I could feel his warm breath.
“Are you okay?” his young brittle voice.
“Hey!” I heard Renzo, he pulled me away “Sorry, this is a doughnut shop and we don’t pimp!” he’s mad, he thought Leonardo’s harassing me. What a gentleman.
“No!” I stutter “I was about to pass out when he caught me just in time.”
He looked at Leonardo and the innocence in his face calmed Renzo down. “How can we help you?” his voice were cold, obviously still not trusting him.
My mind were scattered as he tell his order, does he have any idea of what’s going on? Can he help me go back to my present? Wait, he’s not a celebrity yet? Why is this happening to me? Argh!
“Did you get that?” he obviously noticed I wasn’t paying attention.
“Get what?”
“My order?” he chuckled awkwardly.
Shit! I didn’t know what to say, I didn’t get his order because I was too busy thinking about life. After a few seconds, my manager, Romel walked straight to us.
“Are we having a hard time here, sir?” he smiled to him but cold stares to me. I absolutely will be fired this time! Romel is not someone who’ll give me another chance. My life will be so miserable! This is the only thing that kinda keep me sane.
“Yes, yes. We’re doing great. I was not able to tell my orders correctly, I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. Please don’t blame the lady.” he smiled dearly to Romel.
He is still suspicous of me but smiled back to Leonardo and walked away. I let out of sigh and looked at him in the eyes.
“You owe me.” he whispered.
I owe him? “Huh?”
“I saved your job!” he smiled teasingly.
My jaw dropped, amaze how cocky he can be! “What do you want?”
Without thinking twice he blurted “I’ve always wanted to be a baker.” he straight forwarldy said “I guess you know how to bake?”
“Did you see me at the kitchen? No. I’m just a cashier sir.”
It feels like forever as he tries to convince me, I repeatedly told him ‘I CAN’T BAKE!’. I don’t know if he’s just stupid or trying to annoy me. For the hundreth time, I said no.
“What will I do then?”
I was annoyed but after seeing him hopeless, my heart ached. I know my problems are way bigger than his, but it doesn’t make his problem any easier. The silence was heavy, for the last hour he’s been acting like a kid wanting a candy. But his matured aura, staring at the wind makes me feel uneasy.
“Just be something else! I don’t think baking is for you.” Wow, nice. You just discouraged a potential baker. But wait, he’s an actor. Or should I say, he will be an actor. “Be an actor.” I blurt out.
He gave a weird look. “Are you serious?”
“Yes! I can see your future! You will be a great actor.”
And like a cue from god herself, Eloisa jumped in to our conversation. “There will be an audition at the Sunset St., tomorrow morning.” and just like that, she walked away.
We were left speechless. I stared at him, he’s still looking at Eloisa who’s walking away, confused as hell. I slightly smiled, he really do look so young, his smooth face makes his blue eyes more noticable. his pointed nose really stand out and his lips are natuarally plumped. And the fact that people were still crazy of him when he’s middle aged, is something else.
But he caught me staring. I quickly averted my eyes and pretend to do my work. After a few minutes, his order were made and I hand it to him.
He smiled and thanked me.
It’s two in the morning and I can’t sleep, it bothers me how Leonardo acted after I discouraged him. What if I just ruined his dream? What if he’s really not meant to be an actor but a great baker instead? Argh! So stupid of me.
I waited him for days, and he never came. What was I expecting? It’s not like we were friends, right? I sat outside the shop after my shift, I was waiting for Eloisa to finish. It’s snowing and tomorrow’s Christmas. Streets are full of lights and warm exchange of smiles kept the cold breeze subtle.
I looked at the bright star on the giant christmas tree across the street “I miss you, mom.” I whispered. “I’m tired of pretending everything’s normal. I hope you’re doing okay.”
“Who are you talking to?”
I quickly wiped my tears and was stunned when I saw Leonardo, I’m not sure what to feel or how to react, where the hell he have been? I was speechless, he’s still not as giddy as he was the first time we met but his face is calmming.
“Don’t cry, they say tears on Christmas Eve are bad luck.”
“Can anything be worse?” I scoffed.
He sat beside me and accompanied me in silence. I heard the door chime ring, a signal that Eloisa went out the shop. I saw her stunned when she saw me beside Leonardo and grinned teasingly. I was about to protest at what she’s thinking when she already sprinted away.
Great! I rolled my eyes. I wanted to run after her but I chose to stay.
“I miss my mom.” I initiated.
“Where is she?”
In the future “I don’t know.”
He sat closer to me, which made my heart thump. What the hell?
“So you’ll be alone at Christmas Eve?”
“Well...” I sighed “Yes, Eloisa will go to her parents and I will be all alone.” I don’t know why I haven’t realized it earlier, but this will be my first time spending Christmas Eve alone.
It’s nice staring at vintage car driving around, family dressed so neat and children playing at winter snow.
“Then let’s spend it together!”
I was stunned, this man never fails to surprise me! Is he out of his mind? Why would we spend a very intimate ocassion with me?!
“Where are your parents?”
He sat quietly for a while, thinking how to respond. “They abandoned me after I confess that I want to bake instead of working at their company.”
I knew it! And I discouraged him too! Stupid Gaze! “I’m sorry.”
He smiled weakly “Most people tell me to be a soldier instead, but you’re the only one who told me to be an actor.” his smile turned devilish “Do you find me attractive?”
“No!” I quickly denied. Yes, he’s attractive. But I don’t want him to know!
The night was chilly but our conversation kept us stay outside. We talked about his passion at baking, it appears that he is inspired by their bakers in their home. That sounds a fancy home that I’ll call a mansion instead.