Under Amber Skies

The Stare

I retrieved my things near the front door.

Then I explored the closed bedroom. I wasn’t able to check it a while ago.

I turned the doorknob slowly and what greeted me was the white-colored walls. It had two shelves on top of the headboard, with brown and black frames for each layer. On the top layer, was a cute vase filled with dried wheat flowers that made the room less bleak and a sun ornament on the lower layer. The bed frame and on the side is a stool with a plant.

The mattress was bare. I think the extra bed sheets I brought fit this bed.

“Where is it?” I said out loud while looking through my stuff in the trolley.

“Yes! Found you!” I raised up the packed bed sheets.

The black dotted bed sheets fit well with the interior of the room.

Okay, now it is time for a bath.

____________________

After bathing, I felt a wave of sleepiness. Still jet lagged from the 15-hour flight, I instantly fell asleep on the soft mattress.

The next day I woke up feeling refreshed.

“I still want to rest but I have lots of things to do”. I pouted while looking at the ceiling of my room.

I Checked the time on my phone and saw it was 2:00 PM. Wow, no wonder I don’t feel so tired anymore. My body will need to adjust to the time zone here.

I have quite a long list to purchase for my apartment today. But I’ll head out for breakfast in a cafe first, since I haven’t bought groceries yet.

I slowly got up and headed to my luggage on the floor near my bed. I chose a floral white mini dress and a cropped cardigan. I’ll partner it with my white sneakers.

Since my hair is still a bit damp from last night’s shower, I put it in a messy bun and got some strands to fall on the sides.

“Hmm.. Not bad”. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror beside the wardrobe before grabbing my handbag and phone.

_____________

The afternoon heat was warm on my skin. Good thing I used SPF.

I walked through the streets of Spain, looking at every store that I passed through. It's an old habit of mine to memorize street signs or just stores in case I get lost.

I found a quaint café near the plaza and settled down to eat my brunch there.

I took a seat next to the window to get a good look at the people around. There was a family at the table near me, with their cute baby girl. I gave the baby a smile and waved. And you know what’s more amazing? She giggled at me. Ah, babies are so cute!

“Buenas tardes, señora, puedo tomar tu pedido?”. I almost jumped from my seat when a young woman approached me with a note and pen.

She smiled when she noticed my reaction. So I shyly smiled back in return.

I saw her nameplate, “Abby” written in bold letters.

“Hi uhm, I don’t speak Spanish that well” I meekly said.

Abby nodded understandingly and smiled.

“It's alright, miss. You’ll get familiar with the language soon enough”. She encourages me. I noticed a thick accent coming through her as she spoke.

“Here’s the menu of our cafe”. She handed me a beige colored booklet with the cafe logo in it.

I flipped through pages and saw the picture of toast with some sugar and berries and salivated at the sight of it.

“I’ll take the torrijas, with some berries on the side and a macchiato please”.

“Alright, miss. Would that be all?”

“Yes please. Thank you”.

Abby mentioned that my food would be served after 10 mins, so I used the time to look around at the people inside the cafe.

After the table with the cute baby girl, at the next table was a couple happily talking while eating, and at the table after that, a middle-aged woman reading a book while sipping coffee.

As I scanned the area, I saw a man sitting all alone. He was wearing glasses and typing something on his laptop. He was sitting on the opposite side of where I was, but I could tell he had a nice side profile. He looks cute.

As discreetly as I could, I acted like I was texting on my phone (even if I don’t have a roaming sim yet, just acted for the hell of it), and peeked at him again. The guy was wearing a dark green bomber jacket with a signature gray hoodie under, light colored jeans and white sneakers. Hmm, stylish too.

He was focusing on his laptop. I noted he was a fast reader.

The guy I was “discreetly” looking at must have noticed my stare. With furrowed brows, he glanced at me.

Great. I sarcastically thought. He must think how much of a creep I am.

I quickly averted my eyes as if I hadn’t just stared at him a couple of minutes ago. I fiddled with my phone and opened the Tetris game. I honestly sucked at playing Tetris. I don’t know why I even installed this game in the first place.

When I looked back in his direction again, he was still staring at me with serious eyes. Oof he’s a bit scary.

As if an imaginary bell rang, Abby came with my orders. I’ve never been so happy for her saving me from potential embarrassment.

Saved by the bell. Thank God.