Lumps of Sugar©

Chapter 1: Two Cups of Coffee

The scent of freshly brewed coffee climbed up to her nose as she entered the softly lit doorway. The walls were painted a harsh gray. Seems a little cold for a supposedly cozy café, Leslie thought as she walked further down the hallway. Her eyes skimmed through the interior of the café. She was surprised to see cute and colorful chalk drawings on the blackboard fastened just above the counter. At one corner of the wall was a mural of sunflowers painted in bold red and yellow, a stark contrast to the cold gray of the cement. On the other side, a shelf lined with vintage toy cars, a 50’s black and white television and an empty gumball dispenser. Just above it hang another blackboard, filled with sketches of items found on top of shelves such as vases, picture frames and lights.

“Hello! Welcome to Café Réal,” greeted a pleasant looking man with jet black hair peppered with gray streaks wearing a waiter’s uniform. “Where would you like to be seated?”

“By the window would be fine,” she replied. The man, whom she found out later was named John, led her to a table beside the window. She noticed the furniture, a collection of mix-match wooden, plastic or metal chairs and tables.

“Are you expecting anyone?” he asked.

“Yes, my friend will be here shortly. I’ll be ordering then,” she replied. Her high school friend, Jane had invited her to a cup of coffee to catch up. They had not seen each other since their second year of high school when she moved to a different school. Now she is already a senior in college. Leslie looked out the window and noticed there were sketches on it. Some were of butterflies and flowers and another was a tree. She traced the wings of the butterfly with her finger, sighing.

Jane’s arrival snapped Leslie out of her reverie. She was dressed in a worn-down, faded tee with denim jeans and an old pair of sneakers. Jane’s haggard appearance is a considerable difference from her youthful glow in high school. “Leslie! I haven’t seen you since forever,” said Jane, opening her arms for an embrace.

Leslie stood up and walked towards her friend. “I missed you! I can’t believe we haven’t seen each other for so long. How are you?”

Jane took the seat across Leslie’s and sat down. “You know, so-so.”

“Really?” Leslie teased, “How can our class president, first honor and volleyball varsity captain possibly say that?”

Jane dropped her shoulders and gave a smile that didn’t seem to reach the other parts of her face. She hoped it was enough to conceal her disappointment. “Enough about me,” Jane shrugged. “What about you? How’s college? I heard from Mike that you’ve been hired by a multi-national corporation.”

“I’m fortunate,” Leslie gave Jane a weak smile. “My interview went well. My mom actually knew someone from the company so I had help,” Leslie added.

“That’s great! I can’t believe that you’re almost graduating and you already have a job lined up. How lucky!” Jane exclaimed, clasping Leslie’s hands together.

Lucky is not really the word Leslie had in mind. She remembered her conversation with her mom just earlier that week.

“Leslie, you have to apply to Marjorie’s company. She’s coming over and I want you to be on your best behavior. Make a good impression and she’ll help you land a position,” her mom insisted, rushing past her to fix a meal for the guest. Her mother personally launched a clean up brigade since the early hours of the morning to prepare for their visiting guest. She ordered the maids to take out the finest linens and set the dining table using the good China.

“Mom, I already told you that I want to go to law school,” she replied, closely following on her heels.

“Nonsense! Learn from her business and start your own so you won’t have to depend on someone like your father. How can you even consider being a lawyer? A mediocre student like you won’t make it!” Leslie’s mother turned her back to stop any further arguments. Leslie was not going to law school and that was final.

Leslie looked back at her friend’s smiling face envying the independence she enjoyed, “How about you? What are your plans?”

Jane admired Leslie’s appearance. From her two thousand peso hair cut and dye job down to her dainty heart shaped diamond charm on her bracelet. She looked elegant and was well-suited for the corporate world she was about to enter. She however was not. She looked down at her dirty shoes and worn-down clothes. She was dressed for her future, alright.

“Well, where are you working?” Leslie asked again when Jane didn’t answer the first time.

“That…well, I’m an entrepreneur so I’m self-employed,” she replied, a hint of bitterness reflecting in her voice. It was true. She is partially self-employed, working their small sari-sari store by day and working in a call-center by night. Jane could not help but remember the moment she encapsulated as the worst day of her life.

“Dad, tomorrow’s my registration I need money for my tuition,” Jane said as she got home from her summer job working as a call-center agent.

“Honey,” her father’s face looked grim. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

“What?” she asked, sitting beside her father noting his downtrodden expression.

“We don’t have enough money to send you to college.”

“But there’s only a year left. Can’t we get a loan from the bank?” Jane asked.

“I already tried but we’ve already mortgaged the house and the car. We don’t know anyone who can loan us that amount of money. Your Aunt Thelma is trying to repay us but she says that it will take time since your Uncle Herman is still sick.”

“But Dad…I only have a year left. Can’t we ask Jojo to stop?” She didn’t want to take away her brother’s chance of continuing his education but she was beginning to grow more and more desperate as the conversation dragged on.

“Jojo is in his fourth year. It will be better for him to continue his studies so that he’ll be able to find a decent job. You understand don’t you? No one hires high school undergraduates anymore unlike if you stop. I’m sure there will be a lot of companies willing to hire a college undergraduate like you. Didn’t you mention a scholarship program in your college?”

Jane let out a defeated laugh, “I didn’t make the cut-off for scholars and they have already stopped granting scholarships.”

“Jane? Jane? What do you want to drink?” Leslie asked, gently brushing her friend’s arm.

“Sorry,” Jane quickly wiped the tears forming in her eyes. “A cup of coffee will be fine”

“Make that two,” added Leslie.

“Your drinks will be served shortly,” John bowed and politely moved away.

“It’s amazing that you already have a plan for your life. I can’t imagine slaving over a business like that. I don’t think I could take on such responsibility.”

“What are you saying? It’s just a small start up company,” Jane replied raising her brow, confused by her comment since she was going to work in a multi-national company which seemed to be a more arduous job. “I’m more interested in who you got this beautiful bracelet from? Do you have a boyfriend? Didn’t you say that you are going to be single until you’re thirty,” Jane teased, her slender fingers caressing the dainty diamond charm.

Leslie laughed, “You know me. I don’t have those womanly wiles necessary to get a man. This is a present from my father.” Leslie removes the bracelet and hands it to Jane to inspect.

“Is it a present for your debut?” Jane asked, admiring the soft glow emanating from the diamond when a ray of sunshine shone through it.

“No, just an ordinary gift,” Leslie replied, receiving the bracelet from Jane.

“Get out! Don’t ever come back! Get the hell out of this house! Go to your mistress!” Leslie could hear the shrill scream of her mother’s voice even through her closed bedroom door. This was a typical day for the Chan household ever since her mother found out that her father had an affair.

“Damn it, Lydia! Let me in! What do you think you’re doing! You’re going to wake the neighbors with your noise!” her father shoves her mother into their bedroom and slams the door shut.

Leslie, who was studying for her midterm exam, locked the door. She turned up the volume of her iPod and settled into bed. Her parents had been fighting everyday since her mother found out that the mistress was pregnant. She hasn’t gotten any sleep for the past couple of days since they always fought at night. She was tired, too tired to even cry tonight.

That morning during her ride to school, her father handed her a black velvet box. “I’m sorry; I bought you something to make you feel better.”

Make up for your mistakes is more like it, she privately thought to herself. She opened the small box and found the heart shaped diamond charm attached to a white gold bracelet. Leslie looked at her father who was driving and sighed. “Thanks Dad. It’s just what I needed.”

Leslie placed the bracelet back on her arm with a wistful look reflected in her eyes. “You know Jane. I’m really envious of you. Your family is so close and you are starting a business that I’m sure is going to be successful. Your life is near perfection,” Leslie said earnestly.

Jane snorted gently, “If someone should be envious it’s me. Look at you. You look great and you are in for a great job. I’m not even sure if my business is going to be successful,” Jane replied.

Just then John had approached their table and put down two cups of coffee with latte art on the froth. “Here you go ladies, two cups of coffee. I hope you enjoy it.” John noticed the smiling faces of the two beautiful women he served the coffee to but he also saw the sadness in their eyes like a cup of coffee which hid its bitterness under its sweet aroma.

“Hey John!”

John turned to see who called him; it was Mr. Santos a regular who came in weekly after a visit to the hospital across the street. “The usual up of tea, sir?” He asked.