Chapter 18: Chapter 18

“Are you nuts?” Orange asked sarcastically. Peppermint told her she plans to tell Kael’s parents about how she found him already. Her friend crossed her arms in front of her and raised an eyebrow, “Are you thinking straight, Peppermint? Don’t you know how sensitive his parents are right now when it comes to Kael?” she added. “What if your information were wrong? Wouldn’t you just make them hope for naught?” Even within this distance, she could hear how Orange was mad about her. She could even almost hear her growling from the other side of the telephone.

“It’s because, I really think he’s Kael! You don’t know how the same they were; his moves, his hands, his face, his body and his voice!” Peppermint said in defense. She was currently sitting in front of a computer, trying to entertain herself with candy crush out of boredom.

“My goodness Peppermint, don’t forget that Kael isn’t the only one in the world with such soft hands!” She heard her friend raised her voice from the other side of the line. It looked like she was starting a fire now with this conversation.

“I just wanted to give Auntie Paula and Uncle Harold a chance to hope that he’s still alive.”

“Chance to hope? Are you insane! You’re not giving them hope Peppermint, you’re giving them more wounds to scar!” her friend was scolding her from across the other line and she continued help biting her lip. “Peppermint, listen to me. You might just make things more complicated,” she added.

“Sorry.” Hearing what her friend said, she does have a point. She might just make things hard. “I just… think the two of them misses Kael so much.” Peppermint couldn’t hide the pain in her voice.

“That’s a different issue now. Just don’t make rushed decisions especially if you haven’t confirmed anything,” her friend advised and so she nodded. “Just gather some information about Brenan first,” her friend added before sighing to herself.

“Okay,” she answered with no motivation. She felt sad. Obviously, she had no choice but to agree with her friend despite thinking of the latter.

“Anyway, just call me if something comes up,” Orange said before ending the call while she on the other hand continued to play on her computer. When she started getting tired of all the games, she finally turned it off and came out of the building. If she continued to stay inside, she’ll probably feel suffocated inside. Peppermint just wanted to take a breather. She still couldn’t forget about yesterday’s event; specifically when Breanan winked at her.

She headed towards a coffee shop she regarded as special. It was just across the two story building of the Fragrant Hub. It was the place that both Peppermint and Kael loved. Whenever they had the free time, they’d hangout together in the same coffee shop. It was also the place where they both fell in love.

As she entered the coffee shop, she ordered a Latte and a slice of Peppermint cake. It was her favorite that Kael always teased her about. On the other hand, Kael loved Coffee crumble cake. After ordering, her gaze roamed around the shop before finally spotting her favorite spot—no their favorite spot. It was the only place who was away from the other customers. As soon as she found it, her smile couldn’t fade away until she noticed a figure sitting on it. It was none other than Brenan Fabregas.

Peppermint stood there stunned. How was he here? Was he following her because her building was just across the coffee shop? She shook her head. She might be thinking wrong. It might have been just a coincidence.

Her eyes were still widened as she slowly wanted to turn away, she even tried to cover her face with some of her hair but it was no used.

“Peppermint,” the man called her. She even almost tripped, the moment he called her name. “Why not join me?” the man asked and offered the seat near him. For the first few seconds, Peppermint didn’t know what to do until she decided to sit down. She even had her Latte in her hands now and just quietly slurped on it. “You were so talkative before, why the sudden cold treatment?” he asked.

Peppermint thought to herself if it were a compliment or an insult. She did want to speak but she felt awkward with the situation. Afraid that the man would gobble her up, she hesitated first before finally opening her mouth, “Am… I allowed to speak?” she asked formally.

“Of course, you are! Haven’t settled everything last night?” the man asked with a creased forehead. “Unless you’re holding grudges against me,” he added before chuckling.

“Hey, I’m not like that.” Peppermint crossed her fingers, defending herself from his accusations.

“Relax, I know,” the man said before taking the spoon towards his mouth. He looked so sexy while his tongue tried to clean up his lips from the icing. Peppermint flushed.

Gosh! It felt like she was fantasizing to herself. She averted her eyes from the man, thinking she might start drooling.

“O-oh yeah, I wanted to apologize for what happened at the cutour shop. You just really looked like my boyfriend,” she sincerely apologized.

“It’s fine. I understand your pain. If I was in your shoes and I suddenly lose my girlfriend, I think I’d do the same.” Peppermint’s eyes couldn’t help but shine the moment he mentioned it. “Anyway, please don’t call me Kael anymore,” he added and so she nodded.

“You love Cookie Crumble cake?” she asked the moment she noticed the man slicing his cake in front of her.

“Yeah,” the man answered, “The icing is sweet but the cookies are still there to eat. Like a cake with biscuits on top,” the man explained. Peppermint suddenly stopped from taking the spoon towards her mouth. She remembered Kael and their first meeting together.

“Eww! What did you even like with that cake? There are a lot of biscuits on the mall but this is the one you chose!” Peppermint looked at him with disgust as Kael craved for the cake in front of him.

“Hey, let me be.” Kael pouted in front of her.

“Why do you even like that? It’s just like putting a few biscuits and flour together,” she asked, raising her eyebrow.

“Do you know why I like this?” he asked. “It’s because the icing is sweet but the cookies are still there to be eaten. It’s like eating biscuit with cake. It’s good,” he answered with a beaming smile on his face.

“What’s delicious?” Peppermint put her arms together, crossing them.

“Taste it.”

Peppermint stopped daydreaming, the moment she felt Brenan flicked her arm. When she came back to reality, the man offered her his last piece of Cookie crumble.

“Hey, taste this,” Brenan said.

“H-huh?” she felt a little baffled by the sudden gesture but she had no choice but to take the offer. As she held her spoon towards the last piece, Brenan reacted as if he were some teenager; excited by her reaction.

“So… anyway, why are you here?” Peppermint changed the topic.

“I just happen to pass by here,” the man casually said. He shrugged his shoulders before leaning his back on the chair. “How about you? Why are you here?” he asked.

“Nothing, really. I just wanted to change my environment for a few minutes. It’s suffocating inside the office,” she answered before doing the same thing. She leaned her back on the chair and then added, “Also, this place is our favorite hangout spot; Me and Kael,” she mentioned before pausing. “That very seat you’re sitting on? It’s Kael’s seat.” Her voice almost cracked when she said that last part. She didn’t even know why she’s telling it to a stranger who looked exactly the same as her boyfriend.

“Sorry about that.”

“No, I’m the one who should be sorry. I suddenly remembered Kael again. You looked exactly like him,” she said followed by a bitter smile on her face. Brenan looked like he pulled something from his pants and gave her a handkerchief.

“You really loved that Kael man, don’t you?” he asked and she only nodded in silence. She started sobbing in front of him, how embarrassing.

“That man is lucky, isn’t he? There’s a beautiful woman who loves him so much.” As soon as Brenan said those words, Peppermint couldn’t help but blushed. She stopped sobbing and slurped on her Latte.

“I’m sure that man also loves you, where ever he is.” Peppermint stopped. She was surprised to hear him say those words. Was he just trying to make her feel comforted? Before she could even react to act, she was startled when the man’s phone rang. The ringtone of his phone was none other than Dive by Ed Sheeran.

“Is Ed Sheeran your favorite singer and song-writer?” she asked.

"Yes, I have all of his albums and posters."

“Really? You and Kael are the same,” she unknowingly mentioned and noticed Brenan stopped.

“D-did I say something wrong?” she asked the moment she noticed how the man’s facial expression changed.

“Nothing, I just remembered something,” the man said and then smiled.

Peppermint didn’t know how to prolong the conversation now. She was thinking about topics inside her head when the man spoke again.

“O…O-oh really?”

“Yes, how about you? Yesterday, they introduced you as Vincent’s girlfriend,” the man mentioned and she didn’t know how to reply. She was scared of embarrassing Vincent in front of the crowd and so she shyly nodded. As soon as she did so, she noticed how Brenan suddenly heaved a sigh. It was a sigh that felt like his world collapsed.

When she finally finished her Latte, Peppermint decided to go back to her office. She still needed to monitor about the arrange of her boxed for the Fragrant Hub branches.

“I’ll escort you. Your office is just across the street, right?” he asked.

“Eh? How did you know?” Peppermint asked in confusion. She just met him a few days ago so obviously, it was impossible for him to know where her office was.

The man scratched his nape, “I-it’s because of the signage,” the man mentioned before pointing towards the engraved laser signage above the door.

“Oh okay,” she agreed in response and the two of them walked together.

"It was nice meeting and talking with you,” Brenan said while pausing near the stoplight.

“The same to you, it was nice seeing you,” she answered and smiled at him. She didn’t know why but the two of them seemed casual and comfortable around each other. It felt like she can start joking with him.

When they arrived in front of the Fragrant Hub’s door, the two couldn’t help but stare at each other. Brenan smiled at the awkward silence between the two of them and just like before, Peppermint could feel her heart leap from her chest.

“I know we’re moving too fast but…” The man seemed to be hesitating and paused for a moment but continued, “Can I have your number?” Peppermint stared at him when he heard him say those words. She thought to herself before giving it to him. She thinks maybe she can trust him since he looked exactly like Kael.

After the conversation from outside her office, they finally bid each other good. Even within the glass window separating the two of them, she looked at his silhouette disappear from the crowd. When she entered the cubicle, she instantly reached for her chest. Her heart was still thumping so hard from all those conversations.

She’s already twenty six years old but the way she feels love struck was like she’s back in her teenage years. She pinched herself to calm down. She shouldn’t like Brenan or more so she can’t. What if Kael comes back? Brenan is just a friend like Vincent. That should be it.

She already admitted that Brenan looked exactly like Kael but the way she loved him? Those are two different things. Lost in her own thoughts, she suddenly remembered the Cookie crumble cake and the Ed Sheeran part. Those were something that Kael loved and it was impossible to be a coincidence especially about the fact that he knows where her office was.

She almost leaped on her feet as soon as her phone rang. It was none other than Vincent. Maybe he’s going to ask her again to come with him.

“Hello Vincent, you called?”

“Sorry, I just wanted to ask about how’re you doing. I also wanted to apologize about the host from last night.”

“It’s fine, it’s not your fault anyway,” Peppermint said. “But just clarify them that I’m not your girlfriend.”

“But we can just make it happen, right?” he asked.

Peppermint sighed to herself, “Vincent you know I don’t want to have a boyfriend yet, right?” she pointed out. She could casually tell that he’s expecting for a positive response again.

“Is this still about Kael? Peppermint, he’s already dead. You should open your heart now,” Vincent mentioned and paused. “Don’t tell me you still have feelings for him?” he continued.

“I can’t answer you about that but if we’re going to continue this conversation, I’ll hang up on you,” she said. “I still have a lot of things to do,” she added. Peppermint still feels hurt whenever her boyfriend is added to the topic. It still hurts to hear people tell her how she should move on and stop waiting for a man to come back. She smiled bitterly, still thinking about Kael.

“Okay, okay I’m sorry. I was just emotionally—no nevermind. Let’s just have dinner at home, would that be alright?” Vincent asked.

“I’m busy,” she coldly replied.

“How about breakfast? I can pick you up on your office.”

“I’m only eating at home so don’t bother yourself.” Peppermint couldn’t help but continue to reject him.

“Then lunch? You can’t say no to lunch, right? I can go to your office and—“

“Sorry Vincent but I have buyers I need to meet tomorrow so I won’t be able to accompany you,” she quickly rejected. She was trying to be polite as much as she can so she was surprised when Vincent cussed on the other line.

“Were you cussing at me?” she asked with a creased forehead. She also heard something that fell so she couldn’t help but be a little piseed.

“N-no, I’m not. I’m just stressed out in the office,” Vincent said.

“Ah okay.” Peppermint doesn’t seem to care much about it anymore. “Just continue with your work. Bye,” she added before ending the call on him. She wanted to focus as much as she can with her work and so she decided to put all of her attention towards dialing countless numbers written in papers. It was the landline numbers for the branches of the Fragrant Hub.

She couldn’t help it. She had to make someone else handle the branches on Visayas and Mindanao since it was too big of a business now. She only makes them report once every month and resolves the issue as fast as she could. The Fragrant Hub’s business is nice and growing steadily anyway, she was able to make it successful as soon as she graduated from college. From five hundred thousand pesos she received from her parents, she was able to make eighty-one branches all over the Philippines.

She suddenly stopped from doing whatever she was doing when a messaged popped out from nowhere. It came from an unregistered number. Peppermint opened it.

Hi, this is Brenan. This is my number so you can save it. I also just wanted to ask how you’re doing. Though, I’m sure you’re doing fine. If you’re not that busy, could I ask you for a cup of coffee at the same spot from earlier? I’m expecting you to come. I’ll be waiting for you.

Brenan even added a smiley emoticon at the end of his text message and she couldn’t help but smile at all. She even wanted to jump out of excitement since he invited her for a cup of coffee but she suddenly stopped. She slapped both of her cheeks to get a hold of herself. She scolded herself and thought she shouldn’t fall him. She shouldn’t. Kael’s the one he loves not Brenan even if the two shares the same face.