6- Coffee

"I can't believe its starting already," Lean whispered to me. We've been in this room for a hour and in the next fifteen minutes, we'll be dismissed, just to walk to our next class, which unfortunately was in the other building. It was a five minute walk from here to the third floor of the next building, but we had enough time.

"You've said that for what? Thirty times already?" I whispered back, irritated but amused. Lean had the problem in shutting her mouth, maybe that's why she took Communications to be her major. She rolled her eyes to me and stuck her bottom lip when she turned to the front and to the professor again. I hid a chuckle with my fist.

"That would be the end of our first class. Remember to bring your class cards on Wednesday, and get your copies of your reading list in my mailbox at the department office." Miss Ruiz reminded us. She was our adviser for our whole stay in the university. She looked like around the age of Fay, in her early twenties. She's still young, and friendly. But there was something in her tone that was authoritative. I think it was of perfect quality.

I grabbed my bag and stood from my chair, dragging Lean in the process. The girl might be energetic as a kid, but she was undeniably slow. In the past two subjects before this, we've been the last ones to leave the room.

"Fine, fine, I'm going," Lean said in a huff. She walked to the door and I shook my head in her antics. I love Lean. She's my best friend, and she could make me smile. Even over simple things like her huffing.

Today was our first day in the university. It felt weird to step in our class without knowing anyone except Lean. I've been in my old school since grade school, which was a total of ten years all in all. This was new. Everything was new, but not shiny. It was rather old in my opinion. I'm indifferent about.

"Mira, right?" A voice called me from my behind. I stopped on my walk and turned around. Lean was at the door, arms crossed and frowning. "Yes?" I asked. He got my attention at the moment.

"Tristan," he said, extending his hand for me to shake. I looked at him, curiously before I accepted his hand. I figured there was nothing wrong with it. He was taller than me and I had to look up to his face when he talked. It was rude not to.

His eyes shined from what he was saying, but I wasn't listening. I was looking at his eyes and trying to analyze the quick show of emotions. It was rare for me to see someone's eyes like that, with the exemption of Lean. The girl was too open.

"Mira! We'll be late." Lean's voice pulled me out of my reverie. I blinked and looked at her. "A minute," I replied.

Tristan smiled to me softly and nodded. "I'm sorry but we really need to go." I said quickly, when I felt something in my hands. I realized that I involuntarily accepted while I was staring at him. It was my pen that slipped from my bag when I stood. "Thank you." I added.

He nodded and smiled. I jogged to Lean and was greeted with a knowing grin and a pinch on my forearm. "Who's that?" She whispered. I rolled my eyes to her  and opened my mouth to speak.

"Mira," he called again. We stopped on our tracks and looked at him. "Can we meet after your class?" he asked. I shared a look with Lean then nodded. "This is our last class." I answered. "The cafeteria in the Arts building?" I asked, and he nodded with a smile. I just noticed, his smile shone too.

"You need to tell me about that later," Lean muttered grinning as we climbed the stairs

"No, I don't think I will." I said readjusting my bag on my shoulder. "Unfair." She pouted, but dragged me to the room. "Fine, I'll ask him when we meet him." We had already reached our seats before I could respond.

***

 Stupid, stupid, stupid. I had vowed not to talk to anyone aside from Lean on my first day. I didn't like people. There was a time when I used to like them. Not anymore. I frowned as I zipped my bag shut and grabbed it, walking as fast as I could to the door. I didn't bother to wait for Lean. She wouldn't let me out of her sight too fast.

Especially now she knew about the guy I'm meeting with. Tristan was a nice guy, or should I say he cleaned up nice. His hair trimmed neatly, his clothes were pressed nicely, and he looked presentable without trying too hard. He carried himself nicely. He reminded me awfully of Dean.

"Mira wait!" Lean's voice boomed, I heard her heavy footsteps as she got closer. She ran to me apparently because once she got hold of my hand, I had to stumble back when she forced me to stop. Panting, Lean glared at me.

"Why are you walking fast?" She asked when she had caught up with her breath.

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are. You're eager to see pretty boy Tristan eh?" she teased, and I frowned. I'm not eager to meet him. I'm eager to have the meeting over as soon as possible. I couldn't tell Lean that or she would smack my head. She was pretty violent. I could tell it was her plan to get me another boyfriend after my break up with Dean.

"Whatever," I mumbled and continued walking down the stairs. The cafeteria was at the ground floor. It was a well ventilated area with its walls displaying an array of paintings from the Fine Arts students and alumni alike. At the far end of the room was the counter, the menu was displayed in an electric board above eye level. Tables for four littered the center of the room, leaving a feet distance between each other. It was a rather famous place for students from the looks of it. It was almost full. If not for Tristan, we might not be able to find a place to sit.

He waved at us when he saw us, and Lean dragged me to the table. It was the first table to the left facing the counter and two meters away from it. We weaved our way to him as he stood up and greeted us. His smile shone again as he did and I felt a bit guilty. This was why I didn't like meeting people. They were too nice for my liking.

"Hi," I said, nodding to him and pulling out a chair for me. I saw Lean rolled her eyes before she put her bag on the table beside me. "Well, I'm famished. I'll best order now." She took her wallet and asked me what would I get. "Lasagna," I said automatically. She nodded and left to the counter to get our food.

Silence filled our table when Lean left. Despite the chatter around us, it was awfully silent. I sighed and frowned. This would do well. It felt awkward than a first date. "So, why did you want to meet?" I ask conversationally, leaning on the back of my chair and smirking at him.

He seemed to be pulled out of his thoughts and his eyes shone again. He smiled to me before he answered. "I figured it would be nice to talk. We'll be classmates for the whole semester and probably the whole year." He shrugged.

"Okay," I said slowly. I didn't know what to ask next. I usually wasn't the first to strike a conversation. Lean approached me first when she first transferred in our school on our sophomore year in high school, Chris threw a note to me during our mid-year celebration after the exams that year too. I just answered to them as honest I could before I felt comfortable enough with them.

"Tristan Allen," he said inching closer to the table. "Do you like coffee?" he asked. I blinked at him rapidly and tried to hide my disconcertment with a quick cough. A hard red plastic number thumped on our table. Thank you Lean. I thought, smiling to her. She was frowning. "Wait for our food, Mi. I'm going to call Dean or Chris. I think its their break too." She said and walked out of the cafeteria. A premature gratitude it was.

"Miranda Montano," I said once she was out of the room. "I like coffee." I replied and reached out to touch the plastic number. It was number 17 with every edge pronounced yet it was smooth. I actually assumed it'll be sharp.

"Excuse me," a sharp voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to see a man holding down a tray of a plate of lasagna, a plate of macaroni and cheese, a huge cup of café latte, and a tall cup of black coffee. Did Lean read Tristan's mind? I didn't know she was telepathic or something.

"Thank you," I said after he put our food on the table and took the number seventeen out of my grasp. I looked at Tristan when I noticed he hadn't bought something. "Aren't you eating?" He didn't respond but took a piece of sandwich from his bag and stopped the man. "Can you buy me a cup of Cappuccino please?" He asked, and gave the man some money. The man left and Tristan looked at me.

"I take it that's your lunch," I said casually, taking my fork and started to cut a piece from my food. "Yes, I've ate heavy breakfast so I'm not really hungry." he replied and took a bite of his sandwich.

"You aren't having a diet, are you?" I teased, feeling light headed from slight hunger. I chewed my food slowly as he laughed. His laughter was reminiscent of Chris's and I felt slight ease in that.

"Nope, I'm not that fat." He said feigning the look of hurt. "Oh shut it. You're fat, admit it," I rolled my eyes and hid a grin. He was a good actor because if I wasn't the one initiating the jokes, I might believe that he was truly hurt by my words.

"Whatever, I'm not fat, I'm chubby." He said grinning. Optimism. Fat was a negative view, but chubby wasn't. I've heard it quite a few times in Lean when she got tired of Chris teasing her about her weight.

His drink arrived and I remembered about his random question. I took my cup of black coffee and sipped a little from the hot cup. "What's with the coffee question?" I asked unconsciously cocking my head to the side.

He sipped from his own, licking his lips from the white froth after. "I take it you drink only black coffee?" he asked, and I nodded, curious. "You're quiet and moody," he stated as if it was the simplest fact in the word. I frowned and pursed my lips. How did he say so?

"I like you as a friend, you'll be a good friend to anyone," he smiled to me and put his hand on mine that was holding the cup. His eyes twinkled and I felt my frown slipping away. He smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back.

"Is the food here already?" Lean asked when she arrived. I pulled my hand away quickly and was a shot from jumping out of nerves. She raised an eyebrow at me and I returned it challengingly. She just smiled and exclaimed happily at the sight of her food. "Oh thank goodness," she gasped as she plopped herself on the seat beside me.

"Leandra Sullivan," she extended her hand to Tristan and he took it politely introducing himself after. The conversation flowed quickly and easily between the two while I occasionally chimed in my thoughts. But most of the time, I had my head slightly cocked to the side and wondered what did his coffee say about his personality.