Paraiso Cafe (3)

Paraiso café is one of the businesses of L Corporation.

To be more specific, Christopher founded this business upon knowing several years ago that Antonio is very fond of cafes.

As the group of Mikhall kept talking while consuming their orders, they suddenly felt that the atmosphere in their floor turned odd.

Almost everyone on the second floor is looking in the same direction.

"T-this way sirs, please."

A waitress, who was guiding two male customers stuttered as she glanced at the two men who were quietly following her.

One of them is a tall handsome man wearing a casual formal attire.

He possesses light brown skin, an attractive pair of hooded eyes with brown irises, and his black hair is styled in a guile cut.

The other one is a stunning man of a not so tall stature wearing a pair of hoodie and jogging pants.

Yet, despite him being smaller than his companion, the onlookers' eyes are mostly set on him.

His height may not be tall but his face is truly a masterpiece of God.

He possesses an almond shaped eyes, and the moment the ray of sunlight shone on his face through the glass wall, his normally brown irises suddenly turned into an orange color.

He has a shiny black, shoulder length long hair that was tied in a half-bun—its color is a perfect match with his light brown skin.

He has a small face compared to other men.

Despite being utterly good-looking, one cannot really call him handsome.

Rather, beautiful is the perfect term to describe his face … extremely beautiful.

Fernando, who already knew the source of the strange atmosphere because he is sitting while facing the entrance of the second floor, can't help but stare at the beautiful young man.

The same goes for Francisco and Pierre.

They can't help but feel attracted toward him.

"Hey."

Francisco spoke while his eyes were glued to Antonio.

He tapped Mikhall's shoulder, who didn't seem to care about his surroundings and was just staring at the scenery outside the window of the café while savoring his drink.

Mikhall looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Dude, look behind you and maybe it will brighten your day."

Francisco muttered in a low voice just enough for Mikhall to hear.

The latter turned his head around.

Thump.

At that moment, his heart started beating wildly.

His surroundings are slightly noisy because of the whispers and murmurs here and there … but he can't hear them.

Thump.

All he could hear was the erratic beating of his heart.

His mind keeps repeating the name of the person responsible for the rapid beating of his heart.

'Yoyo.'

His eyes are unable to look away from the young man wearing a hoodie and is following a waitress to a table.

The more the waitress took a step, the closer she got to the table where Mikhall was sitting.

Mikhall struggled to force himself to look away and took a proper sitting position facing their table.

He then looked at the person across from him and frowned.

Fernando is staring quite intensely at the direction of the waitress and the new customers.

He is not the only one.

Pierre and Francisco … their eyes are also glued to that direction.

"Tsk!"

He clicked his tongue in annoyance as he glared at his three childhood friends.

. . .

"What do you want to have, Yoyo?"

Alden asked as soon as they sat on the table reserved for them.

The waitress who guided them to their table, stood near them awaiting them to mention their orders.

Antonio let his eyes wander around the cafe.

There are exquisite chandeliers hanging on the ceiling.

Because it was nearing Valentine's day already, there are red hearts decorated at the different areas of the cafe. 

There are also aesthetic paintings displayed on the walls that are not made of glass.

Lastly, the music playing from the sound system of the cafe is very pleasing to the ears.

It is an instrumental music that added a touch of sophistication to the cafe.

He nodded in appreciation to the store's classy ambience and opened his mouth to speak.

"I'll have a bowl of chicken noodle soup and vanilla latte."

He said to the waitress and turned his eyes to the scenery outside the café.

Unlike the tinted glass wall of the ground floor, this floor has a transparent glass wall perfect for people who want to take in the scenic view outside.

Antonio stared at the lush tall trees and the appealing bright sky.

"Americano and risotto."

Alden said bluntly to the waitress, who walked away after confirming their order.

He can't help but feel irritated with her after she indiscreetly gawked at his younger brother.

'I should have forced him to wear sunglasses at least.'

Not only the waitress, but almost everyone in their floor, regardless of their gender, are stealing a glance at his brother in a not so subtle way.

Then, his eyes strayed to the table next to them.

The table on the left side of Antonio, who was currently facing the view outside the glass wall.

The four young men on that table are the only ones who are not looking in their direction.

Rather, they seemed to be rigidly eating their meal with their eyes glued to their food.

'Where have I seen them? They looked familiar … especially that blond one.'

"It's pretty."

He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Antonio speaking.

He looked at Antonio and saw him gazing at the view outside their café.

"Yes, it is indeed pretty."

He replied while also staring at the greeneries outside.

He then smiled when he remembered that it was Antonio who picked this location seven years ago for their café business.

"Do you have somewhere you want to go after this, Yoyo?"

Alden asked.

"We are not going home after this?"

Antonio asked back.

He thought that after eating here, they would immediately go back home.

"Well, I thought that maybe you wanted to go looking around the city."

Alden spoke as he remembered that Antonio has a hobby of going around the city to sightsee since he was a child.

Upon hearing Alden's words, Antonio smiled brightly and replied.

"Sure, let's do that Brother Al."

At that moment, their orders had already arrived and they started consuming it while conversing with each other.

. . .

Antonio is already half done with his food when he can't help it anymore.

For a while now, he keeps feeling an intense stare directed to him.

So intense that he felt like the person was staring into his soul.

He turned his head and looked at the table next to them on his left side.

Golden eyes.

He made eye contact with two alluring golden eyes.

'Pretty.'

Antonio gasped internally in admiration as he stared back at the handsome man staring at him.

Mikhall, who was just silently sipping on his green tea while waiting for his companions to finish their food, unconsciously stared at the table on his right side.

There is somewhat a distance between their tables so he can't hear properly what the two men are talking right now.

He keeps staring at Antonio without knowing that he lost track of time.

'Is it okay for him to be outside now when he just regained consciousness yesterday?'

He thought while admiring Antonio's side profile.

'Thank goodness he doesn't seem to have a problem moving around.'

Another thought passed on his mind.

He then stiffened.

Antonio turned to his direction and stared at him.

Antonio's irresistible brown irises are staring directly at him.

His body turned rigid under Antonio's gaze.

His mind went blank.

He unintentionally stopped breathing.

And … his heart did a somersault.

They continued staring at each other for a little more until something he never expected happened.

Smile.

Antonio smiled at him.

Thump … thump … thump.

The heart that he tried so hard to calm down a while ago, is now beating again in a very excited manner as he stared at Antonio's smile.

He is feeling happy, embarrassed, nervous, and excited.

He is feeling different kinds of emotions that he doesn't know what to do right now.

He wanted to smile back at Antonio, but …

His body seemed to have a will of its own and reflexively looked away when he felt his face heating up.

'NO!!! … Why did I look away?! … He must be thinking right now that I don't like him.'

He thought as felt annoyed toward himself.

Gasp.

He then just realized that he had been holding his breath the whole time Antonio stared at him.

"Pffft!"

He looked up when he heard a stifled laughter.

He then saw it.

His three friends are staring at him with expressions as if they can't believe what they are witnessing right now.

"Pfft! Hahahahahaha."

Pierre chuckled while looking at him.

"Bro, do you want some iced tea? … Your face looks as red as a ripe tomato right now."

Fernando said while grinning at him.

He just glared at them before standing up and rushing outside the café while feeling so stupid.

He didn't even dare look back at Antonio's direction as he felt so mortified on how he behaved in front of Antonio.

The three also followed him while having mischievous smiles plastered on their faces.

"Hmm?"

Antonio looked at the back of the four men exiting the second floor.

'Did he get offended by my smile?'

Antonio pondered when he remembered how the man looked to be completely shocked when he smiled at him.

He then continued consuming his soup.

He was about to open his mouth to talk to his brother when he noticed Alden being busy with his phone.

Alden is already finished eating and seems to be just waiting for him.

So, he silently finished his soup and latte.

Slurp.

"I'm done, Brother Al."

Antonio said as he finished drinking his latte.

He took a table napkin and used it to wipe his mouth.

Alden raised his head and took another table napkin.

He then reached out to Antonio's face and wiped his cheeks with the napkin.

He then gestured toward the waitress on standby near them for the bill.

Alden paid for their bill using a black card before standing up.

Antonio also stood up and noticed the waitress glancing at Alden before glancing at him.

Then the waitress looked away with flushed cheeks.

'She must be embarrassed that I caught her gawking at my brother.'

Antonio thought.

He noticed it ever since they got out of the car earlier.

He sees people stealing a glance toward Alden but the latter seems to be already used to it.

'Well, how can they not stare if my brother is this handsome?!'

He silently thought while feeling proud of his brother.

He didn't know that the waitress was glancing at Alden because she was wary of him when he kept glaring at her with an annoyed expression since the beginning.

And the waitress blushed when she made eye contact with Antonio because she was flustered that the stunning young man was looking at her.

Alden and Antonio went out of the café and got inside Alden's car.

"Do you want to go to the mall first, Yoyo?"

Alden asked as he put the seat belt on Antonio.

"Sure."

The original owner of the body has his phone crushed on the day of the accident.

So, Antonio was hoping that Alden could buy him a phone.

"Okay, let's go to the department store and buy new clothes for you."

Alden said, making Antonio panic.

'NO! I want a phone, I don't care about clothes.'

He thought on how to convince Alden to buy him a phone without him directly asking.

An idea then popped in his mind.

"By the way Brother Al, do you have a girlfriend?"

He curiously asked.

"No, why?"

Alden, who is driving, swiftly answered and glanced at him before focusing again on the road.

"Oh, I am just asking since you look busy with your phone earlier."

Antonio answered in a casual tone but put a little more emphasis on the word phone.

He glanced at his brother's direction and inwardly smiled when he saw his brother's expression.

Alden seemed to have realized something very important.

"Ah! Let's stop by a gadget shop first, Yoyo … let's buy a phone for you."

'Bingo.'

Antonio internally clenched his hand in victory when his objective was met.

"Oh, sure Brother … thanks!"

He responded as if he doesn't care if he got a phone or not but deep inside him, he wants to clap his hands for a very smooth flow of conversation he created.

'Phone … wait for me!'