Chapter 2: Morning Warmth

It was still raining that morning, pero mas banayad na ngayon—parang soft embrace ng langit sa lupa, hindi gaya kagabi na parang galit ang ulan. Eli was quietly tidying up the café, wiping down the counter while the rest of the world was just starting to wake up. Pero kahit busy ang kamay niya, his mind was somewhere else—still stuck in the memory of last night.

He didn't expect Jace to walk in. Soaked hoodie, trembling hands clutching a cup of hot chocolate—and most of all, those eyes that stared right at him. Parang may gustong sabihin. Parang may hinahanap.

Ding.

The door suddenly opened.

Eli flinched slightly, reflexively turning toward the sound.

And there he was.

Jace.

Still in his hoodie, but drier now. His hair was wet but styled with that effortless kind of mess, and this time, under the morning light, Eli could see his deep, dark eyes more clearly—along with the slight smile forming as Jace leaned against the doorway.

"Didn't I tell you?" Jace said, referring to what he promised last night. "I'd come back."

Eli swallowed hard. He wasn’t sure what to say. He honestly didn’t expect him to mean it.

Jace walked past the tables without a word, heading straight to the counter where Eli stood.

As he got closer, Eli caught that soft mix of chocolate and freshly cleaned wood—and something else he couldn’t quite describe. Something warm. Something that made his pulse skip.

He glanced at Jace, hesitant, unsure if he should speak.

“M-may natira pa akong hot chocolate… if you want some,” he offered softly.

---

Jace’s POV

Tangina.

How do I even explain this?

His voice—soft, almost a whisper, but not out of fear. It had that kind of gentle that messes with your system. Parang comforter sa umaga, like the sound of light rain that doesn’t wake you up—just slowly brings you to consciousness para lang sabihing, "Hey, it's okay."

He doesn’t know it.

He’s unaware how he’s calming my whole nervous system with just his presence.

He looked at me, unsure pa rin if okay lang bang tanungin kung gusto ko pa ng hot choco. Ang lamig sa paligid, but that voice?

Shit, parang first ray of sunlight after a long-ass stormy night.

I cleared my throat, trying to suppress whatever weird feeling this was.

“Of course I do,” I said with a small smile. “Kinda cold out, diba?”

And I wasn’t just talking about the weather.

---

Jace quietly sipped the hot chocolate, letting the warmth settle inside him. But deep down, he knew the quiet wouldn’t last.

Ding.

The door opened again.

Kasabay ng malamig na hangin, a loud voice cut through the moment.

“Jace! Bro, what the hell, it is you!”

Eli almost dropped the cloth he was holding as three guys walked in—Zeke, Noah, and Rafe—all talking at the same time, wet shoes squeaking on the wooden floor.

Noah walked up to Jace first and gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder. “What are you doing here, man? You ghosted us last night.”

Jace didn’t say anything at first, just glanced quickly at Eli—checking if he was okay with the sudden intrusion.

“Hot chocolate,” Jace answered casually, taking another sip.

“Hot choco lang? Dude, lame,” Zeke joked with a laugh.

Noah’s eyes wandered behind the counter and landed on Eli, who was clearly caught off guard by the group’s energy.

“Wait, bro—sino ‘to?” Noah asked.

Their eyes met, Eli’s and Noah’s, and Jace instantly felt a slight shift in the room’s energy. There was a pause—short, awkward.

Then the trio all leaned in, eyes scanning Eli from head to toe.

“Ay,” they all said in unison. “We thought you were a girl.”

Eli flushed and looked down.

“Dude, your skin's like… flawless,” Zeke added, grinning. “Parang hindi ka pinapawisan ever.”

“And your lips, bro, parang—” “—lead role sa K-drama,” Rafe chimed in.

Eli turned even redder. “A-a-anong oorderin n’yo po?”

Noah leaned on the counter, lowering his voice but not the charm. “Can we ask your name first bago kami umorder?”

Before Eli could respond, Jace’s voice cut in from behind them—sharp but steady.

“Eli.”

The three turned around.

Jace was still calm, but his tone held something else now. A subtle claim. Not aggressive. Just clear.

“His name’s Eli,” he repeated, this time softer. “He works here. And no, he’s not a celebrity, kahit obvious na pwede.”

Then he smiled—but only at Eli.

Eli nodded slightly, voice steadier now. “A-anong oorderin n’yo?”

Zeke straightened. “Three hot chocos din. And cinnamon rolls if you have.”

“Meron pa,” Eli replied, turning to prepare the orders.

As he walked away, he could still feel their stares. But somehow, he wasn’t as nervous anymore.

Because Jace was there.

And in the middle of all the noise and laughter, it was only one pair of eyes that he wanted to return to.

Jace’s—warm, silent, and quietly saying:

“You’re okay. I got you.”

---

The three boys—Zeke, Noah, and Rafe—found a table and continued their banter, though a bit more toned down now, like they sensed something sacred in the air.

Jace followed silently, no longer joining the jokes. His eyes stayed fixed on Eli behind the counter.

A few minutes later—

Ding.

Eli came out carrying a tray—three mugs of hot chocolate and a plate of cinnamon rolls. The scent alone could melt away the cold. Carefully, he approached their table, placing each mug with practiced gentleness.

“Here’s your hot chocolate,” he said softly.

And for a moment, the whole table fell quiet.

The place smelled sweeter now, and not just because of chocolate.

Rafe leaned toward Jace and whispered, “Dude… that staff? Literal angel vibes.”

Jace rolled his eyes but didn’t reply.

As Eli placed the last mug, Zeke noticed the way the apron wrapped around his waist.

“Yo,” he whispered. “Bro, that waistline? Way more defined than mine.”

Noah gave a low whistle. “I swear, runway material to, bro.”

Eli, hearing it all, tried to keep his head down. He wanted to disappear—or at least, have the apron cover his entire body.

But before he could turn away, a hand touched the side of the tray—firm but gentle.

It was Jace.

“Don’t mind them,” he said, voice low but full of weight. “They’re just hungry.”

Eli looked up slightly, their eyes meeting once more.

And for a second, despite the whispers and soft chuckles around them—it felt like it was just the two of them.

“Thanks,” Jace murmured.

Not just for the drink. Not just for the cinnamon roll.

But for the quiet presence he didn’t realize he’d been needing.

---

Minutes passed. The table buzzed with laughter, stories, and playful teasing. Eli kept working, serving other customers, trying hard not to look toward Jace’s table.

“Bro, we’re heading out,” Noah announced, standing up and patting Jace’s shoulder. “Keep us posted, ha? Don’t ghost again.”

“And bring him next time,” he added, eyeing Eli. “Suits your cold-ass vibe.”

The three laughed as they left the café, letting the door swing shut behind them.

Jace stayed, sitting quietly for a few moments, eyes fixed on Eli moving behind the counter.

Finally, he stood and walked up to pay.

Eli looked up, holding the receipt. Their eyes met again—still quiet, but now with a gentle warmth, like the rain outside had finally ended.

“Here,” Eli said softly, handing the receipt.

Jace smiled as he handed over the money—but didn’t let go right away.

“You free next week?” he asked, casual but hopeful. “Noah’s throwing a party. I wanna bring you.”

---

As the shift ended, and Eli was cleaning the mess they left—mugs, coasters, crumbs—he noticed something under one of the coasters where Jace had been sitting.

A folded tissue.

He picked it up, unsure if it was just trash, but something felt different.

There was handwriting on it. Sloppy but purposeful.

He unfolded it slowly, heart thudding a little faster.

> “Kung payag ka, text mo lang ako sa number na ’to.”

0917—*

—J

Eli swallowed.

His palm felt a little sweaty holding the tissue. He didn’t know whether to laugh, smile, or panic.

Jace didn’t say it out loud. No pressure. No big moves. Just… left it there, like a quiet invitation.

He folded the tissue again—carefully this time—and slipped it into the pocket of his apron.

As he turned off the café’s last light, Eli glanced at the door where Jace had walked out earlier.

The night was quiet again.

But in his chest, something started to glow.

He didn’t know when.

He didn’t know if he was ready.

But the thought that someone wanted to see him again—that someone left their number just in case—was enough to warm the part of him that had long felt cold.

---

[END OF CHAPTER 2]

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