Always Waiting
Chapter 6: Earlier than Usual

"Don't you think he's here a bit too early this time?" Takuto whispered to Rogue, pointing over towards Sting seating by the corner, gazing out of the window. Rogue knew that his boss was right since Sting would always visit them at around seven in the morning, but this time, he shocked them all by appearing in front of their cafe doors at five-thirty.

Rogue nodding to his boss, he glanced over to Sakura who was napping on the long lounge seats behind the greenery wall, a place that's quite popular for couples or models interested in the aesthetic wall of flowers and running vines. He knew that unlike Takuto who's sort of mysterious and stoic, Sakura would've gotten even more confused about the blond sitting and gazing into space.

"Should we serve him now?" Rogue asked, not knowing what to do since Sting didn't tell him about this yesterday evening. Looking at Takuto shrug his head, he had no other choice but to wake Sakura up since she would be the one making decisions on when they begin to cook and serve. "Let's hope she's not going to punch me out of surprise again," he muttered under his breath as he approached the sleeping crimson where he shook her shoulder.

Thankfully, Sakura woke up without any issues. "What is it Rogue?" she tiredly questioned as she rubbed her eyes, exhausted from yesterday's work since there were more customers than usual. She wasn't used to humouring drunk guests till four in the morning when usually, they close at two-thirty since she and Takuto wanted some rest time for each other's health.

"Sting's here early. An hour earlier than usual," Rogue whispered where she groaned and peeked though the gap of the floral wall. He waited for Sakura's instructions. "Just serve him now. The idiot eats more than any other idiot living around here," she flatly said before shooing him away where she went back to sleep.

Not questioning Sakura's words, he went back to Takuto. "She said that we can start serving. I guess since it's early morning and hardly people are loud at this time until school hours, maybe we can open the cafe early?" he suggested in which Takuto nodded before heading to the storage by the door to out the cafe sign. Going into the small kitchen that was where the food are mainly prepped since Sakura and Takuto mainly spends their lives in this store, Rogue began to make a large plate of breakfast for his best friend.

Sting tapped on the wooden table with his index finger without thinking much about the pattern of his taps. His eyes looking out of the window, he didn't know exactly why he got out of bed earlier than usual. Eyes out and staring into space as he paid no particular attention to anything, he began to question his morning and evening habits.

Why exactly does he sit here every morning just to stare out into space?

He shook his head as he continued to ignore the sky growing brighter in colour where the heater turned on and warmed up his slightly cold body. The cafe lights dim but brighter than the brightness that's used for the store at night, he inhaled the smell of caramelized bacon and eggs and felt his stomach reacting to the smell.

His finger still tapping against the wood, the calming music of the piano drifted into his ears which soothed his growing frustrations of not being able to answer his own questions. Closing his eyes for a bit, he listened to the door opening and closing gently as footsteps echoed through the store. Listening to the conversation between server and customer, he knew that the store had opened early since he arrived here before habits.

"Opened a bit early there, don't you think?" the customer asked with a chuckle. He knew the voice, it belonged to the florist across the cafe which Sakura loved to stare at whenever she's feeling stressed while at work. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked out to the window again, his eyes moving around to absorb the beauty of an empty street.

He zoned out of the conversation where a plate of steaming food was placed down in front of him. His ears hearing the faint clink of the ceramic plate making contact to the table, he turned his head to see Sakura rubbing her eye tiredly. "Too early," she grumbled before walking back to the kitchen where she helped Rogue cook and serve the orders to their very early customers.

Sting looking down to his plate, he began to eat, listening to the soft piano with the chatters of knives and forks hitting their plates and bowls. The sound of the milk being steamed with the following tapping sounds booming through the air, he hummed as he took a bite into his breakfast burger. Tomatoes, salad, caramelized bacon and a series of other textures being tasted then being swallowed as if he hasn't eaten since years, he continued to quietly eat where his eyes would frequently look out of the window as if he was looking for someone unknowingly.

Time passed and he easily finished his food where Sakura came to him once more with a tray in her hold. Her energy and body no longer tired, she placed his cup of coffee in front of him before picking up his finished plate and cutlery. "They're both wondering how you woke up so early..." she began, closing her eyes as she allowed her senses to wonder off freely without worrying too much that she'd lose her balance or drop the dishes. Opening her eyes, she smiled, "Even I was sort of amazed to see the stupid Sting up and out of his bed at this time."

He looked at her balance the tray so easily, and with a sigh, he ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't know myself," he replied where she nodded. "It'll be six-thirty soon," she informed before leaving him to himself.

The lights within the cafe began to brighten as time passed. Before he knew it, he was sitting by the window with his eyes attentive to the outside at seven-fifteen in the morning. People strolling through the streets now since it was time to commute to work, he remained in his seat until a certain blonde walked passed the window where he felt a wave of emotions run through him until she was gone from his sight.

Sitting there now in a daze, he had a small smile on his face which was detected by Sakura from the counter. His smile making her smile, she chuckled to herself which caught the attention of the two boys working alongside with her.

The girl shaking her head, she watched as Sting got up from his seat, a bit earlier than usual - Eyes on him where he looked over to their direction and nodded his head. She waved farewell to him before watching him leave the cafe.

"Maybe I really didn't have to worry much," she muttered under her breath. The boys beside her confused, she waved them off before serving the next customer.