Awkward

Normally I don’t chat up the baristas. I usually say a perfunctory greeting, order my drink, pay up and wait for my drink to be ready. But since I’m on an openness experiment, I have dared to be more cavalier with my exchanges. At eto ang resulta:

Int. Starbucks. Lunch break.

Ajumma moment.

I present a free drink coupon/receipt to the new barista in our neighborhood Starbucks. I order a tall coffee thingamajelly frappuccino.

Barista makes small talk. “So, ma’am where did you have your last Starbucks drink (where the receipt came from)?”

Me: “Starbucks Ermita; along UN Avenue, near the US embassy (effort sa pagka-specific ng location)”

B: “Okay ba mga barista don ma’am?”

M: “Okay din. Pero mas okay ang mga barista dito.”

B: “Talaga po?”

M: “Yup. Mas cute.”

B: Flustered. “Ano po?”

M: “Mas cute mga barista dito, hindi ba?”

B: “Ano po?!”

M: “Sabi ko mas cute ang mga barista dito (bingi lang).”

B : Blushing pa-cute. « Ay hindi naman po »

M: Pushing it. “Oo noh! Ikaw cute!” Ngek.

B: Still adamant. “Ay hindi naman po Hindi naman. Hindi naman…” trailing off…

M: “Hehehe. Sige na nga. Bahala ka na jan.”

I skulk and wait for my drink amidst uncomfortable silence.

I don't know which is more awkward: Me, initiating playful banter with a cute barista or the Barista incredulous that someone (me!) on a free coupon would dare flirt with him. Hahahahaha!!!

I don’t have the guts to show up at our neighbor Starbucks just yet, since Barista might wither under my ajumma charm. No worries. There are a couple in our area to practice at anyway. Beware.