Ravishing Chances (Bakit namamatay ang Pag-ibig?)

“Attention passengers of Cebu Pacific flight number 5J 891 to Manila is ready for boarding please proceed to gate 3” The announcer from the airport caught the attention of Lucas Patterson that has been waiting for almost an hour and has finally stands up to fall in line to gate 3. It is an exhausting day for him at Kalibo International Airport since the summer was hot when he got up outside to go up the plane. His pale skin and cute face with a handsome height, caught the attention of some fellows. “He is so cute” bulong ng isang babae sa kaniyang kaibigan na naka-tingin sa gilid ng mga mata ni Lucas. Her friend just agreed and take some pictures of him and upload it to it’s my day. It already caught some comments.   “Who is that? “Is that Lucas Patterson?” “Oh M G! Ang suwerte mo naman Ate!”   Samut-saring comments ang naglulutangan sa messenger ng babae nayon at sa pagpasok sa loob ng eroplano Lucas sat on E1 and the same goes to the girl na nagpicture sa kaniya kanina. The girl bit her lips at di maitago ang kilig na nararamdaman, halos manlaki ang mata ng kaniyang kaibigan nang magkatabi ang dalawa. Habang nag dedemo pa ang stewardess ay pa sikretong kinuhaan ng litrato ng babae si Lucas sa kaniyang iPhone at. Nabulabog ang mga tao nang merong shutter sound na narinig, natigilan ang stewardess na nasa gilid nito at inabisuhan siyang patayin ang cellphone.   “S-S-Sorry Miss, please turn off your gadgets or put it on airplane mode while we are on board thank you” Pasinggit ng stewardess at sa sobrang kahihiyan ng babae na tumingin kay Lucas na komportableng naka upo. “Hehe, I’m so sorry Lucas. You are so handsome I am a fan of you” nahihiyang sabi ng babae, ngumiti lang si Lucas at tinanggal ang kaniyang shades. His tantalizing eyes want to say some words inside. “Give me your phone” He plainly ordered to her. The girl sighed for a while before her shaking hands give the phone to Lucas, his reaction was so legit that the girl likes her. Lucas smirked on the side of his lips before uttering some words. “I’m handsome here, next time just inform me. It is a sin not to grant permission to somebody else” Lucas looked at the girl and she just smiled awkwardly. “Smile” utos ni Lucas at sabay silang ngumiti sa camera.   “Please fasten your seatbelts, this is Capt. Anthony Suarez and Lucas Cruz your Captains, praying for a safety trip”   It is about an hour and 14 minutes to land on NAIA terminal 4. Lucas just get his phone and capture the beautiful view from the sky. It is already 5:00 in the afternoon and surely, he will land at 6:14 P.M in the evening, Lucas doesn’t had a break from the exhausting wait at the airport. The plane lands and he walked to the exit on the swarm of passengers at this arrival area. Lucas rented a grab taxi that appeared on his phone. “Kuya, Mall of Asia ho” “Okay Sir, hop in” habang nasa daan ay makikita mo ang magulong siyudad ng Baclaran samu’t-samut saring mgaklase ng sasakyan sa daan at ang traffic na kaniyang na-abutan sa daan. “Sir, rush hour ho pala ngayon, grabe ang traffic” “It is okay kuya I will just wai—“   The stomach of Lucas growls where he about to spoke out the last words in his mouth. “Here Sir” nag alangan si Lucas sa pagtangap ng isang biscuits na ibinibigay sa kaniya.  “Don’t worry sir, walang lason to. Palagi kong binibigyan ang mga pasahero kong na sstuck sa traffic” The driver smiled at kinuha ni Lucas ang biscuit na ibinigay sa kaniya. Luckily, he bring a water with him. “Thanks ho” Lucas smiled at the old man. “You are old now Sir, why you are still working?” Lucas asked the driver at tumignin lang ito sa rear mirror bago iniliko sa intersection ng Taft Avenue. “Kailangan Sir ehh, pampakain sa pamilya” sagot ng driver sa kaniya. Parang kinurot ang puso ni Lucas sa kaniyang narinig at ngumiti lang.   Minutes later Lucas can now see the giant globe of Mall of Asia saka bumaba sa pedestrian patawid sa mall. “Sir, Thank you so much ito ang bill niyo” Lucas looked at the meter, it is 600 pesos, then he smiled. “Keep the change” gets one thousand pesos from his pocket. “T-Thank you Sir!” Nauutal na pasasalamat ng driver sa kaniya. Lucas positively go to Starbucks Coffee inside the Mall of Asia. Mall of Asia is the biggest mall in Asia got a spot on the largest mall in the whole world. It is a vast mall consisting of four wings the North, South, East and West wing. Lucas go inside the Starbucks and get himself a table. Kaunti lang ang mga tao ngayon not just because it is dinner but because the price here is expensive for a regular consumer.   Lucas goes to the counter and pick some coffee to drink tonight. Cappuccino Latte Americano Lucas keeps on choosing those three on the board menu. He sighed then choose again. “Sir, you need some help?” A man spoke from the counter that caught the attention of Lucas.   His time slows down when their eyes met each other. A handsome man with an American figure, pointed nose with a black hair and the same height as him. A pale skin with lips like Cupid’s bow. Lucas was stunned and the person just looked at him closely. “A-Ah I just want a handsom—a no, Americano” The guy chuckled and Lucas awkwardly walked away, but still the eyes of the Barista lingers on him while picking some cake to eat with his coffee.   Lucas sat on the table then get his diary to write up.   Dear Diary, I was so tired this day pero napakadami kong gustong pasalamatan lalo na sa grab driver. The love from his family keeps him on working for them; I can say di namamatay ang pag-ibig sa kanila. Am I a gay? When I see that Barista my heart skipped a beat he is almost perfect for me.   “Sir, your food” Lucas eat some cake while drinking his coffee. Napaka sakto ng kaniyang puwesto sa view ng lalaking barista. He put his Gucci sunglasses on and the tinted glass does not even dare to give hint where he is even looking. Lucas was still looking at the man blending some coffee for the customers. Lucas was so stunned to him that even his right hand was still on the upper part of his chest. He feel some strange feelings towards that man. Until it looked at him, Lucas lose his focus and the Barista chuckled. Lucas picked up his phone and got a message from his Mom.   From: Mom Lucas tomorrow check out your condominium that I buy for you at Malate, Manila. I will send the Address tomorrow. Take care Son, NO GYM!   Lucas took a heavy breath before picking up his diary and put inside his bag. After finishing his dinner for today Lucas take a glimpse on the counter to watch the Barista and suddenly he is not there anymore. He sighed before going out. It is already 8:00 P.M in the evening and the LRT is still open. Lucas walk on the bay side and get some salty wind from the sea, until he finally decide na pumunta na sa paradahan papunta sa LRT. Malapit na ding mapuno ang multicab na sinasakyan ni Lucas pero wala pading sumasakay na isa, “ISA PA! AALIS NA!” sigaw ng Barker na nagbabantay sa papa-alis na Multicab. “Manong! LRT?” isang sigaw na patanong ng isang lalaki sa di kalayuan. His voice was familiar at sa pag-suog ng mga pasahero sa loob ay naiwan na bakante ang na upuan sa kaniyang harap. Medyo masikip at di na halos naka linggat ang mga pasahero sa loob. “Makikiraan po” pasintabi ng lalaking pasakay na sa loob. Sa di maipaliwanag na pagkakataon ay parang bumagala ng mga segundo ni Lucas nang nakita niya na sa kaniyang harapan ang lalaking barista. Di maipaliwanag ang kabog ng kaniyang dibdib sa nangyayare hanggang umandar na ang multicab.   Is this because of the coffee he made for me? Am I palpitating?   Sobrang kabado si Lucas na magnakaw ng tingin sa lalaking nasa harap niya. He took a deep breath before making a glimpse. 1 2 3 Sa kaniyang pagtingin ay naka yuko ito at halatang-halata ang pagod, Lucas was a little bit worried about him and he put his sunglasses on. Tumingin muna ito sa bintana akmang titingin sa daan pero winala bumalik sa lalaking nasa kaniyang harapan. Lucas was a straight boy na pangarap magka-anak ng lima pero sa kaniyang sitwasiyon ngayon ay parang nag-iiba ang ihip ng hangin. Nagsibaba-an na ang mga pasahero sa huling istasiyon ng mga multicab. Sa tawid ang papuntang Roosevelt Station, sumabay si Lucas sa pagtawid at di na niya napansin na nawala ang barista sa kaniyang paningin.   “Kuya Munomento diba?” “Opo Sir” “Salamat”   Pagkatapos ng pagbili ni Lucas ng ticket ay nag-abang ito sa platform 2, lumalalim na ang gabi at ang tanging dala lang niya ay ang kaniyang cellphone at maliit na bag. Dumating na ang tren at pumasok na ito sa loob, suwertihang pangalang istasiyon ito at wala halos pasahero. Lucas sat alone sa isang upuan hanggang nag signal na nasasara ang pintuan. Ang katahimikan ng paligid at ang mga busy na tao ang tanging kasama sa malamig na gabi. “Excuse me, can I seat here?” isang boses ang bumasag sa katahimikan sa loob, sa paglingon ni Lucas ay umupo ang isang lalaki. “Thank you” matipid nitong sabi at natulala nalang si Lucas sa kaniyang nakikita.   “You are the Barista right?” tanong ni Lucas sa lalaki na kaniyang katabi. “Uhmm” he just hummed at bumilis ang t***k ng puso ni Lucas sa mga sandaling ito. The man smiled and give a hand “Hi, I’m Xaviar nice to meet you” Parang binuhusan ng mapaka lamig na tubig si Lucas sa kaniyang narinig na halos mabingi ang kaniyang tenga.   “H-Hi I’m Lucas, Nice to meet you too” Lucas replied back stuttering to answer. “Nice name ehh” Xaviar chuckled to him “What an expensive name, it is sounded like Caviar” Lucas laughed at ganun din si Xaviar. “Malapit na pala ang station na bababaan ko” “Saan?” Tanong ni Lucas.   “Pedro Gil” “Pedro Gil? Malate Manila?” Xaviar just hummed again at nagpa-alam kay Lucas na bababa. “Until next time, dahan sa pag-uwi” Xaviar waved goodbye hanggang sa nagsara na ang pinto at nawala na siya sa kaniyang paningin.   ”Ikaw din, Xaviar”