The Same Romance

III

Call a friend

hold me close and hold me fast

this magic spell you cast

this is la vie en rose

when you kiss me heaven sighs

and though I close my eyes

I see la vie en rose

A track from my music player is playing in the background. As I post my new art pieces on my website to put it in the auction thing I have in my store.

Some of my paintings I suggest being sold because there are just so many of them.

I have posted at least 7 pieces of my recent works.

Delicately made

Most of the time I won't bother putting a caption or a ps on my work. But I just want to tell my website visitors that it is well made.

Pampabango ng product.

"And when you speak angels sing from above" pag sabay ko sa awitin.

everyday world seems to turn into love song

What a pleasant day.

I heard my door creaked open as I am in the living room working on my computer.

"May package ka" bungad ni Tyler pag pasok niya habang nakatingin siya sa nakasulat doon.

"Kanino galing?" I asked.

"There's a ps"

"Joy" he confusingly answered.

I get it.

"From Saya" I said.

Well, her name is spelled joy in Tagalog. But not the projection of the words.

"Buksan mo nga" sabi ko sa kanya at tinuro ang kutsilyo sa kitchen.

Nakaharap pa rin ako sa computer at naririnig ko naman ang pag bukas ni Tyler sa package na iyon. I am hearing him sniffing from the package.

It must've smelled good.

Hindi abot ang amoy na iyon dito kung kaya hinhintay ko na lang ang sasabihin niya.

"It smells like" he continued sniffing from the package.

"Coffee" he said.

Agad naman akong tumayo sa sinabi niya at dinaluhan siya sa kitchen counter.

"Bakit naman kaya? Andami dami kong kape dito sa bahay"

"Inisisip niya ba na hindi ko afford bumili ng akin?" I am not really asking Tyler about Saya's intentions, rather I am commenting on Saya's gesture.

Tyler didn't speak. But instead just threw a glare at me as I approach him.

"It's three coffee bean bags" he said.

I pulled the package from him and saw the other four sacks inside the package. Hiwalay pa roon ang hawak ni Tyler at inaamoy amoy niya.

The two others are under the other two that's why he said 3 maybe.

"It's five sacks" I said.

Nag patuloy ako na inilabas isa-isa ang alam ng package.

At sa ilalim nito ay may iniwan ang nag padala na note. Inilabas ko iyon at inagaw naman ni Tyler sa kamay ko.

"Will you help us find a way to make it up with Chelsea? sad face dash Andrew" Tyler read what is written on the note.

Mali apala ako ng akala na si Saya ang nag padala.

"Bawiin mo yung sinabi mo kanina" Tyler asked me to.

"Moron" I spat at inagaw ang note sa kanya.

I read it again and realize it is really Andrew who wrote it and sent this package. 

Ano to some kind of bribe? 

I know it's not but.

Hays.

"Fine, I appreciate the effort" I said.

"You should"

"That's costly"

"Almost way more expensive than liquor so" wika ni Tyler habang nakapatong ang dalawang braso sa counter.

" He's desperate"

"You think?" I asked Tyler as I sit at the high chair.

"Kahit sino naman yata na lalaki Mayumi magiing desperado kung nararamdaman niyang ayaw sa kanya ng mga kaibigan niya" Tyler said.

That is said. I don't hate Andrew. He just gave us a bad impression of him. Dahil na rin siguro sa distant silang dalawa sa circle of friends ni Saya ever since they are already together.

"Bakit ako? He should've sent this to Chelsea" I said.

"Wala ka na ba talagang puso" Tyler asked.

Ayoko lang maipit sa gulo nila ano ba.

It has been weeks nang mag away sila sa club at hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin sila nag kakaayos.

October na oh. 

Sabagay kung ako si Andrew maiistress din ako.

"May number ka ba ni Andrew?" I asked.

"Meron" he answered.

"Pahiram ng phone tatawagan ko siya" I said. Tiningnan niya muna ako bago iabot ang cellphone niya sa akin.

I accepted his phone and searched Andrew in his contacts. 

Nang makita ko iyon ay agad kong pinindot ang isang icon ng telepono a=upang tawagan si Andrew.

Nilapag ko iyon sa counter at pareho naming pinapakinggan ang pag ring ng telepono ni Andrew sa telepono ni Tyler.

Nag tagal pa kami ng kaunti sa pakikinig noon hanggang sa sinagot niya na ang tawag ko.

"Yo bro" Andrew answered.

"Hi Andrew si Mayumi 'to"

"Natanggap ko yung note mo and the bag of beans" huminto ako dahil sa masamang tingin sa akin ni Tyler sa tapat ko.

Pinantayan ko ang titig niya saka nag salitang muli.

"And yes I appreciate it" I answered habang tinititigan pa rin si Tyler

He wants to rebuke my ungrateful ass. 

I am trying.

"But-"

"She appreciates it Andrew" Tyler put a stress on it. Habang nakatingin pa rin sa akin.

Hinampas ko naman siya. Dahil ayokong mag sinungaling.

Sasabihin ko lang naman na kung gusto niya makipagayos kay Chelsea dapat siya ang niregaluhan niya at hindi ako.

"Anyway"

"Do you have any plans para makipagayos kay Chelsea?" I asked.

"Wala talaga to be honest"

"I am  not doing this para maalis yung pangalan ko just so you guys know"

"I just want to make Saya feel better" Andrew said.

Ayoko na lang mag salita tungkol sa sinabi niya.

Masyado heroic ang tema ng pananalita niya. Nakakadiri.

"Tyler is going to talk to you don't worry" and I blasted out off the conversation.

Umalis na ako roon at kinindatan si Tyler. Hudyat na iiwanan ko na sa kanya si Andrew dahil ayaw niya naman ang mga maaari kong komento sa sasabihin ni Andrew.

That's good. Keep everybody from my bullets.

I have nothing in mind either so I suggest, he handle this man.

Naappreciate ko naman ang sinabi niya na he does want to make Saya feel less stressed out about the issue. Well same here. But I would rather look at them reconcile automatically than be involved with the drama of these guys.

"Damn these kids" I whispered in the air as I put my new sacks of coffee bean in the pantry.

My attempt to eaves drop sa usapan nilang dalawa ni Andrew ay hindi tagumpay.

I don't understand their conversation pero hula ko naman ay natutulungan ni Tyler si Andrew mag plano para sa pag aayos noong dalawa.

Habang nag aayos, naisip ko na dumaan muna sa malapit na kapehan dito. My favorite coffee shop.

"Ty alis muna ako" pag papaalam ko sa kaibigan. 

"San ka?"

Matapos kong kunin ang wallet ko ay saka ko na siya siangot.

"Mabilis lang ako diyan ka lang kung gusto mo or invite Shay over" I told him habang nag lalakad ako palabas ng kwarto ko.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin niya at agad na akong lumabas ng apartment.  Nang iwan ko siya doon ay narining ko pa ang pag papatuloy nang pag uusap nilang dalawa ni Andrew.

Ang coffee shop ay puwedeng puwede lakarin simula sa lugar ng apartment ko. It will take a while but it's not far. At hindi nakakapagod.

Or my lazy driver ass is speaking.

Madalas ko naman nilalakad ang coffee shop na iyon pero madalas din na hindi ako galing sa bahay. Tuwing pauwi lang ako galing sa lakad at naisipan mag commute buong araw. It's a nice way para rin mag pahangin lalo na sa hapon.

Some alone time.

Pag labas ay bumungad ang tahimik na kalsada at and mapunong gutter na preskong lakaran papunta sa kapehan.

Malapit lang din ang condominium na tinutuluyan ng mga kaibigan ko mula sa apartment ko. Maaari ring lakarin iyon pero mas malayo kung tatansyahin ko.

Hindi naman doon ang tunguhin ko kung kaya hindi ko na rin dapat isipin. 

It is a sunny day today, at hindi ko iyon maalis sa isip ko habang nag lalakad.

Gusto ko na madampian ng aircon. Ang init.

Natatanaw ko na ang signboard ng coffee shop at nakampante na ako.

Nang makapasok ako sa loob ay pasikreto kong siningot ang lamig at bango ng shop.

I looked at the direction of the counter at nakita ang bagong mukha na kinakausap ng isa pang empleyado.

It could be a newly hired employee.

I am not thrilled.

I approached the counter where the new employee is not at.

I ordered my coffee and try to seek for a suitable chair for myself as I wait for my name to be called. 

Napansin ko naman ang isang empty shelf sa gitna ng establisyimento. 

There is a second floor at this coffee shop.

Bakit hindi nila nilagay doon ang walang laman na shelf na ito sa gitna pa mismo?

A different chair is existing right beside the shelf. May maliit na mesa rin doon at isa pang upuan. There are two sets of chairs and a coffee table in total.

They are different from the rest of the chairs here, based on my observation.

I didn't sit there because it will be awkward. Hindi malayong lingunin ako ng mga tao habang nakaupo roon at sinusbukan kung ano ang pkairamdam sa pwet ng upuan na iyon.

I sat in the near front of the counter. Dahil hindi rin naman ako mag tatagal doon.

Hindi rin naman nag tagal ang pag hihintay ko roon at narinig ko na ang pangalan ko na tawagin ng isang hindi pamilyar na boses.

I approached the counter to get my coffee and food this time.

Nang kuhain ko iyon ay nginitian ako ng bagong empleyado ng shop. I didn't smile back. 

 I don't usually do it. But not just because she is new here, I will treat her differently at mag padala sa init ng ngiti niya.

I silently get my orders from her hands and walk out of the coffee shop peacefully.

Pag labas ko ng shop ay nais ko na sumakay dahil tinatamad na ako mag lakad. But there are no public transportation here. Ayoko rin mag sayang ng pera dahil walking distance lang naman ang bahay ko mula dito. 

That's what will happen because I have no choice. 

Sinumulan ko na inumin ang mainit na kape habang nag lalakad ako pauwi. Some peacetime for myself. 

I decided to make a productive muni-muni habang nag lalakad. 

I am slowly walking my way home. 

Hindi na rin naman na masyado mainit dahil sa naging silong ko ang makakapal na tumpok ng dahon sa puno. Bumawi na rin naman ang hangin sa init. Pati na ang mga ulap na nag silbing kalasag ko sa mainit na tama ng araw sa aking balat.

Whenever I went for walk. Nag dadala lang ako ng payong kapag umuulan. O minsan nag susuot lang ng hoodie. 

I love the warmth of the sun's ray. Not the intense temperature it brings sometimes.

I decided to unwrap my croissant in the paper bag where it is found. 

Inimbita kaya ni Tyler si Shay sa bahay? I hope not.

Not to be rude. It's not that I don't want her around. It's just I don't want Tyler to be conscious of his actions. I mean he is acting awkward sometimes. Na para bang ipinagkakait namin sa kanya ang  kumilos ng normal whenever me and Shay are around.

Besides, I don't want him to feel that way. I am okay with him dating my ex-girlfriend. 

Though I feel some hidden agenda happening towards Shay's mind. 

I am getting mad at her whenever I thought of that. 

Para sa akin lang hindi imposible na mangyari iyon dahil naging ka relasyon ko siya and to be honest we didn't break up on good terms. 

I just hope it's not what I think kaya niya dinate si Tyler.

I'll kill her.

Hindi ko na namalayan ang layo at itinagal ko sa pag lalakad. Basta natagpuan ko na lamang ang sarili ko na nasa apartment building na.

"f**k" I spat.

I hate walking but I love jogging early in the morning.

I know.

So ironic of me.

My feet are tired. 

Nang makarating sa tapat ng pinto ko ay agad kong binuksan iyon nang malawak.

"Anyare sayo" bungad ni Tyler.

Tiningnan naman niya ang inumin kong wala nang laman.

"Don't worry I have croissants for you and a bagel" I told him.

He loves bagel and cream cheese. Kaya sa tuwing napapadpad ako sa coffee shop o sa kung anong lugar ay sinusubukan ko siya hanapan ng paborito niya.

Not to return the favor. But because I just love him.

"Musta pala pag uusap niyo?" I asked. Referring to Andrew.

"We already made a plan and e decided na mag kita mamaya dito para lang ma finalize yung napag usapan namin"

"And it will involve you by the way because a part of this surprise is to trap them both" he said sabay kindat sa akin.

Bakit hindi na lang sa pad niya at bakit sa akin pa ano ba naman 'to si Tyler.

"Tyler!" I protest.

They sure love my place.

"Sabi mo okay lang na mag imbita ako?" he answered.

Napansin ko na hindi niya inimbita si Shay.

"Pero hindi ko naman sinabi na si Andrew o kung sino"

"Sabi ko si Shay" I said.

"I thought it was just a suggestion" he confidently said nang mapag tanto niyang natatalo na ako sa usapan.

Talo na ako.