The Same Romance

V

Set one's cap for

"Oh kumusta naman daw yung dalawa ngayon?" Shay asked.

We are in a public grassy park eating lunch. The three of us, Tyler, Shay, and me the long-time third wheel of this couple.

Hindi naman talaga dapat ako kasama rito eh. Tyler just forced me to join them. Drawing the Minsan lang naman eh card at me.

The ending of my October didn't fail me. The month ended way better than I had expected.

Shay could be referring to how did Chelsea and Saya's making up session that had happened noong nakaraang linggo na pinagbati nila Tyler sina Chelsea at Saya. Dahil wala siya noong araw na iyon.

"Ayon okay naman na sila ngayon" Tyler answered. while eating some of the sliced watermelons.

We are under a tree, and sitting at the edge of its cover.

Umurong ako paatras sa anino nito upang matamaan ng init na bigay ng araw.

It is such a good day to enjoy the warmth of the sun. How I love its warmth. It leads my day to perfection. Plus the breeze that is conquering every negative omen surrounding me.

I closed my eyes and turn my head in the sky. Protecting my eyes from the wild brightness of Mr. Sun.

I put my hand on the grassy field under the blanket where we are sitting. Trying to find some wildflowers with my hand. Assessing its feature with its touch on my palms.

"You should invite me into your picnic dates more often" I said.

Nilingon naman ako ng dalawa dahil sa sinabi ko at tumingin din ako sa kanila.

Well, I don't mind them kissing under the tree while I am here. But that will definitely gross me out.

Hindi naman ako nag dedemand na lagi nila akong kasama. Iba pa rin naman ang pumunta sa mapayapang lugar ng may company. I don't know but it makes it way more tranquil.

Company.

Friendship.

Tahimik pa rin silang nakatingin sa akin.

"Or not" I almost whispered saying while looking away at these two.

The loud brush of leaves in the tree fills the void of silence in between us.

Kami lang din ang tao dito sa park. Kung kaya solo namin ang lugar at mga boses lamang namin ang tangi naming maririnig.

"Anyway, may plano ba kayong mag kakaibigan sa pasko?" Shay asked.

"Wala" I answered casually and then turned to her.

Nag salubong ang tingin namin and I just raised my two eyebrows at her while my lips are pursed. I am being sarcastic, yes.

Tyler isn't even bothered by how I reacted. So I guess it doesn't require me to make it up to her.

Kakasimula pa lang ng halloween si santa claus agad ang nasa isip ni Shay.

The afternoon went well for the three of us while we are staying at the park.

Masaya naman sila kasama dahil nag sibling mediator namin si Tyler ni Shay.

As for me, mas maaga ko iniwan and dalawa sa park. Not that I am letting them have their lover time but because I just want to have a coffee date with just myself right now.

"I'm going" I told them"

"Okay take care" Tyler bid his farewell to me.

"Yeah take care" sabi ni Shay habang nag babalat siya ng orange sa tabi ni Tyler.

Tumango lang ako sa dalawa at tumayo na mula sa nilatag nilang kumot sa damuhan.

I walked out there and waved my hand while walking away at them.

I put out my phone from the pocket of my shorts to check for any message.

And as usual wala namang importanteng nag padala ng mensahe sa akin. None of the messages are pretty urgent.

The coffee shop I attend to is not far away from here kung kaya I decided to walk on my way there. Hindi na rin naman gaano tirik araw. It's pretty cloudy today and I am fortunate.

Days have been pretty nice to me. The chart of destiny is being nice to me and that is suspicious. But that's part of living, the monster or problems we have to deal with at times. Those things make us grow.

Those are the things we should look forward to because it makes us adapt, change, and be the better version of ourselves. Live a way more confident and courageous living.

I regret that I didn't bring my earphones with me.

I imagine having a good time while walking past on these streets, on my way to my favorite place in the world.

I will definitely have some e-books downloaded at the coffee shop later for my personal entertainment there.

Naalala ko bigla and paparating na kaarawan ni Saya. sa December na iyon at hindi ko alam kung anong plano ng mag babarkada. It had been a while since I last saw them. Ever since Chelsea and Saya bonded again.

Busy na rin ang iba sa amin sa work at iba pang mga bagay.

My phone vibrated in the back pocket of my shorts where I put it.

Hindi ko na muna iyon kinuha dahil natatanaw ko na ang signage ng coffee shop sa 'di kalayuan. Naisip ko na sa loob na lang ng coffee shop ko babashain ang kung anong mensahe ang iniwan ng kung sino para sa akin.

Sinalubong naman ako ng lamig at nakakahumaling na amoy ng kape pag pasok ko sa coffee shop.

Such a happy place. My happy place.

Una kong tinungo ang counter upang bumili ng maiinom at makakain.

As usual, I chose the counter without the new employee there.

Hindi sa iniisip kong baka maging awkward kaming dalawa sa puwedeng interaksyon namin.

This counter is my regular counter.

After giving my orders.

Nagsimula na ako mag hanap ng upuan habang hinihintay ang binili.

As I stroll my eyes around the first floor. My eyes landed on the chair where the shelf is.

Hindi na lang iyong shelf ngayon, may mga libro nang laman iyon. The different theme of the set of chairs and tables there is still like the last time. It is the unique set of chairs among the rest.

And from there, I knew I found the right place to sit for my desperate ass.

Nang makaupo ako doon ay napansin ko ang ibang pag tingin ng mga sa akin. Napaisip ako kung ako ba ang una nilang makikitang umupo dito.

Well, guess what people, this is my throne now.

I sat there and realized the angle of it was.

Kita ang counter noon na halos nasa harap lamang ng puwesto ko. At sa parehong dahilan, tanaw ko ang bagong salta sa bayan namin.

That girl.

I noticed her hair. She cut it short. She looked better in her long hair.

Ops. That was out of me.

"She looked pretty anyway" I whispered to myself as I turn my head to the books on the small bookshelf beside me, browsing the titles.

A part of me is delighted to see her here in the town. Para hindi ko na isipin na dayo siya dito sa lugar namin.

And I don't think I am in the right thinking to think of that right now.

It has been months going, that we often see each other from the club and here.

"Miss Mayumi" the employee casually called my name. A sign that my food is already made.

I smiled on my way to the counter to get my food.

In my peripheral vision, I saw her stare at me for a while. To distract me, I smiled again at the employee who has my food as I get it from her.

Did she find it unusual that I smiled at her and not at her?

Or I am hallucinating.

I walked out of there to my seat. I grabbed my receipt to find the wifi password of the coffee shop. I need it to download my e-book.

I was about to do that when I realize that there are books behind me. I decided to pick one from there and start reading. Though some of the books here are love stories which I am lowkey fond of.

Sa libro na lang ako kinikilig. I hate tragic love stories. They are just awful and meant for hopeless romantic people. Or someone whose fetish is utmost loneliness and bitterness.

A familiar book was in the shelf. I decided to read the book again, I am not yet ready for something new yet.

It is Elanor and park. The almost tragic love story of Park and Eleanor.

A good book. That made my eyes puke water a lot.

Kinuha ko ang libro galing sa shelf at nagsimulang galawin ang kutsara ko sa kape upang ihalo ito habang hinahanda ang isa ko pang kamay sa pag bukas ng libro.

I started reading my book and devouring my food.

Both almost at the same time.

"Oh I am thrilled" I spat as I enjoy reading the book.

Always thrilled to reread a book.

I heard a fake cough near me.

So I moved my book down to see who is it. And I caught the girl at the counter sneaking her what I assume were laugh that turned into smirked, as she pretend to cough and arrange her things in the counter.

Is she laughing because of my reaction? Am I too loud for her to hear me from where I am?

Hindi ko na iyon inisip pang muli at nag simula nang mag basa muli.

Not worth a glare from me.

Muli akong bumalik sa pagbabasa at pagkain ko.

I didn't notice how much time had passed by as I am busy reading. I mean, totally invested.

It's already past 5 in the afternoon. Kaya naisip ko na rin na tapusin ang pagkain ko at umuwi na pagtapos.

I return the book on the shelf beside me and finished my leftover food.

I remember the message I received on my way here.

Bago ako umalis sa coffee shop. I decided to check my phone first.

Bumungad naman ang message ni Tyler doon.

Croissants

Oh, this spoiled motherfucker.

Tumayo na ako agad at dumalo na sa counter to order Tyler's croissants. Wala namang pila doon dahil hapon na rin kaya nauna na ako sa counter.

"Three of this as well as for the cinammon roll" I ordered.

Hindi ko namalayan kung nasaang counter ako dahil nakatingin ako sa nakadisplay na tinapay. As I finish telling the employee my order. Nag panggap na lang akong hindi ako nagulat na nasa counter ako kung nasaan ang bagong empleyado sa shop.

She looked thrilled as she saw me and smiled at me. Her smile tells me that I fell for her

Trap.

I fell for some kind of her trap.

Or whatever.

Her smile just crushed my ego. mamaya isipin niya sinadya ko sa counter kung nasaan siya.

"Is that all?" she asked and smiled again.

"And a mocha frappucino" I added. 

Well, Tyler loved mocha. Anything that is flavored mocha.

Instead of asking me if that is all. She just raised her eyebrows at me. Like I understand the language she spoke with her eyebrows. 

"Yeah" I still casually answered. I avoided her eyes. 

Her energy pressures me.

Nilapag ko naman and pera sa harap niya at nag kunwaring may tinitipa sa telepono ko saka nag simula nang mag lakad palayo sa counter niya.

"Your change miss" habol niyang tawag sa akin.

I was about to say to keep the change but I don't want people to poke me as I pretend that I don't hear her.

Kaya bumalik ako sa counter kung nasaan siya upang balikan ang sukli ko.

"Thanks" I said and then smiled minimally.

I approached the near chair from the counter because I know I won't wait for that long.

I watched the people get their order in the counter. People pass by my chair. And I noticed that two or four people already pass by me to get to the counter and get their own orders.

I never realize until then. 

So I decided to walk up to the counter. The counter where the new employee wasn't in.

"Hi uhm I think my order is not yet out for a long time now"

"I've been waiting for more than ten minutes I think" I smiled at her.

"Oh"

"Nasaan po yung resibo niyo/" she asked and smiled at me.

Fuck.

Unfortunately I didn't grab it on the other counter dahil sa nag iinarte ako.

"Hindi ko kinuha yung resibo ko sa kanya" tukoy ko sa tao sa kabilang counter.

"You should get your order form her ma'am" she smilingly said.

Nilingon ko naman ang babae na naroon at kita ko na nag aabot siya ng order sa customer.

"Okay thank you" I answered.

Tinungo ko na ang kabilang counter para sa order ko na mukhang sinabotahe niya.

"Hi again! I am afraid I didn't get my receipt kanina here"

"A reason why I can't complain about my order which I am waiting for more than ten minutes right there" sabay turo ko sa upuan ko kung saan ako nag hintay.

She smiled at me widely.

"Ah I don't remember your order and that's sad that you don't have your receipt"

"I am afraid I will not be able to help you" ngiti niyang muli sa akin na medyo kinainis ko na.

'Why the f**k? 

I am a customer. How did she forget me? Wala pang isang oras noong umorder ako sa kanya ah?

Masama ba araw niya at parang nadamay pa ako?

"You're kidding me right?" I spat in annoyance.

"I am not Miss" she smiled at me.

Why does she keep smiling? Is she a psychopath? I need my food.

"Ma'am there is a customer waiting behind you po"

"You need to keep going" she said to me smilingly. 

She is right and there is definitely someone behind me waiting.

I smiled at her and then turned to the counter employee again.

"Ganito na lang po" she said and then she grabbed a paper and a pen. She wrote something in it.

"You write the info being asked here and maybe I will be able to retrieve your receipt and hopefully prepare your order and get home" she said, handing me over the paper.

And there is one stupid sentence written, asking me.

Contact #: 

Tumabi na muna ako sa counter at kinuha ang ballpen na ginamit niya kanina.

I annoyingly glared at her and then start writing on the piece of paper. 

Nang matapos ko sulatin iyon ay mayroon siyang kinuha sa ilalim ng counter niya at inabot iyon sa akin.

Inabot ko na rin naman ang papel na pinagsulatan ko at pikon na inagaw sa kanya ang binili ko.

I never looked back as I blasted off their shop.

She is definitely flirting the hard way. And I can't believe I am f*****g impressed and annoyed at the same time.