Will You Accept Me?

CHAPTER 6: NEW FRIEND

4 HOURS AGO...

Haeron's POV

After leaving Gino's house, I went straight to my rented condo near the Café. I looked at it first to see if it was neat and spacious for me. I have no choice but to call Mr. Tom to ask for a favor to move my belongings to the new room. I don't have time to take care of that anymore because I'm still going to San Francisco to get my things. Also, Mom requested me to visit her because it has been more than 6 months since I left them. The reason why I'm going home now is just because of the things I'm going to pick up and not because I want to see them. I was in a hurry because I was going to the Café later. I'm sure Gino will open the Café today.

(RING~ RING~ RING~)

Biglang nag-ring ang phone ko at nakita kong si Mr. Tom ito kaya sinagot ko agad.

"Mr. Tom, what's up?" I said.

"Yes. It's all done here, Sir Haeron," he responded from the phone.

"That's great, Mr. Tom. Ah- and I told you that you can just call me Haeron, right?" I thanked and reminded him.

"Oh? I cannot do that, Sir," he said.

"But you're like my father now and I want you to treat me like your own son, Mr. Tom," I pleased.

"It's not easy to change what I'm used to, Sir. But I will try," he said.

"Ok, that's a promise from you right?" I joked.

"Definitely, haha," he said while laughing.

"Oh- Mr. Tom. I will meet you later, let's grab some food together," I said.

"Yes, that's fine with me," he agreed.

I hung up the phone and hurried to drive. I don't feel bad anymore so I don't have a hard time driving far. And thanks to Gino because he took good care of me while I'm sick. Speaking of which, he just rejected me earlier but that's not the end yet. I will do my best to win his heart.

After a few hours, I arrived home and was immediately greeted by Mom.

"Oh, Haeron my son. I missed you," she said running towards me.

I kissed her on the cheeks and then hug her.

"It's been a while, Mom. How are you?" I said.

"I'm doing great and you? You're my son but you're not with me at home but with that old man," she said.

"You mean Mr. Tom? That's not true, Mom. He has his own leaving and I don't want to interrupt his life and I'm renting a room now, that's why I'm here to get my things," I explained.

"You? Renting a room? Why not buy it? You silly!" she replied.

"I have my reason, so don't be bothered," I said.

"But why you're keeping your distance from me? You have a nice room in this house and a lot of maids," she asked.

"But I don't really need them. I just want to live my own life independently," I responded.

"Sighed* Ok I understand. My son is really a big boy now, I feel like I want to cry," Mom is being so dramatic.

"Mom stop it!" I said.

"Alright. Let's go inside," she said.

This house never changed. And I'm still bothered with the atmosphere here.

"Buti naman at dumalaw ka,"

I heard a voice from upstairs. He's the man I don't really like.

"Oh darling, Haeron just got here," Mom said. "Say hello to him, son," she added.

"Yeah, umuwi ako dahil sa mga gamit ko. Hindi rin ako magtatagal," I said.

"Why? You still don't like me huh?" Roland said.

This bast*rd. He's always getting into my nerves.

"Yeah. Don't even dream that I will like you because that day will not gonna happen," I talked back to him.

"Haeron!" Mom shouted.

"It's fine, darling. Someday, this boy will learn that his dad is already gone," he said.

"You barst*rd! Don't talk about my Dad!" I shouted.

I'm really mad. When he started to talk about my Dad, I couldn’t control my anger and shouted at him. He meant to say that to make me angry so Mom would be angry with me too.

"What's wrong? does it bother you? Why can't you accept that you're my son now, and you have to call me your Dad? Isn't that great, Haeron?" he said while smiling.

"What? You're too kidding, you've taken everything. Even Mom was blind with it, but you will never get me!" I said.

"Haeron! Please just stop already. Don't say that to your Dad!" Mom said.

I can't stand this anymore. I don't want Mom to hate me again because of that man. I love Mom, but I hate her being so oblivious. She don't understand me even though I'm her child. I hate this!

"No Mom, I'm leaving," I said and went upstairs to my room.

"Haeron! Wait, son!" Mom shouted.

"Don't mind him Olivia. We can't stop him now,"

"He's still my son. I don't want him to be like that to you. Why don't we just get together?"

"Ok I understand so stop crying, it's gonna be alright,"

I entered my room and took the rest of my belongings. I saw the picture of the three of us with Mom and Dad. I approached it then I stared at it.

If Dad was still here, this family wouldn't have been ruined.

I didn’t pick it up and I just left it in the drawer of my table. I have also put in the suitcase the things I will take with me. But the truth is, I really need to find something here.

I check my bag that I used when I'm in college. I know I put it here before because I didn't remove it from this bag. I check all its pockets but I couldn't find it. Then I remembered that there's a little pocket inside the big pocket of my bag. So I checked it and finally it's here!

the thing I found was this necklace. This is a photo locket necklace. It is silver and heart shaped. I didn't think to open it then, it's been almost seven years since it came to me. And I was still in college in those days.

I decided not to open it. I left my room and then went downstairs. That Roland was no longer there while Mom was waiting in the living room and sitting on the sofa.

"Son, are you really going to leave?" Mom asked.

"Yes Mom, I still have to go," I responded.

"But you just arrived, are you leaving right away?" she asked again.

"Mom, I really have to go," I insisted.

"Son, you know, uhm. I wish you and your Stepdad Roland could get along because I want us to be together here at home," she said.

"Mom, I wish you're happy with him. I'm going, take good care of yourself," I responded.

"Haeron my son, wait," she said and tried to stop me.

I didn't look at her anymore because she would just stop me from leaving. I started the car and put my belongings inside. It's already 10 and I have to be there at 12. I'm going to be late for my work at the Café. I should get going because there may be traffic on the way back.

AT THE CAFÉ...

Gino's POV

Hapon na pala, sabihin ko muna kay Haeron na mag meryenda muna. Nag-bake ako ng cheese chiffon cake kanina para sa amin. Kinuha ko ito at lumabas na ng kusina para tawagin si Haeron. Nakita ko naman ito sa counter area at gumagawa ng kape.

"I baked the cake for us, let's eat it now," sabi ko sak ipinatong ito sa isang table.

"Oh, ok wait a minute," sabi niya.

Ano na naman kaya ang ginagawa nitong si Haeron? Nage-experiment na naman ng kape.

"I'm here," sabi niya habang may hawak-hawak na tasa ng kape saka inilagay sa table.

"Nagee-experiment ka na naman ba? Mukhang mabango ah," biro ko.

"Hmm, not really. It's called blending of flavours. Try it, I made it for you to taste," sabi niya sabay turo sa tasa ng kape.

"Ok, let's see how it tastes," sabi ko at saka ininom ang ginawa niyang kape.

Sakto lang ang pait at tamis, ang galing niya. Kaya naman pala mabenta ang kape dito dahil sa kaniya.

"It's good!" I said.

"Do you like it? I made it just for you and for those customers who don't really like bitter and strong coffee," he said.

"Ow? yeah I like it, and I'm sure our customers will like it too," I said.

Haeron is really a smart guy with a good heart. He doesn't just do something for no good reason. Nagi-guilty tuloy ako sa sinabi ko sa kaniya kaninang umaga. Pero sa tingin ko ay tama lang ang ginawa ko. Bakit parang wala lang sa kaniya? Bigla na lang siyang umalis kanina tapos ngayon, mukhang ok lang siya. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang nasa utak nitong lalaki na 'to eh, hayyst! Kailangan ko pa rin mag sorry siguro? O wag na lang kaya baka kasi magkaro'n siya ng hope? Ganun na ba talaga ako kasamang tao?! Hayst Gino you peachy man with bad personality!

Maya-maya ay biglang may pumasok na customer kaya agad akong pumunta sa counter para asikasuhin siya. Iniwan ko na si Haeron sa table dahil kanina pa siya nakatayo.

"Hi, what would you like?" tanong ko kay ate girl.

"Ah- hi. I w-would like to apply for a part time job," she said.

Ah-

"So you want to be at customer's area?" I asked excitedly.

"Ah I can do that," she replied.

"That's great! Haeron we have a new applicant! Come here!" I called Haeron.

After a while..

"My name is Lim Zaram, 22 and a collage student," she introduced herself.

Zaram? Am I imagining it? That is-

"So what's your reason of wanting to work here?" Haeron suddenly talked.

"Haeron what are you doing? Don't be hard with her," I whispered to him.

"Why? You asked me that question before too, what's wrong?" he whispered back.

Nainis na ako sa kaniya. Ang kulit naman kasi nitong lalaki na 'to.

"You don't even answered that before so why you're boasting?! You jerk!" I accidentally shouted to him.

"Ahm ahaha, please calm down Sirs," Lim said.

"Ah- sorry. Don't mind this man, and don't worry you're hired," I said.

"Sir? Really? Thank you sir! Thank you, I will do my best!" she said excitedly.

"Ahaha, I'll look forward to it," I said.

"Ah, Lim right? You can start tomorrow but you can look around inside the café," I told her.

"Ok sir," she responded.

"By the way, we haven't introduced ourselves yet," I reminded.

"I'm Gino and this tall guy is Haeron. You can just call us by our name," I introduced ourselves.

"Ah, yes sir," she replied.

Ngayon na nadagdagan na kami, kampante na ako dahil hindi na kami mahihirapan. Wala naman problema kay Lim saka cute naman siya. Napansin ko din na nahihiya pa siya kanina, siguro first time niyang mag part time job kaya gano'n. Ito namang si Haeron, kahit sa mga cute girl gaya ni Lim eh suplado pa rin, talaga nga naman. Pero ok naman siya kung makitungo sa mga customers, anong problema niya? Hayyst hayaan na nga. Napansin ko rin kay Lim na short hair siya at mas mababa sa'kin. Saka ang ipinagtataka ko lang ay 'yong last name niya. Zaram..

Naalala ko siya bigla no'ng marinig ko ang pangalang iyon. Hindi ko maiwasan mainis at magalit, pero hindi naman sa galit ako kay Lim. Magkaiba naman siguro sila saka baka nagkataon lang na pareho sila ng last name. Hayy..

Tama na nga ang kakaisip mo Gino, wala namang patutuhungan 'tong mga pinagsasa-sabi mo. Marami pang gagawin bago kami magsara. At dahil sa mga nagyari ngayong araw, pagod na pagod ang katawan ko. Salamat na lang talaga at nandiyan si Haeron sa tabi ko, kung hindi ay baka kung ano na ang nagyari sa akin kanina dahil sa matandang 'yon. Bakit kasi hindi ko na lang pinatulan eh! Nakakainis! Biglang na lang kasi nanghina ang mga tuhod ko at nanginig ang katawan ko. Hayyy.. Sana hindi na ulit mangyari iyon.