I DO

Chapter 2

I once read a quote about love when I was in college, According to Nicholas Sparks in one of his books. “The first time you fall in love, it changes you forever, and no matter how hard you try. That feeling just ever goes away.”

After reading it, I found it something agreeable. When you love someone, the love that you give and the feeling that you feel will last like a memory that engraves in your heart and mind. Even if it was a painful or a beautiful love, the love that you experience was still called love and it depends on you in how you use it. To bury it or to learn from it and make it something memorable.

“Mama!”I look at the person who called me. It was my beautiful princess. Nakatayo ito sa pinto nang coffee shop na pag-aari ko. She was waving at me with her bright smile. Ngumiti ako at lumapit sa kanya, I hug her tightly and kiss her head. She giggles when I kiss her temple again. Princess faith Corvera Sanchez, my little baby. She turned six years old today but she was a bright and smart kid. She was like her father. Shinning brightly. 

“Baby… how was school?” tanong ko sa kanya nang magkapantay na kami. Nag aaral na sa grade one si princess ngayong taon kaya medyo nag aalala ako kasi minsan mahiyain siya kapag hindi kakilala and kaharap. She hugs me tightly and snuggled her head in my embrace. I laugh at her cuteness.

She pouted her lips and smile “It's okay, I made a new friend....Her name was Sasha. She has a dog named Fifi.” ani nito nang nakangiti. Napa smile naman ako sa sinabi nito. It's good thing na may kaibigan na ito para hindi mahirap mag adjust sa school. Isa pa important sa bata and may kaibigan kapag nagsisimula pa lang ito. 

"Wow, and galing naman nang princess ko. I'm sure kapag nalaman yan nang daddy mo matutuwa yun." Ani ko sa kanya at kinuha ang gamit nito. 

"Talaga? Talaga?" nakangiti nitong tanong. I chuckled at her cuteness. mukhang namimiss na nito ang daddy nito. 

"Oo naman." ani ko at kiniss ulit ang ulo nito. Natutuwang nag lakad naman ito papasok sa coffee shop. 

"Thank you, Anie. May pag kain sa loob kumain ka muna." Pasalamat ko kay Anie siya kasi and kinuha kong nanny ni princess kapag papasok ito sa school. 

"Wala po yun Mrs. Sanchez." Ani nito nang nakangit bag pumasok sa loob. 

Inilagay na muna niya and gamit ni priness sa loob nang maliit na office niya bago lumabas at lumapit dito. Nakita naman niya itong umupo sa mesa nang kaibigan niya s***h customer. 

“Hello po, Mrs. Huesoff!” Princess greeted Anne. Isa sa regular customer ko at kaibigan sa subdivision. 

 “Hello princess, did you have fun in school?” she respond and give princess her cake that she just order.

“Yup, I did well in school. My teacher said that I was smart.” Princess proudly said. Natawa naman kami ni Anne sa sinabi nito.

"Talaga? Wow ang galing naman nang little princess namin." Papuri ni Anne kay princess. Ngumiti naman ito at kinain ang slice nang cake na binigay ni Anne. I mouthed her 'thank you' and she smiles back at me. Anne is a single mother, she has two sons. The older was in highs school and the youngest is two years older kaysa sa anak ko. Anne was one of her friend na malakas, kahit na divorce siya at may dalawa siyang anak. Kahit Minsan hindi niya pinakita sa amin na mahina siya. Ginawa niya ang lahat para lang mapalaki ang kanyang anak nang maayos. She stands tall and strong for her kids. 

“Baby don’t each too much cake, okay?” Ani niya nang makalapit kay Princess. She nodded and continue eating.

I went back to the bar counter to prepare the coffee beans that I will use.  I was busy serving the customers and making coffee when Princess pull my dress.

I look at her and smile “What is it, baby?” I ask her still busy making coffee.

“Mama, I want to help.” She said with puppy eyes and smiling cutely. I can’t help but laugh with her cuteness and kiss her nose before nodding for approval.

“Only for a bit, Okay?” I said to her.

“Thank you, Mama,” Princess said and kiss my cheeks.

She stands on the box that is used to make her reach the counter bar. “Hi po... Welcome to Princess faith Coffee shop, ano pong order niyo?” She said and welcomed the customer with a smile.

 She sometimes helps me with the customer here kaya naman madali na sa kanya ang makipag usap sa ibang tao except sa ka edad nito. Wala kasi itong kalaro na ka edad kaya naman minsan nahihiya ito kapag kaedad niya ang kausap. Still, she’s smart and easily understands what they order so minsan okay lang na tumulong siya. Customers were flooding inside the shop, making me busy.

It’s been 1 year when I open this coffee shop. I still remember the day when I dream of it.

 “Hey, beautiful?” Christ said and embrace me from the back. A smile instantly flashes on my face and comfortably rest my back on his chest.

We were in the park right now. It’s Saturday and we decided to take a break from studying and to have a date. Well, ako lang naman ang nangulit sa kanya na mag kita kami ngayon hahaha. 

“You’re late,” I said faking my angry voice. I was trying to suppress my smile because I wanted to scold him for being late.

Well, technically I was early and he's not late but still his late. Guys should know na hindi nila dapat pinag hihintay nang matagal ang babae. Lalo na kapag nanglalambing ito nang date at kapag miss na nila ang isat isa. 

“I thought I was early?” he said with a hint of playfulness. Nag pout naman ako upang ma itago ang ngiti na gustonang lumabas. He stared at my pouted lips and quickly kiss my lips. It was a light kiss before embracing me and just like that tumalon na naman ang puso ko papalabas sa katawan ko. Gosh, for a simple gesture like that makes me really happy. Patay na patay na talaga ako sa lalaking ito. Is there hope for me? 

“Nope! You’re late.” I said and act being annoyed making him chuckled and kiss my cheeks again. Namula naman ako sa pag halik niya. My gosh, namumuro na ito nang pag halik sa akin. 

“Baby, I’m sorry. I will be early next time. I promise.” He sincerely while looking at my eyes. Agad naman akong nag iwas nang tingin dahil hindi ko ma-tiis ang pag titig nito. Tumatalon ang puso ko papalabas sa ribs ko kapag tumititig ito sa mata ko. Okay okay ikaw na ang panalo, talo nanaman ako kapag ganito ka mag lambing sa akin.

“Okay, you’re forgiven. Now shall we go on with our date?” I playfully said at him earning him a laugh and giving me a slight kiss. 

“Where do you want to go first?” Christ asks and clasps our hands together.

“How about our favorite coffee shop in the third block? I heard they have a new cheesecake on their menu?” I said and pulling him.

We were walking silently and comfortably with each other with our hand intertwined together. I look at Christ when he squeezed my hand. I mouthed ‘what’ at him but he just smile at me. My heart dances on my ribcage again upon seeing his smile. I study his face for a moment making my heart stable from jumping upside down. I stop and look at him in the eyes.

“Christ? Why did you like me?” I ask him out of curiosity.

“Mmh…. Why do I like you? Well, I like you because I love you.” He replies with a smile on his face.

His joke put a smile on my face, and well on my heart too. “I was serious common, answer me,” I said and punch his arms with my other hands. I wanted to pull my hands that he was holding but he didn’t budge, he just hold it firmly unwilling to let go.

“Hahaha okay-okay… I first saw you walking inside a coffee shop six months ago. You were smiling brightly and the sun just follows you everywhere, in other words, you were shining.” He said smiling remembering the moment when he first saw me. “You sit next to our table. You were talking with your friends. You were laughing and having fun. And I can't help but notice you talking, laughing and smiling. And I didn't know I was looking at you and my friend joke about it. That I can't take my eyes out of you. That I was like a fool looking at you like I just fell in love at that moment. So I laugh at it and I can’t help but joke about the sun follows you like f*****g stalker and You should be proud that it's me who is looking because I was handsome. And you laugh at it, while my friends were silent. And just like.....” He said with a smile and looking at my eyes.

It was the day that I first saw him too. The very first day that we meet each other in the third block coffee shop. That day I was out with my friends after the exam and we hang out in the coffee shop, at first I didn’t notice him but I heard his joke. It was the corniest joke I ever heard in my entire life that even his friend didn’t know if they would laugh or be silent. Because of his dead joke, she laughs and almost chokes on her drinks. When she looked at him, he was smiling at her, and just like that she fell in love with those smiles. 

Maybe it was destiny that we meet each other that day....