CHAPTER 17
1422 Words
Chapter 17
DINNER
It was a pay day Friday then weekend pa kaya maraming tao sa coffee shop at pareho kami ni Lily na abala sa mga ginagawa namin. Minsan ako ang nag-se-serve at si Lily ang gumagawa ng orders then salitan kami.
"Here's your order Ma'am. Enjoy your drinks!" sabi ko sa dalawang kasing edad ko lang. Ngumiti ako sa kanila at tumalikod na, I went to counter para kumuha ulit ng mga naka ready na.
"Ate Hanny, may tumatawag." Sinilip ni Lily ang phone ko na nalapag lang sa maliit na mesa. "L-Liam? S-si Mr. Pogi?" Halata sa mukha niya ang pagtataka.
Nagmadali akong kunin ang phone at nagtungo sa staff room upang doon ko sagutin ang tawag, leaving Lily with a curious look on her face.
"Hello?" I said, trying to catch my breath.
"Hi, Harmony! Kumusta?" His voice sounded warm and familiar, instantly putting me at ease despite the busy day.
"Hi, Liam. I'm good, just really busy here at the coffee shop. It's payday Friday, you know how it is," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Yeah, I can imagine. Just wanted to check in on you. How's everything going? Are you holding up okay?" he asked, his concern evident.
"Yeah, I'm managing. Thanks for asking. How about you? How's your day going?" I leaned against the wall, allowing myself a moment of respite from the hectic pace outside.
"Not too bad. Katatapos ko lang mag-record and thought I'd give you a call. I've been thinking about you, I miss you so badly." He said softly, making my heart flutter.
"Hindi ka rin mawala sa isip ko, Liam. I miss you too," I replied, smiling to myself. "But you know, I can't really talk for long. The shop is packed, and I need to get back to work soon."
"I get it, I get it. Just wanted to hear your voice. Maybe we can catch up later?" he suggested, a hint of hope in his tone.
"Yeah, that sounds good. I'll text you when I get off, okay?" I said, glancing at the clock on the wall.
"Perfect. Take care, Harmony. And don't work too hard," he teased gently.
"I'll try not to. Thanks, Liam. Talk to you later," I said, reluctantly ending the call.
With a deep breath, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and headed out of the staff room, ready to dive back into the chaos of the coffee shop. As I returned to the counter, I noticed Lily was a bit off, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a more subdued expression.
"I-Is everything okay?" I asked, hoping to keep things light.
"Yeah, just... busy, I guess," sagot niya at umiwas ng tingin. But I could sense there was something more.
"Look, Lily, if there's something you want to ask, we can talk during our break," I suggested gently.
She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright, break time then."
I gave her a reassuring smile before we both resumed our tasks, the brief escape of the phone call lingering in my mind like a warm, comforting memory. But now, there was an added layer of tension. I couldn't help but wonder what was going through Lily's mind.
When our break time finally arrived, we headed to the small staff room. I could see the curiosity and concern in Lily's eyes as she sat down across from me.
"So... s-si Liam? Si Mr. Pogi?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion and hurt.
I took a deep breath and nodded. "Y-yes... We've been seeing each other for a while now."
Lily's eyes widened, her expression a mix of shock and betrayal? Well, she has a crush on him. "Talaga? Kaya pala, may something na weird kanina. Alam mo, ate Hanny, ang akala ko may pag-asa na ako kay Mr. Pogi. I mean, Liam pala," she said, her voice trembling slightly.
I felt a pang of guilt. "Sorry, Lily. Hindi ko naman sinasadya na maging secretive. It just happened."
She sighed, trying to process the information. "So, kayo na talaga officially?"
"Yeah, we are. Pero alam mo naman na medyo komplikado ang sitwasyon namin ngayon kaya we can't say it in public muna," I explained, hoping she'd understand.
"I get it, ate." Lily nodded slowly, her eyes betraying the hurt she was trying to hide. "Masaya ako para sayo, ate Hanny."
"Salamat, Lily. I appreciate that. And I'm really sorry if I hurt you. Ayoko na magka-issue tayo dahil dito," I said sincerely, feeling the heaviness of the moment.
She managed a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Okay lang. I'll get over it. At least alam ko na yung totoo. Besides, kung may Liam ka na, may Eclipse pa naman ako."
My heart sank, isa pa ito sa hindi ko nasasabi sa kanya. Alam kong mapagkakatiwalan ko naman siya, but I guess this is not yet the right time.
We sat in an uncomfortable silence for a moment, the tension between us palpable. I was grateful for Lily's understanding on the surface, but I could sense the unresolved feelings underneath.
"Balik na tayo sa trabaho?" I suggested, standing up, sensing she needed a change of subject.
"Yeah, let's go. Marami pa tayong kailangan gawin," she agreed, her usual energy starting to return.
***
After our shift, I couldn't shake the heaviness of my conversation with Lily. The coffee shop finally quieted down, and it was time for me to unwind. I met up with Liam at the outside patio of my condo building, a cozy spot where we could relax and enjoy our favorite drinks.
Sipping my iced latte, I glanced at Liam, who was enjoying his caramel macchiato. The evening breeze was gentle, and the twinkling lights around the patio added a romantic touch to the atmosphere.
"I told Lily about us," I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us. "Siya kasi ang nakakita kanina sa tawag mo and then she ask so sinabi ko na sa kanya na tayo na."
Liam raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Oh? How did she take it?"
"Not great, honestly," I admitted, swirling my drink with the straw. "Nakita ko ang kirot sa kanyang mga mata. I think she feels a bit betrayed."
He reached for my shoulder and let me lean on him. "I'm sorry, Harmony. That sounds tough."
"Yeah, it was. But I didn't tell her about you being Eclipse," I added, meeting his gaze.
He nodded, understanding. "Probably for the best. That might be too much for her to handle right now. She is into Eclipse so much."
"Definitely," I agreed. "Anyway, I wanted to ask you about the call you got from your manager. You looked a bit stressed after that."
Liam sighed, taking a sip of his drink before replying. "Yeah, about that. It turns out my mom wants to meet you."
I blinked, surprised. "Your mom? Really? Why now?"
"She heard a lot about you from me and wants to get to know you. She's very particular about the people I get close to, especially considering my career and the complications that come with it," he explained, a hint of worry in his eyes.
"Okay, hindi naman siguro niya ako bibigyan ng sampung milyon para layuan ka?" I joked to lighten the mood.
He squeezed my nose. "Silly! She just wants to make sure you're aware of all the complications and that we can handle it together," Liam said, his tone serious.
"What do you think she’ll be like?"
"She's kind but very protective. She'll probably ask a lot of questions, but don't worry. I'll be there with you," Liam reassured me, squeezing my hand gently.
"Okay, I can handle that. When does she want to meet?" I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.
"Next weekend. Sa hotel restaurant kung saan nag s-stay si Mama, we will be having a dinner with her."
"Alright, let's do it," I agreed, feeling a flutter of nerves in my stomach.
We sat in comfortable silence for a while, holding hands and enjoying the tranquil evening. The conversation with Lily lingered in my mind, but being with Liam and knowing he was there to support me made it easier to handle.
"I'm really lucky to have you," I said softly out of the blue, looking into his eyes.
"I'm the lucky one," he replied, leaning in to kiss my lips. "We'll get through this together, okay?"
"Okay," I whispered, feeling a sense of peace wash over me.
- Writer
