CHAPTER 3
964 Words
FLASHBACK…
3 YEARS AGO
The café was quieter than usual that afternoon. Rain tapped gently against the windows, turning the outside world gray and blurred.
Nakatayo si Evron sa likod ng counter habang kunwaring nagpupunas kahit malinis ang ibabaw ng counter.
His eyes drifted to the door.
She was late.
“Again,” sabi ni Evron.
Tiningnan niya ang oras sa suot na relong pambisig. “Twenty minutes,” he muttered.
He told himself it didn’t matter. She wasn’t obligated to come. They weren’t anything official yet. Just two people who enjoyed talking over coffee.
Pero bakante pa rin ang upuan sa kaniyang tapat, sa mismong harapan ng counter kung saan gumagawa siya ng kape. He had always reserved that seat for her. At wala siyang pinapayagang umupo doon.
Then the door suddenly opened.
A gust of cool air slipped inside, followed by a slightly breathless Blythe Romero.
Medyo magulo ang buhok nito. Strands of hair were clinging to her cheeks from the rain. May hawak rin itong small paper bag.
“Sorry,” she said, smiling sheepishly. “My bus broke down.”
Evron tried not to look relieved. Pero lumiwanag ang mukha niya nang dumating si Blythe.
“It’s fine,” kalmado niyang saad. He slides a warm cup of coffee toward her usual seat. “You’re only twenty minutes late.”
“Only?” she teased, laughing softly as she sat down. “Talagang binilang mo.”
Nagkibit ng balikat si Evron. “I noticed things.”
She watched him for a moment, amused by his quiet seriousness. Then she pushed the small paper bag toward him.
“Para sa ‘yo.”
Evron looked at it, surprised. “Ano ‘to?”
“Buksan mo.”
Binuksan naman ni Evron ang paper bag at tiningnan ang laman. Inside the bag was a small box.
Dahan-dahan niya itong inilabas na para bang isang babasaging bagay.
Evron carefully lifted the lid.
A bracelet rested inside. Halatang handmade ito dahil hindi pantay ang pagkakagawa ng mga wooden beads. It is clearly not store-bought. At the center hung a tiny carved pendant.
He picked it up. And his name was carved on one side.
Evron.
At sa kabilang side—
Blythe.
Napakurap siya. He was momentarily caught off guard. “Ginawa mo ‘to?” tanong niya, sabay tingin sa dalaga.
Blythe scratched the back of her neck. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng hiya. “Yeah… well… I tried.”
Evron examined the bracelet again. The carving was slightly crooked, and the edges were imperfect. But it was real.
Someone had spent time making it.
“Regalo ko para sa first date natin,” she added quietly. At hindi niya ‘yon namalayan.
Nag-angat ng tingin si Evron. “Our first date?”
Namula si Blythe. “You asked me yesterday!” she said. “Nakalimutan mo? Unless… you didn’t think it was a date.”
Evron stared at her for a second. Then he slowly slipped the bracelet onto his wrist. “Of course, hindi ko nakalimutan.”
Nakakalimutan niya ba ‘yon?
That date was scheduled for tomorrow. It was Sunday at hindi siya magbubukas ng café. He was supposed to go to the Black Lotus headquarters for inspection. But fortunately, Kaiden was there to act on his behalf.
Blythe smiled brightly.
“May thirty minutes pa bago kami magsara. Okay lang ba?”
Tumango si Blythe. “I’ll finish my coffee.”
Evron went back to work. Pero panay ang tingin niya kay Blythe.
Even in a messy state, Blythe was still beautiful.
Since he met Blythe for the first time, he knew he had fallen for her.
Hindi siya naniniwala sa love at first sight, pero ‘yon ang nangyari sa kaniya. He asked his father and told him how it feels to fall in love with someone.
Pero hindi pa siya nakakaamin sa dalaga dahil natatakot naman siyang umamin dahil baka bigla itong umiwas sa kaniya.
The date he asked about the other day… it takes courage for him to talk about it with Blythe. This date was a first step toward getting to know each other.
Tinatawanan nga siya ng mga kaibigan niya dahil wala raw siyang confidence sa sarili pagdating sa babae.
Well, hindi naman niya masisisi ang sarili dahil ito ang unang beses na may nagustuhan siya.
And he was hoping for a good result.
Tiningnan niya si Blythe na umiinom ng kape habang may binabasa ito sa cellphone.
After he closed the café and bid goodbye to his staff, he walked Blythe to her apartment.
Habang naglalakad sila, marami silang mga nakikita sa daan—mga batang naglalaro sa parke kasama ang kanilang magulang.
“Noong buhay pa ang magulang ko, dinadala nila ako noon sa parke.”
Napatingin si Evron sa dalaga. “Sorry to hear that.”
Umiling si Blythe. “Matagal naman nang nangyari ‘yon.”
“Okay lang ba kung tatanungin ko kung paano sila namatay?” tanong ni Evron sa maingat na boses.
Humigpit ang hawak ni Blythe sa strap ng kaniyang bag. “My dad died from an illness. Hindi kinaya ni Mommy. She was depressed and killed herself.”
“How did you survive?” Napatigil pa sa paglalakad si Evron.
Ngumiti si Blythe. “I was sent to the orphanage. That orphanage happened to choose scholars who wanted to pursue their studies. Masuwerte naman na nakuha ako. And that’s how I got into my place.”
“You suffered.”
Umiling si Blythe. “At least nandito na ako ngayon. Living a good life.” She continued walking.
Evron stared at Blythe. Don’t worry, from now on, I won’t let you suffer anymore. I will be there for you and be your anchor if you need me.
- Writer
