Arch of the Centuries

19

After posting I put back my phone on my bag and went to the counter desk to take orders if someone arrive.

10 minutes had passed and still there’s no one coming. I’m about to check my phone again and see if it did got less interactions but I stopped, the moment I heard the front door sliding.

A group of friends consisting of three girls walked into our store, dressed in senior high school uniforms from the university where I am attending.

I could tell they were shy, so I put my cold personality aside and attempted to strike up a nice conversation with them.

“Are you guys from UST?”

“Yes! we’re following you on i********:. We saw your latest post about this cafe that’s why we’re here.” the girl in the middle said with excitement on her voice.

“Me?” I was shocked.

“Opo, sikat ka po sa mga senior high school student sa UST!” sabi naman ng babae sa kanan na kulot ang buhok.

“Really? Glad you guys are here, actually it’s my first day here and it could also be my last if I don’t do well tonight. You’re my first customer.” I opened, laughing.

“Can we please get a two large size of Caramel Macchiato and…” tumigil ang babaeng nasa gitna sa pagsasalita.

“Anong sayo?” tanong nito sa kasama.

“One regular size Americano.” sagot naman ng babaeng katabi nito na kulot ang buhok.

“Got it, do you guys wanna have some dessert or snack?” I asked.

“What’s your best seller po?” tanong niya.

“Nachos, Twister fries and chicken poppers are the most popular here. It’s good you need to try it.” I stated.

“If you said it’s good, then we believe it. Two orders for every snacks you mentioned. And one additional caramel ice cream please.” dagdag pa nito habang nakangiti.

“Okay. Let me repeat your orders.” I repeated everything on the list.

“You can find a seat na while we are preparing your orders. I’ll bring it to you once it’s ready. Thank you!” I flashed a smile while saying those words.

It’s actually a great feeling to be good to others. I’m starting to feel changes on my self because of Mika.

After five minutes of waiting, “ Vince, orders are ready!” sigaw ni ate Andeng.

I took the orders and carried them to the table where the girls were seated.

“Here you go, enjoy!”

While putting down the drinks and foods i quietly took the piece of paper from my apron’s pocket and put it on their table.

I wrote a letter on that piece of paper.

: Thank you for coming. I’m not expecting this, please allow me to follow the three of you on i********: to show my gratitude towards you pretty girls. Enjoy your food!

It’s 8:10 on the evening, dalawang oras at kalahating minuto na lang ay magsasara na ang shop na ito. Hanggang ngayon ay kakaunti pa rin ang mga taong pumapasok sa store.

“Thank you kuya, Vince” the girls said, inilapag nila ang piraso ng papel na inilagay ko kanina.

Pagbuklat ko ay nakalagay rito ang username nilang tatlo, kaya’t itinago ko ito sa bulsa ng aking pantalon para mamayang gabi pagkatapos ng work ay mai follow ko sila.

Since wala pa namang masyadong customer na dumarating, dumiretso muna ako sa kitchen are para hugasan ang mga plato at kubyertos na nagamit na.

Habang naghuhugas ay biglang tumunog ang ringtone ng aking telepono. Nang kunin ko ito sa aking bulsa ay bumungad ang pangalan ni Drake, tumatawag. Bakit kaya?

I answered the call. Nilagay ko ang telepono sa may balikat ko at inipit ito sa tenga para habang naguusap ay tuloy pa rin ang aking paghuhugas ng plato.

Drake : Bro! You’re working on a Cafe?

Vince : Yeah, I’m actually washing the dishes right now.

Drake : kaya pala anlakas ng kalampagan ng plato diyan and tubig.

Vince : What’s the matter? Make it quick, marami pa kong dapat tapusin.

Drake : Bro, what the f*ck. You didn’t know?

Vince : Stop the chase, get to the point.

Drake : Bro, you’re trending online!

Vince : Is this another prank? Kilalang kilala na kitang gag* ka. Nako Drake.

Drake : No, bro I’m f*cking serious right now. Someone posted your photos on internet and it’s spreading so fast, extremely fast! It already got a hundred fifty thousand likes in just 25 minutes.

Drake : that’s insane, bro.

Vince : How’s that possible?

Drake : Believe me, I’m serious. You’re wearing black cap right? With a black polo shirt and dark gray apron.

Vince : I posted a pic on i********: that’s why you know.

Drake : Why don’t you believe me?

“Vince!” I heard our manager calling my name.

Vince : I’ll call you back later my manager is calling me right now.

I hung up instantly and went directly sa labas. I was so shocked the moment I saw the whole place crowded, bukod pa rito ang mga taong nasa labas nakapila, nagaantay ng pagkakataon nilang makapasok.

“Holy sh*t!” nanlaki ang aking mga mata sa mga nakita ko.

For the first time, Drake was not pranking me. He’s actually serious. What a chaotic situation we are in. I don’t know if I’ll be happy but I know that this is not gonna be easy.

“Bakit andaming tao?” natatarantang tanong ng manager namin.

“Hindi ko po alam, basta paglabas ko nandito na silang lahat.” sagot ni Andeng na naguguluhan rin sa nangyari.

“Wait lang po tumatawag yung friend ko.” pagpapaalam nito.

Makatapos ang ilang minuto ay bumalik ito sa tabi namin ni Manager.

“Ma’am parang alam ko na po kung bakit.” banggit nito.

“Tumawag po sakin friend ko, tinanong niya kung dito raw sa cafe natin yung nag viral na lalaki sa internet.” pagkukwento nito.

Andeng opened her phone , the instant she opened her f*******:, tumambal agad ang mga stolen pictures ko habang nagtatrabaho and kumukuha ng orders.

Binasa nito ang caption ng post, “I'm craving for coffee because Christmas is approaching, but I didn't realize I'd be craving more to the guy here in Cafe Manila.”

Napatingin sa ‘kin si Coach at si Andeng. Hindi ko alam kung natutuwa ba si Coach na maraming customer sa shop niya or naiistress na siya sa sobrang chaotic ng buong lugar.

“Mukhang hindi naman ‘to coffee shop. Parang fan signing event ata ‘to ni Vince.” pagbibiro pa ng manager namin.

“Remember? earlier I told you that you should be on screen not here on my cafe.” sabay tawa nito ng malakas.

“Okay, team. I’ll be on the counter to take orders while Andeng will be responsible for the kitchen and Vince will take the orders to each table, since siya naman ang ipinunta ng mga tao rito. Let’s give it to them. We can do this.” pagpapalakas loob ni Manager.

Nagpunta na kami sa mga area na naka assign sa ‘min at sinimulan na ang tiyak na nakakapagod na gabing ito.

“Vince, pakidala ‘to sa table 9.”

“Vince, kuha ka pang isang upuan sa stock room.”

“Vince, additional orders.”

“Pakilinis po ng table na ‘to, kuya”

“Kuha ka paper straws para pag naubusan tayo ng stock mamaya.”

“Vince, paki abot ng Caramel Macchiato roon sa naka pink na babae.”

“Vince”

Paulit-ulit, paulit-ulit , paulit-ulit ang pagtawag sa pangalan ko at pangalan ko lamang. Tawag rito, tawag roon. Linis rito, punas roon. Punta rito, punta roon. Picture rito, picture roon. Ilang segundo o minuto ay maari ng bumagsak ang katawan ko sa sobrang hectic at g**o ng paligid.

I’ll admit, it’s tiring. Iniisip ko na lang na I need to do it for Mika. I need to work hard para may mabalikan siyang trabaho paglabas niya ng Hospital.

“Vince!” I heard a familiar voice coming from outside.

“Gag*, ang sikip.” pagrereklamo ni Renzo.

“Bro, we came here to help.” Lance cheered.

“I didn’t expect it would be this chaotic. Andaming tao, pre. Sabagay konti pa to kesa sa two hundred thousand na taong nagreact sa pictures mo.” pang-aasar nito.

I’m glad they came. I really need their help, I can’t do this all by myself.

“Kaya pa ba, boss?” nagaalalang tanong ni Renzo.

“Mukhang pagod ka na, pre. Take a rest muna, kami na bahala for the mean time.” pagpipilit ni Lance.

“Aba, may resbak si pogi. At mga pogi rin.” biglang pasok ni Manager.

“They’re here to help, boss.” I said.

“Okay, pahinga ka muna sa likod. You did great tonight.” she comforted me.

“Hi boss, I’m Drake. Baka sisikat rin ako sa store mo.” pagbibiro nito.

“Hi Drake, with that face? Hindi malabong mangyari yon.” nako sinakyan pa ni Manager.

“I like your friends, Vince. Good looking na may sense of humor pa. Magkakasundo tayo niyan.”

Nagsimula nang tumulong ang tatlo kong kaibihan habang ako ay nagpapahinga muna ng panandalian. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nagsisink-in sa utak ko ang nangyari ngayong araw na ‘to.

After 30 minutes of resting, lumabas na ulit ako ng kitchen at tinulungan sila. 30 minutes na lang at magsasara na kami pero parami lang lalo ng parami ang mga tao sa labas at loob mismo ng store.

Hanggang sa nagsalita si Manager, “Sorry to say, pero sold out na po lahat ng products ‘til the next two weeks.” pahayag nito.

Na naging dahilan para mas maging magulo pa ang lugar. Ang iba ay nagrereklamo sa tagal ng paghihintay nila, samantalang ang iba naman ay nagsisimula ng lumabas ng shop, ang ilan ay nagaantay pa rin sa garahe sa may labas para mag papicture.

“Pwede pa rin naman po kayong magpalitrato kay Vince sa labas tutal iyon naman talaga ang ipinunta ng karamihan sa inyo.” pagpapaliwanag ni Manager na siyang ikinatuwa ng lahat.

Sinimulan na naming magayos at mag organisa ng kagamitan, habang naglilinis ay nagsalitang muli si manager,

“Two weeks worth of stocks natin is naubos, actually kinulang pa nga sa sobrang daming tao. Kaya’t one week break muna tayo, pahinga muna tayong laha. Wag kayong mag-alala, bayad ang bakasyon nyo ng isang linggo.”

She’s the coolest Manager I know, maybe because of her age kaya nagkakasundo kaming lahat. I’m sure her and Mika will get a long well.

Nang makatapos kaming maglinis ay lumabas na ‘ko ng shop para salubungin ang mga taong nagaantay sa ‘kin para magpalitrato.

“Thank you so much to all of you. It’s my first day here and I’m sure this’ll wont be my last and that’s because of you. Have a goodnight.” I thanked them with a genuine smile on my face.

After that naglakad na ‘ko papunta sa lugar kung saan ko ipinark ang aking kotse. Isindal ko ang aking ulo sa manibela ng sasakyan at nagpahinga muna ng ilang mga minuto bago tuluyang nagmaneho.

I’m still my cold, ignorant self. But I realized that I shouldn’t label everyone the way I wanted. Not everyone will take advantage on me the way others did. There are still people, who’s genuine and pure enough to befriend me not just by my looks or appearance, but because of my heart.

And it all started after meeting her, Mika.