Miss Workaholic Meets the Professional Bum

Part 8: What Just Happened?

WOW! That really went straight to the gut. Hindi ko akalaing ganoon ka-heartless si Chelsea. And for some reason, this just made me want to become closer to her. May pagkamasokista yata ako. The girl flat out told me off and still here I am feeling all kinds of excited.

Damn! Kailangan ko na yata ng change of environment. Pero bago 'yan, kailangan ko munang mag-apologize kay Chelsea. What? Is it that surprising? If you must know, hindi ako pinalaki ng mga magulang ko para maging asshole. Alam ko naman kung kailan dapat akong mag-apologize.

So I went back inside the coffee shop and looked for Chelsea. But she's nowhere to be seen. Nang bumalik ang tingin ko sa counter ay sinalubong ako ng intense na tingin ni Neri. Iiwas na sana ako ng tingin nang sumenyas siya para ituro ang ilalim ng counter.

I couldn't help but smile. I should have known. Dahan-dahang bumaba ang tingin ko hanggang sa tumutok iyon sa likuran ni Chelsea. Nakatingin parin ako sa kanya habang naglalakad palapit sa counter. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay bigla na lang siyang mawawala kapag nalingat kahit sandali ang tingin ko.

"Shit!" I'm close enough to hear her now. "Nasa likod ko na siya 'no?"

I didn't know what Neri said or did and I didn't care. Pinanood ko lang ang unti-unting paglingon ni Chelsea hanggang sa tuluyan na kaming magkaharap. Her face is suddenly so close. Hindi ko narealize na dumukwang pala ako sa counter.

"Oh!" she exclaimed and almost stumbled to the ground.

Noon lang ako natauhan. Dumiretso ako ng tayo saka bumaling kay Neri. "I'd like to order now."

"Very good, sir," nakangiting sabi niya na may kasabay pang tango.

But that's as far as my brain could go. Wala na akong maisip na sabihin, much more orderin. Parang nag-jumble na ang mga letra at salita sa mga mata ko.

"Gusto mo bang ako na lang uli ang pumili ng pagkain para sa'yo?" sabi ni Chelsea na nakatayo na sa tabi ni Neri.

I could only stare at her as I nod.

"How about some grilled..." nag-fade na ang boses ni Chelsea.

She looked so calm and composed. And all I could do was stare at her face.

"Sir?"

"Okay," lang ang naisagot ko. I didn't even know what she was asking.

It took me a while to realize na hinihintay na ni Neri ang bayad ko. Wala sa sariling kinuha ko ang wallet para magbayad.

"What the hell just happened, Neri?" I found myself asking as she handed me my change and receipt.

"Sir?" takang tanong niya sa akin. But I can see it in her eyes. Natatawa siya sa reaksiyon ko pero pinipigilan niya. She was probably worried about offending a customer. Kaya umiling na lang ako.

"Never mind. Can you just make my order to go? Naalala kong may lakad pala ako ngayon."

"Okay, Sir. No problem."