That Summer In Brooklyn

Chapter 03

03 - Summer Magic

Max

HINDI na ma-pinta ang mukha ni Chris ng makabalik ako sa beach ng Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort. Umalis ako sandali para ihatid si Summer sa kanila. She took out all the left overs we had order a while ago. She has a big appetite which was unexpected. With the kind of body she has, where all the food she ate go?

"Whose girl is this, Max? Ms. Monday, Ms. Tuesday, or maybe Ms. Saturday, the one who gave you a wild night." Chris said, flashing a teasing smile on his face.

That Ms. Saturday gave me wildest night ever for she vomit all over my Tesla, for Christ's sake! Pang-asar pa din sa akin iyon ni Chris dahil nanlumo ako talaga sa nangyari sa sasakyan ko. Hindi ko pa nga nakukuha iyon at itong Ford F-150 ang ginagamit ko araw-araw.

"This one is different, but we're not here to talk about that, Ricaforte. Let's talk about business now."

"The space is ready. I'm waiting for your equipment, appliances, and other things to arrive, and oh, by the way, my social media manager posted this online already."

The social media post is engaging yet mysterious. I click the comments and read them one by one. Some people there have an idea, while others are still clueless. Chris and I talked about the opening date, and this friend of mine suggested opening Elixir's door here in Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort on the 4th of July. Masayang gathering iyon para sa mga Amerikano at mas masayang version iyon ng independence ng Pilipinas.

The meeting that Chris and I had ended before the sun set at eight 'o clock. Kanina ko pa pinag-iisipan kung dadaanan ko ba ang Elixir ngayong gabi. Claudel can handle everything there for I trained him well. Naiiwan ko na nga siya kapag na-byahe ako sa kabilang dako ng America.

"Nana, don't wait up. I'll be assisting Claudel tonight." sabi ko kay Nana Zeny ng tawagan ko siya habang nagmamaneho ako papuntang Elixir. Traffic is already given to this place, and while I'm stuck here I can't help myself but to think of Summer.

[Oh siya sige. Magla-lock na ako ng pinto, ha?]

"Make sure to double checked if you really locked it," bilin ko pa kasi madalas may nakakalimutan si Nana. I can sleep in Elixir tonight, and I'm sure Claudel already prepared that lounge where I can freely see Brooklyn Bridge. Alam niya ang hilig kong tumingin doon na parang may nakikita akong hindi kayang makita ng iba.

Pagkatapos ng tawag, binalikan ko ang pag-alala sa naging kwentuhan namin ni Summer kanina. How she tried her best to communicate with me in english? Her accent, everything about her is interesting. She's lively, funny, loud and very opinionated. Madami kaming inobserbahan mga tao kanina sa loob ng beach bar. Lahat ng hinala ni Summer sa bawat papasok sa pintuan ay tama. She has the best gay radar which is rare, I think.

"Boss, sakto ang dating mo. Set up na sila at maya-maya lang ay kakanta na," Claudel told me as we walk towards the private lounge upstairs. I've seen familiar faces at the crowd and at the entrance. They're all greeted as if we're really close. Si Chris lang ang kaibigan ko dito sa Brooklyn at masyadong mahabang istorya kung i-ku-kwento ko pa kung paano kami naging magkaibigan.

After several instrument testing, the band started to sing and entertained everyone. Elixir Rooftop and Lounge is a bar lounge that has a view of Brooklyn Heights. Maganda dito kung gabi dahil matatanaw ang paglubog ng araw at maging ang ilaw sa daan saka ng mga sasakyan. Claudel handed me my favorite scotch; I took a sip on it and focused my eyes on the band on stage. The song is the one I hummed in the shower a while ago. Bigla ko naalala iyong prediksyon ni Emerald. That I will meet someone will change my world.