Through Painted Eyes and Pastel Tears

Chapter 5: Maginhawa

2:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning. Still out with Jazz. We were finally able to book a ride, but we decided the night wasn't over for us.

We picked out the most random place to eat at.

"Ba't dito?" She scanned the building before her.

"Sarap kaya dito, even the name has Tapsi in it." I said. It was Tapsi, the old Spanish-era resto-bar in Sampaloc. The place was trickling with drunk college students, ornaments littered and plastered to its wooden walls.

I held Jazz's hand as we walked in, a waitress immediately greeted us, handing us a menu each, leading us to a table near the window.

"Oh, Tommy. Long time no see." The waitress said. I have no idea what her name is, but she was almost always our waitress whenever I was there with friends.

"Oh, ate. Oo nga eh. Si Jazz pala ate, jowa ko." I motioned and winked at Jazz.

The waitress, a little under her 40's said, "Nakakakita ka na? Ay diyos ko, ang sweet naman. Oh siya, ano order niyo, ganda?" She said with a light Bisaya accent, smiled at Jazz who was already turning red.

"Aww, ate. Mas cute ka po. And, tapsilog sakin, ate. Samahan mo na rin ng Pale Pilsen, 'sang bucket." She said, lacing her fingers together as she rested her hands on the table, the faint blue lights bouncing off her cheeks, eyes, and hair. My god this woman is beautiful.

"Ako din, te. Tapsi. Thank you, ate." I handed back the menu, the waitress walking away after. I turned to Jazz and said, "Alcoholic, grabe."

She chuckled, "Di ka naman nagreklamo."

I smiled back at her, I was already getting used to her breathy chuckles, already getting familiar with the deep ass dimples on her cheeks. "Jazz, ang ganda mo."

I couldn't help myself. Have I already said that she really is breathtaking?

"Ano ba." She scoffed then put her hands on her cheeks before fanning herself.

"So..." I realized I didn't ask her what she was doing the afternoon we met, "Pano ka pala napadpad sa Q.C.?"

She stopped fanning herself, her smile wavering a bit as she answered, "Just wanted a change of scenery, I guess. I've been on a block lately, in a creative block, ganun? Just like you with your story." She opened up two bottles of beer as soon as the waitress served it. "And I don't know, something drew me there that afternoon din. I haven't been able to write a song, a poem, not even a line for months now.."

Her smile finally faded, I understood what she meant. Not completely what she's going through, but to some degree, I do. "Don't worry, I'll help you get your groove back." I reached out for her hand while she was taking a sip of her drink, her smile crawling back up on her face. "Malay mo, kailanganin ko ng soundtrack once I get my darned story finished?"

I smiled as she laughed a little. "Thank you, Tommy. For the colors. All this time, before you, I felt blind. Thank you, cause I found you when I wasn't even looking.."

The food got served and we started to eat. I glanced at her from time to time and laughed at her jokes and stories whenever I took a swig off my bottle. "Sarap diba?"

She nodded, but wasn't exactly paying attention, she was eating like a dude. She could only nod while her face was stuffed. And it wasn't that bad. She ordered two extra cups of fried rice before gulping down her second bottle of beer.

She was already slurring her words when she spoke, "San tayo after, uwian na?" She asked after our meal, taking out her pack of reds then asked for my lighter.