Drawn to His Flame

Kabanata 37

Mischief

"Nervous?" Nang mapatingin ako kay Hiro ay nakita kong katatapos lang niyang suotin ang kanyang apron. He's now tying his hair in a bun and after that, he wore the green cap that has the logo of the cafe on it. He looked pleasant but if I were the manager, I would prefer that he cut his hair so he'd be more presentable.

Mukhang hinihintay niya pa rin ang tugon ko kaya umiling ako. "Weh?" asar niya.

I ignored him and looked at my reflection on the mirror in front of me instead. I rolled up the sleeves of my dark blue button-up shirt while breathing in and out. Inirapan ko si Hiro nang makita ko siyang nakangisi sa akin sa salamin.

"Yes, I'm nervous. Masaya ka na?" bulyaw ko sa kanya. As a person who's not good in the interpersonal department, landing a summer job in a cafe as a cashier was definitely a struggle. But out of all vacancies, this was the most convenient job for me. Tita rin ni Hiro ang may-ari ng cafe na 'to kaya dito ko na piniling magtrabaho.

I just didn't expect that Hiro would join me.

The latter's chuckles echoed around the four corners of the locker room. "Gotcha. Alam mo namang nagiging human lie detector ako pagdating sa 'yo," pagpapatuloy niya sa panunukso sa akin. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at tinapos na lang ang pag-aayos sa aking sarili.

"So do you want to swap places?" he commented while still grinning. Pinanlisikan ko lang siya ng mata dahil wala namang kwenta ang suhestiyon niya. He knew that the only beverage I can confidently make is coffee and he wanted me to take his place as the barista?

"But come to think of it, flop naman 'tong business ni tita. Kaunti lang sa tingin ko ang kakausapin mong customers o baka wala nga talaga."

My head turned towards the door when I heard it swinging open. "Kahit flop man ang cafe ko ay kaya ko pa rin namang magpasweldo, my nephew. But I might reconsider that now." I tried hard not to grin when I heard Hiro's nervous laughter afterwards.

"Good morning po, ma'am," bati ko sa manager na siyang may-ari rin ng cafe na ito.

At first glance, Tita Athena looked like a rock star with her pink highlights and double piercing. Other than that, she radiates a certain kind of aura that reminded me of badass female leads in movies that's why I was very nervous when she interviewed me last time. Iyon din kasi ang una naming pagkikita kaya natakot at na-intimidate talaga ako sa kanya.

But I was wrong because Tita Athena was everything I didn't expect her to be.

"Oh my god, drop the po and the formalities, Reggy!" eksaheradang bulalas ni Tita Athena kaya napailing ako.

"Stop it, Tita. Ang corny pakinggan," singit ni Hiro sa usapan namin kaya nahampas siya ng tita niya. I laughed because it looked like I was watching two siblings fight.

"What are you saying? Mas better kaya 'yong Reggy kumpara sa Ganre. Tama naman 'di ba, ako, Reggy?" Natatawa na lang akong tumango kaya matagumpay na ngumisi ngayon si Tita Athena.

"Hindi ko makakalimutan ang araw na 'to, Ganre," rinig kong litanya ni Hiro habang nakahawak pa sa kanyang dibdib. Natigil naman siya sa pag-arte nang may hinagis si Tita Athena sa kanya at tumama 'yon sa kanyang mukha. "What the?" naiinis na tanong ng lalaki pagkatapos.

"Isusuot mo 'yang hair net na 'yan o ipupusod mo nang maayos 'yang buhok mo?"

"Okay naman ah!" Hiro defended while showing off his bun.

"Ayusin mo pa! Or wear that net-like thing! Wala na ngang halos bumibili sa 'tin tapos may magrereklamo pa dahil may nasamang hibla ng buhok sa in-order nila," Tita Athena reasoned out while her arms were crossed in front of her chest. Wala nang nagawa si Hiro at sinunod na rin ang inutos ng una.