Blazing Romance

Chapter 1

"Thank you, enjoy your coffee" I wink and smiled at the girl as she gets her order. I even laugh a little when I saw her blushed.

"Stop flirting with our customers, Cuizon. Get back to work" Claud said, owner of this cafe Im working at. He's my friend but he's too serious when it comes to work so I just shrugged and readied myself to take another order.
Another set of customers walked inside the cafe so I worked fast. Geez I dont want to get fired by my own friend plus I dont think I can find a job that easily.

Its Monday so the customers keep on coming. I guess, they are all tired from their work even if they've just started so they want to sip coffee to get some enery. People from Hongkong are known for their entrepreneurial spirit and desire to make money for living. They are all industrious and I admire them for that.

I was busy taking an order when this woman started to approach me and talk about something Im not comfortable to talk about.

"Axl? Axl Cuizon? Oh my god, is that you?" the woman shouted. She got the attention of the other customers inside the cafe so I just nod at them to simply say Im sorry.

"Im sorry Miss, but do I know you?" I asked her. She looks familiar yeah, but I really cant remember when and where did I met her.

"Of course you know me duh, Im Caly Aguilar, your mother wants us to date way back in the Philippines, remember?" so loud and cheerful.

Yumuko nalang ako ng mabanggit niya si mama. Memories of her keeps haunting me, especially when someone talks about her.

"Hey are you okay? Did I say something wrong Axl?" she innocently ask. Doon naman lumapit si Claud at tinanong kung anong problema, I said it was nothing but Caly introduce herself and she never stops blabbering about how my Mom ask her to be my date.

"Im sorry Miss but you're making my friend uncomfortable. Can i get your order now?"

Instead of me taking orders, Claud did that for me. He said that I can go rest but here I am, in the stock room remembering my Mom. My mom's death.

It wasn't that long, anim na buwan pa lang ang nakakaraan ng mamatay si Mama. I was in Tagaytay that time because Mom force me to pay a visit to her old friend. Pauwi palang ako noon ng makatanggap ako ng tawag galing kay Mama pero hindi na pala siya ang may hawak ng cellphone niya. When i went back to our house, nagkalat na ang mga pulis at may ambulansya na ding nandoon. Nagmadali akong makapunta sa kwarto niya pero huli na. She was already lifeless. She had cuts and bruises all over her face, ang sabi ng mga pulis ay posible daw na may nanloob sa bahay namin at marahil daw ay nanlaban si Mama dahil na din sa mga natamo niyang sugat. But aside from bruises, meron ding siya mga tama ng baril. Hindi lang iisa yon dahil sa pagkakaalala ko ay halos masira pa ang damit ni mama sa dami ng mga iyon. How could someone, who "possibly" just enter our house be that angry to mom? Bakit kailangang napakaraming tama ng baril?

Huminga nalang ako ng malalim sa naisip at naalala ko. I am now here in Hongkong, I have nowhere else to go. Kailangan kong buhayin ang sarili ko dahil wala na din naman akong kilalang kamag-anak namin na pwedeng tumulong sakin. I was lucky that I have Claud who helped me and let me stay with him here in Hongkong.

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok doon ang kalmado pero nagaalalang si Claud. Palibhasa ay alam niya ang pinagdaanan ko, kaya alam niyang apektado pa rin ako sa tuwing may magbabanggit kay Mama.

"You can go home Axl, nandito naman na si Josh, he can take over" marahang sabi niya.

"C'mon bud, Im okay. I was just caught off guard when that lady approached me. But I can still work"

Tumango nalang siya dahil alam niyang hindi naman niya ako mapipigilan sa pagtatrabaho. Ayaw kong umuwi dahil nasasayangan din naman ako sa araw na pwede akong kumita. Isa pa, wala naman akong gagawin sa bahay maliban sa pagtulog.