Embers From Within (Casa Fuego Series #6)

Chapter 8

Calling Card

Akala ko sapat na ang buong araw na iyon na kasama ko siya pero nagkamali ako. Hindi kailanman magiging sapat para sa akin ang kakarampot na oras para makasama siya. I can go on forever and ever with him and it still won't be enough for me. But maybe it was enough to suffice my hope. That someday, our worlds will meet again at the least expected time, like what happened that day.

Nabalitaan ko kay Mama na umalis na ang mga Divinagracia patungong Maynila dahil doon nag-aaral si Diego. Panigurado, lumuwas na rin ng Maynila si Art. Pakiramdam ko ang laki na naman ng mundo naming dalawa para magkatagpo kami pero iniisip ko na lang na noong mga araw na hindi ko inaasahang makita siya, nakita ko nga siya. So I didn't lose hope.

In my fourth year of college, I still struggled but somehow, I got the hang of it. Ayaw ko mang aminin sa aking sarili, alam kong nagugustuhan ko na rin sa industriya ng business dahil kay Articus. He likes self-made women, and that's ideal so I want to be one. Thinking about the kind of motivation I have to continue pursuing this degree may seem bizarre, but it wasn't in my case. It actually did me pretty good.

Unang linggo pa lang ng pasukan, may raket na agad si Emy. She's a part time waitress in a cafe near our school. Mula ala sais hanggang alas nuebe siya roon dahil marami namang estudyante at mga empleyado ang nanatili sa cafe hanggang gabi. I didn't see her much in school but we had lunch together so I decided to study in the cafe she was working in.

"Good evening, Ma'am..." bati ng gwardya.

I smiled and walked inside. Natanaw ko si Emy na naglapag ng order sa kabilang lamesa. Nahanap niya agad ang mga mata ko. Dumiretso ako sa madalas kong pwesto, sa lamesa sa gilid lang ng glass wall. The moist glass wall was dotted with the lights from different buildings and lampposts. It felt therapeutic to watch people pass by, diversity looked over with the same moon across the world.

Inaayos ko pa lang ang gamit ko at kukuhanin pa lang ang wallet nang naglapag na si Emy ng usual kong order. Gulat akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya.

"Ako na ang nag-order para sa 'yo para hindi ka na pumila," she smiled.

I braided her hair after we ate lunch. Medyo magulo na ang buhok niya. She was wearing an apron with the cafe's logo printed in the middle. Still, she looked pretty and put together.

"Oh! Really? Alright!"

I opened my wallet but she pushed my hand. Tumingala akong muli sa kanya.

"Ako na ang nagbayad. Libre ko na sa 'yo. Kanina ko pa pina-reserve 'yan sa kitchen dahil alam kong pupunta ka."

I blinked twice. "How did you know I'm going here?"

She smirked. "Lagi ka namang nandito. Sa lahat ng mga raket ko, ikaw ang palaging customer ko."

Ngumuso ako para magpigil ng ngiti. Mapaglaro niya akong inirapan.

"I like clinging around you," I joked.

She gave me a wry smile. Tinuro na niya ang mga gamit ko.

"Mag-aral ka na. Balik na ako sa trabaho," paalam niya.

"Alright. I'll wait for you! Sabay na tayong umuwi. I already told Kuya to pick us up at nine in the evening," bilin ko.

Tumango siya at agad umalis nang may dumating na customer. Pinagmasdan ko siyang malapad ang ngiti nang sinalubong ang customer. My heart hurts everytime I see her smile so jolly during her work, and then I witness her cry when she gets home. I've tried once to put myself in her shoe and the thought alone was already unbearable. She has alway been a pillar of strength for me and herself, so this time, I hope she allows me to be hers, too.