Sunday Morning (A SIMON MARCOS FANFICTION)

THREE

SIMON

"How are you?" I asked Avery. Vinny left because he has work to do online while Sandro headed to the strawberry farm. Avery and I were left in SM.

She looked at me. "Great. Do you want to drink coffee?" She asked.

"Sure but what about you? You already had yours." She ordered coffee a while ago. I offered to pay for her meal but she rejected my offer.

Avery smiled. "I'll be fine. Let's go somewhere else?" She suggested.

I found myself nodding. "Where to?"

"Beanstalk. Na try mo na doon?"

I shook my head. "No."

"Let's go? It's in lower session road. Its just a walk away."

I stood up. "Okay. Let's go then."

Avery and I walked together in the session road. The weather was cold. The people were smiling. I could see the community following the rules such as walking in the pedestrian lane. Waiting for the go sign and stopping when it is red.

"Okay ka lang?" She asked as we stood in that sidewalk infront of the Jollibee and Mcdonalds while waiting for the green light.

"Yeah. It's pretty nice here." I told her honestly.

She giggled. "Di'ba? It's a small city and everyone is helping each other for the greater good."

I nodded in agreement. "It is pretty amazing AC."

She looked at me laughed. "I haven't been called AC in a while."

"But its your username on Wattpad."

"So you have seen it." She muttered.

We walked together at the pedestrian lane and turned left. She walked ahead of me and stopped to her left. I followed her in the steps going up until we ended up in a coffee shop. It was an open coffee shop. I can see the session road from the second floor.

"What coffee are you going to order?" I asked as we stood at the counter.

"A latte please and a coffee bun," She replied. "They have good cream puff here." She mentioned.

"I'll get some. Would you like some? I asked.

"Uhuh," She mumbled as she opened her wallet. "I'll pay mine."

"I'll pay for us." I offered.

She shook her head. "No. I want to pay mine."

I couldn't do anything so I just let her. I ordered a latte too. We settled in the tables outside by the balcony. Avery rummaged her bag as if looking for something.

"What is it?" I couldn't help but to ask.

"Smoke. I need to smoke." She replied.

I frowned. "Why?"

"Habits." She plainly answered.

"You don't smoke before AC."

She looked at me, half smiling. "Things changed Simon."

I sighed at the back of my mind. She lit her cigarrette and I just watched her with questions inside my head. After her first puff, the waiter gave us our order.

"So what happened AC?" I asked. "I haven't read the entire fanfiction. I was thinking of suing the author but then it was you." I sighed.

"What about me Simon?" My name really looked divine on her lips.

"You. It's you. Avery Christa. The woman I shared one of my best nights with." I said, perplexed. My fingertips tapping the table, lips pressed.

It was true. I thought after that night, something beautiful is bound to happen. Then came sunday morning and it was amazing. She was amazing and I have even imagined myself waking up beside her. But it was the opposite. I woke up on an empty bed.

Her mouth parted but smiled after. "It was one of the best nights I had too Simon. More than ever."

My heart thumped, feeling some kind of emotion. "Why then Avery?" I asked.

She placed her smoke on the ash tray and looked at me.

"Maybe some other time Simon. Let's enjoy our coffee and maybe ask each other questions. Not just that," She smiled. "Let's save that for some other time."

I looked at her. "So we'll see each other again is that what you mean?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Up to you Simon. Baguio is a small city. We might bump each other often. Or if you want, meet up with me. I won't make obvious excuses."

She looked sincere. "Sure. If that's what you want," I took a sip on my coffee. "So, you're an author now." I said, starting another conversation away from the previous topic.

She laughed as she ate her coffee bun. "No. I don't call myself that. It was only for fun naman. But I ended up taking it seriously."

"Vinny and Sandro said you are a good writer." I told her.

AC laughed. "Did you read what I wrote on them?"

I shook my head as I took another sip on my coffee. "No. I only knew about that recently."

"Then you saw yours."

I didn't know why but it was kind of embarassing to hear it from her. Probably because she was the one who wrote it or because we shared an intimate moment together.

"I couldn't finish it. I'm sorry." I said apologetically.

She giggled. "It's no biggie. Besides, it was only right of you to feel thag way," She paused and drank her coffee. "I mean, you're not into BDSM right?"

I widened my eyes. "Of course not."

"I know so I am sorry Simon." She said, looking disappointed.

I frowned. "You look disappointed."

She looked at me with her protuding eyes. "No." She answered but her lips says otherwise.

I ate my creampuff and true to her words, it was delicious.

"What do you do other than writing?" I asked.

"Call center." She answered.

I nodded. "How is the BPO industry?"

"Pretty hard. But that's work. It won't get me anywhere if I complain."

I laughed. "Well that's true."

"Ikaw? Big time ka na ba?" She joked.

I chuckled. "No. I just finished my masters degree last year. Right now, I am taking my time in working for small companies. You know, exploring the industry I am in. So far, I find it great." I told her.

She looked at me as if her eyes were sparkling with happiness.

"Masaya ako para sa iyo."

"Me too AC. I'm happy for you too."

She shook her head. "There's nothing to be happy with in my part."

"I beg to disagree Avery," She looked at me. "You being here, working and publishing your own book is something to be happy with. Not everyone can do that."

Avery smiled. "Thank you Joseph Simon."

And just like before, her smile has lightened up my day. It reminded me of my hometown by the beach. The calm and breathtaking kind of moment you want to last.