Five O'clock Sky (Nueva Caceres#1)

CHAPTER 28

Chapter 28: Compensation

Punto de Vista: Luzeda Xiamara

Naitaas ko na ang panghuling window blinds ng shop nang gumawa ng tunog ang ang chime na nakasabit malapit sa pintuan, tanda na may pumasok.

"It seems like I'm the first customer of the day, princess."

Umikot ang aking mata nang mapagtantong ang baritonong boses iyon ni Adam.

"I don't think so..." I bitterly replied at nakahalukipkip na hinarap si Adam. His long hair was on top knot. I walked towards him and kissed his cheeks. Hindi ko tinago ang aking pagsimangot.

"If you're here to buy, I'm sorry, but we're still closed. Not because you're my brother, you can disregard the signage." Tinuro ko ang signboard na nakasabit sa pintuan ng shop. "But I doubt it that you'd buy."

Umangat ang sulok ng kanyang labi. "You can always make an exemption to your brother, brat." Aniya at prenteng umupo sa couch ng lounge area. Mahaba naman ang couch pero parang bigla iyong lumiit. My brother is a tall man with a masculine built. "And no, I'm not here to buy. I just want to check on you."

I scoffed. "If I know, palagi ka lang naman dumadaan dito kasi gusto mo ng pineapple tarts FOR FREE." I sighed exaggeratedly. "You'll be my bankruptcy, Adam. Much more kung nandito rin si Hobie."

Napuno ng kanyang halakhak ang loob ng pastry shop.

Halos isang buwan na rin nang makabalik si Adam and his wife from their honeymoon. Their civil wedding was a spur-of-a-moment na kahit magulang namin ay hindi nakadalo. Saka niya lang pinaalam na kasal na sila ng nobya a day after their wedding. Sobrang nagtampo ang Mommy sa kanya dahil doon. But they plan to have a church wedding soon. Sadyang hindi lang talaga nakapagantay si Adam na maitali sa kanya ang nobya.

"Sa plantasyon talaga ang punta ko. But it's too early yet kaya dito muna ako. Go on with your work. Don't mind me." Aniya at dumampot magazine sa maliit na shelf na nasa gilid ng couch.

I just hissed and turned my back on him. Mabigat ang mga hakbang kong nagmartsa papasok ng kitchen area. Pinuno ko ang isang parisukat na kahon ng pineapple tarts. All freshly baked at ililipat nalang sa display cabinets.

Paglabas ko ay naabatan ko si Adam na seryosong binabasa ang isang business magazine. Kalahati ng mukha niya ay natatakpan ng magazine. I saw how his eyes moved to my direction and down to the box that I was holding. As if he was disinterested, he shifted back his eyes to what he's reading. I scoffed silently. If only I didn't know better kung ano talaga ang pinunta niya dito.

My pastry shop is a counter service shop. There's no dining area so all orders are for take out. Pero naglagay ako ng lounge area for the customers to sit in if there's a need to wait for their orders.

"What's that?" Kunyari ay walang interest niyang tinapunan ang kahon na nilapag ko sa glass table sa kanyang haparap.

"It's obviously what you're here for. Your favorite pineapple tarts."

He closed the magazine. Nilapag niya iyon sa table at kumuha ng isang tart sa kahon. "You'll make a fuss that I'm here for free pineapple tarts when I did nothing but accept your generosity." He hissed and shoved the whole piece of tart to his mouth.

Humalukipkip ako. "Look at me, Adam." I pointed my displeased face. "Do I look like I'm giving it to you out of generosity?"

Habang ngumunguya ay masusi niyang sinuri ang aking ekspresyon. "No." He replied after swallowing the food. Then he chuckled. "You're so mean to me lately, princess."

Ngumuso ako. "I'm always mean, Adam. Mas nakakapangbahala kapag naging mabait ako."

Tinalikuran ko ang kapatid. Binalewala ko ang presensya niya habang nilalagay sa display cabinets ang freshly baked goods. Kalaunan ay tumulong na din si Adam.