Versailles Series Book 5: The Barista

CHAPTER 4

~ tabi ~

Flashback...

Iniwan ako ni Miss Morales na maiwan dito sa home economics room pagkatapos naming mag-bake. Kailangan na raw niyang umuwi kaya nag-boluntaryo akong ako na lang ang maglilinis ng ginamit namin bago ako umuwi.

Napatigil ako sa pagsuot ng bag ko nang magpatay-sindi ang ilaw. Naalala ko bigla ang mga kwento tungkol sa multo dito sa school. Bakit ba kasi lahat ng eskwelahan dating sementeryo?

Hindi naman ako matatakutin pero iyon ay dahil wala naman akong malapit na karanasan para masabing may mga multo nga. Nang maisara ko na ang pinto ay napahiyaw ako nang may humawak sa balikat ko.

"Ay putangina!" Nang lingunin ko iyon ay hinampas ko si Calhoun na tumatawa. "Gago ka talaga. Bakit ka ba nandito?"

"Sabi ni Tita Mira baka nandito ka pa. Buti pala tinignan kita."

Inikot ko ang mga mata ko. "Kung hindi mo nilaro ang ilaw, hindi ako matatakot."

Binuhat nito ang bag ko. Pilit kong inagaw iyon pero sinuot na nito sa balikat nito ang bag ko.

"Ako na. Kaya hindi ka tumatangkad eh."

Napasimangot ako. "Kailangan mo pa bang ipangalandakan?"

Naglakad na kami papunta sa exit ng eskwelahan.

"Saka maliit ako talaga. Hindi katulad ni Ate." Matangkad at balingkinitan si Ate Tiffany. Hindi tulad ko na maliit at medyo may katabaan.

Napangiwi ako anng hilahin ni Calhoun ang pisngi ko. "Tumigil ka na nga. Okay na iyan. Hindi mo naman kailangan na maging matangkad."

"Sabi ni papa, dapat matangkad daw ako kung gusto ko maging chef. Baka hindi ko raw abot iyung mga kaldero o gamit sa overhead cabinets."

Natawa si Calhoun pero umiling-iling din. "Your father's crazy."

"Kumain ka na ba?" Tanong ko rito. Alas siyete na ng gabi kaya panigurado kumain na sila mama at ate sa bahay. Nasa abroad si papa at isang OFW. Galingan daw naming mag-aral para makapag-abroad na rin kami.

"Hindi pa. Saan kaya tayo pwede...?"

Nagtinginan kami. "Mang Erning's"

"Mang Erning's."

Pagdating sa kainan ay pareho kami ng mga gusto. Minsan ay sinama ko si Ate Tiffany dito pero umayaw ito at nagpaumanhin ako kay Mang Erning sa inakto ng kapatid ko.

"Oh, dito na kayo maghahapunan?" Tanong ng kahera.

"Opo Ate. Ginabi na kami eh."

"O siya sige. Umupo na kayo at dadalhin ko na lang ang order niyo."

Oo, sa sobrang dalas namin dito, alam na nila ang lagi naming kinukuha. Nang dumating ang order namin ay nilagyan ko na ng kanina at ulam ang plato ni Calhoun bago ang sa akin. Nag-kwento ito tungkol sa araw nito. Binasted daw ito ng nililigawan nito ngayon. Mas gusto raw ng babae iyung nagbabasketball na kaklase nila.

"Sa bait mong iyan inayawan ka pa?" Sabi ko bago sumubo ng kanin.

"I know right? But hey, maybe she wasn't for me. How about you? May nanliligaw ba sa iyo?"

"Sino namang magkakamali sa akin? Saka sinasabi nila na mataba raw ako."

"Then you are dodging the bullets, my friend. You don't need people who can't see past the physical appearance in your life. And your weight doesn't change how beautiful you are."

Naramdaman kong namula ang pisngi ko kaya sinipa ko ito sa ilalim ng mesa. Pinilit kong kalmahin ang puso ko. Nakakainis ito. Paanong hindi ako mahuhulog sa gagong ito kung lagi nitong sinasabi sa akin na maganda naman ako.

"Sheesh, woman. No need for violence." He chuckled. "Pero seryoso. Have the body you want and are comfortable with. If people make comments about it, flip them the finger."

"Sabi nga ng iba payatot ka. Iyan ba ang ginagawa mo?"

"Yeah. To hell with them."

I nodded and finished eating. If there is someone I want to live with forever or someone constant in life, it's Calhoun. It's got to be him.

~ calhoun ~

"Gusto mo ng ice cream?"

I know how much Tabi loves the cheap ice cream they sell here. Oo nga at medyo kumportable ang pamumuhay namin ni Tabi pero marunong kaming mag-enjoy ng mga simpleng bagay.

I looked up at her and nodded. I am lactose intolerant. I have been ever since I knew milk. It was a miracle I grew up tall thanks to my father's Portuguese blood. I try to avoid having some if I can but on some occasions like this, I sneak a lactase tablet in my mouth before Tabi returns. She loves ice creams. She loves desserts where most have dairy products in them. I want her to have someone to enjoy those with so I try hard to.

I like how her smile brightened up her face as she handed me the ice cream. It reminded me why I do this. Why I have been doing this since we became best of friends ten years ago. Sometimes my mother will ask me while I do it. I told her it was because I wanted to share whatever Tabi was eating with her. I didn't want her to feel alone especially when she was eating. She loves food so much that's why I don't her associating eating with something sad or being alone.

"Magbabakasyon na pala ulit, no? Tapos last year na natin sa high school. Ga-graduate na tayo."

I nodded. "Do you plan on taking up culinary despite your father refusing it?"

I wanted to smack myself as sadness clouded her expression. "Oo. Kung magsasayang na ako ng pera mas mabuti ng sa kurso na gusto ko kaysa hindi di ba?"

I am not a vindictive person but since I became aware and I started understanding how fucked up her family is, I loathe everyone in that house that is hurting my best friend. My mother always says that Tabi is the daughter she always wanted. They spend time together more than she does with her mother. I used to love Tita Mira but now, I keep her at arms' length.

I stopped counting the times Tabi came to me crying. I wouldn't even think about the times she cried on her own. I don't know why they don't see her for the great young lady that she is. She has a heart of gold, endless patience, energy that never goes out, and passion that could rival anybody's.

"Ikaw? Napagdesisyunan mo na ba?"

Tumango ako. "I'll take up filming."

Even my parents and shocked by my choice. I just started looking into the industry recently and it greatly fascinated me what happens behind the camera.

Tabi smiled at me. "Kaya mo iyan. Huwag mo akong kalimutan kapag sikat na direktor ka na ha."

Natawa ako. "I am still far from being that, Tabi. But thanks for having faith in me."

I always wondered why she had this never-ending faith in me. It was something people lacked giving her but she never ran out of it. My eyes went back to her face. I just hope she keeps that smile on even when I'm not around her anymore. I am a firm believer that no one deserves her, even me. She's too perfect for the world.