Versailles Series Book 5: The Barista

CHAPTER 17

~ calhoun ~

"Pabili po manong."

Nag-dalawang tingin pa ang ang nagbebenta ng taho sa akin. I'm not surprised, I get that all the time.

I was jogging around the neighbourhood when I spotted the vendor.

"Pwede pong pa-autograph?"

I smiled but when he looked for a pen, he didn't have any.

"Ay sayang, wala akong dalang papel. Naku, idol po kasi kayo ng asawa ko, Sir."

"May cellphone po ba kayo? Picture na lang po tayo."

"Naku Sir, okay lang ba? Pinagpapawisan na ako."

Umiling ako. "Ako rin naman po. Okay lang po iyan."

Nilabas nito ang telepono at nag-selfie kami. He was all smiles at me.

"Kapag po nadayo kayo uli rito, magdala na po kayo ng papel at ballpen."

"Libre na po itong taho niyo, Sir."

Umiling ako. "Hindi na Manong. Sayang naman po iyung nilakad niyo kung ililibre niyo pa ako. Okay lang po."

Dinagdagan na lang nito ng isang scoop ang taho ko. Naupo ako sa isa sa mga shed doon habang iniinom ang taho ko. I glanced at my phone when I saw Tabi's message. She must have rushed to that interview she told me last night.

I jogged back and showered fast. Kumatok ako sa bahay nila Tita Mira at si Tiffany ang nagbukas ng pinto.

"Ohh....good morning to me."

"Is Tita Mira here?"

"Calhoun? Ikaw ba iyan?" I looked past Tiffany and waved at my godmother.

"I think Tabi forgot her wallet. Dadalhin ko lang po sa kanya."

"Ah sige, kukunin ko lang saglit ha."

"So my sister is making you her messenger now." Nakangising sabi ni Tiffany.

"What is it with you? Why are you like that to your sister?"

She crossed her arms. "What do you know? Wala ka namang kapatid."

I shook my head. "You don't need a sibling to be nice to people, Tiffany."

She rolled her eyes before walking away. Doon naman dumating si Tita Mira dala ang wallet ni Tabi. I got in my car and drove to her restaurant. After parking my car, I got out and went to the entrance. I know Mang Hector already because I frequently go here when I am in the vicinity.

"Magandang umaga po, Manong Hector."

"Sir Calhoun! Nasa taas na po si Tabi."

"Ah opo. Iaabot ko lang po iyung hiniram niya."

She specified to me to get money from her wallet and not mine or I would face her wrath. Not that she's scary. She's a petite woman who can do very little damage to me but I won't take my chances.

I handed him the bills and added 200 more. I winked at him. I'll just explain it to Tabi later. "Thank you po, Sir!"

I stopped in my tracks when I noticed an ID peeking out on one of the sleeves. It was familiar to me because I have one. I pulled it out while I was in the elevator. It was a recently renewed driver's license. She even has the professional one and she can drive manual transmission? I can't even drive a car with a manual transmission.

Did she know how to drive all this time? Why does she let me take her to places then? Not that I don't want to drive her around. It's just that she never told me she ever learned how to drive. I could have taught her.

Tasteful Trails came to view and I saw a lot of lights set up. Tabi was wearing her chef's uniform while talking to a woman. I always loved seeing her in her uniform. She seldom wears it now because she has chefs at her call but when she does wear them, she really looks beautiful.

She answers the interviewers confidently. This is not the woman her family sees. What they see is a woman who doesn't correct them and let them judge her and belittle her. Here, she's the powerful woman she built herself to be for years.

When I say 'I wouldn't be here without him', it is an understatement of his impact on my life.

My heart started thumping hard in my chest. The smile that lingered on her lips was sweet and shy at the same time. The blush on her cheeks became prominent from her natural blush.

If I will answer that question, I'll probably say the same thing. I owe her the majority of the things I have right now. The money I lent her years ago was nothing compared to her impact on my life. Ngayon ko lang na-realize kung gaano siya kahalaga sa akin.

Maybe it's because the dust has finally settled. I have an established career and I have stopped dating women that I never had the desire to fall in love with. I want something more permanent now. Something more long-term. Which is why I wanted to start my directorial journey in the industry I've been in for more than a decade. And I wanted to settle down with someone. I wanted to go home to a cozy house with someone waiting for me.

I waited for her in her office. It's our birthday in a few days. I'm not sure if she remembers our promise to marry each other when we turn 30. Deep inside I hope she remembers it. Call me a coward but it's the closest thing I can do right now to ask her to spend forever with me.

I don't know how long was I sitting on her couch when she came in. She looked exhausted. I stood up and she just lunged at me. I caught her in my arms and it confirmed my doubts. I want this. I want this feeling. I want this hug by the time I come home. I want this hug after a long day of taping. I want this hug when I feel exhausted. I want this hug after telling how my day went.

"Are you okay?" I dropped a kiss on her hair. I don't remember when I started becoming this affectionate to her. I drop kisses on her hair and on her temples every now and then. She hugs me a lot in return.

"I am now."

"Are you hungry? I know we are in your restaurant but we can grab something somewhere."

"I want a greasy cheeseburger with loads of fries."

I chuckled. "Okay. Do you want to go back to Baguio after?"

"Can we?"

I nodded. I want her far from the place and the people causing her pain. "Of course."

She flashed me her cheeky grin. "Sounds like a plan then."