Versailles Series Book 5: The Barista

CHAPTER 19

~ tabi ~

I stretched my hands and yawned. Maraming bisita ngayon sa club kaya busy rin ang cafe. May mga members kasi na nagso-sponsor ng mga kasal o debuts or birthdays dito at madalas ay kami ang mga hawak ng coffee and desserts.

Nagdagdag na ako ng mga tao para mas bumilis ang mga gawain namin sa cafe. Minsan nga ay natutulog na ako sa opisina dahil sa sobrang pagod ko. Unlike my staff, my shift doesn't end after 8 hours. I have to oversee the operations of both the bar and cafe and in the evening, I review the reports from both Drunk and Sober and Tasteful Trails.

"Long day?"

Napatigil ako sa pagmuni-muni naang makita ko si Asia na nakaupo sa bar. She was sipping vodka from the looks of the liquid on the glass. "Yeah...and it's not yet done." I stood beside her to check if she was okay. She doesn't frequent the bar if she's here. Her messy top-knot bun is leaning on one side I wasn't sure if it was intentional or she just didn't give a damn. Even her loungewear looked fashionable.

"Why are you so busy?"

"I need money." Natawa ako. No use sugarcoating things. This is Asia. "Kayo rin naman ni Calhoun. Bakit nga ba kayo nandito na dalawa kung may movie kayong ginagawa?"

"It was a series of unfortunate events. Don't even ask. I'm stressed as it is."

Her flawless skin glowed under dim bar lights. Saan ang stressed? Ako nga mukha ng panda siguro sa lalim at itim ng eyebags ko. "Uh...okay...? Anong meron?"

"I'm quitting showbiz, that's what."

"Oh. Bakit?"

"I'm getting married."

If my eyes could go out of their sockets, it probably had fallen out from the way my eyes widened. Asia never had a boyfriend. At least that's what Calhoun told me. Asia was always linked to her leading men because she somehow had great chemistry with all of them but there was never a confirmed relationship.

Asia and I bonded over the fact that our families fucked over our lives. We understood the hardships of one another. It was something Calhoun may sympathize with but not relate to. He has the best parents and he's an only child.

"Non-showbiz?"

"Yeah. I just knew about him a while ago. Pero hindi ko pwedeng sabihin kung sino."

"Paanong ikakasal ka sa hindi mo kilala? Na-meet mo na ba siya kahit papaano?"

"I guess...He looked familiar though. I guess I was tipsy when I saw the picture." She downed everything in her glass and ordered one more.

"Eh bakit ka pa umiinom kung tipsy ka na?"

Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko at niyugyog ako. "My mother is throwing me in another hell, Tabi!"

"Can you back out?"

Umiling ito. "I can't." Inisang lagok uli nito ang baso nito kaya umiling ako sa bartender nang humingi uli ito ng isa.

"Come, I'll take you home."

"Pwedeng isa pang baso? Last na. Promise. Please?" She was batting her eyelashes at me while pouting her lips. Calhoun told me about how Asia gets what she wants.

I sighed. "Fine." Tinanguan ako ang bartender. "But I'll take you home."

"Okay!" She even gave me two thumbs up. Yup, she's drunk.

When she finally downed her last glass, I tried to assist her but she turned on the other way. Lasing na nga ang gaga.

"Asia-"

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang lalaking sumalo rito. Parang gusto ko na lang hilahin si Asia para isalba ang buhay nito.

"Hmm...may kamukha ka..." She mumbled on the guy's chest.

I smiled apologetically. "Sorry. She's drunk."

"I see." The most elusive among the princes of darkness doesn't grace the bar that much but when he does, it's like the temperature drops almost immediately as he comes in. His dark eyes looked at the drunk woman leaning on him.

"Sorry again. Can I get you a drink, Sir Caden?" Sinubukan kong hilahin si Asia palayo rito. Girl, bitaw ka na. Baka masunog ka, gaga.

Sinenyasan ko ang bartender na asikasuhin agad si Sir Caden. Ayokong mawalang ng isang bartender kung hindi man ito mabigyan ng inumin agad.

"I'll have my usual. Do you need help to bring her to the car?"

"Kaya ko naman maglakad. Nakaharang ka lang kasi..." Sabi ni Asia na nakakapit pa rin sa prinsipe.

"Girl, ikaw iyung nakakapit sa kanya..." Bulong ko sa kanya habang hinihila siya palayo.

"I can help carry her."

I opened my mouth to protest but he was on his feet with Asia in his arms. I saw the other members gape as well. Same, guys. Same. Who knew this guy could be a gentle-

I stopped when I heard Asia's grunt when her head made contact with the car's roof.

"Aray ko, gago."

Napahilamos ako. Good luck na lang talaga kung sisikatan ka ng araw bukas. Kapag nalaman siguro nito kung sino ang minumura nito ay magpapalamon na lang ito sa lupa.

Mabilis na akong lumapit sa dalawa at nginitian si Prince Caden nang maibaba na nito si Asia sa service ng club.

"Thank you po ulit, Sir Caden."

He just tipped his chin before going back to the bar. Nang lingunin ko si Asia ay sinusubukan nitong I-lock ang seatbelt nito. "Ako na nga."

When I settled her in, I had the driver take her to her house. He helped me carry her inside. Nang papalabas na sana ako sa maganda nitong bahay ay hinawakan ako nito sa pulsuhan.

"Tabi..."

"Hmm?"

"Mahal mo ba si Calhoun?"

Parang tumigil yata lahat ng daloy ng hangin at dugo sa katawan ko.

"Huwag mo siyang sasaktan ha." Asia's eyes are closed and her voice is slurry but her message is as clear as if she's sober.

Tila napipi ako. I wanted to tell her that between Calhoun and me, I was the one who got hurt. I was the one who got rejected because I was out of his league. I didn't fit the mould of his ideal woman.

"I wish I was in your place. I wish I had someone to fall in love with. I wish I had someone who'd fall for me. You're lucky. You're fucking lucky."

With that, she's out. Kinuha ko ang nakatuping kumot sa gilid at ipinatong iyon dito. I don't know what she's talking about and what made her think that something was going on between Calhoun and me. We're best friends. I promised myself I wouldn't cross the line again.