They Don't Know About Us

Chapter 17

Jadelia's POV

Nagising ako sa alarm ng phone ko. Nakalimutan ko palang i-off kagabi, wala namang taping ngayon, nagulo tuloy ang tulog ko. Ay nako!

Since nagising naman na ako, might as well start my day already. After stretching, umupo ako sa edge ng bed and I scrolled through my phone to check messages because there's lots of them. Ginigising ko pa 'yung sarili ko dahil medyo inaantok pa ako.

[Alonzo]: Good morning! 🥰

He sent it kaninang 5 am. Nasa taping nga pala ito ano?

:Morning! Ingat sa taping.

After replying, I went out of my room and into the kitchen. Magluluto ako ng breakfast before going out for a morning bike ride. Baka sakaling mayaya ko rin si Kayleen na mag-bike para hindi lang kami laging nandito sa loob ng bahay kapag day off ko.

Rock music is playing on my phone to wake me up and set the mood for today.

I was busy blending our breakfast smoothies nang biglang may nag-doorbell kaya ipinunas ko sa kitchen towel ang kamay ko bago ako lumabas para pagbuksan ang tao sa labas. I tied my hair into a messy bun while walking towards the gate.

"Good morning po Ms. Ellie Verlejas?" Tanong ng delivery rider na nasa labas.

"Ako nga po."

"Galing po kay 'Coffee Buddy'? Wala pong pangalan eh." He said while looking at the name on the pink box that he's holding. Oh! I'm not sure but think I have a clue kung kanino galing ito. Coffee buddy.

"Papirmahan na lang po dito." I signed under my name and kinuha ko na 'yung box. Ano kayang laman nito? Hmmm...

The rider asked for a picture and I gladly obliged. He also shared that his wife is a fan of mine and I filmed a video greeting for her. He's super nice and polite. Hindi pa raw niya ine-expect na ako daw talaga 'yung pagd-deliver-an niya ng goods.

Dinala ko na sa loob ng bahay 'yung box. Hindi siya ganu'n kabigat pero hindi rin magaan. I wonder what's inside? Hindi ko na iisipin kung kanino galing kasi isang tao lang naman ang pumapasok sa utak ko kapag naririnig ko 'yung 'Coffee Buddy'.

Pinicture-an ko muna 'yung box because I love the color. Ang cute! Pagbukas ko, there were two square tins of biscuits and cookies! It's like a care package box with tins of cookies inside.

"Wahhh! Yes!" I exclaimed in excitement as I removed the paper lining on top of one of the tins. Variety siya, may chocolate and strawberry covered ones. Then I took a look on the other tin of biscuits and this is more aesthetically pleasing dahil pastel colored and very cute and colorful 'yung design ng cookies.

Sa loob ng box ay may mga shredded papers, a card and an envelope kaya kinuha ko 'yun at binuksan. Baka mamaya, bill pala 'to ng kuryente eh. Joke. Haha.

Inuna kong binuksan 'yung small card.

To my Coffee Buddy,

I hope you enjoy these sweet treats (like you) that will surely go well with coffee.

Sulat kamay niya 'yan hahaha. So he went to this shop first before going to work this morning? Such effort!

Binuksan ko na rin 'yung envelope and took out the paper inside. Awww!! It's a long handwritten letter. Itinukod ko ang dalawa kong siko sa kitchen counter at sinimulan kong basahin ang sulat niya.

Dearest Elia,

I'm going to start this off with a note, I'm writing this in the middle of the night so kung hindi maayos ang sulat, please bear with me :)

It's my first official day of being your suitor and yet, wala ako dyan. Sorry, love you (I'm getting very giddy while writing these two words) But anyways, I'm still on cloud 9 since kanina nu'ng nag-usap tayo sa tent at hinayaan mo akong ligawan ka. The sweet, romantic moment that we shared under the moon and the stars will forever be treasured. Sayang at wala tayong picture nu'n. But I know I will remember it forever. Because in that moment, I felt nothing but love. That moment where we're in each other's arms, I never wanted to let go. I never wanted the music to stop. I felt that you were mine and I was yours at that quick moment. As I held your hand habang tumatakbo tayo palayo, as we were laughing and running carefree, I pictured a perfect life with you (it may sound too soon pero ganu'n talaga 'yung naramdaman ko).

Just know na araw-araw kitang liligawan, kahit nasaan tayo. At kahit hindi tayo araw-araw nagkikita, I want you to know that I'm always here. I'll be a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold on to and I'll be someone who's ready to listen to you at any time of the day.

Day 1 of my courtship out of who knows? Ayokong magbilang, basta gusto kong araw-araw, masaya ka. Kung saan man tayo dalhin nito, I would gladly take it as long as kasama kita.

I love you, Jadelia Verlejas, my (hopefully) forever coffee buddy. ♡♡

- Your Charming Suitor

"Awww!" I want to cry. Hahaha. Naiiyak naman ako sa pinaggagawa nitong manliligaw ko. Pero natawa ako dun sa 'Charming Suitor', hmp, palibhasa totoo naman kaya hindi ako pwedeng kumontra. Haha.

I was already sniffling kaya pumunit ako ng paper towel from the holder at pinunas sa ilong ko. I find handwritten letters very romantic. I don't know kung paano niya nalaman na mahilig ako sa letters pero he did a very good job here, napaiyak nga ako eh.

I think he wrote this last night? Ang effort nga naman oh. Nakalimutan ko na may biscuits pala siyang pinadala dahil na-carried away ako sa sulat niya. Mai-text nga.

:Coffee buddy, can I call you now?

Baka kasi nagt-take eh, kaya hindi ako agad agad tumawag.

[Alonzo]: Sure sure.

I dialed his phone number and sinagot naman agad niya.

"Hello! You received it already?"

"Ikaw, unang araw palang ng panliligaw mo, pinaiyak mo na agad 'yung nililigawan mo." I said while sniffling.

"Bakit ka umiyak? Hahaha. Wait lang." May kinakausap siya sa background then nilapit ulit ang bibig niya sa mic. "Why are you crying?"

"Yung sulat mo eh. Hindi ka naman inaano." Naglakad ako patungo sa ref para kumuha ng tubig.

I heard him laughing on the other line. "Sorry if my letter made you cry. I just plain love you, that's all."

Nakahawak lang ako sa handle ng ref na hindi ko pa rin binubuksan hanggang ngayon at napayuko ako dahil pinipigilan ko 'yung kilig ko dahil sa sinabi niya. I cleared my throat before speaking again.

"Nga pala, I didn't wrote my name on the card kasi alam mo naman na 'yun. I know you want to keep this private, even I do, kaya I just used 'Coffee Buddy' as the name."

"Okay lang. Cute nga eh. Alam ko agad na sa'yo galing. Anyway, thank you sa cookies. They look yum yum!"

"Enjoy. Hahaha. Kumain ka na ba ng breakfast? Don't skip ah."

"Nagluluto pa ako. Ikaw? Kumain ka na? Don't skip din."

"I had coffee and ham sandwich."

"Good. Sige na, focus na sa work."

"I'll call you later. Bye."

I ended the call at pagkatapos ay pinicture-an ko pa ng ilang beses 'yung pinadala niya bago ako naglagay sa platito. Tinago ko sa kitchen cabinet above the counter 'yung mga biscuit tins. First gift from my suitor, itatago ko talaga. Haha.

I won't deny, what he did was very sweet. He could've just gave me those biscuits at masaya na ako pero lalo pa akong pinasaya sa letter niya. Hay Alonzo, you really have your ways. Your romantically unique ways.

~~~~