Warmth of Summer

Chapter 5

Caught

"Hi, where's Favian?" I asked the lady wearing the cafe's uniform.

She's not the girl I saw yesterday. Kinabukasan din kasi ay bumalik ako dito, hoping that I will see him ulit. Hindi ko rin naman siya nakikita sa campus even though we attend the same university. The campus is wide at hiwa-hiwalay rin ang building of every departments. Kaya rin siguro hindi ko siya makasalubong man lang sa hallway.

"Favian?" kunot noo nitong tanong. "Ah, si Finn po ba?" Tumango ako bilang sagot. "Wala po siya rito, part timer lang kasi siya kaya minsan lang ang pasok niya rito," paliwanag niya na ikinatango ko.

He told me that yesterday, but he didn't told me na wala siyang work today sa café. Sayang 'yung pagod ko kasi naglakad lang naman ako papunta dito. Bakit ba kasi ang arte niya? He should have give me his number nalang.

"Do you know his schedules ba? Kung kailan siya ulit papasok dito sa café?"

I saw her blink many times before she wince. "H-hindi pwede, Ma'am. Tsaka hindi ko rin alam ang schedule niya kasi wala naman po akong pake. Seloso po ang asawa ko kaya kahit gwapo si Finn, hindi po talaga ako interesado."

I covered my mouth using my right hand but I cannot suppress my laughter anymore. That's why she looked at me curiously.

"You're funny," I said while trying to stop my laughter because I'm starting to gain attention from the customers.

"Talaga ma'am? Salamat po! Maraming beses ko na talaga 'yang narinig pero iba pala kapag galing na sa magandang babae manggagaling," she said while twirling the tip of her hair.

I shake my head because of her naughtiness. "So you're a full timer here?"

"Ay opo! Kaka-one year ko pa lang po dito noong August."

Lumingon ako sa likod ko at nang makitang wala namang pila ay muli akong humarap sakanya. I almost started when her gummy smile is still plastered on her face. Isang beses akong napailing at nilagay ko nalang ang dalawa kong kamay sa counter at nilapit ko ang mukha ko sakanya at ginaya niya rin iyon.

"Do you have his number?" I whispered.

Nagulat pa ako because she aggressively takes back her face in front of me and she impulsively shakes her head.

"Wala po! Magseselos ang asawa ko kapag nakita niya na nakasave ang number niya sa cellphone ko. Tsaka hindi rin naman ibibigay sa'kin ni Finn ang number niya, ang sungit-sungit pa naman no'n," she grouchy said.

I see that she's way more talkative than me. My question can be answered by short words, but when it comes to her, she made it sound like I asked her dozens of questions.

"Is that so—"

"Ay! Girlfriend ka ba ni Finn, Ma'am?" I was about to answer nang maunahan niya na ako. "Pero kung girlfriend ka naman niya, hindi kana dapat nanghihingi ng number niya, diba? Wag mong sabihin na isa ka din sa manliligaw niya?" She even gasped after she said that.

"What? Of course not!"

Napahawak naman ito sa dibdib niya at huminga nang maluwag. "Tama 'yan, Ma'am. Kay ganda mong babae para ikaw mismo ang manligaw sa lalaki. Ang ganyang ganda ma'am ay dapat na nililigawan hindi yan yung ganda na nanliligaw. Gwapo nga si Finn pero sobrang ganda mo naman para maulol sakanya, diba ma'am?"

I beamed at her. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"Hay nako, Ma'am. Palagay ko naman ay alam mo na maganda ka talaga."

I giggle while shaking my head. I'm starting to love her. It's obvious that we didn't have the same social status but our attitude will click instantly.