Thorns and Roses

CHAPTER THREE

Arlene's Point of View

I woke up with a headache. I'm used to it but I still hate it. Umupo muna 'ko para hindi ako masyadong mahilo 'pag tumayo ako.

I was about to stand up to go to my desk. Kaya lang bago pa 'ko makatayo nang tuluyan, yumuko ako para kunin ang phone ko sa ilalim ng aking unan.

That was unusual.

I don't really check my phone early in the morning but suddenly I feel like I need to check it right now.

Oh, there's a text message from Noreen but I didn't bother to open it cause I received another text message. The person who texted me is not in the contacts.

A text message from an unknown number.

Since it's from an unknown number, I decided to view Noreen's message first. She's just asking me if I followed her. And of course, I'm not in the mood to text her back like the usual. If she will nag about this, I can just say that I'm busy.

Hindi naman big deal na nag-bar ako kagabi. And this is my life, she don't have the rights to order me around.

I pressed the back button of my phone to view the message from an unknown number. The text message is just a simple 'Hi'. I quickly typed on my keyboard for a reply.

To: 09xxxxxxxxx
Hello, if ure the guy I met last night. F*ck off, I don't need a jerk in my life.

I sent it. Ganon naman talaga ang sinasabi ko sa lahat ng nilalandi ko sa bar 'pag nakukuha nila ang number ko. Madalang lang naman mangyari kasi hindi naman ako nagbibigay ng number. But some of the guys just have their ways.

The unknown number replied to my text message. I quickly tapped it. 'Pag hindi ito tumigil mag-text, block ko na.

From: 09xxxxxxxx
i'm not a guy pwede bang makipagkita? sa café katapat ng building ng condo mo

Oh.

This is a bit suspicious but why do I feel like the person I'm talking to right now is telling the truth. I don't know if this is the right thing to do but. . . whatever.

I agreed to meet him or her. He or she told me that he or she will be at the nearby café at lunch time. It means marami pa 'kong time magsulat bago ang aming pagkikita.

I don't know why but this meet up makes me nervous.

- - -

Nakaupo at nakaharap ako malapit sa pintuan. Kararating ko lang, am I too early? Alas-onse nang umaga ang oras nang tumingin ako sa orasan dito sa café. Ang alam ko lunch time naman na ang eleven am.

Nag-text uli sa 'kin kanina ang nagpapunta sa 'kin dito. Naka-shades daw siya at naka-dress. So far, wala pa naman akong nakikitang pumapasok na may shades at naka-dress.

Habang hinihintay ko ang nagpapunta sa 'kin dito, luminga-linga muna 'ko at tumingin sa ginagawa ng mga tao.

May mga magkakaibigan na nagkwekwentuhan. May mga estudyanteng nag-aaral. May mga naka-business attire at parang nagme-meeting. Napatingin ako sa counter at nakita ko ang mga barista na nagpapahinga.

Ano kayang buhay nila sa labas ng café na 'to?

As a writer, naiisip ko 'yon. Palagi akong napapatanong kung ano kaya ang storya ng buhay nila. I like observing people. It helps me on how I create a realistic character.

Bago ko ibalik ang tingin ko sa glass door, nahagip ng paningin ko ang isang lalaki. Nakatitig siya sa 'kin at nakangiti. He even winked at me when our eyes met. He looks like a sh*tty weirdo.