FRAMED

CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5

"Nandito na naman siya, Agape. Ibang babae naman ngayon ang kasama." Imporma sa akin ni jade pagkabalik ko galing sa pags-serve. Tinutukoy niya ang attorney kuno na pabalik-balik dito sa restaurant.

Araw-araw kasi siyang nandito. At sa araw-araw na 'yon, iba't-ibang babae ang kasama niya which I think is his client. Ang creepy naman yata kapag lahat ng babaeng kasama niya ay ginagawa niyang girlfriend. May matanda, Ina, teenager, at iba pa. Buti nga at hindi na bumalik 'yong girlfriend niyang eskandalosa. After that incident, hindi na niya ako kinausap— it's not like we're talking, but what I mean is when I coincidentally serve his order he wouldn't talk to me— at hindi na rin siya tumitingin sa akin. I think he was really shy. That was just nothing to me though. All people make mistakes and dumb actions. I don't think he's an exception.

"Let's just let him. We should take care of the customers. They grew in half than the usual."

"Sa tingin ko dahil 'yan sayo."

Pinagpatuloy ko ang paglalagay ng mga pagkain sa tray. "That flatters, but not for me. I think it's just about the delicacies. Chief Bryan does really excerpt a masterpiece in his cooking."

She smiled. "Yeah. Gaya pa rin ng tamis ng una naming pagkikita." There's no doubt about why she's acting like this. She has always openly shown her admiration for the chief.

On the other hand, the chief has no interest in her. I don't know if ako lang ang nakakahalata but the chief is a bit softer than a normal man would. Madalas ko rin siyang nakikitang nagpipilantik ng daliri at nagtataas ng kilay. But I didn't judge him for that, I just confirmed when I heard him accidentally talking to someone. And with that call, he mentioned his gender. My approach to him doesn't change tho. I still see him as the chief I am working with on my first day.

"Baliw na baliw ka sa kanya no? Are you gonna stay like this even if you had no assurance to wait and no chances on winning him?" I know it sounds offensive. I realized it seconds after I fired that words. Can't help the bluntness of my mouth sometimes.

She doesn't take it negatively which breathes my heart. She smiles instead. "I love him. Hindi naman 'yon basta-basta nawawala kahit pa sabihin ng iba na wala akong pag-asa. Believe me, Minsan ko na ring ginustong tanggalin siya sa puso ko. Pero mahirap pala— kaya minamahal ko na lang siya lalo hanggang sa puso ko ang kusang mapagod. "

"Drama—" we both laughed a bit. Tinapik ko siya sa balikat at sumenyas. "Ihahatid ko muna 'to, maiwan na kita."

Tinanguan niya ako kaya naglakad na ako bitbit ang tray na puno ng pagkain.

"I told you, I want a break-up," 'yan ang una kong nabungaran pagdating ko sa table na paglalapagan ko ng pagkain. The girl is trying to be calm while the boy could create a scene at any time. His hands were deeply clenched in fists.

"Excuse me," I interrupted. They both look at me. As soon as the girl found my gaze she settled a smile. I softly smiled back and then speak out their order.

"I'm sorry, but we didn't order a cake," she said politely after she saw that I put two plates of chocolate mocha. Hindi ko binalingan ng tingin ang lalaking kasama niya. Kunot na kunot ang noo nitong pinagmamasdan kaming nag-uusap ng girlfriend niya. Baka akala niya celebrasyon sa break-up nila ang cake.

I smiled. "It's on the house, ma'am. Enjoy your meal."

"Anong ginawa mo sa kanila?" Tanong ni jade.

Pinaningkitan ko naman siya ng mata. "Why?"

"Parang nag-aaway yata..."

"Ah, yeah. I didn't mean to pry but I overheard them...the girl's asking for a breakup."