Stolen Moments

07.

"So, how are you and Zack?" tanong ni Katelyn sa'kin habang kumakain kami ng hapunan.

Zayden dropped me off here at my parents home earlier and left my car outside, nag commute siya pauwi. Gusto ko sanang dumiretso nalang sa condo but I couldn't risk showing him where I live so dito ako nagpababa. Katelyn invited me to dinner and as much as I badly wanted to go home already, I felt bad kasi wala daw siyang kasabay dahil nasa business trip ngayon sila daddy at mommy.

"I don't see him quite often." Ang madalas naman kasi na kasama ko ay si Zayden. At first I hated it, pero nang tumagal ay nasanay na ako. And a while ago was... fun.

"Alam mo, bagay kayo." biglang sabi niya. Nangunot naman ang noo ko at binalingan siya.

"Sino?"

"Kayo ng fiancé mo, duh? Have you ever considered liking him? Like, gustuhin siya, ganon?"

Napaisip ko sa tanong niyang yun. Did I? I don't think I ever did. Umiling ako. "Not really."

"Well, you should! Ikakasal kayong dalawa, you two need to get along. Forever kayong magkasama, ang boring naman kung hindi niyo magugustuhan ang isa't-isa."

"You're playing Cupid now, huh?" natawa ako.

"I'm just saying. Tatanda kang may asawa pero malungkot naman kasi 'di kayo nagmamahalan." she shrugged.

"At least may asawa. Eh ikaw?" I joked.

"Hey! Foul!" she hissed. Mas natawa ako.

"Kung maka-kulit ka sa lovelife ko, eh ikaw din naman, wala." sabi ko at sumimsim sa juice ko.

"I have my eyes on someone." bigla siyang sumeryoso. Excited ko naman siyang tinanong kung sino.

She bit her lower lip and hesitated to answer. "Zayden." she blushed.

My eyes widened a fraction at kaagad akong natahimik. Suddenly, I'm lost for words and I didn't know what to say.

"Imagine, magiging kami, tapos kayo ng kapatid niya. Goals!" she beamed.

Muntik akong sumimangot but I managed to smile. "Y-Yeah. That's nice."

She eyed me, still smiling. I smiled back but looked away to focus on my dinner.

Okay, Celestine. Calm down. So what kung gusto niya si Zayden, huh? What is it to you? It shouldn't matter. You're marrying Zackary!

"You'll support me, right?" napaangat ako ng tingin nang tanungin niya ako. "I like your fiancé's brother, Celestine."

I smiled and nodded. "Of course."

I had to get over whatever I felt for Zayden. I kept reminding myself that I hate him. He's a meanie. He's annoying. A total asshole. He hates me, and I hate him too. End of discussion.

🍰

I arrived early at the café the next day dahil tutulong ako sa team ko na gumawa ng cupcakes para sa wedding namin ni Zack. We only have a few days left and I already assigned some of my staff to do it but I wanted to help if I can. Para din siya pang maibawas sa trabaho nila.

I spent a few hours baking with them. It was fun since we were exchanging stories as we baked and decorated the cookies. Bukod pa dito ay mag se-serve din kami ng cupcakes and chocokate mousse.

"Cheska, pahinga ka muna. Ako na dito." sabi ko at pumalit na sa counter. The café is packed today and it makes my heart feel so full. Ang tagal kong pinangarap nito.

"Ma'am, kailan ka po pala bibisita sa ibang branches?" tanong ni Cheska na umupo sa stool malapit sa'kin.

"Next week siguro, after my wedding. Bakit?"

"Sama po sana ako." she smiled widely.

"At bakit?" I raised my brows at her, suspiscious about the way she acted.

"Wala lang, ma'am. Gusto lang po kitang samahan." she looked away and fidgeted with her fingers.

I grinned, "Gusto mo lang makita yung manager sa isang branch eh. Crush mo ba yun?" asar ko. Matagal ko na kasing napapansin na kapag sumasama siya sa'kin, lagi niyang hinahanap si Noah, café manager sa third branch ng Celes'.

"Ma'am, hindi ah!" she covered her face shyly. Napailing nalang ako at natawa.

I had fun while taking our customers orders. Some where very chatty and they shared a lot about their experiences with the café staff, leaving positive remarks.

"Ma'am, si Ma'am Katelyn po yun 'di ba?"

Mula sa mga resibong inaayos ko ay napatingin ako sa pinto nang ngumuso doon si Cheska. I was about to wave at my cousin who just went in when suddenly, a man appeared behind her.

"Halla, si Sir Zayden!" bulaslas ni Cheska. "Mag jowa sila, ma'am?"

Napasimangot ako at tinaasan siya ng kilay. "Chismosa ka talaga, 'no?"

"Ay, hehe, curious lang naman, ma'am. Cute nga nila eh, bagay sila." she wiggled her brows.

"Hi, Cels!" my cousin's voice filled my ears.

I forced a smile and tried rolling my eyes at Zayden who was standing behind her. He frowned and stuck his tongue out, being childish.

"Hi! What can I get you?" I asked.

"What want mo?" Katelyn asked Zayden. Her voice was weirdly soft, I almost rolled my eyes. Hindi naman gano'n kahinhin ang boses niya ah?!

"Just iced coffee and a slice of strawberry shortcake." tipid na sagot niya.

"Favorite mo yun? Same!" she beamed.

Napataas ang kilay ko. As I recall it, she's allergic to strawberries and she hates coffee- she once said that it makes her palpitate too much kaya hindi daw siya umiinom. So alin sa dalawang yun ang favorite niya?

"Okay!" Katelyn beamed. "Two orders of iced coffee and two slices of strawberry shortcake for us."

I gave her a questioning look pero alanganin lang siyang ngumiti at tumango sa'kin bago sinabihan si Zayden na maghanap na ng mauupuan nila.

"Ma'am, anong meron po sa inyo ni Sir Pogi? Infairness ha, bagay kayo!" pang-uuto ni Cheska nang makalayo na ang huli.

Katelyn blushed and smiled widely at her. "Kaya favorite kita eh!" she told her.

"I can't serve you a strawberry shortcake." I said.

"Ay, bakit, ma'am? Madami pa naman po tayong stocks, 'di ba?" nagtatakang tanong ni Cheska.

"Yeah, but she's allergic." sagot ko at bumaling sa pinsan kong kagat na ang ibabang labi, mukhang na-realize bigla. "And you hate coffee." I pointed out.

"Ay, alam ko na! Sabihin nalang natin na last stock na yung strawberry shortcake na ibibigay kay Sir Zayden kaya nag-order ka ng iba para sa'yo." parang tuwang-tuwa pa si Cheska sa naisip niya.

"Yes! You're so smart, Cheska!" napapalakpak pa ang pinsan ko.

"Fine." I sighed and typed a different order for her on the monitor before printing her receipt.

"What are you doing here with him anyways?" tanong ko at inabot sa kanya ang resibo.

She reached for her bag and while looking through her wallet, she answered me. "I messaged him. I think he likes me too! OMG, Cels, he immediately said yes nung inaya ko siya!" she was very giddy about it.

"Ship ko kayo, ma'am! Saktong sakto! Si Ma'am at Sir Zack, ikakasal. Tapos kayo naman ni Sir Zayden, may chance magkatuluyan! Perfect so much!"

I was pre-occupied the whole day. Kahit nung pumalit na si Cheska sa cashier ay hindi ko magawang umalis doon dahil pinapanood ko kung paano magtawanan ang pinsan ko at si Zayden sa pwesto nila.

Ano, nag de-date ba sila? Kapal talaga ng mukha nitong Zayden na 'to! Sa café ko pa talaga?! Nananadya ba siya?!

Nananadya saan, Celestine?

"Selos ka, ma'am?" tanong ni Cheska, parang nang-aasar pa ang tono.

I frowned at her and shook my head. "Bakit naman ako magseselos? Sino ba sila? Ako? Magseselos? Pagbuhulin ko pa sila eh." inis kong sabi at nag walk out para pumunta nalang sa kusina, leaving my laughing café manager behind.