The Untold Path of our Dreams

Chapter Nine

--- Her POV --

I woke up around 4 am and decided to take my first morning jog ever since I went home. It's been a long time that I've not exercised my limbs. Lagi naman talaga ako nag gygym and tumatakbo sa city noong nasa abroad pa ako, medyo naging sanay lang talaga siguro ako ngayon sa pahinga.

Nasabi ko na ba? Medyo malapit lang talaga ito sa uni ko noon. Mga tatlong liko lang naman pero kayang takbuhin. Ayoko lang talaga magmawis at saka sayang naman yung pinapagas ni Mang Tino sa sasakyan kung hindi gagamitin noon, diba?

I took a few lapses before ako maghanap ng makakainan. Malapit na lang ako sa uni kaya tumakbo na ako doon. A lot of the stalls are still closed kaya halos ikutin ko ulit ang buong kalabasan ng uni para makakita ako ng bukas na resto. I was close to giving up until I saw he's coffee shop.

I remember before, binigay na sakanya ng mom niya itong coffee shop na ito. So he can practice running a business. I even taught him about budgeting, and staffing. Naturuan na ako nila mom about mature things ever since I was just 5 years old. Kaya naturuan at natulongan ko din si Apollo na magmanage before.

As I entered the coffee shop, meron ng mga tao. Konti lang, siguro mga student 'to na hindi makatulog. Ganoon pa rin talaga itong cafe, naibahan lang yung ibang mga furniture but all in all, it looks the same. I wonder if he still manages this coffee shop, pero hindi na rin siguro since he's already have a career. Sabi din niya sa akin na hindi siya magtatagal sa business world, right? So it's safe to say na hindi ko siya makakasalubong here.

"Good morning Ma'am! May I take your order please?" Malambing na sabi ng waiter kaya napatingin naman ako, and yes, I was not mistaken. It's still Elyse, I looked at her name badge and it says there under her name 'Branch Manager'

"M-ma'am Nica?" She said I'm trying to keep it all in. I cannot just act that I know her baka sabihin niya pa kay Apollo

"How did you know my name?" I asked acting strange.

"Oh. Ano po... Suki po namin kato dito dati, noong estudyante pa lang po tayo. Ako po si Elyse." Malambing na tugon niya kaya naman napangiti ako.

" Really? Sorry, I don't remember that but thank you for still remembering. Will I order now?" I said with a gentle smile and  trying to really really hold it together. I miss Elyse too, nakakamiss din yung mga biruan namin with other staffs especially with her and her 'allegedly' boyfriend. Natuwa na lang talaga ako sa isip ko and I hope they're still together.

"Sure po!" Maligalig na sagot naman niya. She's for sure the sweetest human I've ever met in my entire life. Kahit paggalit yan, ang lambing pa rin. Minsan maiisip mo talaga na plastic siya pero ganon lang talaga siya. At masaya ring kasama.

"Hmm. Do you have a strawberry milkshake?" I asked and she even smiled wider. I bet she noticed, I still don't drink coffee that much pero natotolerate ko na ito mga isang cup sa isang week ganon, super minimal times lang talaga.

"We always have that for you ma'am! Anything else?" I know Elyse, my one and only sakura drink.

"4 full filipino breakfast, 3 americano, and whole of this blue berry cheesecake." I said. Yes there's a breakfast menu here, it changes lang kapag brunch, lunch, and dinner. The sweets and breads are always displayed naman.

She took my order and I roamed the cafe. Wala na yung upuan ko. Wala na yung reserved table that's intended only for me. Napalitan na lang ito ng old telephone machine. Akala mo naman talaga may gagamit. Tss! Anong design 'to Apollo! Natatawa nanaman ako.