Star-Crossed Melodies (Echoes #1)

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Grow

Nang bumalik ako sa loob ay naabutan kong kausap ni Ellis ang waitress. They were both on the side while someone else was at the counter. I couldn't bring myself to approach, especially since he was still talking to someone, so I sat at a nearby table to wait.

I didn't take my eyes off them. They were having a serious conversation and the waitress was still crying. A chill ran through my stomach as I thought that Ellis might get even angrier at me.

Pinag laruan ko ang aking daliri habang nakatanaw sa kanilang dalawa. Damn you, Zephyra. Talagang lalayuan kita!

I could only see Ellis's back. I noticed that he had lost weight. His jawline and collarbone were more prominent. He was just wearing an oversized black t-shirt, khaki shorts, and white coconut slippers. Para siyang napadaan lang dito at hindi owner ng coffee shop na 'to.

When the waitress suddenly looked at me, it was clear that I was staring at Ellis's back. Tumingin lang ako pabalik sa waitress bago siya tumalikod para pumunta sa isang silid na naroon.

Ellis was left standing. I stood up and slowly walked towards him.

"Can we talk?" tanong ko nang makalapit.

Nabigla ko yata siya dahil napaigtad pa ang kanyang balikat. Gulat siyang humarap sa akin habang nanlalaki ang mata.  I swallowed hard as the scent of his strawberry perfume hit me. Parang bumalik lahat sa akin.

I missed... I missed that scent.

"I came back here to apologize for what that woman did to your waitress. She's mannerless, so I'm the one saying sorry for what she did," salita ko dahil para siyang naestatwa nang makita ako.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at napakurap-kurap siya. Ganoon din tuloy ang nagawa ko.

"I know this isn't the first time someone caused a scene here. What Zephyra did was different. No one messed up her order, yet she hurt a waitress, unlike what the previous customer here did—"

"Paano mo nalaman na may ganoong pangyayari?" putol niya sa akin.

My jaw dropped for a moment. Shit! Gago! Tangina!

Nag iwas ako ng tingin. "Nasabi lang ni Yael sa akin..."

Tangina naman. Halatang halata na palaging narito, eh! Updated ba naman sa lahat nangyayari sa coffee shop niya! At anong sinabi ni Yael, Austin? Kailan pa nag kwento si Yael sa 'yo at nakinig ka?

Nakinig dahil tungkol kay Ellis ang topic?

Gago.

"Nasaan si Yael?" Luminga-linga siya.

At bakit niya hinahanap? I just shook my head to cut off our topic. Who knows where this could lead and he might find out that I'm always here... because of him!

"Can we go back to our previous topic? I already apologized for what she did. And I'm also apologizing to your waitress. It's not her fault," I said.

Tumango naman siya pero ang mata ay hindi nawawalan ng galit.

"Hindi ba alam ng girlfriend mo na bagong tayo lang ang coffee shop na 'to?" tanong niya.

"She's not my girlfriend," agap ko.

Ngumuwi siya. "Pupunta ba 'yon dito kung hindi?"

Umiling ako at binasa ang labi. Pumunta iyon dito dahil sa kwintas. Iyon sana ang sasabihin ko pero hindi ko ginawa. Ano na lang ang iisipin niya? Na tinago ko ang kwintas dahil nakita pa ni Zephyra?