Behind the Facade

III. The Bridge to Fill the Gap

I still have 30 minutes para makapunta sa airport. I stopped by in a café for a moment to have my lunch, kahit na alas quatro na ng hapon. Well, the head of the meeting just basically starved us to death with three hours straight meeting. Wala pa 'yang snacks.

"Two slice of red velvet cake, two croissants, and a mocha latte, please."

Iginaya ko muna ang mga mata ko sa paligid in hopes to find somewhere I could seat. It seemed like this café is popular, dahil sa pagdasa ng mga customers dito. On contrary, though, dahil nga sa puno ito ng iba pang customers, wala akong mahanap na bakante.

I was pacing my way towards the counter para sana ipapa-take out na lang ang mga in-order ko, and might as well share these foods with my friends at the airport. But I happened to halt from walking when a familiar voice emerged beside me upon passing through.

My head turned to that direction and noticed an empty seat, malapit lang 'to sa counter mismo.

"You can sit here." I found Mr. Zadde sitting on the chair while having his coffee. Baka may habit talaga 'tong manggulat, e, 'no?

"No, I'm good." I replied and gave him a dry smile. To be frank, he would be the last person that I wanted to eat with today... the embarrassment is still lingering inside me.

I was about to deliver my request to the staff, but the grumble of my stomach took me a pause. Babalewalain ko na lang sana 'yon, but a chuckle from a certain someone surfaced. Oo, dinig na dinig ko ito. I sneakily rolled my eyes at him.

"Here's your order, Ma'am."

Gutom ako, oo. Kaya nga nagdadalawang-isip ako kung uupo ba ako sa table niya or just bear more minutes para sa airport na lang kumain. But... I'm losing this game now. I really am so hungry! In the end, I opted to accept his offer and sat across him. After all, it's his fault for having such duration of meeting! We were told it will only take an hour, but damn!

"Uupo rin naman pala, e." I heard him murmuring. Alam ba niyang maririnig ko siya? I raised my right brow at him before making my response.

"I wouldn't have to. And I don't think it's up to you whether I share the same table with you or not." Nakangiti kong sabi sa kaniya. But behind that smile, is a shame. Yes!

I waited for more seconds, bago magdesisyong galawin ang pagkain ko. I hate eating with someone who's talkative. Hindi ko kasi ma-enjoy ang pagkain. When I noticed he wasn't yapping anymore, I decided to feast on the foods I ordered.

"I presume that you didn't have your lunch before the meeting." Boy, I'm wrong. Another blabber from him again!

Ang akala ko na ay manghingi ito ng pa-umanhin dahil sa sobrang tagal ng meeting. But nothing followed in his statement.

"Yeah, obviously." I spoke, nonchalantly, and went on eating.

I was just trying to enjoy the food and taste every flavor of it, when I suddenly noticed some eyes nailed on me. Inangat ko ang ulo ko, only to know that those gazes came from this man before me. What's going on? May dumi bas a mukha ko? I cannot bear his eyes on me. It makes me uncomfortable upon eating, so I also cannot help myself but to speak out.

"Done eating, Sir? Baka gusto mo nang umalis dito, kaysa naman ang titigan ako habang kumakain?" I spoke. Napansin ko rin kasing hindi na 'to kumain, he might as well has done eating. Is he even aware how his gazes are making me uncomfortable while eating?

"I'm waiting for my last order." He replied, slightly dilating my eyes in surprise.

Nalunok ko nang buo ang cake nang marinig ang sagot niyang 'yon. Another embarrassment is starting to cradle me! But I don't want to admit that I am embarrassed.