Fidelity

56th

Dear Lives

"Lagi akong umoorder dito! I can't believe you run this place and I didn't even know! I love your cookies! Paborito ko yung chocolate chip!"

Napaawang ang labi niya. Nanatili siyang nakatitig sakin.

"Gano katagal na ba ito? I just heard of it months ago but I never stopped buying ever since! Wala rin naman kasing masyadong dessert shop na plant-based! Lalo na sa area na 'to! That's why I was so happy when I found this online!"

Lumunok siya at nag-iwas ng tingin. His ears were turning into a shade of red because of the sun ray.

"It.. hasn't been that long since we rebranded,"

Rebranded? I knew Davion did open a business of this sort before since he's always been into baking but I wasn't really aware how it went. Narinig ko dati ang tungkol doon but from what I can remember, the business name was different. That's why the name of this shop didn't really ring a bell.

Ang dami kong gustong itanong at sabihin ngunit natigilan nang mapansin ang pagtiim ng bagang niya. He looks uncomfortable.

Right. I got too excited and didn't really given this much thought. It must be bizarre for him to see me being like this all of a sudden. After all, we were just pretty much civil before this. He had mostly been distant or avoidant around me. From his short response to the way he can't even look at me, I can say that's still the case.

"A-anyway, I just really wanted to say how thrilled I was about this and show you may support!" I said in hopes of easing his discomfort and clearing my intentions. "Bihira lang ang kagaya nito na plant-based kaya sana tangkilikin at magtagal! I'd be one of the patrons, that's for sure!"

Nagpaalam na rin ako sa kanya. Nagsisi ako na hindi ako nagtake-out ng cookies! Now that I'm smelling its aroma from inside, I kinda wanna grab some. But I just wanna go now so he'd be free him from the discomfort!

I was just about to open my car door when I heard his voice trailing behind me.

"Did you.. drive here yourself?"

Natigilan ako. I turned to him before saying yes.

He took out his phone from his pocket.

"Wait here.." aniya bago tumalikod.

He may be getting his car. Will he be... giving me a ride? Kung ganoon, pano ang sasakyan ko?

Iniisip ko pa lang kung paano ipapakuha rito ang sasakyan nang agad na siyang bumalik.

"The chauffeur will be here in 5 to 10 minutes.." napaawang ang labi ko. "Please wait inside,"

He talked to one of his employees so he also went inside. Ngunit nalingat lang ako sandali ay hindi ko na siya matanaw sa counter. Did he go already?

My line of vision was blocked when a staff went near me. Napadiretso ako nang upo nang maglapag siya ng box ng cookies sa table.

"I didn't order anything.." I waved both my hands as an emphasis.

"On the house po, Ma'am." ngiti niya.

Tinanong pa ako nito kung gusto ko ng drinks. Tumanggi ako at sinabing paalis na rin naman ako. She tried to convince me and said I can have it to-go.

Bagsak ang mata ko sa kahon ng cookies habang papauwi. Sa isang lugar lang ako pumunta ngayong araw pero ang dami nang nangyari. I can't believe Austin and I are, officially, not together anymore. I also can't get over the fact that Davion was the man behind Chunk— and its cookies.