The tale of the lost poet

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10: MATCHA CHEESECAKE

The scent of burnt hotdogs filled my tiny kitchen, pulling me out of my spiral of thoughts. I dashed to the stove, quickly turning off the burner and surveying the charred remains of what was supposed to be my dinner. "Ay, naku," I muttered, feeling a mix of exasperation and amusement at myself.

I turned my attention back to my phone, Aurora's message still glaring on the screen. The fact that she had drunk the orange juice despite her allergy simply because she appreciated my concern left me baffled and more than a little worried. It spoke volumes about her character but also raised serious concerns about her well-being.

With a sigh, I decided to text Xiamira. She had always been the voice of reason, despite her romantic inclinations. If anyone could give me some perspective, it was her.

Emrys Rowan: Xiamira, are you awake?

A few moments later, my phone buzzed.

Xiamira Santos: Hoy, ano na naman yan? Hindi pa ako nagiging tulog mantika, bakit?

Emrys Rowan: Aurora had an allergic reaction earlier. Nalaman ko ngayon na it was because of the orange juice I gave her.

Xiamira Santos: Hala! Anong sabi niya?

Emrys Rowan: She said she's okay and even thanked me for the juice. Hindi ko alam, Xi, parang ang weird. She drank it knowing she's allergic.

There was a pause before her next message came through.

Xiamira Santos: Nako, Kupido. Mukhang patay na patay ka na talaga. Pero alam mo, baka gusto ka lang niyang protektahan from feeling guilty. Siguro genuine talaga concern mo, kaya niya tinanggap.

Her words gave me a bit of comfort but didn't entirely dispel the guilt gnawing at me. I decided it was best to try and get some sleep. Tomorrow would be a new day, and maybe, just maybe, I could figure out how to navigate this complex situation.


*****



The next morning, I woke up feeling a bit more resolved. I knew I needed to talk to Aurora in person, to apologize properly and make sure she was genuinely okay. First, though, I needed to figure out a way to approach her without coming across as intrusive.

"Gawan ko kaya siya ng cake? Smoothie? Buy her chocolates? Flowers? Ugh, sumasakit ulo ko kakaisip."

I paced his small kitchen, pondering his options. He ruled out the cake and smoothie ideas—too intimate for someone he barely knew beyond their occasional conversations. Chocolates felt too cliché, and flowers, though thoughtful, seemed overly formal. He needed something sincere yet casual, something that wouldn't make Aurora uncomfortable.

Then a memory flickered to me. She likes matcha, diba? What if bilhan ko siya ng matcha drink? cake? That would be okay.. I think.

With that thought in mind, I go out of my house and went to bakery shops that I know to look for a matcha cake. Halos puro wala kaya kung saan saan ako napadpad hanggang sa merong nag iisang matcha cheese cake na naka display sa maliit na tindahan sa sulok ng bayan.

It wasn't much, but it looked delicious and, more importantly, heartfelt. I bought the cake, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety bubbling in my chest.

Back at home, I carefully placed the cake in a small, plain box, tying it with a simple ribbon. I didn't want to overdo it; I just wanted Aurora to know I was genuinely sorry. Taking a deep breath, I picked up my phone and typed out a message.

Emrys Rowan: Hi Ms. Aurora, I hope you're feeling better today. I was really worried about what happened yesterday, and I wanted to apologize in person. Would it be okay if I dropped by later with a little something for you? I heard kasi na may book signing ka mamaya.