Another Shot (Labariento Series 1)

Chapter 2

Elysia Ilaria Sánchez

"I don't think I can leave Mama alone," I confessed to Mia, who was once again using her lunch break to visit my café. She paused, her fork hovering mid-air, her eyes reflecting her confusion.

"Bakit?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

"Umiiyak na naman si Mama, hinahanap na naman niya si Papa," I said, my voice trembling with the weight of my worry.

"Oh," Mia replied softly.

"Pero, ikaw naman mahihirapan. Ang layo lagi ng biyahe mo pauwi at papunta," Mia said, her concern evident.

"Ayos lang, para naman kay Mama 'yon," I reassured her, though my own heart ached.

"Ely, I understand how much you care about Tita, but please, for once, choose something that's more convenient for yourself," she said, her tone both gentle and resolute.

"Don't rush into any decisions just yet. Speak with Tita first and find out if she's comfortable with the idea of you two being apart for a while," Mia advised, her gaze searching mine for a glimmer of comprehension.

"Kawawa si Mama," I murmured, feeling the sting of helplessness.

"Eh, paano naman ikaw?" she asked, her gaze steady. I was used to being the one who adjusted, the one who adapted, but the weight of her question made me pause.

"And the condo—" I hesitated, struggling with the name that had been a ghost in my life for nearly two years. "I think X—Xander is living there."

Mia's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you say so?"

"He visited my cafe yesterday," I said, the words coming out like an unwanted revelation.

"What?" Mia's disbelief was palpable, her fork now forgotten as she leaned in, waiting for more.

"Yeah, he—he visited out of the blue and congratulated me," I stammered, still in disbelief.

"Oh my God," Mia exclaimed, her eyes widening with shock.

"What a twist of fate," she added, her voice filled with a mix of astonishment and intrigue.

"Well, you should at least go and check your condo," Mia suggested, her tone thoughtful. "Maybe he was just passing through and happened to stop by."

"Why not see for yourself?" she urged, her eyes encouraging. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained, Ely."

"Right?" I agreed, a sense of determination settling in.

"Sige, I'll check it out later, after I close the cafe," I said, feeling a new resolve.

"Alright, bff," she replied, her laughter ringing with warmth. I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips, and joined in her light-hearted laugh.

Just as I told Mia, I headed to our condo, the one so close to my café, our little haven in the city. As the elevator doors opened on the eleventh floor, my pulse quickened with every step toward room 111. Each footfall felt like a heavy drumbeat, echoing my anxieties and regrets.

When I reached our door, my breath caught in my throat. There, engraved into the wood, was the design we'd chosen together: Uno and Isa. The sight of it was like a cruel reminder of the dreams we once shared. I remembered the day we picked out those names, how we laughed and joked, our futures unwritten but full of promise.

But now, the names seemed like ghosts of a happier past, taunting me with their permanence. They were a symbol of what was lost—of the love and the dreams that had slipped through my fingers. Each memory that flashed through my mind felt like a stab, the laughter and warmth replaced by a cold emptiness.