Disturbing The Calm Water

Chapter 22

Bebe

Like my usual routine, I updated Kuya Flint about the progress of the café early morning.

"So far, things are going smoothly. ExAd has told me yesterday na they were able to successfully negotiate for a lower rent price, so the location is already set. The business permits are being processed pa pero we have secured the business name already. Nakapag-order na rin ng ibang essential equipment and tools na needed." Tuloy-tuloy kong sabi. Sanay na sa dalas na ginagawa.

"That's good to hear then. Ingat ka mamaya."

I wore comfortable clothes for today. An over sized t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. Nagpahatid ulit ako sa driver papuntang ExAd's office at pinauwi na muna siya dahil hindi ko alam kung anong oras kami makakabalik.

I removed my sunglasses and narrowed my eyes at the black van in front of me at ang nagkukumpulan na si Finn and friends.

Finn and I are supposed to go to Batangas para mag-source ng coffee beans at titingin din kami ng furniture for the café. Ash has mentioned na sasama siya kapag wala siyang schedule. So, I don't know why Vini, Caden, Benj and their friend, Liya are all here too?

"Well, good morning. I see that I wasn't informed about the changes of plans." I sarcastically said.

Napakamot sa ulo si Finn. "We kind of talk about it last night tapos it ended up na they wanna come too. I guess, the more the merrier?"

I rolled my eyes, not enjoying the additional presence. "I thought we're going for a business trip pero team building pala."

"Come on, best friend. Loosen up. Tayo tayo lang din naman to." Asher said, enlightening the mood.

"Hindi pa nga pala kayo napapakilala ng hindi 'corporately'." Benj said. "Yani, this is Liya. Liya, this is Yani."

I remained my straight face while she smiled at lumapit sakin. "Liyanna Zaragosa, I go by Liya, no one calls me Yanna kahit these guys, I told them to call me that para special but they said they already knew someone from the past na Yanna, so it would overlap. Sayang at hindi ko nakilala." She overshared.

Halos umirap ako ang daming sinabi, pangalan lang naman ang tinatanong but I smirked when I heard the latter part. A Yanna from the past huh? Guess that's me.

"Nice meeting you then, present Yanna." I smiled more as her brows furrowed. "I guess I'm the past Yanna, but don't worry about it no one calls me that too, yung parents ko lang kapag galit sila sakin."

She seemed taken a back with the new information. "My hunch was right." She said in a low voice pero narinig ko.

Tumikhim si Ash ng malakas. "So, we're all ready, right? Let's go!" Pag-aya niya para makasakay na.

"Who's driving?" I asked, hindi pinansin ang sinabi ni Ash.

"Me." Sagot ni Finn at tinaas pa ang isang kamay.

I went straight to the passenger's seat. Finn's driving so I'm safe sitting in front, isa pa may mga ayaw akong katabi sa likod.

Finn started driving after everyone's settled on their seats. Mag-isa si Benj na solo sa unang row because he's the tallest and buffest of them all. Sa 2nd row naman ay si Vini na katabi si Liya, they seemed like they're arguing about something at mukhang galit si Liya. Oops, sorry for bring up the past. Sa panghuling row ay si Asher at si Caden na parehong naka-airpods, handa nang matulog.

"Matagal niyo nang kilala si Liya?" I casually asked Finn.

"Medyo? Like 2 years ago, taga Le Grand din siya."