At Last, Him

Chapter 39: Like She Knew

I sat in the corner of Dart Cafe, fingers curled around a mug of steaming coffee as the warm, nutty aroma anchored me to the moment. The December chill seeped through the cafe's glass panes, but inside, it was all wood tones and gentle hums of chatter—a place that felt both nostalgic and hopeful, a feeling I desperately clung to.

Across the table, Jaron, with his sharp eyes that held stories he rarely told—settled into the chair opposite me. His presence was a mix of professionalism and familiarity, a friend whose history was intertwined with my own in ways we didn't often speak about.

"Good to see you, CL," he said, offering a smile that warmed the tension between us. It was the kind of smile that said, despite everything, we're still here.

"You too," I replied, my voice carrying the gratitude that came from knowing he'd taken on this project for reasons beyond business.

"So," Jaron leaned forward, pulling out his notepad and flipping to a blank page. His pen hovered, ready. "Pag-usapan natin 'yong vision. What do you see for this house and the cafe exhibit?"

Humugot ako ng hininga, naramdaman ang pamilyar at mapait na sakit na nanatili sa dibdib ko. "It's... not just any project," I began, my gaze slipping to the worn folder beside me. "This was Shan's idea. Her sketches." My fingers brushed over the edge of the folder before I opened it, revealing a cascade of carefully drawn lines, notes in her handwriting, small annotations full of life and possibility.

Jaron's expression softened as he looked at them, his eyes tracing the details. "These are beautiful," he said softly.

"Yeah." I couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. "She envisioned a space where people could sit surrounded by books and art—her art, her work. A place that could breathe who she was."

He nodded, studying the sketches as if searching for the heartbeat in them. "Modern, but warm," he said, catching on to Shan's style. "With an exhibit that's part of the experience, not just a backdrop."

"Exactly. I want it to reflect her career, her vision. The village here's vibrant, full of community spirit, and this needs to blend in with that. Not too imposing, but not lost, either."

Jaron scribbled notes, nodding. "And the house? Any special requirements?"

My throat tightened as I thought about Casha, my little girl, just two months old but already carrying a light that kept me going. "It needs to be a home. Safe, warm. Somewhere Casha can grow and know her mother's dreams surround her." I glanced at him, the weight of unsaid words between us. "I'd like it done by April. I know it's a tight timeline."

Itinaas ni Jaron ang kanyang kilay, isang halo ng sorpresa at kalkulasyon ang lumitaw sa kanyang mukha. "Four months is ambitious, CL. But if it's for Shan—and you—I'll try and make it work. Pero just in case lang na hindi talaga kayanin by April, okay lang ba kahit katapusan ng May or sagad na ng early June? Marami rin kasi talaga kaming ongoing projects ngayon, baka hindi talaga kayanin nang mabilisang sabay-sabay 'yong mga projects."

Relief washed over me, and I leaned back. Mahalaga ay pumayag siya. Akala ko kasi ire-reject niya dahil marami silang ongoing projects ngayon. "That's no problem. Thank you, Jaron. I know it's a lot after... everything." My mind flickered to that night, loud voices, a bar too dim, and the collision of grief and frustration that ended with us both getting thrown out.

Jaron shook his head, breaking the silence with a chuckle that carried no real humor. "Don't mention it. We both weren't at our best then. But Shan and you... you're family. That doesn't change."

The word family resonated, a bond that felt worn but still whole. "Are you sure you want to do this, CL?" he asked, pen pausing mid-air. "Not just this project, but—everything? Not going back to medicine?"