Ya amar (يا قمر)

Chapter 2: Café La Luna

THE classroom was quiet except for the sound of the professor’s chalk scratching against the board. Hong-Chae sat in the second row, her usual spot near the window, her gaze fixed on the lecture but her mind wandering to the list of things she wanted to do after class. One of them was visiting Café La Luna, her sanctuary in the bustling city. 

As soon as the class ended, Min-ji approached her, her radiant smile as vibrant as ever. 

“Hong-Chae! Hey!” Min-ji said, linking arms with her. “Wanna go to the mall later? I saw this cute shop the other day and thought you’d love it.” 

Hong-Chae hesitated, her heart skipping slightly at Min-ji's attention. But the thought of the crowded mall felt overwhelming, and she craved the solace of her favorite café. 

“I’m sorry, Min-ji,” she replied softly, “I already have plans today. Maybe another time?” 

Min-ji pouted, but her eyes twinkled. “Fine, but you owe me next time, okay?” 

Hong-Chae smiled and nodded before slipping away, clutching her bag tightly as she headed toward Café La Luna. 

The café was as welcoming as ever, its warm lights casting a golden glow over wooden tables and soft couches. The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries. Hong-Chae ordered her usual—a caramel macchiato—and settled into her favorite corner, a table by the window. She pulled out a book she had recently bought, flipping to where she had last left off. 

Immersed in the story, she didn’t notice the faint chime of the bell signaling a new customer. 

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” a familiar voice asked, breaking her focus. 

She looked up, her breath catching in her throat. Standing before her was Jae-hyun, the boy she had seen only in passing at university, the one who seemed effortlessly out of reach. His soft brown eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, they both froze. 

“Jae-hyun?” she blurted out, unable to mask her surprise. 

“Hong-Chae?” he replied, equally startled. 

They stared at each other, the seconds stretching into an awkward silence until Jae-hyun let out a soft laugh. 

“It’s really you,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t think I’d run into anyone I knew here.” 

Hong-Chae blinked, her mind struggling to catch up. “I… didn’t think so either.” 

“Can I sit here?” he asked, gesturing to the seat across from her. 

“Sure,” she managed, closing her book and placing it on the table. 

He sat down, placing his coffee cup in front of him. “This is my first time here. It’s a nice place.” 

“It’s my favorite,” she replied, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her chest. 

They talked, initially about the café and school, but soon the conversation drifted into other topics—books, music, and their favorite places in the city. Hong-Chae found herself smiling more than she expected, her usual shyness giving way to Jae-hyun’s easygoing demeanor. 

As the afternoon wore on, Jae-hyun glanced at his phone and hesitated. “Hey, I don’t want this to sound weird, but… can I get your number? I mean, it’s rare to meet someone who likes the same things I do.” 

Hong-Chae’s heart raced, but she nodded, pulling out her phone. They exchanged numbers, the small moment feeling monumental in her quiet world. 

“Thanks,” Jae-hyun said, his smile warm. “Maybe we can meet up again sometime? Here, or somewhere else you like?” 

“I’d like that,” Hong-Chae replied, her voice soft but sincere. 

As Jae-hyun stood to leave, he glanced back, giving her a small wave. “See you around, Hong-Chae.” 

She watched him go, her caramel macchiato long forgotten. For the first time in a long while, she felt a spark of something she couldn’t quite name, but it left her heart lighter than it had been in years. 

PAGKALABAS ni Hong-Chae mula sa Café La Luna, hindi maalis ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. Pakiramdam niya ay napakagaan ng araw niya, parang may liwanag na biglang sumilay sa dati niyang tahimik na mundo. Habang naglalakad pauwi sa apartment nila ni Min-ji, naisip niya ang nangyari kanina. Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala na nagkita sila ni Jae-hyun, at higit pa roon, nagpalitan pa sila ng numero. 

Pagdating niya sa apartment, tahimik niyang binuksan ang pinto. 

“Chae, ikaw na ba ’yan?” tanong ni Min-ji mula sa sala habang abala sa panonood ng isang K-drama. Pero nang lingunin siya ni Min-ji, nanlaki ang mata nito. 

“Wait… bakit ka nakangiti?” tanong nito, halatang gulat. “As in, legit? Ngayon lang kita nakitang ganyan. Sino ka at anong ginawa mo kay Hong-Chae?” 

Tumawa si Hong-Chae, iniwas ang tingin at kinuha ang mga libro mula sa bag niya. Pero hindi nakaligtas kay Min-ji ang pamumula ng pisngi niya. 

“Hoy, spill the tea! What happened? Bakit parang ang saya-saya mo?” Lumapit si Min-ji, bitbit ang throw pillow mula sa sofa, at sinimulang sundan si Hong-Chae papunta sa kanilang maliit na kusina. 

“Wala naman…” sagot ni Hong-Chae, pilit na iniiwasan ang usapan. 

“Wala daw pero grabe naman ’yang smile na ’yan. Magkaibigan tayo, you can’t hide this from me!” sabi ni Min-ji, na ngayon ay parang detective na nag-iimbestiga. “Sige na, sino siya? May nag-confess ba sa’yo? O may nagbigay ng libreng kape?” 

Napabuntong-hininga si Hong-Chae bago napangiti ulit. “Wala nga, Min-ji. Nagkita lang kami ng isang kakilala ko sa café.” 

“Ano? Sino? Tell me!” 

“Si Jae-hyun…” Hindi pa tapos si Hong-Chae nang biglang sumigaw si Min-ji. 

“What?! Si Jae-hyun? As in, that Jae-hyun?” tanong ni Min-ji habang tumatalon na parang bata. “Hoy, alam mo bang crush ng kalahati ng school natin ’yun? What happened? Dali, ikwento mo!” 

“Min-ji, ang OA mo,” sabi ni Hong-Chae, pero hindi maitatanggi ang bahagyang ngiti sa kanyang mukha. Bumalik siya sa sofa at sumunod si Min-ji, hinihintay ang buong kwento. 

“Okay, fine. Nagkita kami sa café. Nagulat din ako kasi hindi ko in-expect na magkikita kami doon. Ayun, nag-usap kami sandali, tapos hiningi niya ang number ko…” 

Halos mabitawan ni Min-ji ang throw pillow niya. “*What? He asked for your number?!* Bakit hindi mo agad sinabi?!” 

“Min-ji, ang ingay mo,” sabi ni Hong-Chae, pero hindi maalis ang munting ngiti sa kanyang labi. 

“Grabe, Chae, I’m so happy for you!” sabi ni Min-ji, biglang niyakap si Hong-Chae. “Sana maging okay ang lahat! Who knows, baka love story mo na ito!” 

Tumawa si Hong-Chae, pero hindi siya sumagot. Sa kaloob-looban niya ay subrang saya ang nararamdaman niya dahil sa ikalawang pah kita nila ni Jae-hyun, masaya siyang alalahanin ang maikling sandali nila sa Café La Luna. 

Sana mabigyan ulit ako ng chance na makita at makausap ulit siya kahit sa mailing sandali lang.

-End-

::open for dedication
::typos and grammatical error ahead
::open for criticism, feel free to criticise me
::Plagiarism is a crime

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