Capturing My Heart ♥

SHOT50: Missing Puzzle Piece

Regrettably hindi ko na maalala yung trivia na nabanggit ko sa note ng naunang chapter! But I told you it wasn't important so makakahintay naman siguro yun. (laughs) Thanks for reading this piece of crap story with a certain piece of un-crappiness. Ittadakimasu!

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SHOT 50: Missing Puzzle Piece

We were on our way to finishing the foods served atop our table and now I was on my own little world with my favorite dessert--leche flan! I also liked brownies and cakes pero wala paring tatalo sa Alask--este ... dito sa dessert na gawa sa egg yolk.

I glanced at Clarissa and she seemed to be enjoying her food as well. Mukhang coincidence lang na nagkasalubong kami dito dahil naikwento nila na na-discover daw nila ang lugar na ito mula sa isang rival travel magazine na napadpad sa kanilang office nitong nakaraang linggo. It seemed to have caught Clarissa's interest kaya inimbitahan niya dito si Carl, at mukhang ganoon din ang pumasok sa isip ni Alto. But I couldn't be so sure. These kinds of coincidences are normally suspicious.

Siniko-siko ako ni Clarissa mula sa tabi ko. I peered at her when she scooted closer covering half her face with her hand at saka bumulong, "So ano na? Kayo na ba?"

Muntikan na akong masamid sa kanyang sinabi. Tumataas-baba pa ang mga kilay niya habang expectant na nakangisi sakin. Ghad, Clarissa, please don't suddenly drop bombs out of the blue! Magbigay ka muna ng warning signal!

Pasimple ko siyang kinurot sa tagiliran. Sumagot ako sa tuwid na tono, "I might crush your hopes if I answer that truthfully." I didn't care if the two boys heard that--hindi naman nila narinig yung tanong ni Clarissa.

She pouted but with bits of suspicion masking her face.

I grinned back at her. It's not that I didn't understand why she's rooting for us. Officemate kasi niya si Alto, plus we're friends. I just didn't know why push for us to this extent. Because of her personality? It kind of reminded me about a particular day when she was forcefully feeding my oh-so-glorious brains that Alto was already dating me unofficially, doon sa rest room sa Branch Office.

Unofficially dating. That was Clarissa's words but she might be right in some ways. Ghaaad. Noooo!

"Akin na nga iyan kesa matunaw lang sa katititig mo!"

It shocked me when she suddenly took the remaining leche flan from my plate and shoved it into her mouth. All of it! I was basked with unexplainable angst, or confusion, or regret, or disbelief. I looked at her with accusing eyes. "Clarissa you evil thief, you monster, marauder, glutton. Why did you eat the poor thing...," I muttered lowly and continuously kaso tinawanan niya lang ako.

I heard another chuckle and it came from the guys. "Kasi naman Issa. Don't bully the kid," nakangising suhestyon ni Alto. I wanted to punch him for calling me a kid. "Oh heto. Sa'yo nalang itong sakin. Kaso nabawasan ko na 'to."

He miraculously offered his plate. My eyes glittered. I take back wanting to punch him. May pa-shy effect pa akong tinanggap ang alok niya and transferred the dessert to my own plate.

Clarissa bumped me with her shoulder. "Sweet naman. Daig pa ang leche flan."

Muntikan nang may kumawalang ngiti sa mga labi ko but I must commend myself for being able to control my facial muscles. "Ay Clarissa, ang kulet! Nakain yung tao eh. Order ka kung gusto mo pa."

Kunwari rin ata ay hindi niya narinig, "Ano Cynthia? Official na ba 'yan? Aminin na kasi!" She was still shaking me with her bumps as I try to concentrate on my food.

"Kahit mangulit ka diyan, akin lang itong leche flan ko. Hindi kita bibigyan."

Sumimangot si Clarissa habang nililiitan ako ng mata. "Ang tabang mo naman Cynthia! Para kang spaghetti sauce na nakalimutang haluan ng asin at paminta! Ibuhos kaya kita sa llanera at balutan ng aluminum foil! Tapos i-steam kita sa loob ng thirty minutes until firm, i-set aside in room temperature at i-refrigerate in two hours?"