Coffee & Cigarette

Ch 9: Ditched

"Baka mahulog ka. Hindi kita kayang saluhin."

Paulit ulit nagrereplay sa utak ko yung words ni John.

Why does it felt like may ibang meaning don?

Or I was only overthinking?

Hay. Assumera ka talaga kahit kailan, Eli.

After the event, we went back to the room. For some reason, his coldness went back as well.

He told us to prepare for a mock call. Whoever failed the final mock call, won't also pass the Foundation Skills Training.

Tapos na yung mock call. Much to my dismay, it's already the last break. Which means an hour and a half before our shift ends.

Cara and I had coffee sa pantry. I decided to open up to her about what happened. It has really bothered me.

"What?? Sabi niya yun sayo after nang happy moments nyo?" - Cara

I nodded.

"Haaay. Di ko sya magets. Minsan nakikita ko kung pano siya tumingin sayo pag di ka nakatingin. Or kung pano siya mag smile sayo-" Bago pa sya magpatuloy, pinigilan ko na sya.

"Hey, cut it. That's bullshit."

"Of course not!" Depensa niya. "What if takot lang sya ma-fall sayo? What if sinasabi nya lang yun as defense mechanism? What if-"

I cut her again, just when I saw Welch and John entering the pantry.

"What if he's with someone already?" dugtong ko.

I just heard Cara sighed. "You know what? Forget it. Komplikado lang masyado yan. Boss siya. Trainees lang tyo. Yea you're right. Masyado ka lang nag iisip nang bagay-bagay. Iinom nalang natin yan mamaya."

As decided, the team had inuman after the shift.

We waited for John to join us.

He finally gave us his number since tapos na rin naman daw ang FST. Pero kahit gano ako katempted i-save ang number nya. I used all my willpower, not to. Minsan kasi I tend to do shitty things when I'm drunk, happy, sad - wait. Almost all the time.

Max texted him.

Fr: Max

Boss wru?

Fr: John

You guys, go. I'm loaded with emails here. Susunod nalang ako. Where are you planning to drink ba?

Fr: Max

Daphne's place boss. We'll text you the address later. See ya ✖

We decided na mauna na lang. We headed to Daphne's place. And daaamn, rich kid nga talaga sya.

So ayun. Sinimulan na namin mag-nomo without waiting for our trainer.

Nakailang case na kami and I already felt dizzy and shit.

"Wala pa ba si boss?"

"Uy nagtext ba si Boss John? Susunod pa ba siya?"

"Baka naman mali binigay mong address, bakla!"

"Nako ha. Tokis lang. Di na ata dadating yun."

Nababadtrip na sila kakaantay. They even ring up his phone pero nagriring lang nang nagriring.

I kept on glancing sa door hoping that he appears.

Walang John na dumating.