It is that time of the week again when the shop gets a queue and the staff is busy.
Tonight is Poetry Night, a regular event in her cafe every Thursday night. She started it a few years back as an attempt to save her dying coffee shop, it was a bold move as she was running out of finances and an event meant another dent in her budget, but she plunged in any way. It was a success and she was glad to add another "good thing" on her "Good Things In My Life" list.
Silly as it may sound but she's been keeping close tabs on all the sensible choices that she has made in her life. It became her way of persuading herself that she's capable of making good decisions after all the failed ones in her past.
"Maine, ready ka na?" Yang, her store manager, called out from behind her. She never failed to open Poetry Night ever since it started. Sometimes she'd do it with a small introduction but more often with her own piece.
Her new piece was something she conceived the night before because she dreamed about HIM again. Everytime sleep eludes her, she takes a pen and paper and she writes.
Writing became her refuge ever since that fateful day and until now is still her safe haven whenever she remembers the pains of her past.
Nicomaine Mendoza walked up the stage and the crowd cheered as she stood behind the mic. She first acknowledged a few people who she regularly sees in the event then proceeded to share her new piece.
"Alright, here's a new piece I made and I hope you guys like it."
I remember you. Every day I remember you. Your being is etched in my mind and I do not have a remedy for it.
The spilled milk on my counter this morning brought you back to my mind again. You hate it when I spill things, but it's amazing how you never hated me.
Even the old lady on the other side of the road who always waved at us as we walk to work kept me thinking of you. Do you think she's wondering why you're not walking with me anymore?
Lunch time had been awkward ever since. I know the sandwich lady had been dying to ask why I am not ordering for two anymore. I wonder what you are having for lunch now?
But the nights are the hardest ever since you've been gone.
Dinners felt so cold without you eating with me. Without you looking at me keenly as I drink my wine, without you holding my hand as I look back at you.
Sleeping had been a struggle, too.
I remember how your arm would snake at my side, clutching me, pulling me near to you.
I remember your warmth, your kisses, the marks that you leave on my skin.
I remember you inside me.
I remember all of you. Your being is etched in my mind and I do not have a remedy for it.
The crowd was silent even after the last line of her piece. It wasn't until she thanked them for listening that the audience realized that she was through and gave her a round of applause.
"Ha! Napanganga mo na naman sila." Yang said with a grin as she joined her at the side. "Dapat pina-publish mo na yang mga gawa mo. Dito pa lang sa coffee shop sold out ka na panigurado."
She laughed in return and said, "Sus, asa pa 'ko."
A young lady was preparing to go next to her when one of her staff whispered in her ear about a man looking for her. Maine glanced on the other side of the cafe and saw a balding male in a suit. She left Yang to take care of the set and approached the man.
"Hi, my name is Maine Mendoza. One of my staff told me you were looking for me? May problema po ba?"
The man stood and reached out for a handshake and introduced himself. "Hello Ms. Mendoza, I am Atty. Lawrence Feliciano."
A lawyer? Why the fuck would a lawyer want to talk to me?
"Is this about my loan Sir? I know na-late po ako pero nakapagbayad na po ako kanina."
"Loan? No, no. Please, let's have a seat so I can explain this further."
She took the seat in front of the lawyer who was old enough to pass as her father. The man took a sip of his coffee before he proceeded.
"Hindi na 'ko magpapatumpik-tumpik pa ano? Ms. Mendoza, my boss has a proposal for you."
"Proposal? Ano pong proposal?"
The barrister cleared his throat and started to explain.
"You see Ms. Mendoza, itong buong lote na kinatatayuan ng coffee shop mo eh nabili na. This place will belong to a huge project . It would include a mall, a high-end commercial building, and two luxury condominiums." Atty. Feliciano took a folder from inside his bag and handed it to her. She felt a headache coming as she read the documents inside of it.
"P-pero Attorney, paano ho yung mga establishment n-na nakatayo sa buong block na 'to?"
"Kaya nga ako nandito ngayon Ms. Mendoza. We have already spoken with the other business owners and pumayag na sila to go into an agreement with us. There are only two of you left that we still need to negotiate with."
"So you're saying that I do not have a choice anymore Attorney, tama ba?" She rejoined.
"If you want to put it that way Ms. Mendoza, it's up to you. But we are giving you the option to negotiate for an amount that you want."
Maine couldn't help but close her eyes out of frustration. She wanted to start a tirade about how this is not about the money. That this coffee shop had been her life for the last six years. That this place had been her way of keeping her sanity intact, but she opted not to. She'll save everything for whoever the boss of this lawyer is.
She breathed in and let go of it slowly to show the man in front of her her disbelief of the situation.
"I'd like to talk to your boss please, Atty. Feliciano." She said.
Atty . Feliciano didn't look surprised at what she wanted to happen and replied, "Okay. How about tomorrow at 10am?"
"I'll be there."
"Well then, dito nga pala ang office namin. Ako na lang muna ang hanapin mo." The lawyer handed her his business card. "We'll see you tomorrow then Ms. Mendoza." Atty. Feliciano shook her hand once more and prepared to leave the place.
He was already at the door when Maine remembered to ask something. The man turned to her direction as she called his name.
"Itatanong ko lang kung ano nga palang pangalan ng boss mo?"
"Ah, yes. Richard Faulkerson Jr."
She couldn't believe what she heard.
