"Patricia told me."
Halos mapatalon sa kanyang kinauupuan si Faith pagkarinig sa sinabing iyon ni Raf. Agad siyang kinabahan. Did Patricia really told him?
"W-what did...she told you?" nininerbyos niyang tanong. She could feel her heartbeat racing fast. At ngayon pa lang ay nahihiya na siya kay Raf.
He smiled first at her saka nito nilapag sa mesa ang dalang Starbucks coffee. Dalawa iyon at marahil ay isa para sa kanya.
"She told me you like Starbucks coffee so I dropped by there and bought these," isa-isa nitong tinanggal sa supot ang cups.
"I-iyon lang ang sinabi niya?" hindi makapaniwala niyang tanong.
"Yup."
Tiningnan siya ni Raf at nakataas ang dalawang kilay nito na parang nagtataka ito. Pilit na lamang siyang ngumiti.
She then sighed in relief. Iyon lang pala. Buong akala niya ay sinabi na ni Patricia kay Raf ang nararamdaman niya para rito. She could still trust her best friend after all. Mabibigyan niya talaga ito ng reward.
"For you," Raf pushed the cup towards her. Naamoy niya kaagad ang mabangong aroma nito.
Inikot niya ang cup at nakita ang pangalan niyang nakasulat doon. She smiled. Lumipat naman ang tingin niya sa isa pang cup at nakita rin niya ang pangalan ni Raf at may drawing pa na heart sa tabi. Siguro type ito no'ng nag-served. Bahagya siyang napanguso.
"Salamat," aniya.
"Don't mention it," Raf smiled.
Sisipsip na sana siya nang mapagtantong Caramel Machiatto pala ito. Inilapag niya ito pabalik sa mesa. Raf looked at her worriedly.
"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" tanong nito.
"I-I like it. But..."
"But?"
Bumuntong-hininga siya. Does she really have to tell him? Tumingala siya kay Raf at naghihintay ito ng kanyang sagot. She let out a small smile before dropping her gaze again.
"My ex often buy that one for me," she said in a low voice.
"Oh...sorry, Faith. I didn't know that," Raf answered apologetically. Mukhang nakuha na nito ang ibig niyang sabihin. "Pat only told me it's your favorite, she didn't mention the other thing."
"It's okay, Raf." she replied curtly.
Kaya lang naman niya naging paborito ito dahil ito ang madalas na bilhin sa kanya ni Raven noon. But now, she wants to get rid of those things or place that reminds her of him. Actually, ngayon lang siya ulit makakainom ng coffee galing Starbucks. She didn't happen to drop by ever since their break up.
"If only we could switch but sadly I got the same as yours," wika nito saka tumawa.
"It's okay, Raf." she repeated again. "Don't worry, I'll drink this."
Sayang naman kasi kapag hindi niya iinumin. Venti pa naman ang size. At binili iyon ni Raf para sa kanya. Ayaw niyang sayangin ang pera at effort nito. Ayaw rin niyang isipin nito na maarte siya dahil hindi naman siya ganoon.
"Just don't think of him as you drink that. Think of me instead," he said and gave her a playful wink.
Napalunok si Faith. She never thought he would be that darn cute when he winks. Uminit tuloy ang pisngi niya lalo na sa huling sinabi nito. Hindi na lang siya sumagot at nginitian na lamang si Raf. She doesn't even know what to respond.
Panandalian silang nabalot ng katahimikan. She took a sip of her coffee and she somehow enjoyed it. Sinunod niya ang sinabi nitong huwag isipin si Raven. And yeah, she thought of him instead. Kahit hindi na niya ito tingnan dahil nai-imagine naman niya imahe nito sa kanyang isipan. At ramdam naman niyang nakatitig ito sa kanya.
