The (not so) Sweet Serendipity

26.5

MAINE

Okay may confession ako. Hindi ako marunong magtimpla ng kape, wala akong specialty or anything whatsoever. Ang yabang ko mag offer gawan si Richard ng kape eh no. Instant coffee lang naman kaya kong gawin. Hindi ko pa maperfect yun kasi malay ko ba kung gaano karami dapat yung tubig na ilalagay ko. Palagi naman kasi ako bumibili na lang ng kape kung san san o nagpapatimpla sa iba.

Pero syempre, hindi ko pinahalata kay Richard na hindi ako marunong. Pag dating namin sa bahay, I made him wait for me in the dining. I was hoping my parents would be up pero sobrang asa, anong oras na. Tulog na yung mga yun.

So andito nako ngayon, face to face with a mug and kettle filled with hot water. To my horror, we ran out of instant coffee packets. So all I have is a jar of nescafe gold, coffee mate and sugar. Help me Lord, I have no idea how to do this to be honest.

So I guessed. Pasimple pako. "Ilang teaspoons of sugar ka?" I asked him.

He just said, "Ikaw na bahala, hindi naman ako picky when it comes to coffee. Especially from you."

Hindi nako sumagot, that wasn't very helpful.

Bahala na nga. I mix two teaspoons of each. Para fair I guess. I don't know. Tapos grabbed the mug, I didn't even bother to taste, sobrang bahala na talaga. I gave it to him and sat across him.

"Thank you." I patiently waited for him to taste.

RICHARD

I realised na this is the first time na titimplahan ako ni Meng ng kape. I'm curious how she does it kasi my mom makes the best, who knows kung may hidden talent pala si Meng.

When she gave me the mug, I played it cool. I didn't rush and took my time. She wasn't saying anything. She's just looking at me. Hindi ko nga ma explain itsura niya eh, somewhat expecting siguro of my reaction, I'm not sure.

I finally took my first sip.

...

...

...

MAINE

Ewan ko kung nahahalata niya na medyo inaabangan ko yung magiging reaction niya, feeling ko naman sakto lang gawa ko since even naman lahat nung nilagay ko.

...

...

Ganun ba kasama na wala man lang siya mareact? Mabubulunan pa ata 'to. Feeling ko pinipigilan niya lang maubo.

Hindi ko na natiis, "Gusto mo ba ng tubig or juice na lang?"

RICHARD

Tangina, pinagtritripan ba ako ng babaeng 'to. Hindi ko maexplain yung lasa, matapang na matabang na ewan. May mali eh, hindi ko lang mapoint out. Ayoko naman maging rude tsaka baka ganito yung mga gusto niyang timpla kaya nung tinanong niya ako if I wanted juice or water, I said no.

"So how is it?" She asked me. Ayan na. Paano ko ba sasagutin 'to.

I cleared my throat. "It's.. unique. It wasn't what I expected." I cleared my throat again. "Ito yung specialty mo?"

Hindi ko na maintindihan mukha niya hanggang sa tumawa na siya ng tumawa. Anong nakakatawa? Ay tangina, mukhang naisahan ako ah.

"Sinadya mo 'to no? Okay fine naisahan mo na ako, nakabawi ka na." Pumapalakpak pako to make my point.

MAINE

Oh my god. Hindi ko mapigilang tumawa. Hindi ko tuloy ma explain sarili ko. Feeling ni Richard. Pinagtritripan ko siya.

When I finally did, I waved my hands saying, "Hindi, swear I tried okay. Sorry. Hindi ba masarap?" Tinignan niya lang ako ng parang obvious ba, "Kasi naman eh, naubusan ng mga 3 in 1 packets. Kaya ayan tuloy."

"Eh ano naman ngayon kung naubusan kayo nun?"

Oh my god, nakakahiya kailangan ko nang aminin. Pero ayaw. "Wala lang. Kaya ayan na lang ginawa ko for you."

Nakatingin lang siya sakin. Tapos slowly nakikita kong lumalalim na dimple niya, ay pucha. Humanda ka na Maine, ayan na yung pangaasar.

"Hindi ka marunong no?"

Nafifeel ko namumula ako, sobra yung kahihiyan, hindi lang naman siguro ako yung tao sa mundo na hindi marunong mag timpla ng kape.

"Eh ano ngayon? Anong nangyari dun sa hindi ka naman picky at basta galing sakin?" Sabi na all talk 'tong taong 'to eh. Ang lalim ng dimple niya nakakadistract.

"So pag inubos ko 'to, ano?"

"Wala. So pag walang reward, di mo uubusin ganun?"

"Uubusin ko naman ah."

"Hindi na huwag na, napilitan ka lang eh."

Iinumin na niya. Pero pinipigilan ko siya at kinuha yung mug, "Hindi seryoso, huwag na. Hindi mo naman kasalanan na hindi ako marunong magtimpla ng kape."

Kinuha niya ulit yung kape, "Alam mo, uubusin ko nga kasi na appreciate ko yung effort mo, it's not that bad naman eh."

"Please, huwag ka na mangbola. Okay lang naman, aminado naman ako. Tanggap ko rin naman."

"Dapat kasi nagpatulong ka na lang sakin. Marunong kasi ako, pwede ka naman magtanong at willing naman akong turuan ka."

"Okay fine. Next time."

"Pero on second thought, hindi na lang pala kita tuturuan kasi baka iba naman ang ipagtitimpla mo. Ako na lang bahala sayo. Hindi mo na kailangan matuto."

Okay, sobrang nakakainis. As if naman hindi ko kayang bumili ng kape sa labas or magpagawa sa iba.

"Alam mo ikaw, minsan ano ka talaga eh."

"Ano?"

"Ewan ko sayo. Hindi mo pa ba kailangang umuwi?"

"Actually, as much as I love spending time with you, I do have to go. Pero tawagan kita bukas ha." He stood up, and when he did, bigla niyang kinuha yung mug and downed it. He even showed me na sarap na sarap siya.

Nakakainis. "Sige, panindigan mo yan ah." I was shaking my head as I walked him to the door. "Good night na." I was closing the door when he blocked it.

"Wala man lang akong goodnight kiss?" And pointing to his cheek.

Natawa ako. "Wala. Good night." I was trying to close the door again.

"Sige, tiisin mo lang ako Menggay. Bibigay ka rin." Nag flying kiss na lang siya instead at may pahabol pang, "I missed you."

I just looked at him, "Good night Richard. Ingat." and closed the door.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Usapang kape! Cause to be honest naka relate akokasi hindi rin ako marunong! Thanks for reading! Cheers to you for getting this far!