Payb Takes

Finding Menggay

August 3, after SPS Thanksgiving:

R: *gets in his car and asks his driver to take him to M's condo*

Driver: Ah, Sir, may text po si Maam Maine at pinapabigay po nya to. *shows his phone to R and hand him a neatly folded dark blue hoodie*

R: *takes the phone and jacket, reads the message*

R: *chuckles* Naku, Menggay... *hands back the phone to his driver* Thank you, Kuya. Sa Bulacan po tayo.

Driver: Welcome po. Okay Sir.  *drives to the destination R instructed*

R: *keeps calling and texting M during the drive to Bulacan but she does not respond* Sige na nga, Love. *smiles* I will go on this scavenger hunt for you. *sighs, stares out the window, thinking of memories with M when they used to sneak in and out of the coffee shop in baseball caps or hooded jackets and sun glasses at past midnight, they came in so often that the guards and baristas in the shop became their accomplices in their secret rendezvous, grins*

When they get to the Starbucks branch at a gasoline station in Bulacan, R dons the hoodie M provided and gets out of the car. The guard recognizes him, gives him a salute and hands him a note.

R quietly goes to the table and waits as M said in her note. One of the baristas approach him after two minutes with a paper bag and a note.

Barista: *smiles and hands the bag and letter* One freshly brewed Camomile tea for Sir RJ.