Laurel and the Freshly Brewed Coffee

Prologue

Tatlong minuto nalang pala.

Kinuha ko yung phone ko at lumabas ng studio. I noticed something different pagkalabas ko, which is very unusual. Nagtaka lang ako kasi naka white shirt halos yung mga tao sa labas. Naglakad ako papuntang coffee shop, and dumadami sila. What's going on?

May nakasabay akong student, I think mga nasa 15-17 years old na and asked him kung anong meron.

"May event po ata ngayon. Sinabi siya kahapon and kailangan daw magsuot ng white today."

Okay, I was shocked. Bakit hindi ko to alam? Nagpasalamat ako sa kaniya at dumeretso na sa coffee shop. I couldn't believe this, wala akong kwentang mamamayan ng lugar na ito. And I admit. Now, people are staring at me. Actually, sa suot kong black shirt. Doon talaga yung titig e.

I rushed to the shop at umupo sa table 13. Great, even everyone here inside is wearing whites. Shame on me.

I checked my phone and it's already eight in the morning. Sakto lang dating ko. Nagkalikot lang ako ng konti sa unread messages, then a bit later, lumapit na siya sa pwesto ko. She placed a cup of coffee on my table and greeted me.

"Thanks." I said.

She's sweet, and napaka friendly. Bago lang siya pero halos lahat ata ng customers dito kaclose na niya. And I think I'm one of them.

I smiled at my coffee. Ang ganda ng leaf art sa ibabaw, which is also a primary reason kung bakit minsan ayoko siyang inumin. Sayang kasi. And one thing, yung akin lang ang may ganito. Why?

I'm clueless.

I already tried asking them pero they won't tell. Hanggang sa nakasanayan ko nalang din. And the important thing is, libre siya. So I am grateful for that person behind this. Pagpalain nawa.

"What are you smiling about?"

Some guy said at diretsong umupo sa vacant seat sa harap ko. Sadly, 'some guy' is that jerk na hindi manlang ako ininform about sa event today.

"Okay before anything else, hiyang-hiya nako because of this." I said, pointing at my shirt.

He grinned.

"What was that for?" He smiled then took a sip on my coffee.

"Excuse me mister, that's mine. And pwede ba huwag ka lang ngumiti-ngiti dyan. Answer me!"

He pointed at my shirt. "Nice." Aba at tinawanan ako ng bastardo. Akala niya ata natutuwa ako kaya tinadyakan ko siya sa paa.

"Lumayas ka na nga lang sa harap ko Bradley. Panira ka ng umaga eh."

He ordered another cup, at ang magaling nakipaglandian pa kay Cindy The Waitress. "Gosh, hindi na nagsawa sa pakikipagflirt. Grow up, will you?"

"Easy L, baka tumanda kang dalaga pag parati kang ganiyan."

Hindi ko alam pero natitiis ko ang ugali niyang yan. Araw-araw niya akong binibwisit, but till now we're still friends. Brad owns a restaurant, so palagi akong nakakatikim ng mga luto niyang masarap. And all of those for free. Wait, I think yun yung reason kung bakit magkaibigan pa rin kami. I mean, kung bakit nagtatagal ako sa kaniya. Hahaha.

"Shut up, nang-iinis ka kasi." Tumawa lang siya.

Eight years ago, at this very table, at the very same time, nakareceive ako ng libreng kape from unknown person. I was crying, losing hope I guess. Then suddenly, this brewed coffee appeared in front of me.

I don't know pero that gave me comfort. Medyo gumaan yung pakiramdam ko, and dagdag pa yung best friend ko na talagang hindi ako iniwan noong araw na yon.

Hanggang sa lumipas ang taon, I'm still drinking that same coffee, same feeling, very comforting.

"Today's St. Lucas Day." Brad said out of nowhere. Shoot! Oo nga pala, ngayon nga pala yon. Kaya pala nakaputi sila lahat. Omg, nakakabastos tong suot ko.

I asked Bradley na ihatid ako sa apartment para magpalit sana. Pero ayaw niya. Gosh, ngayon pa siya nag inarte. "I won't talk to you for days pag di mo ko hinatid." banta ko.

Well, wala siyang palag because I know na hindi niya ako matitiis. Kaya busangot siyang tumayo at naglakad palabas ng coffee shop.

Sinundan ko siya papunta sa car niya. "Thank you Brad, ang bait mo talaga kahit kailan."

"Don't worry last na to, so enjoyin mo na ang ride to the fullest." He laughed after, tapos umupo na siya sa driver seat.

He then drove, but surprisingly, not to my apartment. "Where are we going?"

He didn't bother to answer me, pero sa nakikita ko papunta kaming mall. Wait, don't tell me...

"I'll buy you white shirt instead."

Damn.

This is my lucky day. Damn you Bradley Anderson.