Karmic Hearts

Chapter 5

As we were walking home, nakita namin sa daan si Kyle. Nakatambay siya sa bakery ni Lolo Mario. As usual, nakabantay doon ang matanda. He's already seventy-five years old, but he wakes up everyday at 4AM, kneads his own dough and bakes his own bread. Every day. Walang palya.

The bakery has been in his family for over forty years. Apo na nito ang may-ari ng paniderya pero si Lolo Mario pa rin ang nagbabantay. He insists on it.

Cupid told me to stop there to buy some bread. Unfortunately, wala akong dalang pera.

Balik na lang tayo mamaya, sabi ko sa kanya.

But we have to go there now.

Nakalampas na kami sa bakery pero hindi ako makapagdesisyon kung babalik doon o tutuloy sa paglalakad. Wala nga kasi akong dalang pera, pero sa pagpupumilit ni Cupid, naisip ko bigla na baka may importanteng mangyayari kaya gusto niyang ngayon kami pumunta roon.

Kaya bumalik kami sa bakery.

Nginitian ko si Kyle na kumakain ng pan de coco. Hawak niya sa isang kamay ang naka-plastic na softdrink.

"Hi, Kyle," bati ko sa kanya. Bumaling din ako kay Lolo Mario. "Hello, Lolo M."

The old man gave me a toothy grin. MM is short for Mario Maurer. Bihira na kasi sa bayan namin ang may pangalang Mario. Nang sumikat 'yong movie nina Baifern at Mario Maurer sa Pilipinas, bigla na lang tinawag na Mario Maurer si Lolo Mario. He's all right with it kahit hindi nya kilala 'yong artista. But people got tired of calling him Mario Maurer kaya pinaiksi nila into Lolo M.

Ngumiti rin sa akin si Kyle. "Uy!" Agad niya akong inalok ng kinakain nya. "Gusto mo?"

"Gusto ko!" sagot ni Cupid.

Well, he's not asking you, I told him. And besides, people will freak out if they see a floating pan de coco. "Nope. Thanks, though," sagot ko kay Kyle. "Kailan nga pala ang luwas mo?"

"Bukas," sagot niya nang may ngiti. "Kayo, kailan?"

"Bukas na rin, e."

Because it's Sunday tomorrow and even though I don't work 8 hours a day and 5 days a week like a normal, working employee, ayaw ko namang maiwan sa bahay na kami lang nina Mama. Nakaalis na ang mga pinsan ko kanina dahil may mga pasok at trabaho ang mga ito. Mabuti na nga lang at itinaon ni Ate Gizelle na Friday ang kasal para long weekend.

It's also because of Sam. He's a big corporate manager and the only time that he could allot for his wedding and honeymoon is this weekend. Romantic, right?

I couldn't help but compare him to Kyle. Si Kyle kasi, priority si Ate. She had all his time when they were together. Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit nag-fall out ang dalawa.

"Anong oras kayo?"

"Gabi siguro," sagot ko. Mom would probably spend all day cooking. Tuwing luluwas kami ng Manila, palagi silang may padalang pagkain sa 'min. Palaging nadadagdagan ang bagahe namin tuwing pauwi dahil sa mga padala nila. That's why it's easier to travel in groups. Lucky for me, kasama ko sa bahay sina Kuya at Je.

"Oh...akala ko umaga kayo. Sayang, sasabay sana ako, e."

Ngiti lang ang isinagot ko sa kanya. Na-distract kasi ako nang biglang may kumalabit sa 'kin. I thought it was Cupid, but when I turned to see who it was, I saw a street kid with curly hair and mischievous smile. Nakasahod siya sa akin.

"Ate, pahingi pong tinapay."

He really looks like...Cupid?

Even the dimples on his cheek look like Cupid's. Plus...I noticed that this kid doesn't have the red string. Habang nag-iisip ako kung totoo bang bata ang nasa harap ko o baka matchmaker na kagaya ko, nalapitan na ito ni Kyle. He gave the rest of his food to the kid.