Beautiful Mistake

Chapter Five

Nakatanaw si Abby ngayon sa labas ng bintana habang pinapanood ang pagbuhos ng ulan. They're inside a coffee shop.

Dito siya dinala ni Gryffin nang iligtas siya nito kanina. It was a close call, mabuti na lang at may rumondang officers kaya tumakbo ang tatlong lalaki na kumorner sa kanya kanina.

They've reported it, and now they are here.

Malaki na rin ang pinagbago ni Gryffin. He age like a fine wine. Ano bang genes meron silang magkakapatid?

"Here's your drink." Abot ni Gryffin sa kanya.

"Thank you..."

He sighed and took a sip, "So, kumusta ka na?" He asked, "It's been what, three or four years?"

Five, Gryffin. It has been five years. She thought.

"Hindi ko na rin matandaan, pero ang laki na ng pinagbago mo. Wala ka ng salamin at braces" she said and took a sip on her coffee.

"Thanks for puberty on hitting me hard," They both chuckled as he looked at her, yung tingin na kakaiba, "Ikaw, ang laki na rin ng pinagbago mo."

Yeah, right. "Haggard ko, ano?"

Umiling ito, "You still looked beautiful, 'yon lang parang may nagiba sa 'yo" He said, trying to figure her out.

"Grabe naman. Thank you,"

"Anyway, what are you doing in that place?"

She sighed, "Hindi ko rin alam, sa sobrang pagod siguro nakaligtaan ko ang daan," Kahit na ang totoo, ang layo kasi ng iniisip!

Isisi natin kay Raven! Kasi naman.

"Mabuti na lang pala at natsempuhan kita doon, paano kung walang sasakyan na tumigil sa 'yo at nasagasaan kang tuluyan. Baka napahamak ka ng talaga!"

God heard her silent prayer. Sabi ni Raven noon, in times of danger, pray. So, she did and it came!

"Sa Hotel Martinez ka nagtratrabaho?" Turo nito sa I.D na nakasabit sa bag niya. She went back on her senses, zoning off again, Abby! "Since 2021? Right after the pandemic."

Great! Gryffin and his amazing skills that she kind of hate now.

"Pandemic pa rin naman that time,"

"I know, but compare to the year 2020. Ibang iba," sambit nito, "Does it mean, after all these time. You were just there?"

Oh geez, no!

"They will be thrilled to know that!" He said, "Sumama ka kaya sa bahay? I'm sure, matutuwa sila lalo na si Huffle. She has been looking for you ever since."

Mapait siyang ngumiti, "Gryffin..." Pigil niya rito at napakamot sa pisngi, "H-hindi kasi nila alam na doon ako nagtratrabaho... I wasn't a regular employee."

"I doubt that. Mommy is very hands on with the hiring process." Kinabahan siya sa sinabi nito, "Besides, bago pa lang ang hotel. You must be one of the pioneer employees."

Hindi siya nakasagot kaagad doon. Paano nga kung alam ni Tita Icang -- what she meant was Ma'am Maricar na nasa hotel siya? But, if she knew, imposible na hindi siya nito makilala lalo na tuwing may convention sa hotel.

"Abby," He called her name, halos katulad ng pagtawag ni Raven sa kanya noon pero mas kalmado at hindi nakakapagbigay ng kaba sa dibdib niya, "What happened to you? Where were you for the past five years?"

She didn't know how to answer that. Kailangan pa ba? "Nothing, Gryffin. I-I just... Anyway, how about you? Kumusta kayo?"

Nakakaunawang tumango si Gryffin. Sumagot naman ito kaagad sa kanya. Sir Tristan and Ms. Maricar are doing great as per him.