LOVE NOTES [Complete]

HIBISCUS TEA

A/N: Honestly sa La Luna Sanggre ko nagustuhan ang #ChardGel hahahaha. ❤
Para sa lahat ng #ChardGel!

.....

Richard hated the smell of coffee.

By the time he realized this, it was too late. Nakapasok na sya sa pamilyar na coffee shop na ito. The dark, nutty smell was so strong that it could knock his socks off. His upper lip curled unstoppably. He sat down in a free table and waited.

"One Cinnamon Dolce Latte for Kylie and Caffè Americano for Ruru." Sambit ng barista. Sinundan niya ng tingin ang couple na kumuha sa order, they're seem to be in a honeymoon stage. Nagkibit balikat sya.

Hindi naman sa naiinis siya or naiingit or whatever pero kasi pagkatapos nyang maaksidente nag-iba ang lahat sa kanya it as if his life had revolved around waiting. Waiting for him to be okay. Waiting for everything to be okay. That everlasting feeling of reaching but not grasping-frustration. Para bang may bagay na dapat nasa kanya na nawala pa. Napailing siya.

Oh yes, he had certainly changed since his accident that why he needs a doctor's help. He sighed as he leaned back in his chair. His foot tapped restlessly.

His doctor made him carry around a tape recorder to record his thoughts. During their sessions, they would wind back the tape and listen. He would always be surprised at the things he said-psychotic things. Crazy things.

Together, they would listen to his mumblings. None sense talks
Again his head hurt. The smell of coffee didn't help.

And sometimes, he would forget things. It made everyone angry, which in turn made him angry, too.

He was jolted out of his thoughts as the chair across from him squeaked. A woman sat down and waved over the waitress. She wore a deep black blazer that matched her hair.

"Excuse me," Richard said as politely as he could.
"May hinihintay ako." Tumingin siya sa akin, her perfect eyebrows arched saka siya ngumiti.
"I'll be out of your hair, soon."
"But-"

Hindi ko na naituloy ang sasabihin ko mg dumating ang waitress looking very smart and eager in her white shirt and black apron.
"What can I get the two of you?"

"One latte with a shot of hazelnut and one hibiscus tea," she ordered crisply, saka siya tumingin sa waitress. He regarded her suspiciously as the waitress hurried off. She was familiar with this place, naisip niya siguro ay madalas ito dito. Napayuko sya ng tumingin din ito sa kanya. He wished he brought something to read.

"I ordered for you," the woman said. Her hands were folded neatly on the table. Tumango siya ano bang magagawa niya...but surprisingly di naman siya naiinis.
"Do you like hibiscus tea?" Tanong nito muli, looking like she had hoped to please him.
"Better than coffee," he grunted.
She nodded.
"I'll pay," Richard added. Ngumiti siya.

Richard noticed that she did that a lot. It made her face look beautiful.
"So this is kind of like a date," maya-maya ay sabi nito. He hadn't offered to pay for hers. It was a misconception that he didn't bother to correct. It would have been rude to.

"I'm waiting for someone," he told her purposefully.
"I'm waiting for someone, too," she nodded understandably. This surprised him.
"Then bakit umupo ka dito?"
"It's good to have some company while we're both waiting, isn't it?" Sabi nito saka sumandal sa upuan. She smiled at him again.
"You looked like you really weren't enjoying yourself."

Their orders came on a round, black platter. The hibiscus smelled sweet and familiar, like a perfume he had once loved on someone. Napatigil sya para kasing may kung anong ala-ala na gustong pumasok sa isip nya. His lips thinned in concentration. A small moan, but no release.

"Is something wrong?" Her eyes looked especially wide over the rim of her latte.
"I'm trying to remember something," he told her truthfully. Her words had broken his concentration. He shrugged and sipped the tea. For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

"It's a beautiful day outside," she sighed saka siya lumingon sa labas ng coffee shop.
"It is kind of nice," he nodded, looking outside, too.
"If you're into that gray, almost rainy weather type of thing."
"This kind of weather is a little grouchy, but it has its charms," nakangiting sabi nito saka tumingin sa kanya.

"It's a bad day for driving. Kind of bad visibility. All types of accidents happen in this weather." He took another sip of tea. It made him feel better at halos makalimutan nya na late ang kanina pa nya hinihintay.....kung sino man siya.

"Spoken from experience?" she asked conversationally. He nodded.
"I was in a car accident last year. It was pretty bad."
"I was in a car accident, too, last year. A big one. My fiancé almost died in it." Sabi nito. There was something in her eyes....sadness.... He felt oddly sulky at the mention of a fiancé. He wondered if they were still together.

"Kamusta na sya?" Tanong nya. She shrugged, taking a gulp of her latte. She breathed in deeply the scent of it. He wondered how she could do that without throwing up.

"He's neither here or nor there."
"I know how that feels." She smiled.

"I don't know how you can stand it. Minsan di ko alam kung matatagalan ko sya pag nakakaramdam sya ng ganoon." Sambit nito
"It's nothing we can help," he said, slightly defensive.

"Oh, I know that." She set down her mostly empty cup. Absently, she ran her finger along the rim.
"You know, we were supposed to get married this last summer."
"Hindi naman masamang magpakasal sa ganitong panahon" opinyon nya. She looked up at him.
"You really think so? Don't you think the rainy weather's a bit...gray?"
"You said yourself the weather's beautiful today."
"But what do you think?" she pressed.
"I think the weather doesn't have anything to do with the wedding, frankly. A wedding is about love. Kahit ano pa ang panahon." Sambit nya. She smiled, though she looked a bit sad.

"Well, I think I'll wait until next summer anyways. Mas maayos na siguro ang lagay niya non'. I want the wedding to go smoothly. Wedding day only comes around once."

"Unless you get married a second time," he pointed out. She finished her latte.
"I don't think so. I really love this guy so I think I'll stick around."
"He's lucky to have you," he told her sincerely.

"Siya ba ang hinihintay mo?" Tanong niya muli
"Yeah," tumatangong sagot nya, saka siya huminga ng malalim.
"But I don't think he's going to show up today." She pushed back her chair saka siya tumayo at inayos ang suot na blazer.
"You promised to pay, right?"
He hesitated, but nodded in the end.
"Yeah, sure."

"Thanks." Nakangiting sabi niya saka sya naglakad palabas ng coffee shop. He watched her wavy black hair move as she did. The bells on the door jingled.

There was a faint scent of hibiscus flowers. Richard finished his tea. After waiting five more minutes, he called for the check.

As he flipped open his wallet, he noticed a picture inside of a beautiful black haired woman.

Napapikit sya may muling pumasok sa isipan niya and this time malinaw na ito. Quickly, he put some money on the table and ran out to the street. There were some busy shoppers, but no sign of that familiar black beautiful hair.

Finally, far down the street, he saw her.

"Angel!" he called, chasing after her. He used his elbows mercilessly to get through.

The woman turned around.

Humihingal na tumigil sya sa harapan nito. He tried to smile as he leaned forward and kissed her.

"Sorry I'm late."
"Its okay.....lagi naman akong maghihintay para sayo."

..........

Fin
❤