Paradox [BoybandPH]

t w e n t y - s e v e n

The day started out fine, pero sabi nga nila it's always the calm before the storm.

Dinagsa kami bigla ng mga customers pagdating ng bandang alas kwatro, mostly mga estudyante. Even now na pumasok na ang graveyard shift na staff, halos loaded pa din ang buong café.

My shift supposedly ends by four in the afternoon, but of course aside sa late na din naman akong pumasok, I also realized short kami sa tao today dahil wala sina Dara and Pat. Sa kabilang branch sila nilagay ni Dad. He must not have anticipated na maraming tao ngayon dito.

Niel decided that it's our time to go home na since everything is already under control. We have enough number of staff to cater the customers by this time. I threw my Anello on my shoulder, ready to leave, when I noticed my bestfriend pacing back and forth, just outside the locker area.

"Babe, what's wrong?" I asked worriedly.

Agad kong naisip na baka may problema na naman sa bahay nila, sa kuya niya.

"Ah, wala. Si Ford pala?"

"Nauna na. Susunduin niya yata si Loisa eh."

"Shit. Sige, wait lang ha." He excused himself, napansin kong kinuha niya na naman ang phone. Akmang may itatype na siya nang pigilan ko siya.

"Ano bang problema? Care to share? Nag aalala ako. Hello."

He sighed, "Si Joao kasi."

What? Joao? Anong nangyari?

"Eh kasi.." He trailed, napakamot siya sa batok niya at umupo. He gestured me to sit down across from him. "Ganito. Ibo-book na lang kita sa Uber. Okay lang ba kay tito yun?"

I just rolled my eyes, "Jusko. Akala ko naman ano. Yun lang ba pinoproblema mo kanina pa?"

He nodded.

Minsan nakakatouch, pero madalas it's annoying how fragile they treat me. Katulad niyan. I never experienced na magcommute, if you can even call Uber commuting, dahil ayaw ni Daddy. Ni ayaw niyang ipadrive saken yung sasakyan ko, which is so nonsense.

Pero wait, anong kinalaman ni Joao dito?

"Bakit si Joao?"

"Ha?"

"Nabanggit mo si Joao kanina." Sabaw ata tong lalaking 'to ngayon.

He sighed, "Nakiusap ako sa kanya kanina kung pwede siya muna magsundo sa'yo. Wala si Tan eh, nasa supplier kasama si boss. Si Ford sana. Kaso ayon. Sinundo na pala si Loisa. Eh wala naman akong sasakyan, tsaka kailangan kong umuwi na agad babe eh."

Babe.

Pupunahin ko na sana yon, but when I looked up at his face, he's really pretty frantic about it.

"Go na. I'll wait for Joao—"

I was immediately cut off when the back door opened, revealing the guy we're waiting for.

"Oh ayan na pala siya eh."

I looked at his flushed face. Both of his hands are on his knees and he's obviously catching his breathe. He must have ran his way from the parking lot, which is almost a block away from here, by the way.

Now, tell me why everybody seems to love BGC.

"Bro, sorry. Sef I'm so sorry to keep you waiting." Joao managed to breathe out, kahit na hingal pa din siya.

The urge to wipe his pawis is strong. Gross, but a big part of me doesn't care.

What the hell, Stephanie? Get a grip of your self.