Where I Want To Be (2b published)

CHAPTER 11 - Solace

After eating the promised cake and pizza, nag-aya na agad ako umuwi. I actually had a good time. Lisa was a great person, thus lalo lang akong na-guilty sa feelings ko kay Sir Dario. At lalo kong naramdaman na isa lang akong importanteng estudyante para sa kanya.

"Are you sure about your decision?" Bea asked me again and again after the couple left. "We can still talk about it back home..."

"I'm fine." I reasured her. "Besides, I need to back out now, before I fall in too deep."

Pinauna kong umuwi si Bea. I wanted some time by myself. At ngayon, eto ako, palakad-lakad sa mall. Lulutang lutang nanaman at walang patutunguhan.

"Sir, 50% off na po kami, baka gusto nyong i-try ang cakes namin?" sabi ng isang boses. Napatingin ako sa kanyang direction.

An attractive guy looked back at me, smiling. His hair was parted to one side and tied at the back in a short pony. He wore a long black apron, over a shirt and tie.

Napatingin ako sa pangalan ng store. 'Solace Bakery and Cafe'.

"Our sale strats now at 8 pm," ulit n'ya. "would you like to try our cakes?"

Lumutang ako papasok ng cafe. Inabutan n'ya ako ng menu, pero bago pa ako maka-order, binigyan ako ni ponytail ng isang tasa ng tsaa at isang slice ng cake.

Napa tingin ako sa pagkain. "Hindi pa po ako nakaka-order." sabi ko.

"It's okay, that's on the house." nakangiti n'yang sinabi. "Kakabukas lang namin this week, so we're giving free samples of our products." he leaned closer then, "Besides," he added, "you look like you need something sweet to cheer you up."

Napa-atras ako, pero ngumiti lang siya uli at saka bumalik sa counter.

I took a sip of tea. Noon ko lang natikman ang tsaang 'yon. Ang bango n'ya, at kakaiba ang lasa. I tasted the cake next and finished it in record speed!

Ang sarap!

"Excuse me?" tanong ko kay ponytail sa counter, "Ano'ng tawag sa tea ninyo? At saka pwede po umorder ng mango cheesecake?"

Lumaki ang ngiti n'ya sa mukha. "Another cup of passion flower tea comming up!" sagot n'ya.

Bumalik ako sa upuan, feeling much better than I did before. Later, dumating si pony-tail with my order.

"Mind if I sit with you for a bit?" he asked with a friendly smile.

"Sure, go ahead." I replied.

"Thank you, ako nga pala si Adan." he sat across me and reached a hand. "I manage this small cafe."

"Jason. Kayo po ba gumawa nitong cake?" I asked him. Natawa s'ya.

"Yup, I do all the baking. How do you like them?"

"Delicious." I replied. "Next time po, susubukan ko yung iba."

"Why don't you try them now?" he suddenly stood up and went to the counter.

"Eh? Pero, wala na po akong..."

"It's ok, it's on me! Besides, sayang naman kung walang kakain sa mga ito!" he took a slice from each cake and placed them on a tray.

I tasted them and couldn't believe my luck!

"Lahat po sila masarap!" sabi ko kay Adan, "Ang sarap sigurong mag trabaho rito!"

"Haha, gusto mong mag part-time?" biro n'ya, "Next time, bring your friends, you do that, I let you eat for free!"

Napatawa n'ya rin ako sa suggestion n'ya. Masaya pa kaming nagku-kuwentuhan ng bigla kong naisip, hindi lang pala puro heartbreak ang dala ng araw na ito, siguro...

"Are you okay?" biglang tanong sa akin ni Adan.

"Eh?" nagulat ako ng mapansing tumutulo ang luha ko. "Oh... Sorry..." Adan leaned over and gently wiped the tear off my cheek.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked. "Actually, tinawag kita kanina dahil ilang beses ka nang dumadaan sa tapat ng store, it looked as if you were lost." He gently touched my hand. "You had this sad expression on your face. Perhaps you would like to talk about it?"

Maybe it was the sugar rush, or perhaps the calming tea, because before I knew it, umiiyak na ko sa harap ni Adan at binubuhos lahat ng hinanakit sa dibdib ko. Ang tungkol kay dad, ang pagtataksil ni mommy, ang kahayupan ni Densio, at higit sa lahat, ang unrequited love ko para kay Sir.

All that while, Adan listened to me patiently while holding my hand.

"That's right, just pour it all out." he said in his calming voice. "Masama ang nagtatanim ng sama ng loob."

"Sorry... I don't even know you, kuya Adan... pero..."

"It's okay, Jason, I'm just glad that I could help you by lending an ear." tumingin s'ya sa akin ng seryoso. "I actually understand." sabi n'ya, "You see, I too, had an unrequited love."

Ngumiti s'ya. Isang malungkot na ngiti na napaka ganda.

"Pero, hindi iyon ang katapusan ng mundo." patuloy niya, "Marami pang ibang love na darating sa buhay mo, each one much better than the last. And that's something you should look forward to."

He gripped my hands tightly before letting go. "By the way," he said, "Is it okay for you to stay out this late?"

"Ha?!" bigla akong napatingin sa orasan. "Past nine na pala!"

"Do you need to call home?"

"It's okay, mag t-text nalang po ako sa tita ko..."

"Teka, gabi na, baka ma-pano ka?" he said with concern.

"Okay lang po, sanay na 'ko..."

"Taga saan ka ba? Hatid na kita, mag uwi ka na rin ng cake." bumalik s'ya sa may counter.

"Ho?" nagulat ako sa kanyang offer, "Nakakahiya naman po..."

"I insist." he said with a laugh, "And also, 'wag mo na akong 'po'-in, feeling ko tuloy ang tanda-tanda ko na at 21." nakakahawa ang tawa n'ya. "Halika na. Inabot n'ya sa akin ang isang kahon ng mango cheese cake at tinawag ang kasamahan n'ya. "Abel, ikaw nang bahalang mag-close ng shop."

Isang SUV ang sasakyan ni Adan. Sumakay ako sa tabi n'ya.

"Malapit lang pala bahay n'yo ." sabi n'ya habang palabas kami ng parking lot.

"O-oo, kaya nga okay lang kahit late akong umuwi." sagot ko.

"Kahit na, 13 ka pa lang, hindi ka dapat umuuwi ng gabi, even if you do look older than your age." he said. "Sa panahon ngayon, kailangan mag-ingat, lalo na ikaw, ang cute mo pa naman." Namula ako sa sinabi n'ya.

"Isipin mo rin ang kapatid mo," dagdag ni Adan, "malamang nag-aalala na s'ya sa 'yo."

We rode the rest of the way in silence until we reached the village I lived in.

"D'yan lang ako sa tapat ng brown gate." sabi ko.

Adan pulled over and gave me a tight hug before I could epen the door. Nagulat ako, pero hindi natakot o nandiri. He was gentle. He was warm and comfortable, like Bea.

"Cheer up, okay?" he whispered before leting me go. "Balik ka! Kahit wala kang kasamang customer, okay lang. I'll look forward to seeing you again."