Getting To You (Azucarera Series #2)

Kabanata 27

Kabanata 27

Regret

Maraming bumisita sa cafe na bigo. Akala raw nila tuluyan nang nagbukas dahil sa soft opening pero ang totoo hindi ko pa pinapayagang may kakain sa loob. Patapos pa ang pagpipintura at plano kong pagkatapos ng grand opening na tatanggap ng customer.

"So... right now it's just orders?" Chayo asked after picking up her cookies and at the same time scrolling on her phone.

"Yes, Chayo."

Hindi siya agad nagsalita at mukhang abala pa sa kung anong tinitingnan sa cellphone niya. She rolled her eyes and murmurred.

"Why do people think I care about this stupid news? It's all over my accounts. Ella lowkey narrating her lovelife. My wild guess is Alonzo. Sa comments may nagsabing doktor, e," she said nonchalantly bago nag-angat ng tingin at binaba ang cellphone.

"Huh?" nalilito ako sa bulong-bulong niya.

She smiled. "Wala. Usap-usapan lang nina Nancy na panay ang post ni Ella tungkol sa manliligaw niya yatang doktor. Hula ko si Alonzo." Napatingin siya sa kawalan at nagkibit ng balikat. "Well good for him. Sanay siyang alam ng buong Altagracia kung sino ang gusto niya, this time, he deserves someone proud of- Oh!" she covered her lips with her hand when she realized something.

Alam ko iyon. Sa pamumutla niya habang tinitingnan ako, alam ko ang iniisip niya. I gave her an assuring smile. It's not that shocking anymore, like what Chayo is thinking right now.

It's been so many years. I even thought Alonzo is already married. At sa ilang beses ko iyong inisip, tinanggap ko na rin iyon. Matagal na. He's a gentleman and a very good student, probably an excellent doctor, any girl would husband him up if found. It's very impossible for him to not have a wife, or at least a girlfriend, or someone in a relationship at this point. There's no doubt about that. Kaya bakit pa nga ba ako magtataka?

Maybe it's just that he's not really married and based on Chayo's words, he is courting Ella. Hindi na rin kataka-taka dahil binisita nga naman siya ni Ella sa ospital. Binisita rin siya ni Ella sa bahay nila.

"S-Sorry," kitang-kita sa itsura ni Chayo ang kagustuhang tumakbo.

"It's okay. Are you friends with Ella now?" tanong ko.

"No. She's trash to me," she said in an exagerrated tone.

"Bakit alam mo ang mga balita tungkol sa kanya?" I slightly teased.

"Her being trash to me doesn't mean I can't hear her trash news, too. Anyway... I received the invitation for the opening. Thanks. Susubukan kong pumunta kung nandito ako no'n."

"Thank you!"

Hindi na ako inusisa ni Ate Soling sa pagbili ni Alonzo kaninang umaga. Pagkatapos kasi ng eksplenasyon niya, hindi ko na rin pinahaba ang usapan. Isa pa, nang umalis si Chayo, medyo nagtagal sa isipan ko ang aksidente niyang nasabi.

I realized then that maybe... whatever Ella has said to me that day, it was indeed Alonzo's words and feelings. Hindi rin naman siguro niya matapang na sasabihin sa akin iyon kung wala siyang alam o batayan sa nararamdaman ng mga Salvaterra.

And maybe... the three boxes of brownies he picked up from here is for Ella. After all, he's courting her.

"Nakalimutan kong sabihin na um-order si Alonzo noong brownies. Gaya ng in-order ni Almira. Nag offer naman ako na puwedeng delivery pero sabi niya i-pick up niya na lang daw."

"Wala na po ba siyang order, Ate?" just checking if there are more unknown pick ups from him.

"Wala na naman, Sancha."