I'm already having the worst kind of day because my go to coffee shop in our office building is closed for the day and God knows I badly need coffee.
Wala pa akong tulog at sumasakit ang ulo ko dahil napuyat akong gumawa ng proposal na biglaang kailangan ipresent dahil aalis ang boss namin and he need to approve it.
Then I remember the voucher from the reunion party. At malapit lang sa office ang branch niya so I decided to give it a try. Could not be worse than no coffee at all right?
Besided coffee is still coffee. What could go wrong
"Anong bestseller niyo sa coffee?" I asked.
"Barista coffee." Someone answered from behind.
Since inaantok pa ako at wala akong sa mood hindi ko pinansin 'yung nagsalita.
The guy behind the counter paused but answered, "Baka pong gusto niyong itry 'yung recommendation ni Sir. One of the bestseller."
I nodded and paid using the voucher.
I'm checking out the menu when the guy from earlier stood beside me and started talking to me. "Here I thought we're friends."
Annoyed, I faced him.
I don't really look my best right now since puyat ako at may pimples pa ako. I don't bother with make up when going to office since I see them everyday. Now I'm regretting that choice.
Arvic smiled. "Puyat?"
I might really look bad since he asked that.
"Medyo." I turned toward the counter. "I used the voucher by the way."
"Thanks to me then."
Then silence.
"Around here ka nagwowork?" I asked to break the silence.
Ngumiti lang siya. "Ikaw, saan ka?"
Tinuro ko ang building na walking distance lang.
I do wonder if he has a job because he didn't answer my question. Parang lagi siyang may oras at chill na chill lang siya sa buhay niya so before I could stop myself I blurted out, "May trabaho ka ba?"
"Wala pero-"
Hindi ko napansin na napasimangot na ako.
Tumawa siya. "Mandy, did you just judge me?"
"Hmm?" Then I realized the face I made. "Hindi noh. Curious lang."
Just then tinawag na ang order ko. He went to fetch it. When he came back he is smiling and handed me my drink. "I don't have a job but I do have a business. I can even give you a discount."
"Sure." I said just to end the conversation. Nagpaalam na akong umalis at nagmamadali.
Bakit ba kasi lagi kong nakikita si Arvic sa mga unexpected places. Gusto ko lang naman ng kape tapos nakita ko pa siya.
We don't even talk during college. Why is he talking to me now? I'm okay with us being civil and not talking.
I didn't mean to judge him. I'm just really curious. Now, I'm more curious as to what kind of business does he have.
xx
Week after that encounter, I went back to the local coffee shop with my officemate just to order the same. Binida ko sa kanila na masarap ang coffee dito.
"Sigurado ka ha? Naku, libre mo talaga 'to pag hindi masarap." Sabi sa akin ni Farah.
"Worth it 'to promise." I said and faced the man at the counter.
He smiled as if remembering me. "Kamusta 'yung coffee ma'am?"
"Babalik ba ako kung hindi masarap? Nagdala pa ako ng kasama o." Sagot ko naman.
"Anong bestseller niyo?" Singit ni Farah.
I waited for her to finish her order and order mine.
Nung pick up na ng orders namin may cake na nakabox. "On the house, Ma'am."
"Naku nakakahiya naman." Sinilip ko ang name plate niya. "Solve na ako sa coffee niyo. Thank you, Denver."
"Siya ba owner?" Bulong sa akin ni Farah.
Narinig ni Denver kaya natawa siya. "Naku hindi po. Actually si Sir nga po nagpapabigay ng cake sayo pag dumaan ka daw ulit. One of our bestseller 'yan."
Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Bakit daw? Kilala niya ako?"
"Siya 'yung nagsuggest sayo ng barista coffee nung unang punta mo po."
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat. "Si Arvic boss mo?"
"Opo ma'am." Ngiti niya.
Arvic Z has a business. This is his business! I asked if he has a job in his own coffee shop! The realization hit me hard. Paano ko pa siya haharapin nito? Kaya pala natawa lang siya sa akin.
"Pasabi thank you." Nginitian ko si Denver.
"Ayan na pala siya ma'am. Good morning, Sir." Nakatingin siya sa likuran ko.
Unti unti akong lumingon. Kasama ni Arvic si Vince. Tinanguan niya si Denver at tumingin sa akin, "Mandy." He said to acknowledge me.
"Sana sinabi mong sayo 'tong shop na 'to." Sabi ko. Kaya pala may mga voucher sa reunion at pinamigay niya 'yung kanya.
"Where's the fun in that?"
Napapailing nalang si Vince sa kanya. "Pagpasensyahan mo na 'tong kaibigan ko. Ganyan talaga 'yan." Natatawang umalis si Vince.
"Siguro naman siya na 'yung owner?" Sabi ng kasama ko.
"Obviously."
"Arvic." Nakipagkamayan si Arvic. "Sana magustuhan mo rin dito like Mandy."
"Sino may sabing nagustuhan ko?"
"You brought a friend." Ngisi niya. "Enjoy your cake." He said before leaving us to join Vince.
"Even if I don't like my order, sure thing is babalik ako for the boss." Farah commented.
"Magtigil ka."
"Sus baka naman. Feeling ko kaya mo ako dinala dito para makita mo lang 'yung poging boss." Malakas na sabi niya.
Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata dahil baka marinig ni Arvic at iba ang isipin nun. I don't understand. Why is everyone shipping me with Arvic?
"Hinaan mo nga boses mo." Sita ko. "At hindi siya ang pinunta ko. Itry mo na kasi 'yang kape mo para malaman mo!"
She made a face and took a sip. I knew she liked the coffee because she's quiet for a moment then out of nowhere she said, "I'd still go for the boss. Or 'yung friend."
I heard Arvic's laugh. Napapikit ako.
Then Vince replied, "Taken na puso ng boss."
Arvic looked horrified also but laughed at Vince. Minura lang niya ang kaibigan at tumatawa silang dalawa.
"Ang corny ah." Sabi ko.
"Ano? Ang sweet?" Sigaw ni Farah.
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa kanya. I held up the box of cake, mouthed thanks to Arvic and I'm gone.
"Bakit ang awkward niyong dalawa ni Arvic? Sino ba 'yun?" Tanong ni Farah pagkalabas namin.
"College classmate. Actually nagkausap lang kami nung reunion."
"Eh bakit ang awkward? Ang cute niyong asarin!" Tumatawa siya.
"Tigilan mo ako."
She teased me all the way to the office at pinagsabi pang may ari ng coffee shop ang boyfriend ko pagdating namin sa office.
