I clocked in and take out my phone to look at all email notification and text messages.
Kakarating ko lang sa office at ang dami ko nang emails na kailangan ng atensyon ko.
It's not even 9 o'clock to begin with.
This is always how I start my day, magcheck ng Facebook, Instagram, text and lastly emails.
Office work is boring sabi ni Pepper and he is not wrong but this is also what I do for a living. Kung hindi ko lang kailangan ng stable income nag project basis na ako.
I read Arvic's text message. Medyo kanina pa niya 'to tinext sa akin. Asking me to go to his cafe.
So I went. He is there behind the counter smiling at customers.
"Good morning, ma'am!" Ngiting sa akin ni Denver.
"Good morning." I smiled back.
Arvic pointed at the waiting section and asked me to wait.
May dala siyang coffee when he came to greet me.
"Libre ba 'yan?" I eyed the cup.
"I don't remember saying libre ka dito. I said discount. And I have to ask my partner." When I stared at it he added. "I made it."
I rolled my eyes and get the cup from him. "Baka sumakit tyan ko dito?"
"Funny." He said.
The other customers are eyeing us. Me specifically for hoarding the space and having Arvic's attention.
"I got to go. Baka mawalan ka ng customers ako pa sisihin mo." Then I smiled. "Thanks for this."
"May bayad 'yan!" He semi shouted.
I raised my hands to say bye.
Nakita ko lang 'yung sulat pagkadating ko sa cubicle ko.
Have a nice day, Mandy :)
Arvic and his ways.
It's surprising how I'm not awkward around him anymore. So much has changed since meeting him at the resto with Pepper.
It's like I know him for a long time already. Technically yes, matagal ko na siyang kilala but recently mas nakikilala ko siya.
So much for being mahangin.
I took a picture of the coffee and posted it on Instagram and start working.
When I checked my IG during lunch break may mga heart react sila Pepper at kaibigan niya.
Nagreply si Vince:
Tell me you paid for that.
Nope, thanks btw! Was my reply.
Later that afternoon, Arvic asked to have dinner together. I said yes since he gave me a coffee.
"Dalawang beses na tayo nagkita sa isang araw. Umay na." Sabi ko.
"I will take that as a compliment."
Only Arvic would take that as compliment.
"Saan tayo kakain?" Tanong ko.
"May gusto ka ba?"
"Japanese food! Kumakain ka ng raw?"
He only answered with a smile and said he know a place.
"No way! Tinanong mo si Pepper noh?" I said when we arrived.
Tumawa siya. "Looks like we have something in common."
Indeed. Ayaw ni Pepper ng raw pero sinasamahan niya ako dito at nagoorder siya ng iba. This is my go-to Japanese resto kasi fresh 'yung sineserve nila and you can watch while they prepare your food.
"Ano palang work mo?"
"Digital Marketing ako ngayon pero first job ko is Admin. I got bored being an admin so I resigned and tried Marketing. It's fun so ayun, marketing ever since." Sagot ko.
"Nice. At least you know what you really want to do. I just started the shop a few months ago. Baby pa 'yung business namin ni Vince but we're trying. Tumambay lang ako first year after graduation because I didn't know what I really wanted to do. Then I started talking to Criss and I realized I wanted to have my own business too. Nag-usap kami ni Vince and planned it."
"Gusto ko rin ng sariling business pero not now. Kailangan ko munang mag ipon and mag isip kung anong business ang gusto ko."
Arvic started giving me advices and told me their struggles before finally opening the cafe. I listened and realized that he's matured and really thoughtful.
"Of course financial 'yung pinakamahirap sa lahat. At one point napaisip kami ni Vince kung itutuloy pa and he had this talk with Trisha. After that he's determined so we took a risk. So far okay naman."
"Paano nga ulit naging sila?" Tanong ko.
If there's one thing I realized about myself is that I love listening to his stories. I like how he talk about his cafe, the way he smile when he's talking about Trisha and Vince even if it annoys him that his best friend and sister is dating. He actually sounds like a proud Dad.
"Eh ikaw bakit wala kang girlfriend?"
Napatigil siya. Napatigil rin ako dahil sa tanong ko.
"Curious lang." I added.
"I think we should have that talk over a drink?" He suggested.
"Umay na talaga ako sayo!" Tawa ko.
Dinala niya ako sa rooftop bar kung saan kami nagkita last time. Criss greeted us with all smiles.
I ordered a flavored beer while he ordered a draft beer.
Nagcheers muna kami bago ko tinanong ulit.
"So bakit nga?"
"Hindi ka naman sobrang interesado niyan?" Biro niya.
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.
Nagkibit balikat siya, "I don't know. Having someone - being committed is not me. Hindi sa wala akong gusto but more like hindi ako interesado. Alam mo 'yun? Okay na ako na ganito. Free to do everything I like. Wala akong iisipin kung may nasasaktan ba ako sa mga ginagawa ko. Things like that."
Pagjojowa lang pinag-uusapan ang lalim na ng sagot niya. I'm expecting answers like ayaw ko ng commitment para pwedeng lumandi not answers like para walang masaktan sa ginagawa ko.
He is too complicated for my simple brain.
"Dami mong hanash sa buhay alam mo iyon?"
Humarap siya sa akin. I know what he's going to ask and I nodded.
"I met Rei thru a common friend. It was his birthday at sinama ako ng friend ko. Simple lang siya, his goal is to graduate with honors and he did. College palang busy na siya lagi. Si Pepper ang lagi kong kasama pag hindi siya pwede and it's okay kasi naiintindihan ko 'yun. For 4 years ako 'yung umiintindi sa kanya and there came a time na napagod na rin ako. For once gusto kong ako naman 'yung intindihin niya." I swallowed and took a swig from the bottle. "I did that for 4 years and he couldn't even do it for me. I don't want a guy who couldn't even make an effort to fit me in his busy schedule so yup."
I exhaled deeply.
Arvic was quiet and I realized that I talked too much and maybe I bored him or worse is that he's not really interested.
But then he whistled, "Are you sure ok ka na sa flavored beer mo? I can order a stronger one for you."
I kicked his chair. "Nakamove on na ako noh."
Tumaas ang kilay niya.
"Oo nga!"
"Wala akong sinasabi." Then he called Criss over. "Bigyan mo nga 'to ng pang malakasan. 'Yung malalasing."
Tumingin sa akin pinsan ni Vince at tumawa.
