Stonehearts 7: Ruby

Twenty

I was queueing at Cofee Bean when my phone rang, displaying Aly's name. I smiled, swiping to answer.

"Arcie-bear!" she shrieked. I needed to put a distance between me and the phone to save my eardrum.

"Hey to you too." I answered, laughing a bit.

"So, are you free tonight? Nood tayo sine."

"I can't today, Aly. What about tomorrow?"

I heard her sigh, but there's no trace of disappointment in her voice when she replied, "May date nanaman kayo ni Marco? Nakakaselos na 'yan ng konti."

Natawa ako ng bahagya, "Ikaw naman! 'Di naman ako nagreklamo nang kayo ni Evan noon."

"I was just kidding! But I'm happy your happy, best friend. There's nothing I want for you but that." She hushed those words out, sounding sentimental.

I let a small smile appear on my face, "Yeah, he makes me happy."

"Dapat lang, ano!" her feistiness was back again, "Sige na, I'll let you go. But tomorrow, you're mine and I'll be at your house by six."

"Sure, sure. Bye."

It's been three months after Bryce. Hindi ko masabi na talagang okay na ako pero parating na ako roon. Hindi ko na siya naiisip katulad ng dati. May parte pa rin ng puso ko na kumikirot kapag naalala ko siya, ngunit 'yon na lang 'yon. One painful memory I'm soon be letting go.

I met Marco through Sage, well kind of. He's not none of those men he emailed me. Thank God. He's a friend of Sage who he met at the gym, na nakatira rin pala sa building niya. The first time we saw each other was when I went to pick my jacket from Sage's place. It was like a scene in a movie, we bumped into each other, said our apologies and then he asked for my number.

Nakakatawa nga dahil ang unang text niya sa'kin, was him confirming if I'm Sage's girlfriend. Ayaw naman daw niyang manloob at manira ng relasyon.

Pagkatapos kong sabihin hindi, it sort of took of there. We texted a lot and after four days we decided to meet. I came clean about Bryce and everything, which he accepted and even promised me to help me move on from him.

Kaya lahat ginagawa ko para makalagpas na sa sakit ng kahapon. Kasi nangako ako kay Marco na magiging official lang kami kapag sigurado na akong nakalimutan ko na si Bryce. He was most willing to wait, which made me happier with him.

"Hi, Miss Arcie. Here's your White Chocolate Dream Latte." Tugon ng barista sabay abot sa'kin ng inumin ko.

"Bayad na ulit?" at this point, hindi ko alam kung bakit pa ako nagtatanong. It's been two weeks since I started to receive free drinks, not knowing who pays for it.

Tumango siya, "Yes, Ma'am."

I just smiled and cheerfully took the drink from her. Hindi na ako magtatanong kung sino dahil tulad ng ibang araw, hindi rin nila sasabihin sa'kin. Magpapasalamat na lang ako sa hangin kung sino mang hulog ng langit ang nanlilibre ng kape ko araw-araw.

Palabas pa lang ako ng coffee shop nang nakasalubong ko si Marco na siya naming papasok. Nagkagulatan pa kaming dalawa na nauwi sa tawanan.

"I was looking for you. Sabi sa opisina mo bumaba ka raw." He said, hugging me and speaking directly to my ear.

I shiver, thankful for his warmth. "Bumili ako kape." Sagot ko, saka ko siya tinitigan. "Paano mo alam kung saan ako hahanapin?"

He just grinned before pressing a kiss on my forehead. "Sino pa ba makakaalam? Eh 'di ako lang naman talaga."