Stonehearts 7: Ruby

Twenty One

"Bry. ." my words fell short. I cleared my throat and tried again, "Bryce, hey. Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

He stared at me for a while before he faced the barista again, "Can you make another of her drink? Magbabayad na lang ako ulit."

His statement made me make my way beside him, "You don't have to."

"I've been paying for it for two weeks. You don't seem to mind it then, why change your mind knowing it was me who's been giving you free coffee twice a day?"

I looked at him addled. Sabi ni Marco siya raw? Sino bang nagsasabi ng totoo?

Napatingin ako sa barista at bago pa ako makatanong, "Siya 'yong nagbabayad, Ma'am. Si Sir Bryce po."

"Thank you sa mga libreng kape. But I think it's best if you stop now. Kaya ko naman bilhan sarili ko ng kape."

He shrugged his shoulders, "I didn't say you can't." then he slide his card towards the counter.

Napabuntong hininga ako, "Paano kung hindi ko na lang tanggapin?"

"That's your decision to make. Kunin mo o hindi, I'll still pay for it everyday."

I looked at him, study his profile from the side. Malalim ang eyebags niya pero hindi mo pa rin mamimintis ang tamis ng ngiti niya.

My knees are starting to go weak the more I spend time close to him. That's when I knew I have to stop this before it goes to the road I promised not to visit again.

"Bryce, really. What are you doing?" I'm proud of how my voice sounded so firm.

He took his receipt and card from the lady and answered without looking at me, "Do you have time. . .to talk? Maybe, after your shift, if that's okay?" saka siya nagtaas ng tingin.

The old me would have jumped right in, no doubts, no care, no second thoughts. Kaso kinalimutan ko na ang Arcie na 'yon. Dapat kinakalimutan ko na siya, hindi 'yong nakikipagdaldalan pa ako na para bang may hinihintay ako na mangyari.

"No, I don't." I clipped.

He nodded his head and smiled before looking down at our shoes. "I guess I deserved that."

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ko pa siya katagal tinitigan bago ako lumabas ng shop at nag-drive papunta sa opisina. It was after I parked that I let the out the breath I've been holding ever since I walked out on him.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit pakiramdam ko ang ginhawa dahil nakita ko nanaman siya. Ilang beses kong pinigilan ang sarili kong ngitian siya kanina.

God, these feeling I have for him is like an uncurable disease.

Winasiwas ko ang dumaraming ideya sa utak ko saka ako nagtungo sa floor namin. Mag-vendi coffee na lang ako kahit hindi masarap. Kesa naman bumalik pa ako roon. Ilang oras na rin lang naman lunch na.

Shit, magpapalit na rin ako ng coffee shop. Balik Starbucks na ako ulit.

Saka ko naalala ang libre kong kape. I picked my phone up and confronted Marco.

Me: Bumped into Bryce at CBTL minutes ago. The barista confirmed he's responsible for the giveaway coffee.

Agad naman siyang nag-reply.

Marco: Did he say anything to you?

Me: Not much. Why did you lie to me?

Matagal akong nakatitig sa chat bubble naghihintay ng sagot. Ibababa ko na sana ang phone ko nang may lumitaw na reply.

Marco: I didn't think that one out properly. I'm sorry. I didn't fully intend to lie. I felt jealousy creeping over me when you mentioned about your free coffee. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin, so I went along with it. Sabi ko aalamin ko kung sinong nagbibigay niyan sa'yo and I would tell him to back off since you're already taken. And now that I know who the mystery man is, the more I have to shove him away.