If We Never Met [Alfaro Series #1]

CHAPTER 4

Chapter 4

As I entered the coffee shop, I saw someone familiar ngunit hindi ko masyadong makita ang kaniyang mukha dahil hindi siya nakaharap. Ngunit nang humarap ito ay napagtanto ko kung sino iyon.

"Mark..." Napatingin siya sa akin at napangiti.

"Janine, it's been years." Aniya at nilapitan ako.

Napatingin siya sa hawak ko.

"You're attending law school?" He asked.

"Yes." I simply answered. He nodded. Alam niya na pangarap kong maging abogado. Actually, it's our dream. Gusto niya din maging lawyer.

Kinuha niya ang dala ko at pumunta sa dulo ng coffee shop kung saan may bakanteng upuan.

"So, you study here." Tumango ako. Hindi ako makapaniwala na nandito siya ngayon.

"Ako na ang mag-oorder ng sa'yo." Sabi niya at umalis para makapag-order. I opened my book and tried to read pero walang pumapasok sa isip ko. Ang nasa isip ko lang ay puro katanungan kung bakit siya nandito.

"Here." Nilapag niya ang kapeng in-order niya. It was my favorite coffee, how did he know?

Umupo siya sa upuan na nasa harap ko. I closed my book and I looked at him.

"Hindi ka mag-aaral?" Tanong niya.

"I can't focus." I answered.

"Oh, sorry. Should I just go?"

Mabilis akong sumagot, "No. Sa bahay na lang ako mag-aaral." Napangiti siya.

"Ang tagal nating hindi nagkita..." I said.

"Yeah, huli tayong nagkita ay noong elementary pa lang tayo." Sabi naman niya. Kaibigan ko siya simula ng mga bata pa lamang kami. Our parents are friends when they were in high school. Pumunta sila sa US noon kaya sa chat na lang kami nakakapag-usap noon. We talked for years thru chat but things happened.

He was my childhood friend.

And my first heart break.

"How are you?" Tanong niya nang makaupo kami. He looked more handsome now, tumangkad din siya. But I think, wala namang nagbago talaga sa kaniya maliban sa physical appearance niya.

"Good. Stressed lang sa law school. How about you?" Tanong ko naman.

"Okay lang naman. Our business is doing good at magkakaroon ng branch dito sa Pilipinas kaya bumalik ako." Aniya. He didn't proceed to law school kaya ngayon ay tumutulong siya sa business nila.

"Kailan ka dumating? I thought you're not coming back." I asked. Sa tagal niya sa Florida ay aakalain mong hindi na talaga siya uuwi dito. Tapos nandoon pa ang buong pamilya nila.

"Two days ago. I missed here and I want to stay here for good." He answered.

"Oh. Nandito din ba sina tita?"

"Yes, mom and I will stay here for good. Si dad, baka babalik siya sa Florida dahil sa business. Ate Mia's there too, hindi siya sumama pabalik." He said.

"Anyway, you're free on Saturday? Labas tayo. I miss hanging out with you." He asked.

"Aren't you busy? As you've said, magkakaroon ng branch ang business niyo dito." Sabi ko naman. I can see that he's very successful now.

"I am but that can wait. Kararating ko lang and I'm the boss after all. I just missed hanging out with you." Sabi niya at tumawa. He's right, though. He's the boss so he can do anything he wants.