Saint Vals 2020 Anthology

A Coffee Kind of Love By @paperdeity

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti habang inaalala ang una naming pagkikita. That was summer of 2010, at dahil sobrang init madalas akong nakatambay sa Pink Oven, ang coffee shop na malapit sa university namin.

I was always alone that time since ako lang ang kumuha ng summer class sa aming magba-barkada. Usually, pagkatapos ng klase ko ay dumidiretso ako sa Pink Oven, either para tumambay o kaya ituloy ang papers ko. Naalala ko pa rati, lagi akong may dalang camera, either my DSLR or my Polaroid. I've always like to take pictures, kahit ano basta maganda sa paningin ko ay kinukuhanan ko ng litrato.

One day, I was trying to take a picture of a dog. Glass wall lang ng Pink Oven ang naghihiwalay sa aming dalawa. It has its paws up the glass like he's asking me for food, and I couldn't resist its adorableness. Kinuha ko ang Polaroid kong nakapatong sa lamesa, I was about to take its picture nang biglang may pumulot sa kaniya. My camera followed the dog, at nang makita ko ang mukha ng pumulot sa kaniya, my fingers accidentally pressed the shutter button. Oh crap!

I heard the film drop on the table but my eyes were still glued on the guy holding the dog. He's handsome, like artista-level handsome. Perfectly shaped brows, hazelnut brown eyes, rosy lips, even his slightly crooked nose looked appealing to me.

My eyes were still at the viewfinder of the camera when he looked at me and winked. I accidentally pressed the shutter button again. Holy crap, did I just take a picture of him... again? I groaned.

Pa-simple kong i-binaba ang camera sa lamesa saka dinampot ang Caramel Macchiato na inorder ko. Patay-malisya akong uminom doon at iniiwas ang tingin sa glass wall ng coffee shop. I pretended that nothing happened until someone came to my table.

"Uh miss..." Matalim ang mga matang tiningnan ko ang nagsalita, pero natigilan ako nang makita kung sino ito. "Is this seat taken?"

It was the handsome guy outside the coffee shop minus the adorable dog. Bahagyang napaawang ang labi ko nang mapagmasdang mabuti ang mukha niya. Mas gwapo pa pala siya sa malapitan. Hindi ko alam, pero parang nakadagdag pa sa karisma niya ang maliit na pilat sa ibabaw ng kaliwang bahagi ng labi niya. Napamura ako sa isip nang makita ko ang katawan niya. Even his white long sleeved polo couldn't hide his toned body. Parang ang sarap tanggalin ng damit niya para makita ang full view—

"Excuse me? Miss?" Oh shit. Did I just check him out? What the fuck is wrong with you, Leigh?

I cleared my throat and nodded. Obvious naman na walang nakaupo sa harap ko. Why does he even need to ask. Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting pagkailang nang tuluyan siyang umupo.

"Oliver Ramirez." May inilapag siya sa gitna ng lamesa. Nang tingnan kong mabuti ay tissue lang pala. But why drop it on the table? May trash bin naman sa entrance. "In case na kailangan mo ng model, I'm up for the job," dagdag niya sabay kindat sa akin.

Napa-awang ang labi ko. Did he just volunteer himself? Talk about confidence. Sasagot pa sana ako pero agad na siyang tumayo at iniwan akong nakaawang ang labi at tulala. Wala sa loob na pinulot ko ang tissue na inilapag niya sa lamesa. And I bursted out laughing when I read the note written on it.

"I'm no photographer, but I can picture us together. ;)" - Oliver R. 09*********

Seryoso ba 'to? Iniwan talaga niya sa akin ang number niya? Am I that obvious kanina? Napapailing na itinupi kong muli ang tissue at ibinulsa sa suot kong pantalon. As if I'm going to call or text him anyway. Plus I don't think I'm going to see him again since hindi siya mukhang taga-rito sa amin.

I sighed. I might as well finish my coffee. Kailangan ko pang matapos ang research paper ko. Little did I know it was the start of something unexpected.

THE FOLLOWING DAYS CAME NORMAL. Napadalas ang pagtambay ko sa Pink Oven, hindi dahil umaasa akong makita ulit ang lalaking 'yon, ngunit dahil kailangan ko ng lugar para gawin ang research paper ko. And the coffee shop was the perfect place since hindi ito gaanong matao at maingay.

One day, I was about to go to the counter to order my favorite caffeine fix, nang biglang may lumapit sa table ko na barista.

"Iced Caramel Macchiato Upside Down for Ms. Leigh Ann," nakangiting sabi ng binatang barista bago inilapag ang isang baso ng inumin sa table ko. Tatanungin ko pa sana kung kanino ito galing pero nakaalis na siya.

I picked up the glass when I saw a post-it note attached to it. Kunot-noo'ng kinuha ko 'yon at naupo.

'I just want to espresso how beautiful you are today.' - O.R.

Muntik ko ng maibuga ang inumin ko sa nabasa. I could feel the goosebumps on my skin, dahil sa ka-cornyhan na nabasa ko. Napapailing na inipit ko na lang ang post-it note sa organizer ko. I should start doing my paper, unlike the one who gave the note, I don't have that much time to spare writing corny stuff like it.

I thought that was the first and last time that I'll receive that kind of post-it notes. But everytime na pupunta ako ng Pink Oven ay automatic na binibigyan ako ng barista ng paborito kong order at laging may naka-attach na post-it note rito. From corny pick-up lines to coffee puns, every cup of coffee has a different note on it. Minsan nga ay hindi ko namamalayang napapangiti ako habang binabasa ang mga 'yon. It's like I've been looking forward to every post-it note.

But I will never forget the day, when I received the final note. It was the day when I passed my research paper. Ang saya ko ng araw na 'yon dahil mataas ang markang nakuha ko. That's when I decided to drop by Pink Oven and get my favorite coffee. As expected, may note na naman. But the message written on the note left me puzzled.

'What if? - O.R.'

That was the last note that I received from him. And ever since that day, wala na akong natanggap na note kasama ng kape ko. I've been thinking what is that what if that he said on that note. If only I could see him once again and ask him what it is about. Pero alam kong malabo na 'yon. That was two years ago for freak sakes.

I was lost in thought when I heard a low tapping on the glass wall beside me. My eyes lit up when I saw an adorable dog in his cute little tuxedo. He's even wearing a black bow tie! The dog's paws were against the glass wall, like he was begging me for food. At tulad ng nakasanayan ko kinuha ko ang Polaroid camera ko para kuhanan ito ng larawan. I was about to take its picture nang biglang may pumulot sa kaniya. My camera followed the dog and when I saw who picked him up, my fingers accidentally pressed the shutter button. I think this has happened before. Fuck, de javu.

Parang tambol sa lakas ang kabog ng puso ko nang masilayan ang mukha ni Oliver. He was still the same handsome guy that I saw that day. The same guy who gave me those notes. Ang kaibahan lang ngayon, nakasuot siya ng tuxedo na katulad ng suot ng asong hawak-hawak niya. Is he getting married?

'Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. - Dr. Seuss'

I couldn't help but think of that specific quote by Dr. Seuss. Maybe I did complicate the meaning of his question when deep inside I already know what the answer is. I'm just scared to admit it, that's why I chose to avoid, complicate and deny things.

Muli kong ibinalik ang tingin sa lalaking nasa kabilang bahagi ng glass window. He waved at me and gave me the same playful smile that he gave me two years ago. The smiled that made my heart skip a beat, which I denied too many times.

I gave him a curt nod and smiled back at him. But the smile on my lips slowly faded as I saw a lady clad in white off-shoulder dress and silver heels walk towards him and give him a peck on his cheek. She looked at him lovingly, like he was the only person she could see. And as a single tear rolled down my cheek, I know right then and there, that he would always be my favorite what if.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 

Euphemia 🌸