Cascading Waters

Chapter IV

Right after that night, naging close kami ni Axel. It honestly just happened, we immediately clicked and that made both of us comfortable. It came to the point that we'd laugh at Lexa for complaining.

"Ano ba 'yan! Halos kayo nalang ang laging magkasama" nakasimangot na sabi ni Lexa.

Dadalhin raw ako ni Axel sa Bamboo Cafe. Iyon yung tambayan na binilhan namin ng snacks noong isang araw. The whole theme of the place says a lot about the name of the place.

Yayayain sana namin si Lexa pero Tito wanted her to focus on the business kaya't heto at nagtatampo.

Natawa si Axel at tinapik ang ulo ng kapatid.

"Next time, okay?" natatawang sabi nito. "Ayan kasi, you keep going on dates the last few months kaya ikaw ang napagtrippan ni Papa."

"Whatever, Kuya. You always go on dates rin naman. Ngayon ka lang ata nagtino na nandito si Wave eh." pairap na sagot nito.

"Oh shut up, mabait kaya ako and all I do is business." seryosong sagot ni Axel sabay sulyap sa akin.

"Yeah, whatever. Sige na nga at wag nyo na akong guluhin. Enjoy!" paalis ni Lexa sa amin.

Natawa nalang kami at nagpaalam na sa kanila. Axel and I decided to bring our laptops and cameras so we can edit together. Ito rin siguro ang rason kung bakit kami naging close.

Matapos niyang mag-sorry noong gabing 'yon, we started talking about photography and he showed me his favorite pictures. We simply talked about it and the next few days, we just started hanging out to edit and take pictures.

"We're here" deklara niya. Napatingin naman agad ako sa cafe sa harap at talagang maganda ito.

Bumaba si Axel at umikot ito sa harap ng sasakyan para pagbuksan ako. Bumaba ako at nagpasalamat.

When we settled in a table near the open space, we arranged our things before he got up to order.

"Any other order or is it still strawberry?" tanong niya. One thing I found out through our few days of closeness, Axel remembers my favorite flavor. That's the reason why he ordered strawberry crepes when we first came here.

"Fruit tea and crepes will do." sabi ko, sabay ngiti. I noticed how he stared a bit longer than usual kaya nagsalita ulit ako. "Strawberry, both."

Lumunok siya bago tumango at tinalikuran na ako. Sporting his black trousers with his gray shirt and a white long sleeves button down polo that's open, the man looked divine. Aaminin ko, gwapo at talagang maganda ang tindig ni Axel kaya hindi na rin ako nagtaka kung bakit maraming nagbu-bulongan sabay tingin sa akin at kay Axel ngayon.

They probably think I'm his girlfriend or whatever given the fact na bago ang mukha ko sa lugar na ito. Bahiran isn't a big province and the Fabianos are super rich so it's obvious that they know Axel.

Not entirely bothered by the stares, I just started typing my password and opened my laptop to start editing until Axel came with the orders.

The table we chose was a two sitter so we faced each other but then Axel moved his chair alongside mine to help me with the edits.

"How about you do this?" sabi ni Axel, his hand guiding my right hand as he used the mouse. Bigla kong ramandaman ang kuryente galing sa kamay niya kaya I unintentionally flinched a bit.

Natigil si Axel at napalingon sa akin.

"You okay?" tanong niya, parang nanantya ang tingin.