Freedom to Love

Chapter Five

WHEN I WOKE up the next morning, I felt so tired that I wanted to sleep again and again. I heard my phone ringing and saw Javier's name on the screen. I wanted to reach for my phone but I felt so dizzy to even move my arm.

I'm sorry, Javier. I just want another sleep.

I woke up again and it's already lunch time. I reached for my phone and called Janice. She picked up the phone after three rings.

"Hello, Miss Luiza."

"Janice, can you please bring me lunch?" I asked. I just feel so lazy to go out today.

Matagal bago sumagot si Janice kaya napakunot ako ng noo. That's when I realized she already checked out in our hotel.

"Okay, Miss-"

"I changed my mind! I can get my own lunch. Don't worry about me, enjoy!" I ended the call.

I want to call Javier but he's probably working now. I decided to sent him a text message instead.

[Javier, I'm sorry I didn't answer your call. Just woke up again and everything's fine. Thank you for last night!]

I'm planning to wait for him again until he finish his shift. Just the idea of waiting for him again makes me feel the excitement. Nahihibang na ako talaga. Ibababa ko na sana ang phone para mag-ayos na nang bigla itong tumunog. Mabilis ang kamay kong sumagot sa tawag niya.

"Hello, Javier?" panimula ko.

"Ano ang nararamdaman mo ngayon? Hindi ka ba nahihilo?" tanong ni Javier agad.

"No, sabi ko nga I'm okay na. We can actually meet after your shift," walang paligoy-ligoy na sagot ko.

Medyo matagal bago siya sumagot kaya bahagya ako nakaramdam ng hiya. Hindi kaya masyado akong confident na magyaya sa kanya?

"But if you have other plans for tonight, it's totally fine with me," Mabilis na dugtong ko.

But actually no, I don't think it would be fine with me.

"Hindi, okay lang. Wala naman akong gagawin mamaya," maagap na sagot niya na nagpangiti sa akin.

"Okay, see you later then! Bye, Javier," paalam ko sa kanya.

"See you, Luiza."

Napapikit ako at pinigilan ang sobrang pagngiti. Pero nang maalala ko ang patagong pagbabasa namin sa isang bookstore, muli na naman akong napangiti. Nahihibang ka na nga, Luiza.

I WAS ALREADY standing here outside the coffee shop and I am two hours early. Hindi ako makapagdesisyon kung dito ba ako kakain ng lunch o maghanap ng ibang kakainan. Sa tingin ko kasi ay maiistorbo ko si Javier sa kanyang trabaho.

But since I was craving for a fresh sandwich, I went inside and walked my way to the counter. Pagkapasok ko palang ay agad nang napatingin sa akin si Javier kaya mabilis ko siyang nginitian. Nakita kong kinausap niya ang kasama niya at akmang lalapitan ako. Pero tinaas ko ang kamay ko para huminto siya.

"Pipila ako," sabi ko sa kanya.

Tumingin siya sa pila bago ako tinanguan. Hindi naman mahaba ang pila kaya ayos lang sa akin. And I don't own this place, so I don't want to feel a VIP.

Nang ako na ang o-order, napanguso ako nang makitang hindi ako sumakto sa kanya, may kausap na siyang customer. So I did what I had to do, I spoke to the person behind me and let her order first.

Nang tapos na mag-order 'yung customer ni Javier, agad akong pumunta sa tapat niya. "Goedenmiddag, Mevrouw. "

I don't know Dutch but I knew he was greeting me.