Kissing Fire (KD#1)

Fire 27

Past

Heathcliffe was true to his words.

Kahit na ilan pang masamang kape ang ibinigay ko sakaniya, patuloy lamang siya sa pagtambay dito sa aming coffee shop.

He's annoyingly persistent.

Hindi ko parin alam kung anuman ang pinaplano niya. Baka gusto niya akong ibuking dito.. pero ano naman ang makukuha niya? Gusto niyang maghigante para sa kapatid niya? Gusto niya akong pahirapan?

Pero parang hindi naman.

"Thanks, Silvan!" nakangiti niyang saad nang hinatiran nanaman siya ni Silvan ng kape.

I saw how Silvan's eyes sparkled and how his smile grew wider. Crush na crush niya talaga.

He even befriended some of the crew. He treats them coffee and some pastries. Kaya panay ang pagkilig ng pwet ni Silvan dahil laging nandito si Heathcliffe.

He would also try talking to me but I would always walk away before he could even start.

"Newbie! Linisin mo nga ang toilet." one of my superiors told me.

In the coffee shop, we don't have waiters, or janitors, kami-kami lang din ang nag-aasikaso at nag-ma-maintain nito. I've never been assigned to clean the toilet. Ngayon palang.

Tumango ako at pinigilang mapangiwi nang makarating sa comfort room. I swallowed hard upon seeing its state.

Since it's already closing time, the toilet reeks of urine. Mabaho at mapanghi. Hinayaan kong nakabukas ang pinto at nagspray ng alcohol para naman makaya ko ang amoy, I also wore a mask. I've never cleaned a toilet before so I don't know where to start. 

Nilibot ko ang tingin sa buong toilet at hinanap ang rubber gloves. Sinuot ko iyon at sinimulan nang linisin ang flooring. I decided to keep the door open so it won't be too hot while scrubbing the floor.

My old self would never do such a thing. I was so high and mighty back then, giving away designer bags just to get away from cleaning the toilet. Little did I know that those designer bags shouldn't even be mine in the first place.

I heard a chuckle and I instantly knew who it was. Ano ang ginagawa niya rito? Sarado na kami, bakit nandito pa siya?

"You're supposed to clean the toilet bowl first before cleaning the floor."

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ko dahil halos nakalahati ko na ang flooring.

I did not know that I have to clean the toilet bowl too! Akala ko'y lalagyan  lang siya ng sabon tapos ifuflush lang ng paulit-ulit.

I could feel Heathcliffe watching from behind. I could even imagine his playful smile. Tila ba natatawa sa sitwasyon ko ngayon.

"Breaking news! Euphoria Adelaine Delangel, caught cleaning the toilet!" he joked before bursting into laughter.

That was so loud! Baka may nakarinig sakaniya.

Hinarap ko na siya ng may simangot sa mukha. "Sir.. I'm sure we're already close."

"Ang sabi ni Silvan, okay lang daw."

Nakita ko ang kaniyang ayos. Nakahilig siya sa hamba ng pinto't nakahalukipkip. His hair's now a little disheveled. A few buttons from his dress shirt were open and his tie was loosened. The sleeves of the dress shirt were folded, revealing the visible veins in his arm.

"Ah okay... If that's what my boyfriend said."

The amused grin that he was wearing vanished within seconds. Dumilim ang kaniyang ekspresyon at kumunot ang noo. He tilted his head and  played with his tongue before speaking.