KAHAPON (BxB)

Chapter 32

Four Years

Destiny and I are reciprocal. It was as early as seven and the street was as solemn as it is, the ballad coming from the ryhthm of the Parisian round clock was as if my only music.

I am the eye witness of my own misery years ago, I've seen how cruel destiny can be and I thought time can change everything hanggang sa umikot na nga ang pakpak ng oras at inakala kong umayon na ang kapalaran sa akin but I was right and wrong. Right for finally I made it all by myself and wrong because the world is just too small that even how many times the clock whirls and winds hindi ko matatakbuhan ang kahapon. Ang kahapon na siyang pinaguugatan ng hinaharap.

I looked at the window pane and the cold burns more than fire.

It is still fresh June but the cozy environment feels like september due to the artificial snowflakes insulated inside. Streets were empty as I look to see the place.

I fixed my coat and went back to my table. The hot cup influxing much heat to my hands pero hindi ito sapat making me rub my hands for more.

"Buenas! Your coffee sir! Disfrutar!"

Napaangat ang tingin ko as the lady placed my coffee sa round woven table.

"Caramel cocoa cluster cappuccino size venti for you mister"

"Thank you!" I said at ngumiti sa babae. She's on her apron and her look screams her foreign blood. Ngumiti siya pabalik at agad rin na umalis.

"Sir okay lang po ba kayo?" Bumaling ako kay Dalya. My secretary who is busy taking down some notes. Tumango ako at ngumiti sa kanya.

"May na alala lang ako" mahina kong tugon.

"Anyways sigurado ka bang dito pupunta si Chan?" pabalik kong tanong sa kanya. Tumingin tingin siya sa paligid kaya napatingin rin ako sa kapaligiran.

Some foreigners. Dalawang matandang amerikano na naguusap. Some Asian men and an Italian woman on the other table. Lahat sila'y may kanya kanyang ginagawa.

"This is the only Parisian Coffee Shop destined on this alley kaya sigurado po ako na dito pupunta si Sir Chan!"

We are destined here in France alinsunod sa utos ni Mrs. Valenzona to check out their national branch and now seems like his son, Chan Valenzona will no longer come sa tagal ba naman namin dito hanggang ngayon wala pa siya!

"Dalya can you contact his social accounts. We need to hurry may hinahabol pa tayong trabaho!" I said firmly. Dalya was alarmed kaya agad na kinuha ang cellphone until the instrumental chain placed near the automatic revolving door rings kaya agad akong napatingin doon.

"Wow you're too early i'm flabbergasted" I uttered with deep sarcasm. Sa tagal ba naman namin dito ngayon pa siya dumating.

Pasimple siyang ngumiti at hinagod kami ng tingin. He swiftly moved to our table at hinubad ang mahabang trench coat na su'ot revealing his semiformal dress cut.

"Who is she?" at tumingin sa sekretarya ko.

"My secretary!"

"Bonjour!" tugon niya kay Dalya. Bakas ang hiya sa mga mata ni Dalya and now I can clearly see na unti unting namumula ang pisngi niya.

"What took you so long?"

"Hmm Chill Caleb i'm not late i'm 2 minutes early perhaps"

I frown in anger. "Halos tatlong tasa na ang na inom kong kape and you're insisting you're not late?"

"I came at 8: 58 and we agreed to meet at 9" he refuted. Napailing nalang ako sa tinuran niya.

"I said we will meet the supervisors who will be heading back to the Philippines at sharp 9 so you should be here before 9" mataman kong sa'ad.