"You should better find a husband, Cyverlheen. Tingnan mo ang mostly ng mga classmates mo, may pamilya na. How about you? Ano bang plano mo? O may plano ka ba talaga?" tanong ni Mama.
I stopped the car in front of my friend's coffee shop. Umiling ako sa sinabi ni Mama. She's been desperate of having a grandchild. Wala pa nga akong boyfriend.
Kinuha ko ang susi sa lalagyan nito at binuksan ang pintuan. Nakababa na si Mama pero she's still babbling about my plans on having a family. I'm sure she'll mentioned his name again. Everytime we talk about this topic, she always mention his name.
"Just tell me, anak, if you want my help. It's will be my honor."
Umiling ako sa sinasabi ni Mama. It's been years after he left. I still see his achievements on his social media accounts. Hindi naman kami immature, siguro, to block each other on our accounts. I just don't heart his post kasi baka masabi niya na I'm still not over him: though, I think na I still haven't move on.
She waited for me to open the door for her. She's wearing an off-shoulder dress paired with white shoes— she looks young with her stylish clothes— kung saan tumanda na ay naging asal dalaga pa. But, I want her to be happy, sinusuportahan ko nalang siya.
"Just wait, Ma. We'll cross the bridge when we get there."
I opened the door and let her walked in first. I opened it widely and as I entered the shop. I saw my friend on the cashier, busy attending her costumer. Pinaupo ko si Mama sa isang table. Most of the customers are students, reading books especially the books that my friend published before.
Tumabi ako sa kanya sa cashier nang nakitang medyo nahihirapan na siya. Bakit ba absent na naman ang cashier niya. Nasaan na ba ang baklang 'yon? Siya 'yong nangakong cashier sa kaibigan namin tapos halos araw-araw absent.
"Hey," tawag ko sa kanya.
Mabilis niya lamang akong dinapuan nang tingin. She smiled when she saw me. I patted her butt.
"Nasaan na 'yong bakla be?" tanong ko.
She looked pissed when I asked her. Kaya hindi ko na lang tinanong ulit nang hindi siya sumagot. Kumuha ako nang panibagong papel para kumuha ng order.
"Ma'am, pwede po kayong pumila dito."
Tinuro ko sa isang ginang na sa akin na pumila. I know the students won't fall in line with me, mas gusto nilang si Amy mismo ang kumuha ng order nila. I wrote down all the old woman's order.
"Sige Ma'am. Ihahatid na lang po namin ang order niyo sa table niyo po," I respectfully said to the old woman.
She accepted the pot that I handed with a table number written on its flower.
"Okay. Thank you." She smiled and made her way to the table.
Mga ilang costumers pa ang inatupag ko. Panay naman ang tingin ko kay Mama na nagbabasa ng libro. Wala na masyadong costumers. I heard na binigyan na rin ni Amy si Mama nang paborito niyang kape.
"Okay na 'yan, Cy. Lika ka sa kitchen, may ipapatikim ako sayong bagong cake."
She held my hands and pulled me to the kitchen. Wala pa ang dalawa naming kaibigan. Honey is still out on training the college students while Karli is busy with her dance studio after her class.
"Bakit may flower? Anong bulaklak 'to?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. In short, gumamela."
Ang sarap niyang batukan. Dami niyang alam, ganyan ba talaga kapag writer?
Ako ang unang tumikim nang niluto niya. I savored the taste of gumamela flower which is really good. Binigay ko sa kanya ang ginamit kong tinidor at ginamit niya rin ito sa pagkuha nang cake.
I heard the bell sound as she put the fork on her mouth. She's still eating kaya I signed her to wait.
"Ako nalang bahala. This is great, by the way."
Mabilis akong lumisan sa harap niya at umalis papuntang counter. Agad kong kinuha ang papel kung saan nilalagay lahat ng mga order.
"Yes Sir. Can I take your order, Sir?" tanong ko.
I heard no response kaya I raised my head to see the costumer. I frowned when I saw him with his usual white polo shirt printed with a company name in the upper left of it. I didn't had a time to breathe in a second. Is this truly him? Should I smile?
A woman appeared from his back wearing a sexy black bodycon dress, holding a familiar helmet. Wala sa plano akong napairap nang nakita ang babae. Itinuon ko na lamang ang tingin sa papel.
"What's your order, Sir?" tanong ko.
"One macchiato and expresso."
"That's all, Sir?" tanong ko na hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa papel.
"Can you add up one strawberry cake, please?" A girl's voice wrapped with sweetness.
Bahagya akong napatingin nang nagsalita ang babae. She wrapped her hands on Reyven's waist, my ex-boyfriend and fiancee. So, he has another girl.
"And one strawberry cake," aniya.
I heard Amy's calling my name. Kaya lumingon ako sa kung saan ako lumabas kanina. She's standing there, slightly shocked as she saw Reyven. I looked at her with pleading eyes and she knows what I mean to say.
Nag-iba naman kaagad ang itsura niya. Kanina ay puno ito nang pagkagulat, ngayo'y nakangiti itong binati ang lalaki. Lumapit siya sa akin at saka lang ako nagkaroon ng kumpyansa na tingnan ang lalaking nasa harap ko.
"Hi! Bumalik ka na pala, di ka man lang nagsabi." I heard Amy's voice closer to me.
Nakatuon ang tingin niya sa babaeng kasama habang sinasagot ang tanong kung kilala niya ba kami. The way he looks that girl is exactly the way he looks at me before— inlove and completely dazed.
"May tumatawag sayo sa phone. You should check it," bulong ni Amy.
I know she's just want me out. Kanina ko pa gustong umalis but it feels like Reyven has its own gravitational force that pulls me back to him.
Bumaling ako kay Amy 'tsaka tumango, going back to where I was before, at bumalik sa kusina. If only going back to the arms of the person you love is as easy as going back to the kitchen, I would surely do the same thing.
