The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Simula

Simula

I tilted a cup of hot espresso as I poured the glossy and shimmery milk I whipped up into it. While busy with that, Lilith came up to me. She halted when she was in the perfect distance to watch me perform my first latte art as a barista of her coffee shop. 

Matapos mabuo ang base ng inumin gamit ang gatas, gumawa ako ng tatlong tuldok gamit 'yon at pababang iginiya ang pitsel nito upang mabuo ang nais na disenyo. Matapos ay nilapag ko ang tasa sa counter top at nagpunas ng pawis sa noo.

Bumuntong-hininga ako nang makita ang ginawa ko. The shape of the microfoam was uneven. Ang dapat na tulip design ay naging malaking bilog at ang dapat hugis pusong tuktok nito'y 'di na maklaro. I bit my lip, dismayed and unsatisfied with what I did. Malungkot kong tinignan si Lilith na nginisihan lang ako.

"O, ba't malungkot ka? Okay naman, ah?"

Umiling ako. "No, Lith, it's ugly."

"It's not ugly! Jesus Christ, you little perfectionist!"

I pressed my lips in a grim line while looking at her. Her round eyes and friendly smile made my heart at ease. 

"It looks okay," baling niya sa tasa ng kape. "You can just try again, you know."

Tila may malamig na kamay na humawak sa puso ko. A nasty feeling in my gut surfaced but I tried to deaden it right away. I just... envied people like her. People who seemed so happy-go-lucky and content with their lives. People who could stomach saying 'It's okay' or 'You can just try again,' because in my world, those phrases didn't exist.

"S-sige. Salamat." Nginitian ko siya.

She narrowed her eyes and tapped my shoulders. Nagpakawala siya ng isang malakas na halakhak.

"Honey, you're so uptight! You're only making a latte art, not a Vincent Van Gogh painting!"

Pinamulahan ako ng pisngi. "Alam ko naman 'yon. Sorry, nasanay lang."

"Remember, sa coffee shop kong 'to, 'di ka pintor. Isa kang barista, okay? Am I clear?"

I nodded and chuckled. Napunta ang tingin ko sa counter top nang may ilapag siya roon. I fixated my eyes on my laced ID card. Nilingon ko siya sa namimilog na mga mata.

"Guess what? You're officially my employee!" She shrieked and clapped her hands.

"I love it!" Ngumiti ako ngunit agad ding napawi 'yon nang may mapagtanto. "But where did you get my ID picture?"

"Duh? Of course, I stole it from your IG account!"

"Oh..." It's been years since I checked it. Ayoko lang na makita ang mga litrato namin doon.

"Anong 'oh'? Dali, suotin mo na!" 'Di ako gumalaw kaya sa inip niya'y siya na mismo ang kumuha ng ID at isinuot 'yon sa 'kin. She smirked afterward. "Oh my god! Bagay sa 'yo!"

I looked down at myself and grabbed my ID card. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang kakaibang sayang naramdaman ko habang tinitignan ang pangalan ko roon. Before I knew it, I was smiling like a madwoman.

Iowa Satyana H. Linarez
Barista
Perigrine Espresso

"Thanks for accepting me here," I muttered as I looked up at her.

"Sus, wala 'yon! 'Tsaka ang bait mong bata at ang ganda mo pa! Oh!" She gasped, her eyes glistening with accusation. Nilahad niya ang nakabuka niyang palad sa harap ko. "That reminds me... kahapon, hindi ba't maraming nagbigay sa 'yo ng calling card?"