The sound of the busy road. People walking by around each other in a rush manner. She managed to find a quiet place, where she can sit and enjoy the iced coffee she just bought, just in front of a children's playground.
Kagagaling niya lang mula sa isang meeting sa kampanyang kanyang pinagtatrabahuan. They were given a half-day off in celebration with the previous project that they've secured.
Hindi siya dapat umiinom ng kape dahil coffee intolerant siya but for some reason, she wanted to taste one. Ilang taon na ba simula nung tumigil siya sa pag-inom nang kape. Three? Five? Ah, eight years na.
She knows the consequences, and tikim lang naman, kahit na ang mahal-mahal nang iced coffee na binili.
She looked around the place. Ngayon lang siya nagawi dito, and didn't know that this place existed. May kotse naman siyang dala, na palaging ginagamit simula noong nabili niya, pero ewan at anong napasok sa isip niya't nagdesisyong iwan iyon at maglakad-lakad sa paligid.
It's not a big place. Kaliitan lang pero presko nag dating dahil sa mga puno na nakatayo habang may upuan sa lilim niyon. Siguro ganito ang desinyo para maging maaliwalas at mahangin para sa mga batang naglalaro sa playground. At kung nanaisin, pupwede ring magpicnic dito dahil hindi gaanong malabong yung damo at hindi masyadong mainit dahil nga sa mga puno.
If she has a family, she'll definitely visit this place often, but she doesn't.
She takes a sip at her coffee while endearing a soft smile at the kids busy playing, not a mile away from her.
The kids looked very pleased as they have fun, trying every activity they can do in the area. From the swing to the slide and the monkey bars.
Nahahawa siya sa tawa nang mga bata especially the chubby little guy, whose smiling ear to ear while swinging himself in the swing. Nung tumigil ito, lumipat naman ito sa slide, really making a big effort na akyatin yung hagdanan. Gusto niya sanang puntahan para tulungan but before she could, the kid already at the top, laughing, proud at what he accomplished. And he should be.
She didn't noticed on how long she stayed there, just watching the kid have fun, not even the iced coffee she was holding nor the phone that's been ringing. Kung hindi lang siya kinalabit nung batang napadaan, that would be the 15th missed call she'll receive on the same number.
"Hello?" she asks while her eyes were still focused on the kid.
"Where the hell are you?! Diba may usapan tayo ngayong dinner? My God, Lexie! I've called the office, wala ka daw doon kanina pa. I expected you'll be here early but it's almost five, and you're not here. Asan ka ba?!" agad na inalis niya sa tenga ang telepono with just a second na marinig ang boses nang nasa kabilang linya.
She took a deep breathe saka maayos na sinagot ang tawag." Just near the office. I'll be there before they'll arrive, don't panic. See you"
Pinatay niya agad ang telepono dahil alam niyang meron pa itong ibang sasabihin, na hindi nakakabuti sa pandinig, at ayaw niyang masira ang mood niya.
She stood up, fixed her clothes and looked at the kid one last time.
Nakaupo nalang ito ngayon sa maliit na bench malapit sa slide na kanina pa nito pinaglalaruan, at halatang pagod na. Nag-angat ito nang tingin sa direksyon niya, nagliwanag ang mukha, at dali-daling tumayo, tumakbo papunta sa kanya.
She readied herself, waiting for a hug when someone passed by at her and met the kid halfway, gaining a heartful laugh while carrying the kid by arms.
"Papa!"
"Nag-enjoy ka ba dito? Sorry natagalan ako pagbalik, hirap hanapin nung toy na gusto mo ih" dinig niyang usal nang lalaki habang ginugulo nito ang buhok nang bata na ngayon ay nakakapit na ang dalawang braso sa leeg nung lalaki.
"Opo! Binabantayan naman ako ni Tita" masiglang usal nang bata tsaka humagikhik sabay turo sa babaeng nasa kaliwang tagong parte ng playground.
The man smiled lovingly while looking at the direction of the woman. Unti-unti na din itong naglakad papalit roon kaya hindi na niya narinig anuman ang pinag-uusapan nang dalawa.
She saw how the man kissed the woman's forehead as if saying thanks for taking care of the kid which is his. While the woman lovingly smiled back and hugged the man sideways as they walked away.
A lone tear fell from her eyes.
She looked at the iced coffee, she put on the bench and to the phone she's holding.
She typed a message. Pick up the iced coffee and chugged it down.
She used to have those. But life joked on her.
She now has... nothing.
