Saktong pagkasara ko ng pinto ng unit ko may nagsalita sa likod ko.
"Khira, where' you goin'?" my bestfriend, Eri, asked.
"Sa tabi-tabi lang... " sagot ko ng nakangiwi. I plastered a perfect smile before i faced her, too perfect para hindi niya mapansing may inililihim ako. Too bad! She's my bestfriend kaya alam niya agad ang meaning ng ngiti kong iyon.
Yumuko ito at itinapat ang mukha nya sa mukha ko. "What's with the luggage, though?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya.
Napangiwi na naman ako ng maalala koh yung luggage na nasa tabi koh...
"Ah-eh... Let's talk downstairs at the coffee shop." ang tinutukoy ko ay yung coffee shop na pag-aari niya na nasa baba lang ng condominium na tinitirahan namin. Well, actually... I owned this building because of a simple bet.
"Fine! Pero wala ng libre sa panahon ngayon." sabi ni Eri habang nasa elevator na kami.
Napataas ang kilay ko sa tinuran niya. "So, the information that you want from me is not free too." I said with a smirk in my face.
Napanguso ito. "Ugh... Nice! You're using your writer skills on me..." inirapan ako nito kasabay nun ay tumunog yung elevator signaling us that we already reach the ground floor where the cafes, restaurant, boutique and childrens corner is located.
Eri's cafe
We're both seated at the corner part of the cafe to talk. "May I take you orders ma'am?" nakangiting tanong ng isa sa mga waitresses. If I'm not mistaking, her name is sandy.
"My usual brewed coffee, one slice of black forest cake and two boxes of caramel bar, please." nakangiti kong order.
"The usual, sandy." maikling sabi ni Eri.
"Okay, ma'am. I'll be back in a minute with your orders." tumalikod na si Sandy para kunin yung order namin.
"So, tell me everything and when I say everything... All of the details." seryosong nakatingin sa akin si Eri habang naka-kunot ang noo.
"Kooooniiichiiiwaaaaaa!" nakakarinding boses ang nagpalingon sa amin sa entrance ng cafe bago ko pa man maumpisahan ang details about my getaway.
"You're both loud." iritadong sigaw ni Eri sa mga bagong dating.
"Maingay ka din kaya, Eri." sabi ni Luna na nakalapit na sa pwesto namin ni Eri. Tumango-tango lang si Yuna. They're my bestfriends too, annoying twins according to Eri.
They're fraternal twins, so it's easy to distinguish who's Luna and Yuna. Luna is shorter than her twin. She got her mothers features. A black silky wavey hair, not too small nose, light brown eyes and white skin. While Yuna got her fathers features. Brown silky straight hair, pointy nose, dark brown eyes and tanned skin.
Eri got her features from her mothers Japanese ancestors except the height that she got from her fathers side. She's attractive, way too attractive that everyone will look at her with envy in their eyes.
And me? I'm not beautiful and not ugly. I'm physically fit even though I'm just a writer. I have the curves in the right places though I always hide it under my medium shirt and jogging pants.
I'm not rich but own this condominium building.
"We got bored in the office so we decided to go here and relax. I miss my beloved and I want to see him." nagpalinga linga pa ito at animo may hinahanap. "Where art thou?" bulong ni Yuna.
"My brother's not here. He went back to Japan this morning to attend some business matter." napapabuntong hiningang sabi ni Eri. The brother is Alistair. A demi god in Yuna's eyes. Hindi naman kasi siya mukhang hapon.
"So, what's with this luggage beside you, Khira?" nakaturo sa maleta kong tanong ni Luna. Ngunit nung magsasalita na ako ay bigla namang sumulpot ulit si Sandy dala yung order namin.
"Here's your order ma'am Eri and Miss Khira." nakangiting inilapag ni Sandy yung mga order namin tapos bumaling sa kambal na umupo na sa pwesto namin. "What's your order Miss Yuna and Miss Luna?"
"Mocha latte and strawberry shortcake." -Luna
"Alistair's menu, please." -walang ganang sagot ni Yuna.
"Mocha latte, strawberry shortcake and Alistair's special menu." ulit ni Sandy sa order nila. Bago ito tumalikod ay may sinabi pa ito na nagpabago sa mood ni Yuna. "Miss yuna, sir Alistair instructed me to give you the new cake recipe that he baked this morning." kumidat pa ito sa amin bago tuluyang umalis.
Tumingin ako kay Yuna na todo ang ngiti. Pagbaling ko kay Luna, nakataas ang kilay. Tumingin ako kay Eri, tumingin din ito sa akin. Sabay kaming napakibit ng balikat at umiling.
Another Sandy's matchmaking move!
