CHAPTER EIGHT

"HADDY, don't you think you're a little too tired pa? Like shouldn't you spend your tomorrow resting and enjoying your unread books?"

Agad akong napalingon kay Jackie na siyang nakaupo sa single sofa ko sa corner ng bedroom ko. We're currently hanging out in my room. Both Mom and Dad were at work and Jackie suddenly invaded our home, so I had no choice but to let her in.

It's a Sunday and I was planning on binge-reading, but now, I'm both reading and listening to Jackie's stories. Tough job but already used to it. "What do you think, Haddy?" pagu-ulit niya na naman.

Napaisip naman ako. Her suggestion wasn't so bad. Walang klase bukas dahil nakalaan para sa isang araw na intramural practice. Sa sobrang dami kasing ganap, maliban sa sports, ay may pa-program pa with matching performances from different clubs, kaya naman napaka-considerate ng teachers na ibigay sa mga estudyante ang free day na iyon.

In short, mas pabor sa akin kung hindi na nga lang naman ako papasok bukas, wala rin naman akong sinalihan na kahit anong sports or activity eh. Kaya lang kasi, coming from Jackie, nakakapanibago.

For the past years in our high school life, she would always have to drag me whenever she went. Kahit na nga minsan ay medyo off na ay hahatakin niya pa rin ako. Her reason? She wanted me to come out of my comfort zone even though just a couple of times in my life. Pero ngayon? "That's new," I commented.

My best friend suddenly stiffened but then relaxed after a second. It did not go unnoticed by me, but I think I had to let that go, as her reaction did give me an ounce of idea of her reason. "Well... I just thought na... well, you know? Baka masyado na kitang nafo-force? I don't want you to feel more uncomfy, lalo na at wala ka rin namang gagawin tomo, while as for me, I have practice."

"Practice?" I raised an eyebrow. "I thought you planned to quit volleyball."

Nag-iwas naman ng tingin si Jackie. "W-Well, I planned... but... I-I didn't?"

I closed the book that I was reading at sat properly on my bed. I already have an idea, but for sure, with all her previous speculations and mild accusations, she would really do something to be closer to Nexus and for me to be far away from him.

Kahit naman kasi gaganon-ganon lang si Jackie ay matalino siya. At dumodoble ang talino niya kung tungkol iyon sa taong gusto niya at sa mga nakapaligid dito. So, all in all, she's really seeing me as a threat. As if that could happen. Imposibleng magkainteres sa akin si Nexus in any way.

I've already thought about this for a couple of days now. Yung nangyari noon sa Winter Cafe, kay President, ay isang biglaang pangyayari lang. A one-time offer. And that offer happened just because he was a nice guy. That's all. Nothing more. I shouldn't go beyond that thought anymore or else, may mangyayaring masama sa amin ni Jackie.

I took a deep breath and tried to distract myself. I once again opened my book and read the scene I left. And that move of mine seemed to somehow disturb Jackie. "Had, I—"

I raised my head and looked at her. "Don't worry, I'll stay here tomorrow. Or baka tumambay na lang ulit ako sa Winter Cafe," I said to put her at ease before I went back to reading.

She seemed to have agreed and liked what I said and so she went back to reading the romance book that she pulled out of my bookshelf. Kahit hindi ganoon kaadik si Jackie sa pagbabasa ng novels katulad ko, there are some books that seemed to have piqued her interest. So, there were times when we both would just hurl ourselves into my bedroom and silently read a book as we enjoyed our snacks and drinks. A comfortable silence.

"WOW," I breathed out as I entered the Winter Cafe. Like I told Jackie, I spent almost half of my day cooped up inside my bedroom, reading, and decided to spend my afternoon in my favorite cafe. But this was not what I expected, or ever thought about.

"Welcome to Winter Cafe! May our warm smiles melt your hearts," were his words that made me literally stop in my tracks. Sinabayan pa niya ng nakakasilaw niyang ngiti.

Kung hindi ko lang gusto si Nexus, baka kanina pa ako bumulagta sa lapag. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong ko kay Clint bago ako pumwesto sa favorite spot ko at nilapag ang bag ko sa table saka tumalikod nang agad na bumungad sa akin si Clint. Ilang beses naman akong napakurap. "Seryosong nagta-trabaho ka rito?"

Masayang tumango naman si Clint. "Yup. They opened a waiter position. And pwede siyang part-time. So, yeah. First day ko though."

"I think that's pretty obvious." Unang beses ko pa lang siyang nakita rito to think na halos araw-araw akong nakatambay dito. Ilang saglit naman kaming nagtititigan dahil gusto ko na sanang lumayo at nakaharang siya sa daan ko papunta sa cashier. "Uhm... excuse me?"

He tilted his head a little to the side. "Why? Kung mago-order ka, nandito naman ako." He acted as if he was fixing himself before saying, "May I take your order, Ma'am?"

Hindi ko naman mapigilang matawa nang mahina. "Okay, fine." Umupo na lang ako sa pwesto ko saka inangat ang tingin sa kaniya. "I would like to have a tall, salted caramel frappe together with a chocolate chip muffin, please."

Nakita ko naman ang bahagyang pagpula na naman ng tenga niya saka isinulat ang order ko sa dala niyang notepad. "Adorable," I heard him whisper. Ibinalik niya ang tingin niya sa akin saka ngumiti. "Will shortly get back to you with your order, Ma'am," aniya saka umalis.

Napailing na lang ako saka kinuha ang librong binabasa ko kanina sa bahay para ituloy rito. I did not know how many minutes passed since I was already indulged in the story plot when I heard someone clearing their throat. I carefully closed my book before putting it on my table. I raised my head and was greeted by a smiling handsome waiter. "Ang bilis."

Clint shook his head. "Ilang minuto rin ang nakalipas. Masyado ka lang focused sa libro mo," nakangiti niyang sabi habang maingat na inilalapag ang mga order ko. "Order's complete, Ma'am. Paki tawag na lang po ako kung may kailangan pa kayo."

Napaikot naman ang mga mata ko. Talagang feel na feel niya ang pagiging waiter ah. "Thanks." Akala ko ay aalis siya kaagad nang mapansin kong hindi pa rin siya umaalis sa pwesto niya. "Gusto mo ba ng tip?"

Mahina naman siyang natawa. "Hindi ako tatanggi, pandagdag pambili rin yun ng libro," natatawa niyang sabi. "But seriously, I just wanted to ask kung hanggang anong oras mo balak tumambay rito."

Tiningnan ko naman ang suot kong relo. "Hmm... Probably around 5:30ish?"

Napatango naman siya. "May gagawin ka ba mamaya? Dinner plans?"

"Plano kong kumain ng dinner sa bahay," seryoso kong sagot na ikinatawa niya. Ano bang nakakatawa? Totoo naman eh.

"Alone?" I nodded. "Then... Wanna wait for my shift to end? I'll end around 6 PM, would that be okay with you?"

Ilang beses naman akong napakurap. Is he... Is he asking me to... "Dinner? Together?" Clint nodded and I noticed how nervous he was. "Uh... Uhm..."

"I-It'll be a friendly dinner. If you want, KKB tayo. I wanted to treat you to dinner, but if that makes you feel uncomfortable then—"

"O-Okay..." I took a deep breath in. "Dinner it is. Pero KKB."

Nakangiti namang tumango si Clint. "KKB. Dinner. Okay." Ilang saglit pa niya akong tinitigan hanggang sa ma-realize niyang nasa trabaho siya. "Right, right. Be right back. Dinner tayo ha?" Ako naman ang tumango hanggang sa makaalis siya at magtrabaho ay kitang-kita ko ang laki ng ngiti niya.

Napailing na lang ako saka ibinalik ang atensyon sa pagbabasa ng libro at pag-inom ng frappe ko. Dinner together... How would it feel if it was Nexus who asked me out? Muli akong napailing, but this time, it was to remove that thought. Impossible.

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