FLIP N SIP by clam11th, winner of WattpadRomancePH's Ripple of Unexpected Encounters contest.

flip 1

I decided to start a personal journal as an outlet and as a medium to appreciate and celebrate even the little accomplishments every day.

flip 2

I was hired!

Dumating din parcel ko ngayon araw!

flip 3

Sa pagmamadali ko, naiwan ko pa ang phone ko sa taxi. Buti na lang mabait 'yung manong at binalikan ako na saktong humahabol din kaya nagkasalubong kami haha

flip 4

Almost all of my officemates are friendly. There are two that I got close to.

Ang tawag nga sa'min sa office ay 'The Water Sign Trio' dahil sa zodiac signs namin.

Ghaniyah = Cancer

Jordan = Scorpio

Nathalie = Pisces

Meron din kasing nagpapa-tarot card reading doon. Niyaya kaming sumubok for fun.

It felt comforting and validating. Also, maswerte raw ako ngayong taon, sa career at love. Pero kailan ko kaya siya makikita?

flip 5

Our boss complimented me today. "You did well on the presentation," he said.

Nakatapos na naman kami ng project!

Nakabili ako ng bagong stock sa fridge at nakapagbayad na rin bills.

flip 6

Nagkayayaan kaming tatlo na subukan 'yung walking distance coffee shop mula sa office.

It was really nice to try something new! Despite the coffee shop's funny name, "Langit Cafe", hindi biro ang ambiance at quality ng food and drinks nila, worth it ang bayad!

flip 7

Ghaniyah finally moved out to her own house, while Jordan's busy because he suddenly became in demand, I mean he's an amazing singer! Pinayagan naman siya ng boss namin. I'm so proud of my friends for being able to do their other priorities.

My career's going smoothly pero minsan 'di ko rin maiwasang mangulila. I wanna be in love and be loved. Independent woman sa umaga, gusto ng ka-cuddle, and ka-deep talk sa gabi.

flip 8

I could already feel the burnout. Both from work and other adult responsibilities. But I need to work my ass off!

You can do it, Nathalie!

flip 9

He's here again!

Nauna akong maging regular customer dito sa Langit Café kaya alam ko kung kailan lang din siya tumatambay rito.

'Yung ibang nakasabay ko na ay galing din sa building namin at mga nagtatrabaho lang sa malapit.

But for him, he's the most stylish at pinakapoging customer! That side profile, oh my gosh. Lagi rin siyang may dalang guitar case.

Excited tuloy lagi ako magkape rito dahil baka makita ko ulit siya. Ginagahan na ako ulit magtrabaho!

Napakunot ng noo ang lalaking nakasandal habang nagbabasa ng journal na nadatnan niya sa table na inokupahan.

Ako ba 'to?

flip 10

He's like a cup of coffee that makes my heart beat fast.

He's like a coffee that brightens my mood.

He's like a coffee that boosts my adrenaline, allowing me to perform better.

He's like a cup of coffee that I can't live without.

He's like a cup of coffee that's addictive.

Naitakip ng lalaki ang journal sa kaniyang mukha. Nang ipatong niya ito sa lamesa ay namumula ang kaniyang mga pisngi. Hinigit niya ang large paper cup at tuloy-tuloy na sinipsip ang kapeng laman no'n.

sip 1

8:44 PM

Unknown:

Hello, is this Nathalie?

Your journal's with me.

Minabuti niyang padalhan muna ng text ang mobile number na nakita niya sa journal dahil baka takot pa sa tawag ang owner.

11:53 PM

Nathalie:

OMG, yes!

Saan po kayo?

Unknown:

You left it at the café, pwede do'n ko na lang din ibigay sa'yo bukas :)

Kinakabahan ang lalaki dahil baka creepy na ang dating niya.

Nathalie:

Hahahaha okay! Salamat po!

Napangiti siya dahil sa reply nito. Mukhang inosente ang babae pero parang hindi naman ito uto-uto. Marunong magbasa ng mood, iyon ang napansin ng lalaki rito.

sip 2

"Ay may naiwan kayo, ma'am?"

A woman in suit closed the glass door behind her and runs her fingers through her hair before looking at the staff. "Ah, oo!" She greeted back with a smile and proceeded to walk inside.

Her straight long black hair is swaying side by side as she walks gracefully while holding an Iced Americano.

The guy who's supposed to give back her journal is waiting quietly. She's like an angel, he thought. At this point he couldn't react or say something flirty unlike the womanizer he is.

Nang mapansin niyang tumigil sa paglalakad ang babae at luminga-linga ay iniangat niya ang kamay.

"Ms. Nathalie," usal niya nang may sapat na lakas.

Napatingin si Nathalie sa kaniya kalaunan ay nanlaki ang mga mata. Natawa ang lalaki at tumango. Bumaba naman ang tingin ni Nathalie sa journal niyang nasa lamesa nito kaya tuluyan na siyang lumapit.

Umupo siya sa kaharap nitong upuan, nakatingin lang sa kaniyang journal habang namumula ang pisngi.

"Galing ka na pala rito?" umpisa ng lalaki.

Tumango siya at ngumiti bagay na pasikretong ikinakilig ng lalaki. "Pang-apat na Americano ko na nga 'to eh." She laughed.

The guy is just listening attentively while looking at her face. Her height is average, she looks expensive in her pantsuit. She has round and languid eyes, a fair skin which added to her cold demeanour. She's the type that could send guys away with just a glare. But when she smiles, he feels like he has been cured.

"Drink moderately," he joked. Although he's genuinely worried.

"Ito na pala." Inabot niya ang journal sa babae.

"Thank you ha!" Nakangiting pinagmasdan ni Nathalie ang kaniyang journal nang may mapansing nakaipit dito.

Binuklat niya ang pahina at kinuha ang nakatiklop na papel.

Sorry nabasa ko 'yung iba. Kinailangan ko hanapin contacts mo eh. Btw, I like what you have written here. I can read everything you have written until the last page if you permit me to do it.

Her lips parted. She slowly looked up at him. This means he already knows about—she screamed internally.

She used her poker face and then smiled. "Okay lang! Expected ko naman na kapag naiwan ko 'to, worst case scenarios are either itatapon or babasahin ng makakakita. Pwedeng both. B-buti na lang hindi natapon!"

"How could someone throw it when they see how much effort you've put into it? You're creative, miss."

"Wow! Thank you, sa pag-jo-journal ko na lang din nagagawa hobbies ko kasi nasa ibang path na 'ko." Nathalie glanced at the guitar case beside him. "Buti ikaw career mo ang passion mo."

Ngumiti ang lalaki at tumango. "Mahirap pero— Sorry pala, imbes na iwan ko sa staff, inuwi ko pa. Naisip ko kasi baka basahin din ng iba," halos pabulong na paliwanag ng lalaki.

It's okay, my Joe! Ang saya ko nga nakakausap kita ngayon! "It's okay! Thank you rin sa time mo para ibalik sa'kin 'to."

Dahil do'n ay napangiti ang lalaki. "Thank you for understanding."

"Thank you for not being rude even after what you've read." Nathalie smiled before sliding the journal on the table towards him. "Mukhang hindi ka uncomfortable sa'kin ah?" Humalakhak siya.

Questions I want to ask to Joe:

1. What's your name?

╰─▸ Kyler

2. How old are you? Ayaw kong makulong JK

╰─▸ Don't worry, I'm 21.

3. Are you in a relationship?

╰─▸ No

3. Will you push me away if I tell you I like you?

╰─▸ Ofc not

4. Will you go out with me?

"Uy, 4 years lang pala tanda ko sa'yo, Kyler." Natawa si Nathalie pero ilang saglit ay nawala iyon at natahimik siya nang makitang walang sagot ang number 4 sa huling page ng kaniyang journal na may nakasulat. Ouch!

flip 2.1

When I read Nathalie's journal, I realized what's wrong. Why I don't love life. Why I think less of myself. Why I think I'm not worthy to live.

I focus on when mom threw some of my collections, thinking I don't need them anymore.

I focus on I haven't finished writing the song I'm working on right now.

I focus on I'm not as productive as other musicians.

I focus on I'm not doing things fast.

I always focus on negative things that I forgot to give credit to myself.

I recovered my collections and cleaned them up.

I write verses everyday.

I'm still a rookie but I already won in local competitions and accomplished some other milestones.

I should do things at my own pace.

From now on, I'm also gonna write down the good things in my daily life as an appreciation.

flip 2.2

The other day I bought myself a coffee and accidentally found a journal.

Yesterday, the owner and I met. She's familiar since she's a regular in the café. I had fun talking with her. She's creative, she knows how to read the situation and she knows how to respond. She's very understanding. She didn't judge my line of work. Her presence is soothing.

And also that day, I asked Nathalie to go out with me.

She said, "Yes!"

flip 2.3

It's already been 6 years ago when our unexpected encounter happened.

We continued writing in a journal since it's what connected us. It helped us achieve our goals and understand each other better as married couples over the years.

- Nathalie (Pisces) & Kyler (Taurus)