Seven

"LOOK AT THIS, Mary Grace," Uncle Thomas handed me a heavy metal. It was cold and thick and it felt foreign on my hands. Just like what he just did to me. It was different and scary and I do not like every second of it. "Do you know the story of The Little Red Riding Hood?"

I shook my head. I wanted to go to Mom right now. I felt like crying again. I tried jumping off the bed but Uncle Thomas grabbed my hand.

"Wait, let me tell you the story of The Little Red Riding Hood first," He said calmly. "One day, the little red riding hood wandered alone in the forest. The big bad wolf showed up and raped her," He said nonchalantly. I really didn't understand what he was saying but the only thing that had never left my mind is the word 'rape'.

"Now, this bid bad wolf is super super bad. He has a gun," He raised the thick metal from his hands and pointed it to me, then to the door. "And if the little red riding hood says something about their game, we will point the gun to mommy and—" He glanced at me and that one last word was what scared me the most. "Bang."

I WOKE UP with a sudden jolt. Halos habulin ko na ang hininga ko at butil-butil ng pawis ang namumuo sa aking noo. Napasandal ako sa head board. Tears are streaming down my face. It was so vivid. It's like I'm living my life 9 years ago.

Oh, it's not. That was 10 years ago today.

I glanced at the clock. Mag-aalas singko na nang umaga. I wiped my tears away and took a quick shower. I put on a black v-neck shirt, ripped jeans, and my favorited rugged white chucks. I grabbed my kanken bag sitting on the floor and headed outside.

That dream. I thought inside of my head as I walked down the pavement. So much for celebrating my 18th birthday.

Kaagad akong dumiretso sa Karlo's Coffee and Study Hub. It is located next to the entrance gate of our subdivision. Karlo, the middle-aged man who sports a salt and pepper hair is smiling as I entered his coffee shop. I was still 15 years old when I first discovered this coffee shop and the kind owner, Karlo, became my friend. He proved to me that not all old men are interested in taking advantage of little girls to satisfy their own pleasure.

He never let me address him as Sir o Uncle o kahit Mr. Karlo man lang. He likes his name just like that. And it didn't feel right to mind my mannerisms right now because Karlo is such a funny guy. Other than my two best friends and Jeremy, he is one of the closest persons to me.

"Happy Birthday, Mary Grace," He greeted warmly. I pulled him into a quick hug.

"Thanks, Karlo." I grinned. He busied himself preparing for my favorite iced latte as I settled on the tall counter chairs.

"Any plans for today?" Tanong niya sa akin.

I shrugged even though he can't see me because his back is into me. "I really don't know. Maybe we could drink and hang out?"

He placed the iced latter on the counter made of cherry wood. He wiped his hand with a towel and gave me a weird look. "You just turned 18, dear. You should celebrate your debut,"

I laughed. Napag-usapan na namin ni Mommy na walang debut party na mangyayari. I can tell that she's disappointed because when Ate Annie turned 18, Mom did everything to make her debut magical. It was celebrated in a private hotel and everyone showed up wearing long gowns and tuxedos. But I really can't picture celebrating my birthday with a glass of an expensive champagne on my hand while talking with elite people and wearing a pretty yet itchy dress.

"I don't want a debut party, Karlo." Wika ko sa kanya. I sipped on my coffee and sighed dreamily when the soft texture of milk and coffee melted in my mouth. Sa tuwing nagre-review kami para sa exam, dito ko dinadala ang mga kaibigan ko. They also liked Karlo as much as I like him. But the poor old man had found my two best friends a little bit noisy and vulgar. Natawa nalang ako nang sinabi niya sa akin iyon.

"As expected from you," He said and went to greet a customer who just entered the coffee shop. I slip myself out of the bar stools in the counter and scanned the surroundings. My favorite spot in Karlo's coffee shop is the booth pushed back on the far end of the room. Karlo is also fond of gardening, and in that booth I have the picturesque view of the mini garden through the floor-to-ceiling glass wall.

Unfortunately, someone is already sitting on my booth. I approached the booth slowly and realized it was Harry.

I was about to leave but he suddenly lifted his head up from working on something and put his pencil down. He smiled at me. "Hey,"

I raised my left hand and waved a little. "Hey. . ."

He gestured to the empty chair across him. I was still hesitant if I should sit or not. But in the end, I found myself sipping my favorite latte in front of Harry early in the morning of my birthday. I pulled out my copy of The Spy by Paulo Coelho and started reading.

Both of us exchanged awkward glances for a few minutes before he finally decided to break the silence.

"I didn't picture you as a reader, Mary Grace. . ." he pointed out.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "What? You think I'm a happy-go-lucky and airhead girl who only carries bottles of gin and not books?"

An amused smile played on his lips. "Can I tell you the truth?"

"Go ahead."

"Yes. Yes, I do." Tumawa siya. I instantly glared at Harry.

"You're so fucking mean."

"I'm sorry, okay?" he held both of his hands in surrender. "But it's just that. . ." he trailed off. "You're really different from Annie."

I sighed. Here we go again.

"Of course, I am."

"In a good way, I mean. . ." he cleared his throat. "Annie is goal-oriented and serious while you're so laid back and I think you're fun to be with. You can wear a pair of rugged white chucks and still look so cool. I can't even imagine that you guys are living in the same house. I can't joke around to Annie without her glaring at me for a good 15 minutes," he chuckled awkwardly.

I started to relax when Harry laughed. Iginala niya ang kaniyang paningin sa paligid.

"You hang out here a lot?" he asked.

"Yup. It's my private booth you just stole, actually." I said with a deadpanned look.

"Sorry." He grinned at me.

"How'd you discover this place?" pang-uusisa ko sa kaniya.

"Well, there was a time when I got stranded due to heavy rain and Karlo was kind enough to let me in even though the shop's already closed."

I stirred my iced latte using the bamboo straw and smiled as I picture the scenario. "That's most likely what Karlo would do to anyone."

"He's a really nice man." He nodded his head.

"I couldn't agree more."

He cleared his throat. "Hey, I have a question."

"Yeah?" I gazed at him and saw the seriousness fell to his face.

"This is a really dumb question but. . ." he scratched the back of his neck. "Do you believe in afterlife?"

"What?" I almost laughed but I urged myself not to. It might offend him. He's looking damn serious right now.

"Afterlife." He repeated. "Do you think we really have past lives and we once occupied this world in a different personality, from a different family, and lived a different life?"

Nawala ang ngiti na namumuo sa aking labi. "Yeah," I said silently. My mind raced. If there is really a thing such as past lives, then that would be great. In my other life, I could be a donkey or a duck or a really poor girl who loves to collect wildflowers. I wouldn't know about Uncle Thomas or think of Little Red Riding Hood differently from the rest of the girls my age. "Yeah, I think so."

"Annie thinks it's dumb." Wika ni Harry. Marahan siyang sumimsip mula sa maliit na tasa ng kaniyang kape at inilapag ito. "But I really think it's cool."

"Harry. . ." even his name sounded foreign to my tongue when I speak it out loud. "What's your surname again?"

"Ouch." He placed a hand over his chest and pulled out an exaggerated sad expression. "You're hurting me, Mary Grace. I've been popping in and out of your house for the past three years and you still have no idea of my surname?"

"I'm sorry. . ." it was my turn to chuckle awkwardly.

"Harry Martellini." aniya.

I cleared my throat. Martellini? Did he came from an Italian clan? But I didn't bother asking him about it. Instead, I smiled and stuck out my hand to him. "Okay, take two. Let's pretend we meet for the first time. Hello, Harry Martellini, my name is Mary Grace Ferguson."

Tumawa siya at iniabot ang aking kamay. It was surprisingly warm and an unfamiliar sense of security immediately settled within me when our skin made contact. "Hi, Mary Grace. I'm Harry Martellini. Happy birthday."

Natigilan ako. He knows it's my birthday today?

"Aren't we supposed to meet for the first time?" I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Sorry." He gave me a lazy boyish smile. "Take three."