Chapter 2

Days have been weird lately. Maybe it was just me. I don't know.

It's been a few days, but the gimmick that Cameron did last Valentine's Day was still in the mouth of every student around—wishing they got the same surprise from their special someone.

If I've got someone special, I would make it more intimate rather than bringing it to other people, to make them feel so jealous. I'm not the kind of person. I was not too fond of attention.

"May gagawin ka ba tonight, Cho?" tanong ni Tomas. Hindi ko naman siya agad nasagot. Pinalibot nito ang braso sa balikat ko. "May nabalitaan kasi akong event mamayang gabi. Punta tayo."

Hindi ako kumibo. Tila ba'y walang gana sa kung ano man ang gusto niyang ipangbudol sa 'kin.

"Ano, sunduin kita mamaya?" dagdag pa ni Tomas. "'Wag ka umatras. Halos mga ka-school lang din natin ang mga kasama natin."

Napabitaw ako nang malalim na hininga. "Okay."

"Okay? So. . . Sasama ka na sa akin?"

Napabagsak naman ang balikat ko dahil sa tingin ko'y wala naman akong kawala kay Tomas. Tumango naman ako sa kanya at lumapad ang ngiti nito sa labas. Napuo ng excitement ang mukha niya habang ipinaalam sa akin kung anong oras niya ako susunduin mamayang gabi. 

The day went by as we headed on to our next classes. It has been a few days since Valentine's Day, but I could still hear some words about Cameron and Synestine that icked me. Why won't people let go of it and move on? Life shouldn't be revolving around those two. If I just knew someone who hated Cameron and his stupid gimmicks, we would get along so much.

Nang matapos ang klase, saktong pagkalabas ko ng room ay may tumawag sa phone ko. Upon checking who it was, I quickly answered it as they might wonder what I was doing and panic would start settling in.

"Hey, pops," sagot ko sa kabilang linya.

"Cholo, buti naman at nasagot mo agad," anito.

"Bakit po? Anong meron?"

"Nagkaroon ng emergency ang isa sa staff natin sa shop. Walang sasalo sa shift niya mamaya at hindi rin naman ako pwedeng umalis ng bahay dahil hindi pa maganda pakiramdam ng mama mo. Pwede ka bang tumao muna sa shop mamaya?"

"Yes, Pa. Walang problema. Didiretsyo na siguro ako ro'n pagkatapos ng isa ko pang klase."

"Sige, Salamat."

"Okay po. Magpagaling po si Mama. Uwi ako sa Sabado."

Narinig ko namang nagsalita si Mama, pero hindi ko masyadong naintindihan. "'Wag ka na raw mag-abala pa."

"Hindi. Pupunta talaga ako," dagdag ko pa. 

Bigla namang dumating at pinatong ni Tomas ang braso sa balikat ko. Nang makita niyang may kausap ako ay nag-mouth na lamang ako na kausap ko ang mga magulang ko. Saglit lang nang tapusin ko ang tawag ay bigla ring sumagi sa isipan ko ang plano ni Tomas mamayang gabi.

"Bakit sila tumawag?" taka pa nitong tanong.

"Wala naman," pagrarason ko. "Nangangamusta lang. . ."

"Ah, okay. Basta mamaya, ha! Tuloy na tuloy na 'yon. Nando'n naman si Synestine kaya 'wag ka nang humindi pa."

Napangisi naman ako sa sinabi nito. Nakuha pang gamitin si Synestine sa pangsusuhol sa akin.

"Ano namang gagawin ko?"

"Sus!" Isinanggi nito ang katawan niya sa akin na may kasamang mapanuksong ngiti. "Ito naman! Tatanggi pa, e. 'Di bale. Gagawan natin ng paraan 'yan."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "Anong gagawan ng paraan? Alam mo namang may boyfriend 'yong tao. I wouldn't like to be in a situation kung saan ako pa ang magiging dahilan ng paghihiwalay nila. I'm not that kind of person."

"Okay, sabi mo e," mabilis niyang binitawan ang usapin. "Iwan muna kita saglit! Puntahan ko lang Anita. May ipapakita raw siya sa kin, e."

Lumawak ang ngiti niya na para bang may ibigsabihin 'yon. Napailing na lamang ako at napangisi habang tinatahak ko ang daan patungo sa susunod kong klase.

On usual days like these, I would just walk in and out of my classes. Kung tutuusin, sabi ng iba, this is the best time to have our college days be so wild. Hindi naman ako iyong klase ng tao na wild. I would get on to parties and such, but I never joined any fraternities—as they said, nakakadagdag daw iyon sa pagkalalaki, but I don't believe it.

My life's kind of boring, and I guess that's the reason why I've ended up with no one.

I got on to my next class, but before I could walk inside the room, I saw her—Synestine, in the middle of the hallway, by herself. Napatitig na lang ako sa kanya.

Sometimes I wonder why she was alone. Kapag nakikita ko pang magkasama sila ni Cameron, it looked like she was uncomfortable. I just don't understand how their relationship works, but it seemed like anyone who would like to hit on her, babanggain agad ni Cameron that's why she looked so alone sometimes.

Bago pa man tumama ang tingin niya sa akin ay mabilis kong iniwas ang tingin at pumasok na kaagad sa room at umupo sa pwesto ko. 

I calmed down a bit, but I could feel my heart beating fast as I thought about her.

I tried washing her out of my mind as the classes started. People normally ignore me, but when I get high scores on our quizzes, I seemingly get everyone's attention. That's the only thing I could do. I'm running for a Latin Honor, and I couldn't waste that. I've been a Dean Lister since my first year, and have always of the top students.

I'm just the nerd boy out here, and some people don't like that.

After classes, I walked out of the campus and went straight to our coffee shop. Binati naman ako ng staff na naghihintay sa akin.

"Good thing you came na, Cholo," sabi ni Dana, habang itinutup ang apron at nilagay sa locker niya. "Nagkaroon kasi ng emergecy 'tong kasamahan ko. Late na rin niya nasabi, and we can't force her to come naman."

"No, it's fine," sabi ko. "I hope everything goes well to her. Ako nang bahala rito, Dana. Go home and take care of yourself."

"Thank you, Cholo. . . Don't worry, hindi na naman gaanong busy ang shop tuwing gabi."

"I know that's why I agreed to go," aniko na may kasamang mahinang tawa.

I watched Dana leave the shop. I put my apron on and then get to work. Wala naman gaanong kinaaabalahan pa. It's already six in the evening, and the shop closes two hours before midnight. I'm still not sure what I would tell Tom that I wouldn't be able to go with him sa party—kung ano man iyon.

I texted Pops that I was at the shop, but I didn't get any response. I just hope Mom's doing well at this time.

Later on, the shop started getting busy when some people stopped by to get some coffee and snacks before heading to their homes. Usually, at this time, I would go straight to my dorm and think about what I should eat for dinner.

When I heard someone come inside the shop, I greeted them. "Good evening—" But I quickly stopped when I raised my head up and found Synestine walking in my direction, the counter obviously.

"Hi!" simple kong pagbati sa kanya. Nanginginig pa ang labi ko sa pangiti at hindi ko sigurado kung nakangiwi ba ako sa kanya ngayon.

Looking at her, she was natural. Nakangiti rin siya sa akin, but with just that smile, everything is complete for me.

Hinihintay ko pang sumunod si Cameron sa pagpasok ng shop, pero walang ni anino nito ang nagpakita. Bakit mag-isa na naman siya? Maybe she was just stopping by just to get some coffee or pastries.

"What can I get for you?" I don't want to mess this up.

"Hi, Pocholo," pagbati pa nito sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman. How did she know my name though? Wala naman akong suot na nameplate, and we didn't interact closely with each other. I think she barely knew me. Napatitig lang ako sa kanya. "I don't think you know my usual drink. . . But can I get a Strawberry Latte with Oat Milk, please? And your blueberry cheesecake."

"Anything else?" I think she should check me out, too.

She smiled and shook her head. "No, that's all for me."

"Alright. . ." I punched her order in the POS, and couldn't even help myself. "That's 275 pesos." She handed me her payment, and when the register opened, I panicked and almost made a mess.

"Are you okay?" pagtatanong pa nito sa akin.

Tumayo naman ako saka tumango sa kanya. "Yes, Sy. I'm all good. Here's your. . . Change. Thank you. I'll just call you when your order's ready."

"Okay, thank you!"

I quickly work on her orders while she found a spot for her to wait. Siya lang ang customer ngayon sa loob ng shop at hindi ko alam kung bakit ang bilis ng kabog ng dibdib ko.

I made quite a few noises at the bar counter and I knew she heard all of that. Kahit na halos magkamali na ako sa mga ginagawa ko ay itinuloy ko na lang kahit mapahiya pa ako. First of all, I don't usually do this. I only learned to make some coffee when I'm coming to the shop and watch them for fun, and now, I have to make some coffee for customers—right now, it's for Synestine!

Nakahinga rin ako nang maluwag nang matapos kong gawin ang order niya. I serve her a drink with the blueberry cheesecake on her table. She was surprised when I handed her the order and she was expecting for her name to be called.

That's when I realized that I didn't ask for her name earlier upon getting the order. I froze a bit but tried to shake it off.

"Do you still need anything else?" I asked.

She smiled, shaking her head. "Nothing. . ."

"Alright. Enjoy your meal."

"Thank you. . ." I was about to turn around when she called my attention back. "Pocholo. . . Since I'm the only customer here, why don't you join me?"

My cheeks trembled. "Oh no, it's fine, Sy."

"No, come on. . ." Inusod niya ang katapat na upuan. "Take the seat. . . Let's talk about anything."

"Oh, alright. . ."

Pasimple akong humugot nang malalim na hininga para kumuha ng lakas ng loob. As I sat in front of her, I smiled. I couldn't even look at her eyes for so long. I felt so awkward in front of her.

"I heard you are doing so good in your classes," she started. 

"Oh, hehe. . ." I winced. Napakamot pa ako sa ulo ko. "You heard that?"

"I think everyone knows who you are, Pocholo," she said, smiling. She took a sip from her drink and her face lightened up when she drank it. "Wow. . . I usually had this, but today's different."

"Oh, I'm sorry. . . Was it bad?"

Mabilis naman siyang umiling sa akin. "No. No. It's actually good! This is my favorite drink so it would never be bad. Anyway, you're a Dean Lister. . . I don't think no one has heard of you yet."

"I'm just a normal student, nohing special," pagpapaliwanag ko pa. "Uhm. . . Where's Cameron? I thought he was with you when you came into the shop."

Napangisi naman ito saka umiling. "I invited him to come with me, but then again, he liked to go out with his friends. They'll be having some campfire party later by the lake. . . I don't know."

"Oh. . . That's what it is! My friend invited me to come with him there, but I ended up covering for someone here in the shop."

"Yeah, I noticed that when I came in. . ." she said. "This is your family's shop, right?" I nodded when she asked. "This is my favorite coffee shop. . . I just have to say that."

I giggled. "Well, thank you for that!"

Later on, a group of students came inside the shop and filled with noises and footsteps. I had to excuse myself from her so I could go behind the counter. She was left alone on her table while I started getting the orders of these newcomers. As there were a lot of orders I had to do, I didn't notice that Synestine was standing in front of the counter.

"Do you need some help?" she asked, offering her service.

Umiling naman ako nang may ngiti. "No, but thank you so much. You're a customer, you don't need to."

"No, it's okay. . . I've got some experience. I can help. And don't say no, Mister De Amos. . ."

Wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag at inabot ko sa kanya ang apron saka niya ako tinulungan. I don't know how this day went like this, but I'm liking it.