Chapter 3

All of a sudden, the shop got busy.

Sa dami ba naman ng mga araw na sasaluhin ko ang trabaho sa shop, natapat pa ako na maraming customer ang pumapasok. I called my parents and informed them about the situation in the shop right now, but they couldn't send anyone and I would be alone until we close the shop.

"Hey, Pocholo. Do you still have some New York Cheesecake? We don't have available slices in the display anymore," Synestine asked, she was cute in her apron.

"I will quickly check them inside. . ."

"Alright! No worries. . ." Ngiti pa nito saka siya bumalik sa pwesto kung saan siya ang nag-aasikaso ng ibang orders at nagtatawag ng pangalan ng customers. 

Mabilis ko namang chineck ang chiller sa stock room at ini-isa isa ang mga cheesecake, pero wala na 'yong hinahanap niya. Bumalik ako at saka ako lumapit kay Synestine para sabihin na wala na itong stock. She went to the customer who was looking for it. She was very apologetic. In the end, the customer ended up ordering some pastry.

"I'm so thankful for you, Sy. . . But you don't really need to do it. You're a customer, too. . ."

She smiled, shaking her head. "It's fine. Don't mind it, Pocholo. I worked before in a fast food chain, it was hectic. Sanayan lang. And I actually miss doing it. Thank you for letting me do it though!"

"No problem. . ." Napakamot ako sa ulo ako at napangiti. Hindi ko pa siya magawang tingnan sa mata kahit na alam kong diretsyo ang tingin niya sa kin. "Pero baka hinahanap ka na ng boyfriend mo?'

"No, I don't think so. . ." aniya na may pag-iling. "He might be busy with his friends. Hindi pa nga ako tinatawagan. He should've called me already, but I guess not."

Saglit lang ay may customer na pumasok. I took their order. Made their drink, and gave the final orders to Synestine which she handed them over to the customers. 

When a group of male teenagers walked inside the room, and before our menu could get their attention, natuon ang mga mata nila kay Synestine. They ordered their drinks, mostly frappe that's why it took me quite a while to finish them.

As soon as I finished them, I gave them to Synestine which she called these boys. Pinanood ko naman sila at nagtutulakan pa sila kung sinong lalapit. Inabot ni Synestine ang kanilang order at sa huli ay may kumausap sa kanya. She laughed it off and shook her head. The boys turned around felt a little embarrassed.

Nang mapatingin si Synestine sa direksyon ko, hindi nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya.

"Teenagers," komento pa nito.

I snapped out of staring at her when my phone started ringing. I scooped it out of my pocket and answered the call having no idea who was it.

"Pre, nasa'n ka ba? Ba't wala ka rito sa dorm mo?" bungad ni Tomas sa akin.

"Ah, e. Hindi ko ba nasabi sa 'yo?"

"Nandiyan ka na sa party?"

"Ha? Hindi, a!" mabilis ko ng sagot. "Nandito ako sa shop namin. Nag-fill i muna ako dahil may emergency lang 'yong staff na naka-shift. E, umuwi na rin 'yong isa pang staff namin."

"Hanggang anong oras ka naman diyan?"

"Until closing time."

"Anong oras 'yon?"

"Ten o'clock."

"Hala? E, may pupuntahan tayo, 'di ba?"

"Pwede naman siguro pumunta right after?"

"Pwede rin naman! Puntahan na lang kita diyan ngayon."

"Hindi n—" I wasn't able to finish what I would say when he ended the call.

Nang binaba ko ang tawag ay sakto namang may customer. It was seven in the evening and I don't understand why there were so many people coming in to grab some coffee at this hour. They should be grabbing some dinner elsewhere. Well, it's not that I don't them here, it was good for business, but I could've gotten some time with Synestine rather than taking and doing their orders.

After a while, the shop went slow, but there were still a few customers around. Saglit lang din nang dumating si Tomas sa shop at dumiretsyo siya sa counter kung nasaan ako.

"Hindi mo naman ako sinabihan ng maaga na pupunta ka pala rito," sabi pa ni Tomas. "E 'di sana natulungan kitang tapusin lahat ng gawain dito. Papaabutin mo pa ba ng closing?"

Napangisi naman ako saka tumango. "Of course, Tom. Malalagot naman ako sa parents ko kung mag-early close ako ng shop. And I had help."

"Help? Kala ko ba ikaw lang mag-isa?" taka pa nitong usal hangga't sa nilingon ang paligid at nakita niya si Synestine sa corner na nililinis ang table. Parang torpedo na bumalik ang tingin ni Tom sa akin. Nanlaki pa ang mata nito sa gulat. "Totoo ba 'to, Cholo? Nagta-trabaho si Synestine rito?"

"Hi! Tomas," pagbati naman ni Synestine nang makalapit. "I heard you. . . And I don't work here. Tinulungan ko lang siya kanina dahil biglang dumagsa ang customers." Nilagay naman niya sa cleaning tray ang mga plates para hugasan ito.

"Oh, I see. . ." tanging komento ni Tom.

"Hey, Sy. I think you should go na. . . Baka kasi hinahanap ka na ni Cameron."

"Bakit mo ako pinapaalis, Mister de Amos? Ayaw mo na ba akong kasama?"

May paghampas pa ng likod ng kamay si Tomas sa dibdib ko. "Oh, lagot ka."

"Hindi naman," aniko sabay kamot sa ulo. "I was just saying. . ."

She let out a little chuckle. "I'm fine. You don't have to worry about it. I would rather be here than that stupid party."

"Oooh." Namilog ang labi ni Tom. "Do'n din dapat kami pupunta ni Cholo ngayon, e. Hindi ko naman 'to mapipili na umalis."

"If you want to, mauna ka na lang Tom," sabi ko pa sa kanya.

Tumaas ang kilay nito sa akin na para bang may halong judgement. " Hmm. . . Seryoso ka ba, Cholo? O may gusto ka lang—" hindi ko na pinatapos kung ano man ang sasabihin niya dahil mahina ko siyang sinuntok sa balikat niya.

"You can stay, Sy. . . Thank you again."

"No problem! Now let me wash these plates in the back. . ."

Nang dalhin ni Synestine ang mga plato sa kitchen ay hindi na mapigilan ni Tomas ang pang-aasar sa akin. He knew he would get this chance to push me towards Synestine. 

"Kaya pala parang ayaw mo umalis, ah. Nandito pala ang inspiration, e." Ngisi pa nito. "'Di bale, ayos lang 'yan. Pagbibigyan kita ngayong araw."

"Alam mo, ang kulit-kulit mo. May boyfriend nga rin 'yong tao. I can say, we're just friends lang."

"Weh? Maniwala," anito. "E, bakit mas pinili niyang mag-stay rito kung may pa-party si Cameron? Baka gusto ka rin niyan."

"Hinaan mo boses mo. Marinig ka pa, e."

"Yie! Gusto rin!" panunukso pa nito.

Nang lumabas si Synestine mula sa kitchen ay nanahimik si Tomas. In the end ay inabutan ko siya ng apron para tumulong sa shop. Wala rin namang nagawa ang kaibigan ko at tinulungan na lang din kami maglinis ng table no'ng umalis ang ilang customer.

Pasado alas nueve ng huminahon ang pagdating ng mga customer at halos wala na nga rin ang pumapasok.

"Isang oras na lang," pag-awit ni Tomas nang tingnan ang relos. "Lalarga na tayo!"

Tahimik na ang loob ng shop. I saw Synestine sitting at one of the tables, phones in her hand watching something else on TikTok. I quickly grabbed the few slices left of blueberry cheesecake and put them in the carton. I put it inside the bag and find my way in her direction. I placed the paper bag before her, making her eyes meet mine.

"Ano 'to?" taka nitong tanong sa akin.

"I know I can't pay you, but please take these cheesecakes home with you as my way of saying thank you. . ."

"Nag-abala ka pa, Pocholo. No need naman na. Nag-enjoy naman ako."

"Okay, I'm taking it back."

"Ito naman! Hindi rin mabiro," pagbawi at tawa pa nito. "Thank you so much. This was so unexpected though, but I enjoyed it. Baka mag-apply na lang ako rito. What do you think?"

"Hmm. . ." I hummed, pulling the chair in front of her. "I think you should so my father won't call me in case a staff calls for an emergency leave. Ikaw na lang palagi sasalo, 'di ba?"

"Grabe ka naman sa 'kin!" Tawa pa nito. "But I think it's fine naman! I really love going here."

"Kaya nga nagulat din ako na halos alam mo kung anong gagawin. I know you said you have experience before, but coffee shop is a different thing, but you managed it so well."

"I've been here so frequently that I watched all the baristas do what they need to do," she explained. "That's why hindi ako naging pabigat sa 'yo kanina."

"Then you should apply."

"I wish."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa tugon niya. "I would do it, but Cameron wouldn't like me to do. Actually, marami akong bagay na hindi ko na nagagawa because there were things nakailangan i-prioritize and those things weren't mine."

"Bakit naman gano'n?" Napakibit balikat na lamang siya sa akin. "Hindi ba unfair sa 'yo?"

"Thinking about it, yes, super unfair 'yon. . . but I already got used to it. Nasanay na lang din ako."

"I think this time, you should prioritize yourself," I've given advice which I don't think was good for me. "Uhm. . . Sorry, I didn't mean to make some decisions for yourself. But you should do what you have to do."

"Yeah. . ." She was about to say something when her phone ring. Sinagot naman niya ang tawag. Napansin ko naman ang paglunok niya ng laway nang batiin ang kabilang linya. "I'm at the D.A. Coffee Shop. . . No. No. 'Wag na. I can go there. . . Papunta ka na? Okay, sige. . . Wait na lang kita. Bye. Love you too."

Nang binaba nito ang tawag ay umangat ang tingin papunta sa akin.

"Is that Cameron?" tanong ko pa. Tumango naman siya sa akin. "Are you leaving?"

Muli siyang tumango sa akin. "Yes, and guess what? He decided to pick me up. . ."

"Oh! Pwede ba kaming sumabay?!" excited pang tanong ni Tomas. "Kaming dalawa ni Cholo?"

"Hindi, Tom. Hindi tayo sasabay. . ."

"Bakit naman?!" angal pa nito.

"E, kita mo namang walang ten o'clock. Kailangan ko pang isara 'tong shop."

"Ano ba 'yan, sayang naman," disappointed nitong tugon.

"Okay lang 'yan, Tom. Ako nga ayoko pa sanang umalis, pero susunduin na niya ako, e. I really love the smell here. . . Coffee makes me feel so alive. . ." Hagikgik pa nito.

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita. Tinitingnan ko lang siya. Ilang saglit lang din naman nang dumating ang sasakyan ni Cameron. When we saw someone came inside, it was Cameron who quickly searched for his girlfriend. Tumayo naman si Synestine at naglakad palapit sa boyfriend nito. Cameron didn't even acknowledged me or Tomas. He didn't bother at all. He was just looking around as if we weren't in the premises.

Before she left, she turned back to see me mouthing, Thank you for the cheesecakes, as she raised the bag.

As they walked out, tumayo sa tabi ko si Tomas at tinapik-tapik ang balikat ko.

"They looked so good, 'no? Ayos lang 'yan, pre. It could've been you all along. 'Yon nga lang, wala ka pang sasakyan. Papahiramin kita. Five thousand isang oras para mahatid-sunod mo lang siya."

"Bugok ka talaga, Tom. Dalian na natin. Malapit na rin naman mag-alas diyes. Linisin na ang dapat linisin para makaalis agad tayo."

"Pero ang cute niyo kanina, ha?" pahabol pa nito. "Kulang na lang ay magpatugtog ako ng romantic music at isiping may date kayong dalawa. Pero next time na mangyari 'yon, gagawin ko 'yon. Noted 'yan, boss."

"Loko ka. Tara na. Baka magtampo ka pa na hindi tayo makapunta sa party na 'yon, e."

"Kilala mo talaga ako, lodi." Ngisi pa nito.

Nagsimula namang ayusin ni Tomas ang mga upuan at mesa habang sinigurado kong malinis ang counter top. Remembering how it all went tonight, it was good. But how her boyfriend picked her up was something I wouldn't like to remember.

It was a good time.