CHAPTER 2

After how many hours of trying, nakaramdam na din ako sa wakas ng pagod.

It's eleven on the evening already, I closed my café because there's no costumer. Lahat pumunta sa kabila, I was so devastated to do better.

That's why I exhaust myself.

Gusto ko ding pagpahingahin ang mga empleyado ko kaya ko pinasara muna at bukas na umaga na lang bubuksan.

Pagkalabas ko galing kusina ay madilim ang buong café. Tahimik at nakaka trauma. Parang pinapaalala lang ng katahimikan ang pagiging isang hindi kagalingang taga luto. Napabuntong hininga ako at saka umupo sa isang upuan sa loob ng café ko.

Bukas pa ang pinto dahil narito pa ako sa loob pero dahil close na ay walang pumapasok.

Sabi ni Danna na manager ko at siniraan nila ako. Pero tama bang siraan ko din sila? Hindi pwede yun, hindi naman ako ganoon kasama para gawin yun.

Naisip ko na lang kasi bigla na siraan din sila. Buti na lang talaga at sinapian kaagad ako ng anghel. Hindi na matutuloy ang binabalak ng isip.

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon ng marinig ko ang bell ng café ko, ibig sabihin noon ay may pumasok. Napatago ako sa ilalim ng mesa sa pag-iisip na baka magnanakaw ang pumasok, sino namang papasok dito at sasabihing trip trip lang?

"What are you doing right there?"

"Ay kabayo!"

Napa-aray ako ng mauntog ang ulo ko sa mesa kaya ng lumabas na sa ilalim ay sinamaan ko kaagad ng tingin ang lalaking nanggulat sa akin.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? Bakit ka na lang pumapasok bigla? Sarado na ang café ko diba?"

A small smile crept on his face. "I'm sorry for insulting you earlier, I shouldn't have done that"

Umupo ako sa upuan saka pasimpleng minasahe ang nauntong na ulo. Sa hindi malamang dahilan hindi ako natakot sa pwede niyang gawin. Kakakilala ko pa lang-hindi, hindi ko pa pala siya kilala pero pinagkakatiwalaan ko na siya. Normal na yun?

Maybe.

"It's okay, I'm offended I admit that. But I know yo myself that I'm not enough, so I'll do better"

Nagulat ako ng bigla siyang umupo sa harapan ko. The light was dim so I can clearly see his handsome face. His face was serious and in an unknown reason, I shivered.

I looked at him confused, am I scared? Does I?

I shook my head surreptitiously. He looked harmless.

"You're enough, always remember that. People might think that your cooking skills is not enough but you should be confident with it, always feel contented"

Napa-iwas ako ng tingin dahil bigla na lang akong nahiya. I've never been feel contented with something, I always desire for the better. I always desire for more that it broke me.

Hindi ko alam kung papaano iyon, my expectations with myself is very high. I should be inspiring myself but instead, I'm pressuring myself. I'm stressing myself for no reason. That's my problem.

But how can I change my attitude? Kung ganito ako lumaki? I was born in a perfectionist family, na kahit higher honored ka na ay hindi parin sapat. Na kahit 97 na yung average mo hindi padin sapat kasi dapat perfect.

I grow up in that kind of family. Kaya nasanay akong hindi makuntento, na mas ginugusto ang mas nakakataas pa sa nakukuha ko.

Binabago ko naman eh, noong umalis ako sa bahay namin at nagbukod sa sariling pera ay nagbago na ako. Kaso hindi naman maiiwasan yun diba? Hindi naman madaling magbago lalo na't nakasanayan ko na.

"Hindi ko naman iisipin yun kung hindi mo ako ininsulto" Sabi ko at napayuko na lang.

He's the first one who insulted my cooking skills. Walang nagsabi sa akin ng ganun noon, siya lang talaga. Kaya dapat lang na masaktan ako.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Kahit naman na hindi ikaw ang nagluto hindi ko sana sinabi yun, I'm just not in a mood earlier. Hindi ko na naisip ang mga sinasabi ko"

Napa-iwas ako ng tingin. "Wala sa mood pero kayang makipag landi? Ano yun? Change mood agad agad?" I said sarcastically.

He chuckled and leaned on the chair, crossing his hands on his chest.

"I was blown up with your beauty, you took me breathless. Kaya naman nakipag landian muna ako para naman mabawasan ang init ng ulo ko"

Namula man sa sinabi niya ay hindi ko maiwasang hindi magtampo.

Inis akong napapadyak. "Bakit ako pa yung nakita mo? Eh wala din ako sa mood kanina! Nakakainis yung may-ari ng kabilang café!"

Napasimangot ako ng tawanan niya ako. "Bakit? Ano bang ginawa niya?"

"Siniraan ba naman kami! Okay lang sana kung ako lang kaso naapektuhan kasi yung café ko, ayoko din namang mawalan ng trabaho ang mga empleyado ko dito kaya dapat inaalagaan ko to ng maayos. Tapos sisiraan niya lang ako!? Nakakainis!"

"Sigurado ko bang siya ang nagsabi?"

Napaisip ako bigla. Oo nga ano? Hindi ko naman narinig mula sa kaniya pero nanghusga na ako. Paano kung mali pala ako?

Napabuntong hininga ako. Umiiral na naman ang pagiging mapanghusga ko.

"You're right, I shouldn't have judge her because someone told me that"

The side of his lips rose up. "You think the owner is a 'she'?"

Tumango ako at inosenteng tumingin sa kaniya. "Siyempre, may lalaki bang nagmamay-ari sa isang café?"

He titled his head and acted like he was thinking about something. "Well... of course. Marami naman ah"

Napanguso ako. Oo nga ano, pero sinabi nila na hindi pa naman daw kilala ang may-ari. Sigurado naman ako na babae yun, base sa taste niya sa theme ng restaurant niya ay talagang masasabi kong babae siya.

"Kaya nga"

Napatingin kaming dalawa sa cellphone na nasa harapan ko ng bigla itong tumunog, nakita ko ang pangalan ni Heaven kaya agad ko itong sinagot.

"Hello babe? You need anything?" I asked.

[Where are you? I've been waiting for you for how many freaking hours! Nasaan ka? Hindi ba dapat nasa bahay ka na sa ganitong oras?]

Napasapo ako ng noo dahil nakalimutan kong sabihin kay Heaven na hindi pala ako makaka-uwi. Hindi na din kasi ako nakalabas sa kusina kanina.

"Sorry I forgot to tell you, I'm staying here until tomorrow. Baka nga hindi ako maka-uwi, I still need to do my works inside my office"

I heard her sighed in the other line. [Sana naman nagsabi ka hindi yung pinag-aalala mo ako]

"Sorry, babawi na lang ako. I'm sorry again" Paghingi ko ng tawad.

[Oo na, kumain ka na ba?]

Hearing it from her napatawa na lang ako. "I forgot to eat too, damn I was too preoccupied to think about my health. Sorry babe"

[Grabe naman! Gusto mo bang hatiran na kita ng pagkain diyan? Madami pang naiwan dito sa bahay mo]

"No it's okay, malapit na naman mag-umaga. Damihan ko na lang ng kain mamaya"

[Okay sige, call me if you need anything. I'm resting]

"Alright thank you, Love you"

[Love you too]

She ended the call and my gaze went to the man next to me. Hindi maipinta ang mukha niya habang nakatingin sa tubig niya kaya napatawa ako ng bahagya.

"What's with that face?"

"They say you're single"

I raised a brow and nodded. "I am"

He looked at me using his deep brown eyes. I raised my brow and cross my legs together.

"What's with that look?"

He shook his head and drank the water. "If you're single then why are you saying I love you to that man?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Who's that man?"

He obviously rolled his eyes. "Yung kausap mo"

I pouted my lips to stop myself from smiling. "Oh that? She's a she"

Nanlaki ang mata niya at napangiti din pagkatapos. "So you're single?"

I nodded and his smile widened. "Good, can I court you now?"

Nasamid ako sa sariling laway dahil sa tanong niya, napa-ubo pa ako ng ilang ulit. Wala bang filter ang bunganga niya!?

Umiwas ako ng tingin dahil ramdam ko ang init ng mukha ko. Buti na lang talaga dim lang ang ilaw.

Damn! I hate this feeling.

My heart is beating hysterically and furiously and it's fuckin' dangerously delirious! I know it is, because all my friends felt the happiness because of it. But they also felt the pain, and I don't want pain. I want happiness. 

"A-anong sinasabi mo diyan? Ni hindi nga kita kilala tapos sasabihin mo yan!? Hoy umalis ka na nga lang dahil matutulog na ako"

I saw him smiled at me and titled his head. "You look cute while blushing"

At sinong nagsabi na hindi niya makita ang mukha ko? Naku naman!

"Hindi ako namumula no! Umalis ka na nga!" Pagtataboy ko.

He smiled again. "Aalis ako pero babalik din, I'll bring you some foods. Chef ka pero hindi ka marunong magpahalaga ng katawan mo?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko at napa-iwas ulit ng tingin. "I'm not a chef" I said with a stern voice.

His eyes widened again and minutes later he's starting to apologize for... I don't know.

"Shut up please, stop apologising" Naiirita kong ani.

He stopped talking and was about to stand up when I called him. "Yes?" He responded.

I smiled. "Stop apologising for no reason, binababa mo ang sarili mo kapag lagi mo yang ginagawa"

He stared at me for a second and smiled. "I'll be back"

Nawala naman ang ngiti ko sa inani niya at napairap. "I told you not to come back here, saka trespassing ka kaya! Hindi ka dapat pumapasok sa hindi mo teritoryo!"

His smile widened and titled his head. "It'll be my territory... not now. But I'm sure it will be"

Nagkunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. What does he mean by that?

"Umalis ka na lang, dami mo pang satsat eh"

He chuckled and started to walk away but his eyes still remained on my face. "I'll be back baby, I'll court you whether you like it or not"

Napasapo ako ng noo at hindi na nakasagot pa dahil umalis na kaagad siya. Napairap ako sa hangin dahil sa sinabi niya, ano naman kaya ang gagawin niya?

Sana naman hindi na siya bumalik dito para pestihin ako.

Inalis ko na lang sa isip ko ang lahat ng nangyari at sinara ang café, maga-alarm clock na lang ako para magising ako at exactly 3AM.

Dalawang oras lang ang tulog ko at mas nauna pa palang nakaabot si Melanie sa loob at nakabukas na ang café, may mga customer na din pero kaunti lang.

Buti na lang at naka-bake na ako ng nagdaang gabi ng mga cupcakes. Sa loob na ako ng office ko naligo at nagbihis dahil may banyo naman at may dala akong damit.

Nakaka-stress ang trabaho ko sa Lauchengco, ang daming projects at saka nakaka-stress din ang mga clients.

Puro kasi mga mayayaman kaya talagang diktador ang mga ito. Good thing I remained patient.

I was busy with my blueprints inside my office when someone interrupt me. It was Melanie, saying there's a man who wanted to see me and to serve him.

Dang it!

Mukha ba akong alipin?

Irritatedly, I went out.

Kakagaling ko lang ng trabaho at dahil sa sobrang stress ko doon ay pati dito sa café ay nadala ko ang init ng ulo ko. May kliyente kaseng gustong ako ang maging engineer ng bahay nila, and I said no. That's when the chaotic scene earlier happened, my boss got irritated too.

Good thing I stayed calm until they left.

Alam naman na kasi nilang magre-resign na ako after this projects tapos dadagdagan pa! Just how dumb they were.

Naiirita man ay pinilit kong ngumiti ng humarap ako sa lalaking gusto akong makita.

"Good evening sir, you need anything from me?" I asked him respectfully.

Medyo nanlaki pa ang mata ko ng makita ang mukha ng lalaki ng humarap siya sa akin. He's the guy last night!

Oh well...

What am I expecting?

"Can you sit beside me?" He asked.

Ngumiti ako ng pilit saka umiling. "I still had so many many works to do, so no" I said emphasizing the many.

His shoulder fell but his face lighten up again when something got inside his mind. "Okay.. I'll just wait for you then"

Napabuntong hininga ako sa sinabi niya. "Sir, gabi na ako umuuwi at gabi na din ako lumalabas sa opisina ko. Kaya huwag niyo na lang akong hintayin"

"Why are you calling me sir? I have my name. Hello baby...." Nanlaki ang mata ko kaya ngumisi siya sa'kin at inalok ang kamay sa akin. "I'm Yvan Mikael Mendez" He said before winking at me.

My throat went dry and my breathing hitched. Napakurap ako ng ilang beses at napaawang na lang ang labi.

Why is he so hot!?

Oh goodness! I must be insane! Yes I'm insane! Because this is the first time I found someone as hot as him!

"Are you just going to stare at me?" He asked making me gaped again.

Malapit pa akong mabilaukan sa sariling laway dahil sa lapit ng mukha niya sa mukha ko!

I distance myself from him and acted like I was cool with it. Na kahit sa loob loob ko ay parang baliw ng nagwawala ang mga kalamnan ko! What is this feeling? This is new!

And only this man can make me feel this way!

"I should go" I said not minding his prelude.

He pouted his lips making my heart beat crazily again!

"That fast?" He asked looking so cute with his deep brown eyes! It was glistening!

I avoided his gaze and stand straight.

"Yes. I really need to go, just order whatever you like Yvan" I said smiling at him.

Naka-smile nga pero para namang pinapatay sa loob!

He titled his head and stared at me with a sly smile. "You look hot saying my name baby, can you do it again?"

My breathing hitched again! Oh goodness! Ano bang nangyayari sa'kin? What is freaking wrong with my body! Especially my stomach, I felt like there's a thousand of butterflies inside!

I gulp and smiled nervously. "I'm serious here sir, if you want anything just call my employees there and they'll assist you in any way" I said motioning my employees who had been staring at us since earlier.

"What if I only want you?"

Nanginig ang kalamnan ko pero hindi ako nagpa-apekto. I smiled again. "That would be inconvenient for me, I still have to work"

He, then nodded nonchalantly. "Okay baby, rest after work"

I swallowed hard and took a step backwards. "I'll get going" I said, leaving him having a big smirk on his face.

Napasapo ako sa dibdib ko ng makapasok uli ako sa opisina ko. "Oh goodness!" I winced.

Him, calling me his baby making my breathing hitched and making my throat dry at the same time! This isn't happening to me! I would go beyond heaven and earth to stop this! Oh goody I'm feeling the way Rheane felt when he first saw Vaughn!

I started to inhale and exhale from time to time, kasi sa tuwing iniisip ko siya mas lalong lumalakas ang tibok ng puso ko! And it's already hard to breath!

Oh that man! He'll be my death!