It's been a week after I met him.

I am currently at work, and he keeps on appearing on my mind. Shit! I'm so dead. Hindi ko na alam ang nangyayari sa akin. Paminsan nga napapatulala na lang ako habang nakangiti sa kawalan.

"Samantha, is Alia okay?" I heard Alexander asked Sam.

"I don't know Alex, she's been like that since Monday," she whispered. "She's creeping me out"

I giggled when I looked at my hands and imagined his hands on mine.

"I think she's crazy,"sambit ni Brent while pointing his finger at me.

I glared at him when I heard that.

"Hey, I'm not crazy. Baka ikaw,"

"Chill! Chill!" he said while raising both of his hands. "and please, don't talk to me using your alien language. It's unfair you know?

I just raised by eyebrows at him and rolled my eyes.



Panira siya ng moment eh.

I looked at Sammy and caught her smiling timidly at Alex, who is mumbling words while cleaning the counter.

Sinundot ko ang kanyang tagiliran.

"Sammy ha," I teased her.

She blushed immediately and tore her gaze away from Alex. She motioned me to shut up and just continue my work.

I chuckled. Ano ba naman itong dalawa na ito. Hindi na lang magka-aminan. Like duh! Kung nasa Pilipinas lang sila ay, siguradong sasabihan sila na slow.

Torpe plus manhid is the perfect combo!

One of this days, I should do something for them, para magkaaminan na sila. Ako kasi ang napapagod sa kanila eh. They keep on glancing at each other! Konti nalang talaga, kakantahan ko na sila ng sa isang sulyap mo.

I mentally did a face palm.

I was brought out from my thoughts when I heard Sammy asking me.

"Alia, why are you acting so weird lately?"

Napangiti na naman ako while remembering him again

Antoine Timothee Amerza

When will I see you again?

I was about to answer her, when we heard the bell of the café. We all turned our head towards the entrance. Nakita naming ang isang naglalakad na tao pero hindi ko masyado makita ang mukha dahil may dala-dala itong bulaklak.

I walked towards the man.

"May I help you Monsieur?"

The man placed the bouquet of flowers in the table near him. He turned around and faced me.

"Imo?!" gulat kong sambit sa kanya habang nanlalaki ang mata.

Lord wala man lang bang babala jan oh. You really like to surprise me huh.

"Oh kabayan! I'm shocked to see you here,"

I was still looking at him with wide eyes but someone interrupted us.

"The flowers are here!" sambit ni Lucy na siyang owner ng café. "Sammy, please get the flowers and set it to every table as a decoration."

Sammy immediately followed her and reached for the flowers next to me. She is giving me the stare.

"You have a lot of explaining to do" she mouthed at me.

I just rolled my eyes at her and brought my stares back to Imo, who is currently talking to Lucy.

Napakunot ang noo habang tinitingnan silang magkausap. Para kasi silang close na close eh. I'm wondering if they are friends.

Hindi naman kase pwedeng magkarelasyon sila. Hindi sila bagay dahil kami ang bagay char. But seriously speaking, nasa mid 40's na kasi si Lucy and last thing I've heard, she already has a boyfriend.

I was in deep thought when I heard someone cleared his throat.

"Hey Alia,"

I looked at the person standing in front of me and I was star struck again.

I felt him waved his hand in my face.

"Imo!" sambit ko while giving him a small smile.

He chuckled that made me knot my forehead. I guess he saw my face so he cleared his throat again.

"Sa café lang pala ni Aunt Lucy kita makikita," untag niya.

So hindi lang pala siya ang todo mag-isip sa akin. Hay ang ganda ko talaga.

"Yeah, I was surprised when I saw you walking in with that huge bouquet of flowers."

So Aunt niya pala si Lucy.

He scratched the back of his neck before answering.

"Yeah, my mom asked me to bring the order since Aunt Lucy badly needed it already. Our delivery van is still out so I have no choice. " nahihiya niyang sagot.

"You own Fleur d'Amerza?!" tanong ko sa kanya.

"I don't own it. Sa mga magulang ko ang business na iyon," sambit niya "Tinutulungan ko lang sila."

I just nodded my head and choose to change the topic about their oh-so-famous flower shop since I can feel his discomfort.

"Ay kelangan ko na bumalik sa trabaho. Baka mapagalitan ako ni Lucy," paalam ko sa kanya habang tinuturo ko si Sammy na busy ayusin ang mga bulaklak.

He followed my fingers and looked at Sammy.

"Oh okay. Maybe next time magkwentuhan naman tayo."

Tumango ulit ako sa kanya at akmang tatalikod na ng pigilan niya ako.



"I'll visit you again,"sambit niya habang nakangiti.

What he did left me hanging.

He kissed the back of my palm and went away.

How dare you do this to me Imo!

Bakit sa kamay lang?! Dapat sa lips na agad.

I was left there, staring at his back until he reached his car and strode away from the café.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

unedited