My morning is already ruined and its all because of a guy named Imo.

Pumasok ako sa cafe nang nakasimangot ang mukha. Hindi ko na nga nabati si Sammy ng good morning. It's a good thing that I wasn't assign to the counter cause for sure, mahahawa ang customer sa aking mood. Ayaw ko namang manakot ng customer, baka mapagalitan pa ako ni Lucy.

Speaking of my boss, kaya pala n'ya ako hinahanap kanina kase hihingi s'ya ng favor sa akin. Since I had my leave months ago, she asked me a favor if its okay that I'm the one who will close the cafe.

Of course I said yes immediately. Atsaka wala naman akong pupuntuhan, wala din naman susundo sa akin. What I've seen earlier is enough evidence that Imo already found someone who will not leave him, unlike me.

Ano ba naman Alia! Ikaw lang din naman ang nananakit sa sarili mo. Just stop thinking of him already!

I need to focus on my work in order to buy that plane ticket.

Remember the goal?

Cash, Plane Ticket, Home

Konting kembot na lang, makakabili na ako. I roamed my eyes at the cafe and can't help but to be sadden. I'll surely miss this place once I'll go home already. Hindi man ito ang ine-expect kong getaway pero it turned out unexpectedly beautiful.

"Alia, are you okay?"

I came back to my senses when Sammy tapped my shoulder.

"Oui, I'm just...you know tired." I smiled weakly.

She seems not to believed what I said.

"Really? Alex and I are really worried about you. You're not like yourself today. You can tell us anything, our ears are ready." She said worriedly.

Instead of giving her the satisfaction. I masked my sadness with a teasing smile.

"I'm fine really." Sambit ko. "Alex and you huh?"

Tinaas baba ko ang aking kilay habang nang-aasar na nakangiti sa kanya.

She was blushing already while swatting her hands on me.

"What are you talking about?" She was pretty oblivious about where this topic will get us.

"You think I didn't notice it already? Alex is always following you around here in the cafe! In the first place, he should be in the kitchen, placing orders in the trays!"

She nervously laugh at my accusations. "Alia, you're just hallucinating. Alex is just helping me out. Its still early and customers are not that many. He just..helpful,"

I folded my arms in my chest.

"Sammy its okay to tell me that you're both dating each other! That's what I was aiming for when I told Alex that you're dating this guy, which we all know is not true!"

She gasped. "Ikaw!"

I tried to hold my laugh when she started speaking Filipino. She has this cute french accent whenever she does that.

"Yeah I'm the mastermind of what happened between you too," I proudly admitted with my chin held high.

"All along I thought Alex is just making things up. You cannot imagine what my reaction was when he confronted me months ago about his feelings. That I should not date other guys aside him!"

A small smile was plastered on her face upon telling me her story.

Masaya ako para kay Sammy dahil sa wakas! Nagkaroon ng level up ang relationship nila ni Alex. Paminsan nga napapaisip ako.

Paano kung hindi ako nagtrabaho dito? Edi stuck pa din sila ni Alex sa torpe stage. Siguro there is a blessing in disguise sa pagkawala ng bag ko. Kung dati, I an pissed with the idea na sa dinami-dami ng mga tao bakit ako pa ang nawalan ng bag at pera... Pero ngayon I just accepted what destiny gave me.

"...Je vous remercie Alia for what you did." Thank you

I didn't realize that I was lost in my own thoughts.

I smiled at her. "Oh its nothing really! I just made everything much easy for you. Its called konting push in the Philippines."

"Konting push?"

I giggled and pinched her cheeks.

"Oh Sammy, you're so adorable!"

"What are the ladies of Le Patisserie chit-chatting about?" Biglang tanong ni Alex.

"Well, nothing its just girl stuffs." I said.

"Really?..But if its about girl stuff, why did I heard my name?"

Sasagot na sana ako nang bigla sumingit si Sammy.

"Mon bébé, don't be too assumera. It doesn't suit you." Paglalambing ni Sammy dito.

Hindi ko napaligilang humagikhik ng mapansin ko na namumula ang tenga nito. Naku! Ito talagang dalawa, masyado silang halata. Ayaw pa kasing aminin na in a relationship na sila.

"Yeah, Sammy is right Mon bébé." I teasingly said.

Kung kanina ay si Alex lang ang namumula, ngayon naman pati na din si Sammy. Hay! I really enjoy teasing this two.

Alex laughed. "Alia, please don't tease Mon bébé. Look! She's already red!"

Hinampas ni Sammy ang braso ng boyfriend habang nahihiyang tumingin sa akin.

"Alright, we are already a couple." Amin nito. "Happy?"

Napatili ako sa kilig. Kahit alam ko na naman ay hindi ko pa din mapigilang magreact ng ganito. Syempre nagbunga din sa wakas ang mga kalokohan ko!

"Alia calm down! Lucy might hear us!" Pag-aalo sa akin ni Sammy.

"I'm sorry, its just...I'm happy that you and Alex is already a thing! Its hard to be a matchmaker y'know!"

She giggled. "Okay, I understand but tone it down a bit hmm.."

I nodded. "I'm so happy for you...like really."

Alex patted my shoulder. "Is there any problem between you and Imo?"

"Its just a little misunderstanding. We will just talk it out " I smiled timidly.

Hindi na nila ako napilit na magkwento pa. Bumalik na kami sa pagtra-trabaho, mahirap na baka mahuli kami ni Lucy.

Buong shift ko ay tahimik lang ako na nagbibigay ng orders sa customers. Konting ngiti lang ang nakapaskil sa aking mukha. I don't have the energy to fake a smile, it's just tiring. Parang niloloko ko lang ang aking sarili na masaya ako kahit na hindi naman talaga.

Hindi na kami ulit nakapag-kwentuhan ni Sammy at Alex. We were all busy doing our works, na hindi namin namalayan na gabi na pala.

Kasalukuyan na kaming nag-aayos ng gamit sa aming locker.

"Alia," tawag ni Alex.

"Hmmm?"

"Me and Sammy will leave already. Is it okay?"

I nodded my head as a response. "Yeah, I'm fine. You can go already. I am much aware that you both have a date."

Alex shyly avoided my gaze. "Okay, see you next week!"

"Enjoy you're date!" Pahabol ko na sigaw.

Pinanood ko silang lumabas sa locker room bago ako nagbuntong-hininga.

Now I'm all alone here in the cafe. Lucy already left earlier because of some emergency.

Pinatay ko na ang lahat ng ilaw at binunot ko na ang mga nakasaksak na mga appliances.

I was about to leave when I remember to check the cash register. Lumapit ako sa counter at tiningnan ko kung nakalock ba ito.

"Whew! Buti na lang chineck ko. Nakalimutan siguro ni Lucy saraduhan ito."

Last look at the register, then I'm good to go! Kinuha ko na ang aking bag at bumaling na sa pinto. I stopped on my track when I saw someone outside Le Patisserie.

It was Imo. He is currently leaning on his car.

Bakit hindi ko napansin na nandon ang kotse n'ya?

I gathered all of my confidence and held my chin up high. Hindi ako magpapaapekto sa presence n'ya! Bahala s'ya diyan na manigas.

Lumabas na ako sa shop at nilock ang pinto. I can see on my peripheral vision, na umayos ng tayo si Imo at lumapit sa akin.

"Alia," tawag nito sa akin.

I smirked. Nasan na ang Mon amour n'ya na tawag? Ano to, back from the start. Palibhasa nakahanap na s'ya ng iba.

Nilampasan ko s'ya at hindi pinansin.

"Alia, Mon amour, saglit lang!" Pilit n'ya ako hinahabol pero hindi ako huminto.

"Alia, please kausapin mo naman ako." He plead.

"Ano pa ang dapat nating pag-usapan Imo? Bakit hindi na lang kayo magsama ng babae mo!"

Naguguluhan s'yang tumingin sa akin. "What are you talking about Alia? Wala akong babae! I'm not that kind of guy!"

I sarcastically smirked. "How can you explain what I saw earlier at Atelier de menthe?! I'm not blind Imo! Hindi din ako tanga!"

"Geez Alia, it's not what you think! May pinag-uusapan lang kami ni Monique." Depensa nito.

Anong akala n'ya sa akin tanga? Kung ibang tao ang makakakita sa kanila, siguradong aakalaing magboyfriend sila!

"You're telling me, Monique is more important that your girlfriend?" I raise a brow. "Kahit isang hello, sorry late reply. Hindi mo magawa sa aking mga text. Huwag mo nga ako pinagloloko Imo. If ito yung way po para umalis na ako dito sa Paris, then hindi mo na kailangan mag-alala! Pagkakuha ko ng huli kong sweldo, bibili ako ng ticket at aalis na sa lugar na to!"

Humihinga na ako ng malalim habang binibigkas ang mga katagang iyo. Umiling-iling si Imo sa akin.

"No, I'm sorry Mon amour" his eyes are a bit red. "Ayaw kong iwan mo ako. Nagukat lang ako at nasaktan. I just can't imagine you leaving me. Please don't leave me. Please stay."

A tear fell on Imo's eyes. I look at him softly. Right in front of me is a broken man that is afraid to be left by his one true love.

Wala na, talo na ako. Maging ako naman ay hindi ko s'ya kayang iwanan. I was just angry earlier that's why I said those words.

"Imo.." I softly called him.

He shyly chuckled. "Ano ba naman ito. I'm okay Alia."

"Imo..."

He was avoiding my gaze. "Come let's go. I'm gonna show you something."

Hinawakan nito ang aking kamay at bumalik kami sa kotse n'ya.

"Mon amour.." Pag-uumpisa ko.

He shook his head. "Later Alia,"

Tumango ako at tumingin na lang sa labas ng bintana.

My mind is clouded with questions, while my heart is clenching with hurt. I didn't thought that a simple fight last week will become this big.

We passed through the Eiffel tower.

Hinabol ko ito ng tingin. I close my eyes and whispered a wish.

"Sana maging maayos na kami bago matapos ang gabing ito. I miss my Mon amour."

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Unedited

Happy Father's Day everyone!