Chapter 2: Seal
Chapter 1
***
"Let her do the things she likes then! Huwag lang siyang tutuntong dito ulit!"
The weight of my father's words lingered as I wiped down the jigger behind the coffee shop counter. Every wipe felt like an attempt to cleanse myself of his judgment.
"Iniisip mo ang chikababes mo?" Mabilis akong natauhan sa boses ng nasa harapan. Nang makitang ang boss ng shop ay ibinalik na lang ang atensiyon sa pagpupunas habang naiiling sa sinasabing wala namang silbi.
"Himala't hindi pumunta rito?" I just minded my own business. Hindi na lang pinapansin ang lahat ng pinagsasasabi ng nasa harap. Palibhasa walang magawa.
"By the way, 15 minutes mo na yang pinupunasan." dagdag nito.
Realizing what my Boss said was somewhat right, nadagdagan pa ang inis ko sa sarili bago nailipat ang mga tingin sa amo kong nakataas ang dalawang kilay at nag-aabang ng magiging reaksiyon ko sa tuyaw niya. I gave him nothing but a death glare. "Will you please just go?"
"May 1 minute pa." Pang-iinis pa nito habang isinenyas ang wall clock sa likod ko at nagpatuloy. Ramdam ko ang mga mata nitong sinusundan ang bawat galaw ng mga kamay ko. This time, i definitely stopped and stared right through his soul.
"Aba'y kay bagal naman. Trabaho din ng maayos pag may time ha? Pa-lugi na ako."
Muntik ko pang maisupalpal sa harap ang hawak kung hindi lang ako nakapagtimpi. I just took the telephone beside me and dialed her wife's number to give him a beating pero bago pa man ako tuluyang makatawag, he snatched the keys beside me atsaka kumaripas palabas ng Shop. "Eto na. Pauwi na nga!"
That's how you deal with an arrogant boss who wag their tail just for their wife.
Napailing na lang ako atsaka pa inilagay ang lahat ng napunasang kagamitan sa lalagyan nito. I dabbed my hands to the apron and finally let myself lean my lower back at the counter and let my eyes rest for a while.
Ngayong wala nang ibang tao pakiramdam ko ay nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I heaved a sigh and inhaled the sweet scent of caffeine lingering in the air. The faint buzz of the machines nearby came to my senses mixed with the sound of the clock made the ambiance engaging. These kind of noises are acceptable. Ibinukas ko ulit ang mga mata pagkaraan ng ilang segundo at iniangat ang tingin sa orasan. The clock shows 7:05 PM, less than one hour before I can go home and sleep peacefully. Hindi ako pagod. I can even stay here til midnight. I am just pissed off.
Tuluyan na nga akong itinakwil ng sarili kong ama. As if I'd be better with his sh*tty opinion? Wala akong pakialam sa mga katulad niyang homophobe. Walang puwang sa akin ang mga sinasabi niya kung ang pakialam niya lang ay husgahan ang pagkatao ko at isalba ang sariling reputasyon. There are a lot of things I should be focusing than minding what he'd say. Hindi ako padidikta sa mga gusto niyang gawin.
The chime behind the glass door sounded. Unti-unti kong binawi ang sarili ko sa pagkakahamba at pag-iisip ng kung ano-ano at tiningnan ang entrada para harapin ang costumer. Realizing 'that' costumer isn't just some random stranger but a popular one.
I wonder why I wasn't even surprised I am seeing this person today. The It Girl showed up in this kind of an average place, how unusual.
Denisse Leighanne Stranner wearing her black mini skirt, a white sleeveles crop top with cropped blazer walking in her bratz shoes being the model she is. Kailangan ko na bang lagyan ng placard ang harapan ng shop na bumisita siya rito?
"Welcome to BrewMate." wala sa sariling saad ko. This woman doesn't deserve even the tiniest consideration I have.
"So this is where you work?" Unang pangungusap pa lang na lumabas sa bibig niya, hindi ko na maatim na marinig. Her perfectly arched brows shot even before the question and scanned the place as if she's a d*mn supervisor. "I've really gone through so much just to find you, gosh!"
"What's your order?" Hindi ko na pinansin ang sinabi nito. If she's here to order or whatever? She doesn't need to stay here pero alam kong hindi ganoon ang pakay nito.
"I am not here to order-"
"Then get the hell out." Salubong ko sa sinabi niya.
Her eyes stopped scanning and ended up glaring at me. Her natural siren eyes seemed to turn into dagger piercing through my bones. "You!-"
I silently created a smirk on my mind. Magandang inisin ang ganitong mga spoiled brat. I even saw how hard she tried to control the anger she wanted to fire at me.
Tinalikuran ko na lang ang nagngingitngit niyang awra atsaka tinungo ang ref. I opened it and scanned something to drink.
"Kung ano man ang ipinunta mo rito't naririto ka, say it. Don't waste my time."
"You know what? Your arrogance really gets on my nerves. Di porke Top Student ka, doesn't mean you can talk to me like that!"
Umiling ako at kinuha na lang ang natitirang sparkling water. What about me being a top student? That's b*ll.
I heard her footstep closed my distance. Sinara ko na ang ref atsaka binuksan ang tubig.
"Marami ka pang sinasabi." I faced her with sarcasm written on my face before gulping down the water. She watched me drinking while I saw her trying to calm herself down.
She momentarily stand there for a minute trying to maintain her poise before heaving a sigh of exasperation. "Then. You cannot tell other people about what you know about me."
Ibinaba ko na ang tubig nang makalahati iyon. I looked at the water bottle slowly digesting what her intention's all about.
My gaze returned to her and tried to act innocent. Trying her patience and getting in her nerves more. "What? What do I know about you?"
And there, she's back with her monster look that I can only see. "I am not stupid, Alexis!" She snapped.
Mabilis kong naitaas ang kilay. Amuzed she can actually say my name besides 'loner' and 'geek'. I cannot even discern her admirable character in school.
"Guess this is something serious. You called me by my name." I traded mockingly.
"You think I am joking? Hindi ako pupunta rito sa cheap mong cafe just to chitchat with a boring person like you. I only want you to never tell anyone I'm living at your neighborhood just because my Dad's business is in the middle of bankcrupcy, okay?"
Look at her. Siya na nga itong may kailangan, siya pa ang galit. The nerve of this lady is unbelievable. Napailing ako. Muntik pa akong pagak na tumawa kung hindi lang ako nakabawi at tinalikuran siya.
I reached for the trashcan and dropped the bottle. Tanging tunog nito ang umalingawngaw sa natahimik na shop.
Her issue was all about yesterday? When I saw her and her family moving out their things to settle at an apartment next to my apartment? Inaamin kong nagulat din ako. But everything's possible in this world. May mga pangyayaring hindi mo talaga inaasahan na darating sayo and that's what makes life more thrilling.
Their family? Isn't even an exception. I don't know what their business is, but her dad's a business man like my own father. And what made her think like this is because everybody thought her life's perfect. Everybody thinks she's got everything a girl would dream to have. She's rich. She's beautiful with lots of talent, singing and cheerleading, modelling, acting etc. But now that she thinks one of her qualities subdued, she's this triggered that I saw her and would announce the world she ain't perfect anymore? F*ck.
"D'you think I'd announce petty things like that?" My voice overflowed from the sarcasm.
She looked at me with her eyes glaring "What petty? Who's petty!?". Hindi ko man iyon nakita ng matagal, I saw her suppressing her tears, trying hard not to fall off.
Malaya ko na lang na tinanggal ang apron sa katawan ko. I pretended to look at the clock, it's not even half an hour but I'm deciding to leave.
Wala akong pakialam sa mga sinasabi niya. Not even interested about the dramas of her life.
"Get out. Kailangan ko nang magsara." I did the usual routine before leaving.
I heard nothing of her at my side. Until a minute passed she finally opened her mouth. "Fine. I'll...I'll do anything you say. Just please..." Her voice is desperate enough it is starting to piss me off.
She cared about her reputation too much to even make an agreement like this? Unbelievable.
I reached for my bag at the stool and the chime resounded again, catching my attention to see who's at the door.
The familiar tall girl emerged with her obvious intention pacing near me. Hindi ko maiwasang mapamura sa isipan at pagod na ipinikit ng mariin ang mata ng sandali.
Heto na ang tinutukoy ng Boss. Kaya pala wala kanina dahil ngayon lang darating. I thought she already realized we're done. I thought she knocked unto something and finally comprehend that she's now becoming problematic?
Kailan ba talaga siya titigil? Gumagana pa ba ang utak niya? Alin sa mga sinabi ko ang hindi niya naintindihan? Bakit kailangan niya pang dumagdag sa mga problemang naririto? How the f*ck this day became so unfortunate to me when all I wanted was nothing but a peace of mind?
My hand gripped the body bag. This, i think, is too much for a one day encounter. The frustration I felt surging my nerves and playing a haze in my mind.
F*ck it.
Letting loose anything and I faced the lady behind me. Denisse's natural thick lashes moved as she changed her gaze from the door unto me. Her lips pursing hiding the pouty lips she had upon entering this establishment.
Say I kiss this woman, titigil na ba si Fey Ann sa pagpunta dito? On what length should I go through just to make her realize she should stop this chase. Should I settle down with this kind of solution? Napapagod na rin ako sa kakakapigil.
Denisse's brows raised "What? Have you thought--"
"Say less."
I paced near and pulled the back of Denisse's head, sealing that statement with a kiss that cut through her words.
It was a swift move with a slow transition. My hand reached her nape and closing our distance. Her resounding gasp and the gradual widening of her eyes zoomed into my own view before i felt her warm lips touching mine.
I know the move was never the right thing to do. I was frustrated, i came into terms with blurred lines.
I don't use people just to get rid of a problem that should've ended a long time ago but boundaries now are crossed. The lady in front is now as stucked as a mannequin from the shock I've caused her.
A sudden crash shattered the air like a warning of my own stupid resolute. Gusto kong sabihing nagwagi ako. Gusto kong sabihing tama ang naging desisyon kong ito, na pagkatapos nito, hindi na siya babalik. It is good. My ex wouldn't bother me anymore and she'll resort from running away and disappearing from my life already. I want to think it that way I saw Fey Anne freezed from the sight. I terribly wish she got what i wanted to convey.
Whatever fell was left scattered at the marbled tiles. The sound of the chime clang. And I thought that was the longest hour in my entire life.
I never wanted things to turn this way pero nawawalan ako ng ibang pagpipilian. I just want to have a peaceful life, ba't ba hirap akong makamit yun?
My jaw clenched. Huli kong napagtuunan ng pansin ang mas apektado sa lahat. Denisse even freezed longer than the other. She never did anything but her surprised figure was enough to make me understand she will not take this lightly.
Nakalapat lang ang labi ko. It may come as not so much trivial but the woman infront reacted like it was a very big deal to deal with.
Binawi ko ang sarili, slowly highlighting a little smirk while looking at her terrified reaction "Don't act as if you've never been kissed."
Saving face is crucial. Gusto kong panindigan ang ginawa ko. Kung iyon na, yun na. I could not turn back and say I am sorry for the things that is irreversible by sorry.
She blinked finally. Her chest went up before heaving as if realizing she's in a daze a while ago.
That's when I realized I was slapped harder than I could imagine, turning my face sideways. Pain travelled my cheek until the back of my head so much that I clenched my teeth just to suppress it. I was expecting even worse than this.
"What the f*ck did you just do!? How dare you!" She's burning red. Her voice was high enough it could sting my ears.
Hindi na lang ako umimik. I sticked a tongue to my cheek feeling the part where she had slapped. The stinging pain came knocking at my senses and suing me with guilt for violating someone's personal space.
Slowly realizing I am not fine with what I have done.
I turned my head, finally facing her. I felt like a trash just like what I am seeing in the corner. "Diba nakuha mo na ang gusto mo?" My eyes panned out until her face.
She's still in rage. Her quivering eyes travelled my face with her brows furrowing like I am a puzzle she cannot solve.
I really do get off on the wrong foot. Umalis na lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko at tinalikuran siya.
"A kiss to seal my lips so your secret's safe. Now, go."
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