"Stop yawning." galit na bulong ni Ria.

"Oh the demon is here." akala ko ba guide lang bakit nandito sila ulit?

"Ano aalis ka na naman?"

"Gusto ko ng ice cream."

"Bili mo rin ako." tinaas ko kilay ko sa kanya.

"Chocolate?"

"Of course not. Strawberry."

Tumayo ako at bumaba. Lumapit ako kay prof.

"Prof, can I go out?" nilingon ko si Nera at Claude.

"I'm about to discuss something important." sabi ni prof.

"That student of yours got some nerve." Nera said.

"I'm not talking to you. Please shut up Will you?" saka ko nilingon si prof.

"O-okay you can go." saka napabuntong hininga.

Nag bow ako saka umalis. Bago ako lumabas sa pinto tinignan ko si Claude, nakakunot noo ito at biglang ngumisi.
Nakakakilabot naman yun.

Paglabas ko ng store nakita ko si Nera na nakatingin at nakangisi sakin.

"Sinusundan mo ba ako?" seryoso kong tanong.

"Why would I? I'm not into trash like you."

"Look who's talking."

"Why are you here? Sinusundan mo ba si doc Claude?"

"The nerve of you. Ikaw ba still clinging like a monkey kay doc Claude?"

"You bitch! Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan yong ginawa mong pagpapahiya sa akin."

"You deserves it."

"I should have kill you earlier." hinagis ko sa mukha niya ang ice cream na kinakain ko saka tumakbo.

Napahawak ako sa puso dahil sa pagod. "Hah!"

"Why are you running?" tumingala ako at nagulat.

"W-what are you doing here?"

"I'm on my way to the store. Why are you running?"

"It's none of your business. Good bye." saka tumakbo ulit. Hoy puso! Umayos ka! Pinipilit kong hindi pansinin ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya, ngunit masyadong malakas ang puso ko. What to do...

Nakarating ako sa bench. Umupo ako saglit, at pumikit.

"Where's my ice cream?" I open my eyes at isang masamang tingin ang bumungad sakin.

"I throw it to Nera's face." sagot ko.

"Sabi ko na nga ba e susundan ka niya. Susundan na sana kita kaso nakita ko si doc Claude kaya nanahimik nalang ako."

"Dapat sinundan mo 'ko. Hmp."

"Wala naman masamang nangyari kaya okay lang yan."

"Nga pala about dun sa cafè?"

"Napasa ko na 'yong resume mo. They contacted me immediately and they said you're hired." ngumiti siya.

"Talaga? Buti naman. Malapit na maubos ang pera ko no,"

"Sumama ka sakin mamaya, ituturo ko mga gagawin para bukas ng gabi alam mo na gagawin."

Nag thumbs up lang ako at ngumiti.

🍭

Walkinh distance lang pala 'tong cafè sa school. Naunang pumasok si Ria at may binating babae.

"Ikaw ba si Lollipop?" nakangiting tanong ng babae.

"Ah yes po." sagot ko.

"Hi nice meeting you. My name is Lin I'm the manager here. Welcome to our cafè." masayang bati nito.

"Thank you." sabay bow.

After nun umalis na si Manager Lin. Si Ria na ang pumalit sa kanya. Sabi ni Ria absent daw yong isang crew kaya si Ms. Lin lang ang nag-asikaso.

"Hoy tara dito. Wag kana tumulala dyan." lumapit ako sa kanya. Inexplain niya mga gagawin ko at inisa isa niyang pinaliwanag ang mga ingredients sa pag gawa ng coffee.

"Is that all?"

"Yes. Did you get it?"

"I do."

"Ikaw muna sa counter may kukunin lang ako sa storage room." she said and fled.

Malaking cafè, for sure madaming studyante ang pumupunta dito.

"Ah" biglang nahulog ang mga maliliit na poster card sa lapag. Agad ko itong pinulot. Naramdaman kong may tao kaya dali dali akong tumayo.

"Sir what's your-" hindi natuloy ang sasabihin ko ng makita ang taong nasa harap ko. Nakatingala ito habang nakatingin sa menu.

"Uhm, I would like to have capp" napatitig siya at hindi na natuloy ang sasabihin.

"Ako na dito Lorae." sabay hatak sakin ni Ria paalis.

Lagi ba siya dito? Hoy puso!

"Ria." tawag ko after niya makuha ang order ni Claude.

"What?"

"Anong what ka dyan. Lagi ba siya dito?" tanong ko.

"Yes." she grin.

"Why didn't you tell me?" my heart is pounding! Hell shit.

"What's wrong with that? Doc Claude is our regular customer here. He always comes here often."

"Stop fucking smiling."

"Stop cursing. Do you wanna get fuck?" Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata at nag smirk.

"What? Do you want me to fuck you?"

"What the heck! You're gross. Are you insane!?"

"Shh. Don't raise your voice baka marinig niya pinag-uusapan natin. Hmm, what do you think? Do you like woman naman e."

"She's the only woman I want. So even if I like woman, I won't definitely like you."

Humawak ako sa dibdib at kunwaring nasaktan. "Ouch. You hurt my feelings Ria." binatukan niya ako.

"Stop with your nonsense. Go get your coffee over there, tinimplahan kita." turo niya. Natawa nalang ako sa kanya.

Pagbalik ko galing sa pagkuha agad kong tinikman ang kape. Hmm, great!

"What's your order sir?" nilingon ko ang lalaking mag-oorder. Nabulunan ako sa kapeng iniinom ko ng makita ang pamilyar na tao.

"One cappuccino Ms. Gorgeous." he smiled idiotically.

"Okay." sabi ni Ria saka tumingin sa gawi ko. "Are you okay? Here's some water." sabay abot ng botte ng mineral water.

"T-thanks." what the fuck is this idiot doing here?!

Pagkatapos niyang makuha ang order niya umupo siya sa tabi ni Claude. They know each other?
Inoobserbahan ko lang sila.

"Why are you staring at them? They look so sweet." Ria said.

"Sweet? Are you kidding me?" ngiwi ko. God Ria kung alam mo lang!

"The gray haired man I think I saw him somewhere." kinabahan ako ng malala.

"H-huh? Haha at saan naman?"

"Forget it. He's just seem familiar to me." she said at bumalik na sa ginagawa. While me, keeps observing them.

"What the fuck are you doing here? Can't you see I'm fucking busy?" galit na saad ni Claude. Sinamaan niya ng tingin si gray haired man.

"Oh come on dude, I just want to come here and it's a coincidence that I saw you here." bigla siyang lumingon sakin. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Stop talking to me. Get fucking lost." nakakunot noong saad ni Claude.

"Boring sa condo." he said at lumingon na naman sa gawi ko.

"What the fuck are you doing here? You idiot!" I mouthed at Oliver.

"Miss me Chocolate?" agad na napalitan ang expression ko ng marinig ang chocolate. He keeps calling me chocolate ang reason niya, cause I like chocolates. This idiot!

"I'm gonna kill you!"

"Oh no please. I really want to see my Ria." he sadly mouthed.

"Anong nangyari sayo?" napatalon ako ng marinig ang boses ni Ria.

"Haha w-wala naman. Pwede ba akong lumabas?" kinabahan ako dun huhu.

"Okay. Balik ka kaagad."

Agad akong lumabas ng cafè at huminga ng malalim ng maramdamang may tao sa likod ko.

"What are you doing here? Your supposed in London."

"It makes me crazy, I badly want to see Ria." he answered.

"I told you. You don't have to come here. I always updating you about Ria."

"Chocolate. I'm sorry. I can't, hindi ko kaya."

Hinarap ko siya. "Oliver. I know na mahirap to para sayo. But please for Ria's sake. Kailangan mong magtiis." I hear him sobbed.

"Gusto ko siyang makita kahit saglit."

"I-i'm sorry." I hug him. Argh! This situation keeps worsening! Damn this!

"Thank you chocolate. I heard na may trip kayo papuntang London. Are you okay?"

"I'm okay. No need to worry." I'm really nervous.

"Hah. Call me if you need some help. I got your back." he smiled and tap my shoulder and he head back papuntang cafè.

"Thanks Oliver."

Ria's POV

Ang tagal naman bumalik ni Lorae. Madami ng customer. I need her help. Nagsipat sipat ako sa paligid nagbabakasakaling makita si Lorae.
I was shock to see her hug a man. The gray haired man. My heart throb. What is wrong with my heart?  Nevermind.

"Sino 'yong lalaki?" I ask when she get back.

"Ah, a friend of mine. Internet friend." she answered.

"Really? Or is he your someone?" what the, what is wrong with my voice it feels like I'm fucking jealous on something.

"Ria. He's just my internet friend. I didn't recognize him at first." it's obvious that she's avoiding my question.

"Let's get back to work." I feel jealous on something I don't fuck'n know!

Claude's POV

"Stop pestering me." masama ko siyang tinignan.

"Man. I just want to ask you something."

"Get lost." this man. Calm down Claude.

"Please?"

"Fuck. Just get to it. You have 10 seconds." I said. Hindi na nga ako makapag concentrate ng makita siya tapos may isa pa tsk.

"Stop working for now and hear me out."

"The clock is ticking." I seriously said while tapping my clock.

"Bakit kasi 10 seconds lang!?" maktol niya.

"Para kang bata stop that. I know na hindi coincidence na nandito ka. I saw you kanina. Sinundan mo sila papunta rito."

"How'd you know that?"

"Times up." saka binalik ang tingin sa laptop. Sinilip ko sa counter si Lorae. She seems out of the world. What happened to her?

"What! Seriously? Oh come on." sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"I'm going home." I sneek a peek on Lorae saka tumayo.

Hah! I don't deserve someone like her, a half robot like me. Sucks as hell.

I think I like her.