The Story of Music (One-Shot Stories)

The Woman I Love

"Oh, shit!" i cursed when i almost hit the woman who suddenly cross in front of the car i'm driving. Buti nalang nahinto ko agad.

Lumabas ako ng kotse to check if she is okay. Pero nang pagkalabas ko, sinalubong niya agad ako ng mura. How nice.

"Gago ka ba!?" she loudly said after hitting the front of the car with her hand. Oh, man. I'm late for work. Hinatid ko pa kasi 'yung kapatid kong si Sunny sa school niya.

"I'm sorry." i just said. I don't wanna make this worse. Man, i'm doomed. Baka masisante ako. Gago.

"Sorry?! Paano kung namatay ako?! Mababalik ba ng sorry mo ang buhay ko?!" galit na galit niyang sabi as if she really died. Nakaka-frustrate. Pag ako nasisante, ewan ko nalang. Argh! I'm worried about my siblings.

"No. But, look you're still alive. Buhay ka pa." napahawak ako sa ulo ko. Shit, paano ba idi-deal 'tong babaeng 'to? "I said, I'm sorry. Hindi pa ba 'yun sapat?" i asked in frustration. Kapag talaga ako nasisante. Wag naman sana.

"Ang yabang-yabang mo. Umalis ka na nga! Sa susunod, wag ka na magmaneho ng kung anong sasakyan. Mga katulad mong driver, purwisyo kayo sa buhay ng iba!" bulyaw niya tsaka naglakad paalis. Hindi ko na siya pinatulan kaya bumalik nalang ako sa loob ng kotse pagkatapos kong humingi ng tawad sa mga motoristang nasa likuran ko. Naging sanhi pa kasi ng traffic 'yung scene kanina. Tsk.

Habang nasa loob at nagmamaneho, napatingin ako sa direksyon ng babae. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin kung saan man siya patungo. She looked struggling and haggard early in the morning. I guess, she's just my age. Nakita ko rin na may dala siyang mga supot na muntik niyang mabitawan kanina. I felt bad for her.

Nang makarating sa office, buti nalang napagsabihan lang ako ng superior ko. Ayos, di pa ako nasisante. Kasi kapag nangyari 'yun, paano na mga kapatid ko? I am not yet a professional engineer. Kakasimula ko pa lang. Marami pang pagdadaanan para makarating sa dulo. Kaya kung maaari, ayokong pumalya. This isn't for me. I am working hard for my siblings. We lost our parents after an accident. Kaya simula nung mawala sila, i am responsible for my siblings, especially Sunny. She's too young.

"Engineer Cuero, may bagong bukas na maliit na restaurant dyan sa kabilang street malapit dito. Tara, lunch dun." aya sa'kin ng kasamahan kong engineer din. Walang pag-aalinlangang sumama naman ako. Lunch time na kasi at may 1 hour break kami para kumain.

Nang makarating kami sa sinabing kainan, i was impressed. The place is not that small and not that big too, pero dinadagsa. Kakabukas lang daw nun kahapon pero matao na. That's impressive kapag bago pa ang business pero patok na agad. I wonder how it was being established and managed?

Nang makapasok na kami, i was more impressed about its interior. Napakasimple pero hahangaan mo. It speaks calmness.

"Alam mo ba, Engineer? 'Yung may ari daw nito matindi muna ang pinagdaanan bago 'to mapatayo ang restaurant." kwento ng kasama ko pagkaupo namin. Napatango ako sa sinabi niya. Again, impressive.

Ilang sandali pa ay may lumapit na waitress para kunin ang order namin.

"May i take your order, sir?" magalang na sabi ng waitress. Wait.

When i laid my eyes on her, i was surprised. Siya 'yung muntik ko nang masagasaan kaninang umaga. Nakita niya din ako and she's obviously surprised too. Pero naisip siguro niya na nasa trabaho siya at kailangan niyang umakto na parang walang nangyari kanina. She have to act nice para hindi siya masisante. I understand her. I just gave her an apologizing eyes.

"Engineer, anong sayo?" tanong sa'kin ng kasama ko matapos niyang sabihin 'yung order niya. Hindi ko na tiningnan ang menu nila at sinabi ko lang kung anong pinagmamalaki nilang pagkain, 'yun nalang 'yung order ko.

Umalis na 'yung waitress matapos kuhanin ang order namin. Sinundan ko lang ng tingin ang bawat kilos niya. She was smiling with the other customers and to her co-employees. She's pretty when she's not angry.

Cloud, what are you thinking?

"Oh, shit!" biglang mura ng kasama ko. Napakunot-noo ako sa inasta niya. He was busy scrolling on his phone before he cursed. Tinuro niya 'yung waitress kanina na kumuha ng order namin. "That woman... Shit. You would not believe this, Engineer Cuero." mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. What's with the woman? "Man, she's Louisa Myrtle Bernez." pabulong na sabi niya sa'kin. O-okay. So? "The owner of this restaurant! Damn!" di makapaniwalang sabi niya. He let me see what's on her phone and let me read the article that was published not so long ago about her, Louisa Myrtle Bernez.

Agad naman akong napatingin sa babaeng tinutukoy niya. Hell, yeah. Damn! I am so impressed now. Not just of the place where the restaurant is located and its interior, but of course the food. Man, it's homie! Mostly, I am so much impressed because of the owner.

For pete's sake, Louisa Myrtle Bernez! Paano niya nagagawa lahat ng 'to? She did really worked hard for this restaurant. Sabi nila, minsan daw siya mismo nagluluto ng mga orders ng mga customers, though may chef naman sila. Minsan din nagiging waitress siya, katulad nung isang beses na kinuha niya 'yung order namin ng kasama kong engineer sa second day ng restaurant niya. Kaya pala mukha siyang haggard noon. She was just, maybe, frustrated and pressured about her starting business.

Man, she started from nothing and yet, look at her now. Nagsisimula pa man din siya, pakiramdam ko ang successful na niya. She's just so amazing.

From that day, i most frequently ate there for lunch during weekdays, araw ng trabaho. Because bro, i think i just fell inlove... with the place and the food. Pfft. When i said 'place and food', i am referring to the owner.

Our ill-fated first encounter was unforgettable, but the exciting thing after that was we became friends and lovers.

"Engineer Cloud Albert Cuero, here's your food, Sir." she happily placed my order in front of me. I then mouthed her 'thank you' while holding her hand.

I could not thank the heaven enough for letting me be with this person in front of me.

"Hey, stop staring at me and just eat your food, Sir." natatawa niyang sabi. She maybe just saw me how dumb i was while staring at her. Man, you can't just blame me. I'm just so inlove!

"Damn, Louisa. I love you so bad." i let out a small smile after saying it.

We spent a lot of years together. We grew individually but not apart. We are still inlove and we don't plan on stopping it.

Damn, I'm out. I'm going to marry her.