Stuck on Pause (For the Record # 2)

CCLXII

[Messenger]

Andrei Buenvenida

1:39 p.m.

Vanya
Andreeei! I hope you're not busy 🥺

Andrei
Uy di naman
Bakit?

Vanya
Uhm... I don't know how to say this pero kasi I'm currently out for my bridesmaid duty diba? Yung cake tasting

Andrei
Ahh oo
Bakit? Anong meron?

Vanya
Kasi ang sabi sakin ni Ara na I'm going to be accompanied din by one of the groomsmen sa pagpili ng cake pero she didn't specify who and I just found out earlier

Andrei
Okay okay
Is there something wrong dun sa groomsman?

Vanya
No naman. It's just that I didn't know na it's my ex from when I was in high school

Andrei
Oh...

Vanya
Anyway, long story short hindi kasi kami maayos nag break noon and it was my fault tapos ngayon na lang ulit kami nagkita and somehow, gusto ko rin bumawi sa kanya by treating him for merienda. I hope it's okay

Andrei
I see. Okay lang naman sa akin yun

Vanya
Really?

Andrei
Yup

Vanya
Promise?

Andrei
Hahahaha yes, van. Bakit naman hindi? I understand na gusto mong bumawi kasi sabi mo it was your fault before. I get that. Don't worry about it

Vanya
Thank you 🤧
I just want to consider you din of course.

Andrei
And I appreciate that.
Thank you rin for letting me know.

Vanya
Promise talaga to ha?

Andrei
Oo naman.
But you have to agree to my request

Vanya
Oh... what's that?

Adrei
Second date, tomorrow?
May gusto kasi akong panoorin na movie

Vanya
Hahahahaha sure!

Andrei
I'll pick you up after lunch so I can drive you back home din

Vanya
Oh... oki

INT. BAKESHOP - AFTERNOON

1:43 p.m.

Kahn noticed the smile reaching her eyes while she was talking to someone on her phone. He swallowed, minding the different flavors of cake in front of him.

KAHN
P'wede na siguro akong 'di kumain ng cake ng tatlong taon.

VANYA
Hmm?

KAHN
Ah, wala.

VANYA
Andrei said he's fine with it.

KAHN
Okay. Final na rin ba 'tong mga napili nating flavor?

VANYA
Yup. Ube, Coffee, and Strawberry

KAHN
Anong flavor sa first tier?

VANYA
Itong ube. Tapos I think coffee for the second tier?

KAHN
Sige. Tapos itong strawberry na lang sa top?

Vanya nodded.

VANYA
Yup.

KAHN
Ako na lang ba magsasabi sa kanila o ikaw na?

VANYA
Ikaw na lang. Saan pala banda yung resto branch ninyo?

KAHN
Sa may Tomas Morato.

VANYA
Oh . . . ang lapit nga dito. Matagal na rin ba 'yong restaurant ninyo?

KAHN
3 years?

VANYA
Anong klaseng food pala nasa menu ninyo? Local cuisine ba or international?

KAHN
Fusion ng local at Persian cuisine.

VANYA
Anong favorite mo doon?

KAHN
'Yong lamb stew ni Kuya.

Vanya nodded.

VANYA
I see.

Kahn stood up to talk to the baker about their final decision on the cakes. She watched them chat for a while and somehow, she noticed some things that were both familiar and different about him. His hair was still the same. His smile, still the same. He talks the same. But of course, he grew taller. He has a leaner physique and something about the way he presents himself now was different too. He carries a different kind of confidence now compared before. He looks more responsible now, but of course, maybe that's part of growing up. But somehow, she was looking for  the version of him that smiles easily around her.

KAHN
Okay na raw. Kakausapin na lang din sila Rija tungkol dun sa final design ng cake.

VANYA
Okay.

KAHN
Tara na ba? O may pupuntahan ka muna?

VANYA
Kahn?

KAHN
Bakit?

VANYA
I know babawi pa lang ako sa 'yo but is there a chance na puwede tayo maging friends?