POSSESSIVE 21: Knight Velasquez

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

'Good morning, Boss. Can't work today. I'm busy.' Same text message from Knight for four days now. Apat na araw nang hindi ito pumapasok at nagpapadala lang ng text sa kaniya. Gusto niyang intindihin ang binata pero ang café naman niya ang nahihirapan.

To: Knight V.

Good afternoon, Knight. Kung hanggang bukas ay hindi ka pa rin makakapasok, sorry pero kailangan na kitang palitan. I need another waiter in the café since Juls is taking care of the deliveries. If you can't come tomorrow, fell free to drop by for your compensation.

SM hit send.

Ibinalik niya ang cellphone sa bag saka inilabas sa oven ang cake na ginawa niya. Iniwan niya muna iyon sa lamesa para palamigin saka lumabas siya ng opisina niya para tumulong.

Since Knight is not here, she'd been helping out especially in lunch time. Pero ganun na lang ang gulat niya ng makita si Knight na nagsi-serve ng pagkain sa mga costumers nila.

Why is he here? Akala ko ba hindi siya papasok?

Lumapit siya kay Monet. "Kanina pa ba si Knight?

"Ngayon-ngayon lang, Boss." Sagot ni Monet. "Nakita siya ni Juls sa labas na papadaan kaya hinabol ni Juls."

"Ah..."

Natigilan siya ng lumapit si Knight sa counter dahil may nagpapadagdag ng order. He still has emotionless expression on his face, but what stunned her was her reaction when he looked at her and didn't smile like he used to.

Sanay siyang palagi itong may ngiti para sa kaniya pero... bakit ngayon wala?

And why did she feel bad all of the sudden? There's a twitch of sadness on her chest.

SM shook her head like she's shaking the sadness she's feeling away. "Knight." Tawag niya sa pangalan ng binata.

Kaagad naman siyang tiningnan ng binata. "Yes?"

Lumapit siya rito para magtanong. "Ilang araw ka ring hindi pumasok. Ayos ka lang ba?"

He stared at her for a long minute. "Yeah. I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

SM froze. His voice... it's kind of different today. Standing this close to him, there's something different on his tone. Come to think of it... he smells different too... he feels different. The way he looked at her is different... his hair is a little bit lighter than his usual brown hair...

Did he coloured it again?

Itinaas niya ang kamay para haplusin ang buhok ng kaharap.

He saw him stiffened.

"Sorry." Nakangiwing sabi niya saka napatitig sa kamay niya.

Is it just me or his hair feels different when I was caressing his hair that night? Naaalala niya kung anong pakiramdam niyon dahil hinaplos niya ang buhok ng binata hanggang sa makatulog siya.

This man... everything seems different.

Is it possible that... can't be...

"By the way, kumusta na ang paggawa mo ng masarap na kape?" Tanong niya sa binata habang nakatingin sa mukha nito, "sinunod mo ba yong sinabi ko kung ilang beans ang gagamitin para maging masarap 'yon?"

"Yeah. The coffee is good."

Bahagyan siyang natigilan sa sagot nito kapagkuwan ay ngumiti. "I'm glad. Sige, balik ka na sa trabaho. Don't tire yourself."