BLOOMING STREET Book 2 [GxG] - Completed

Chapter 24 - Hot Caramel Macchiato

*Allie's POV*

No. I just can't end it like that.

I have to stop her.

I need to.

"Wait!"

Tumingin lang siya sa akin. Siguro, wondering what it is this time. She's probably waiting for what I'm about to say.

Ano nga bang sasabihin ko? Yeah, I want to stop her but in that short span of time, hindi ako nagplano. Naisip ko lang bigla na pigilan siya. That's probably my guts asking me to do so.

"Coffee?", tanong ko.

Don't judge me if I can't be creative enough. Wala nga kasi akong time na para mag-isip. That's the safest I can think of. Feeling ko, hindi rin niya hihindian ang alok ko.

Confident, Boss?

Nagulat yata siya at na-speechless.

Obviously, Boss. Sinong 'di magugulat sa'yo. Nagpaalam and beso-beso pa kayo kanina tapos bigla mo siyang yayayain mag-kape.

Wala naman akong expectations...No, I'm expecting for a Yes. I want her to say Yes. Please say Yes, Aya. But, it seems like she's going to say No. I can't take No for an answer.

----------
A/N:
Fierce. Is the old "Allie" back?
The Allie who've won Aya's heart?
----------

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya and hinila na siya pabalik sa kotse.

"I insist. Pa-thank you ko for helping me out today.", sabi ko while hawak ang kamay niya na tila nanlamig ngunit nangunguryente nung nahawakan ko. Alam mo 'yong parang defining moment ng movie na doon nakafocus ang camera with matching slow motion kasi start na ng plot twist? Parang ganun. Pero, hindi palabas ang kwento namin. Tumalikod naman ako agad pretending na I'm comfortable and hindi kinakabahan at all even if I'm nervous AF.

Wala pa rin siyang sinasabi. Pinagbuksan ko siya ng pinto ng kotse - front seat, of course. Bago pumasok, I rubbed both palms and took a deep breath.

'Ano na naman 'tong pinasok mo Allie?', tanong ko sa sarili ko. Usually, 'yong kontrabidang bahagi ng utak ko, umi-eksena 'pag nasa ganitong situation ako. But, this time, nanahimik siya. Hindi siya kumukontra...which scares me.

"You ok?", tanong ko kay Aya when I noticed na parang restless siya. Pero, ako naman talaga 'tong restless.

Tumango lang siya and smiled. Ok lang kaya talaga siya? Baka napipilitan lang siyang sumama sa akin.

I started the engine at napansin kong 'di pa rin nakakabit ang seatbelt niya. Nasanay yatang ako pa rin ang nagkakabit.

I leaned closer.

Bakit parang naninigas siya?

She closed her eyes.

I got tempted to do something I haven't done for quite some time now.

<Click!>

I changed my mind. Bumalik ako sa katinuan when I heard that sound and quickly looked straight forward.

Pinagpawisan ako bigla. Namula ako.

"Thank you!", sabi niya. Hindi ako nagreact. Ayoko siyang harapin. My eyes might speak so much.

Nakalabas na kami ng building but I haven't really decided kung saan ko siya dadalhin. Maybe just around the area para hindi rin siya mahirapang umuwi. Ilang minuto na rin kaming tahimik and 'di nagkikibuan. Still, I'm driving without having a place in mind. Napansin kong parang nilalamig siya.

"You okay?", tanong ko.

"Yeah!", tipid niyang sagot.

"Uhm...saan nga pala tayo?", pagputol niya sa malalim kong pag-iisip.

"You'll see.", sagot ko at ngumiti na hindi nakatingin sa kanya.

Hindi na kami nag-usap afterwards. Tahimik lang siya looking outside the window of my car. In my peripheral vision, dahil nagsisimula nang dumilim, the lights were glimmering in her eyes.

Ano kayang iniisip niya?

After a little over an hour, I pulled over. Napadpad kami sa Tagaytay, where we used to go for a quick escape before. Dito kami sa isang coffee shop na back then hindi namin napuntahan dahil laging maraming tao. To our surprise, may dalawang sasakyan lang na nakapark sa labas. The craze must have been over. Walang mga bagets na pumupunta lang naman dito for pictorial. Dalawang palapag ang maliit yet cozy building. Sa labas are tall bamboos and several green plants perfectly landscaped na mas pinaganda pa ng lights. Maganda rin sa loob. Just as it was posted on social media, it has subdued interior which gives the place an airy and shady vibe. The rest of the customers were downstairs. Sa taas kami pumuwesto, sa may open space where you can see the view of the lake and Taal volcano. But, now, since inabutan na kami ng dilim, we only see lights in the dark na nagpapa-romantic ng feels. Maya-maya may lumapit na waiter and nag-abot ng menu.

"Ready to order?", tanong ko sa kanya 5 minutes later.

Tumango lang siya.

"1 Brewed Coffee."
"1 Hot Caramel Macchiato."

Sabay naming sabi sa waiter. Nagkatinginan kami. And, again, just like the old times, time seemed to have stood still.

"Ma'am, repeat ko lang po 'yong order. 1 Caramel Macchiato and 1 Brewed Coffee. Anything else to add po?", putol ng waiter sa tinginan namin. In reality, may naninira talaga ng moment.

Umiling kami pareho at napangiti. Ilang minutes din kaming in silence. Siya, checking on her phone. I, unconsciously, kept looking at her. No, wait. Let me correct that. Kahit pinipigilan ko, kahit sabi ko ayoko na, kahit I have already decided na I don't want anything na connected sa kanya, here I am, consciously looking at her.

Bigla siyang nag-angat ng tingin.

"So, how are you?", tanong niya.

"I'm fine, and you?", sagot ko na parang batang tinanong ng How Are You? Hindi ko kasi ma-articulate ang emotions ko. I mean, I haven't seen her in more or less 2 years nor talked to her and here she is in front me asking how I was na para bang wala kaming past. It must be hard for her din, I'm sure. But, hindi naman pwedeng magkakape lang kami at hindi mag-uusap.

Pwede ko bang ulitin ang sagot ko?

Paano Boss? '...eto ok lang. Single pa rin. Hirap kayang mag-move on sa'yo.'

Nakakahiya. Dapat ba hindi na lang ako nagyayang magkape?

"Hmmmm. Ok lang naman.", sagot niya.

Tapos, awkward silence na ulit between us. Maya-maya dumating na 'yong order namin.

"Thank you ulit.", sabi ko.

"Wala 'yon. Maliit na bagay. Thank you rin pala for bringing me here. Napuntahan din natin no? Finally.", sabi niya habang inikot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng coffee shop.

I was just looking at her.

I have to admit, namiss ko 'to.