Something That Will Last

13 // Caffee Sospeso

13 // Caffee Sospeso

Finals week is judgment week. Iyakan all-night. Pa-bonggahan ng eyebags. Questioning life choices. Isip fall-back career. Aaaaaand the legendary question,

"Nag-aral ka?"

Which, most often than not, is answered with,

"Hindi!"

Kahit,

"Wehhh? Nag-aral ka naman talaga, e?"

"Nagtanong ka pa!" Inirapan ni Lesly si Cara. Sila kasi ang magkapareho ng program.

But really, I totally get it why it's easier to say you didn't study rather than really telling the truth that you actually did.

Maybe we're all afraid of the pressure of having to pass, if not getting a high grade, that they automatically put on our shoulders when we say we did study. They will have expectations.

And if we failed or got it low, they'll give us the impression that our knowledge just wasn't good enough. Because if we truly did study, then what happened?

So I understand why it's always easier to say no. They couldn't build expectations from that.

But meh, I was told that I was smart so I'll tell them yes.

I'm manning the cash register for today. Pol was out studying kaya iba ang barista namin ngayon. So far, ang madalas mag-apply ng part-time job dito ay mga freshies. Iyong iba naman ay nag-aapply lang kapag malapit nang mag-summer, because the ticket going home to their provinces is expensive so they just stay in Manila to earn a buck instead.

"I love finals week," I said randomly.

Cara and Les both looked at me at the same time as if I said something weird.

"Vie, ang bastos ng bibig ha. Oo na! Hindi ka nga namin katulad na kahit hindi seryosohin ang pagreview ay mataas pa rin ang grades."

Tumawa ako. "Bakit ka bitter?"

Biglaan siyang suminghap. Kinagat niya labi niya at sinamaan ako ng tingin. Ready na yata siyang makipagsuntukan.

Tinuro ako ni Cara pero mas natawa lang ako.

"And they say that one can't have it all, huh?" I said smugly.

Lumambot na ang mukha ni Cara at siya naman ang tumawa. "Duh, true pa rin 'yon kahit sayo. Wala ka pa kayang lovelife!"

Umirap ako. Hinawi ko na siya sa gilid. May oorder na, e! Eepal epal pa. Nagttrabaho ako dito.

"Hi, welcome to Mostaccio. Anything I can get you, sir?" monotono kong tanong nang makita kung sino ang customer.

"A smile from Viennica, please? Hot," sabi niya nang nakangisi.

"Har, har. Funny. Ano?"

"Your story. You still haven't told me that yet. I'm not letting you go."

Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata. "What?"

"Kinilig ka kaagad. Patapusin mo muna ako," humalakhak siya. "I won't let you out of leash if you don't tell me."

Ayoko talagang ikwento sa kanya 'yon because number 1, I still didn't trust him. Malay ko ba kung legit power-tripper lang talaga siya kaya hindi niya ako tinatantanan. Number 2, I didn't want to remember it.