Blind Shot (ON-HOLD)

TWELVE

Sukbit ang kanyang laptop bag at habang kausap sa suot na airpods ang isang client ay itinulak ni Zach pabukas ang pintuan ng coffee shop.

Agad na nagtaas ng tingin ang crew na noon ay abalang nagma-mop ng sahig.

"Close pa po kayo?" ani Zach dito.

Tumingin ang crew do'n sa kasamahan nitong abala naman sa paglilinis ng counter top.

She checked the time on her wristwatch before she smiled and said, "Okay na po, sir. Fifteen minutes na lang naman, pwede na po kayong pumasok."

"Thank you," ani Zach bago tuluyang pumasok ng shop.

He went straight to an empty seat at the very corner. Nilapag niya doon ang bag niya at saka tinapos ang pag-uusap nila no'ng client.

He was meeting that client in a short while. Paparating na daw ito, na-traffic lang daw.

It was still too early for a client meetup but it was an urgent matter. Saka request ni client na doon sa bandang iyon sila mag-meet kasi malapit sa office nito. Sasaglit lang daw ito bago pumasok ng opisina.

Zach went to the counter to get himself a hot cup of caffe americano and perhaps some waffles. Hindi pa kasi siya nag-aagahan.

He was waiting for the cashier to finish taking his orders nang matuon ang paningin niya sa labas ng coffee shop. Kitang-kita niya mula sa kinatatayuan ang mataas na hospital building sa may 'di kalayuan. It was the same hospital where that doctor --- Gabrielle Salazar --- works.

He started to wonder kung ando'n ba ito sa loob ng ospital ng mga oras na iyon? Pero agad din niyang sinaway ang sarili nang ma-realize ang tinatakbo ng isipan.

Oo, inaamin n'ya. Lagi pa din nitong ginugulo ang kanyang isipan, especially after he had that conversation with her a week ago. Alam niyang hindi dapat pero mas lalo siyang na-curious dito.

Well, maybe because she was suicidal and well... he had this soft spot for people with suicidal tendencies.

Yes, that must be it. Wala naman siyang makitang ibang rason para ma-curious siya dito.

He was back on his table, waiting for his coffee, when he saw someone familiar walking just outside the coffee shop. At sa kadahilanang hindi niya maipaliwanag, bigla siyang na-excite nang makumpirmang hindi siya namamalikmata. It was really her.

Yes, it was Gabrielle.

She was wearing white kicks and a pair of denim pants paired with a loose black hoodie. May sukbit din itong backpack habang nakatungong naglalakad.

She really looked like a college student when she's out of her doctor's coat.

He was silently hoping na pumasok ito sa kinaroroonang coffee shop. At tila dininig ang kanyang panalangin, nakita niya itong lumiko papasok ng shop.

He didn't realized that he was holding his breath until then. He heaved a sigh of relief as he watced her get inside the shop and order from the counter.

Nasa pinakadulong mesa siya kaya hindi niya naririnig kung ano ang ino-order nito.

Then he watched her slumped herself on the nearest couch at saka pumikit. She looked so tired. She looked like she hadn't had a decent sleep for a few days now.

Zach said "thank you" to the crew who brought him his order habang hindi hinihiwalayan ng tingin si Gabrielle. Nagtatalo ang kalooban niya kung lalapitan ba niya ito o hindi.

But what would he tell her?

Isa pa, she really looked so tired. Malamang sa malamang ay wala ito sa mood para makipag-"hi and hello".

Nangangalahati na ang laman ng kape niya nang makita niyang inihatid ng crew ang order ni Gabrielle sa mesa nito. It was a takeout. Medyo na-disappoint siya nang ma-realize iyon.

Part of him wanted to call her when he saw her get up from her seat and grabbed her drink with her. Pinipigilan niya ang sariling habulin ito.

For what? What would he tell her?

But then he saw her stopped just a couple of meters away from the door. Para itong napatda sa kinatatayuan.

Then he saw what's causing her the shock --- iyong lalaking kakapasok pa lamang ng coffee shop. Zach watched as they stared at each other, both surprised.

Then it hits him! Oo, kilala niya iyong lalaki. It was her boyfriend. No, fiancé.

Yes, he was her fiancé. He couldn't be mistaken.

Nakakahiya mang aminin but he stalked her account again right after they had that conversation last week. He saw her old posts. Of him. Of them together. Kaya sigurado siyang it was the same person.

But everything didn't make sense. Bakit tila nagulat ang mga ito nang makita ang isa't isa? The shock on both their faces were evident that something's not right.

Then to answer his question, he saw a woman --- a pregnant woman --- get inside the shop. Tila nagulat din ito nang makita si Gabrielle. And the moment she automatically grabbed the man's arm, Zach was able to start figuring things out.

Reflexes took over. Tumayo si Zach mula sa kinauupuan at saka mabilis ang mga hakbang na nilapitan ang tatlo.

"Hey, Gab, wait for me," he said as he tapped her shoulder.

Awtomatikong napalingon si Gabrielle sa kanya. She looked even more surprised when she saw him.

"Kunin ko lang 'yong mga gamit ko, mabilis lang ako. Wait," aniya habang pinisil ang balikat nito. He wanted to tell her that he got this. Na siya na ang bahala.

Mabilis niyang kinuha ang bag mula sa kanyang mesa bago niya binalikan si Gabrielle. She still looked bewildered as he stared at him.

He hold her upper arm and took her drink from her hand.

"Let's go," aniya dito bago niya ito giniyang palabas ng coffee shop.

Ramdam niya ang pagsunod ng tingin no'ng dalawa sa kanilang likuran.