CHAPTER 3.2

[LOVELY's Point of View]

Tinanaw ko ang crossing lane. When I saw na tumawid ang mga taong kanina pa naghihintay na makapunta sa kabilang side despite of the exhausting heat, I made my first step and walked with confidence. Hindi ko iwi-waste ang fitted crop top shirt, high waist  scalloped shorts, ang mamahalin kong aviators at pati na rin ang ankle booties ko para lang magmaktol. I dressed fashionably today thus, I'll ramp this with pride.

Tinuring kong runway stage ang pedestrian lane at sumabay sa mga tumatawid. I let my hips move left and right as well as my swaying arms. Hindi na 'ko nag-care sa mga taong napapa-second look pa sa akin. Like duh? Why should I care?

So, matapos ng pangmalakasan kong rampa sa street ay pumasok ako sa isang cafe na una kong nakita. Hindi ko pa din nakakalimutang my stomach was screaming hunger already.

When I opened the door, the cold whiff from their air conditioner touched my heated skin. It was heaven! Dumiretso ako sa counter at agad na pumila. Isa lang naman ang nakapila bukod sa akin. I think, mag-nanay sila.

The little boy looked up to me so I gave him a bright smile. I didn't get it lang kung bakit s'ya biglang ngumiwi and looked at me from head down to my booties.

"Baduy, yuck!"

Umawang ang mga thick-red lips ko dahil sa lumikong tono n'ya. Ang... baklang 'to!

Muntik ko na sanang patulan if hindi lang humarap 'yung nanay— na pinasadahan din ako ng head-to-heels look. Like, ano bang meron? Ngayon lang ba sila nakakita ng maganda?

"Ahm, excuse me? Are you done na? Kasi I'm gonna order din e," pagkuha ko ng atensyon n'ya dahil nakatitig lang s'ya sa akin. Gosh!

"T-tara na, 'nak. Pagpasensyahan na natin ang baliw."

Laglag ang panga ko sa narinig ko. Tinawag ba nila akong baliw? Buwisit ha! Ang sarap kalbuhin, naku! Kung hindi lang talaga— okay, Lovely breathe and calm down lang. The poise! Keep the poise!

I heaved a heavy sigh and tried to recover my poise. Super important pa naman for a model and beauty queen na hindi bumibitaw sa poise. Those witches kasi, e!

"Good noon, ma'am! Can I have your order?" The cashier smiled widely kaya lumabas 'yung a small hollows sa cheeks n'ya. She's pretty, ha. And so mabait!

I looked up to their bulletin menu and pumili ng food and drink that caught my attention first. There's a lot kasi but I'm on a strict diet talaga at the moment.

"Matcha milk tea and cheesecake please," I gently said at nag-smile rin sa kanya.

"Okay. One matcha milk tea and one slice of cheesecake—"

"No, no. One whole cheesecake," I corrected her. Like D-U-H? I won't get busog with one slice lang. Kagabi pa kaya ako walang kinakain, no.

"Ah, s-sorry ma'am. It's one matcha milk and one WHOLE cheesecake," she repeated naman. Sayang naman this girl. Pretty face sana kaya lang slow. "Ahm, dine in po ba or take out?"

"Dine in na lang," I answered and gave her the money.

"That's three hundred pesos, ma'am. I received three hundred," she murmured habang nagpipindot sa cash register. "Pakihintay na lang po sa table n'yo. Thank you!"

I gave her a smile and picked a table na. Naupo ako near sa glass wall at du'n hinintay ang order ko. While waiting, hindi ko napigilang tignan 'yung cashier. Somehow, I saw myself in her kasi. Not just because she's physically attractive but also because she has the lively aura. To be honest, I envy rin 'yung ginagawa n'ya— like pakikipag-interact sa mga tao. I know I can do that too and I have a lot of energy to give.

For awhile, napaisip ako. What if mag-work din ako like sa isang cafe? Since hindi ako natanggap du'n sa cheap modeling agency and I don't have plans pa naman, why won't I try to work? I don't want na matengga naman for the whole summer.

"Here's your order, ma'am! Enjoy!" I diverted my gaze sa server na umabala sa pag-iisip ko. He's also wearing that odd yet bright smile. Before he left, I took the chance to ask him na.

"Thank you. Ahm, may I ask if hiring kayo ngayon here sa cafe?"

"Ah, sa ngayon po hindi pa. Pero baka a week or two magha-hiring na ng bagong staffs ang cafe. Matatapos na din po kasi ang contract namin dito this week."

Napatango-tango ako because of what he'd said and think a little ulit. A week or two? Hmm, maybe I could wait.

"One more," pahabol ko pa and moved a little more closer to him before I whispered, "maganda bang magtrabaho dito?"

He stared at me for awhile tapos he let a soft chuckle. After n'yang tumawa ay lumapit din s'ya near my ear and whispered too.

"If you're special enough, ma'am, you'll find this work amazing."

Ilang segundo ko rin s'yang tinignan dahil sa confusion— like what he said was some kind of logic. And I hate logics!

In-excuse n'ya ang sarili n'ya at bumalik sa counter while me, I was left dumbfounded pa rin.

"What does that mean?" I silently asked myself while staring blankly at the inverted name of the cafe on the glass wall.

DREAMS CAFÉ: take a sip of your dream!