Chapter 05 : His name

“Hmm ... this coffee really tastes good, Hon.” Blue said after drinking the coffee. 

Napangiti ako. “Talaga, Hon?” Tuwang-tuwa kong tanong. 

“Hmm...” Tango sagot ni Blue saka muling ininom ang kapeng itinimpla ko. 

Mabuti naman ay nagustuhan ni Blue ang tinimpla ko. 

Bago dumaan sa café ay dinalhan ko muna si Blue ng kapeng itinimpla ko kagaya ng kahapon. Hindi niya natikman kahapon ang timpla kong iyon dahil naubos at, hindi siya naka-uwi sa bahay namin dahil sa trabaho dito sa hospital. 

“Are you going straight to the café?”

“Yes, Hon. I just really passed here to give you that coffee,” ngumiti ako. “And to see you.”

Blue suddenly smiled. 

When we go outside at the hospital, one of his colleagues immediately called Blue because he said they had an emergency operation  

“Gusto man kitang ihatid, Hon. Pero mayroon na naman akong ooperahan. Sorry.”

“Ayos lamang iyon, Hon.”

“I’m really sorry, Hon.” Sabi ni Blue saka ako binigyan ng mabilis na halik sa aking noo. “Ingat ka, Hon.  Susunduin kita mamaya. Okay? Bye. I really love you so much.” Mabilis na saad ni Blue saka ako hinalikan muli sa aking noo.

Naka ngiti kong kinawayan si Blue habang paatras siya tumatakbo papasok ng hospital. Pag-pasok niya ng hospital ay nag-abang na ako ng taxi.

Later on, there’s a car that parks in front of me, when he opens the window of the driver’s seat. I was surprised when I saw the driver of this car. The customer yesterday was so busy that he forgot to drink the coffee that I blended. Why did he stop in front of me?

“You're Dana, right? The owner of Dana's café.”

“Yes. That’s me. Why?” I stammered in response. This  my heart again, the speed of my heartbeat again. 

Ano ginagawa niya dito? Bakit ako nauutal? Bakit ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko?

“Are you going to your coffee shop”

“Yes.” 

Bakit ako kinakabahan at same time ay natutuwa? 

“You don’t have a car?”

“Wala.” Tipid kong sagot. 

“Great! I mean, you can come with me. I’m also going to your coffee shop.”

Huminga ako malalim. Ano naman kung gwapo siya at mas naging cool habang nakaupo sa driver's seat. Ano naman kung natutuwa ako? Bakit ako natutuwa? Naguguluhan ako. 

“No, thanks.” Matapang kong sagot.

“You’ll have a long time to wait and one more thing, I want to taste the coffee that you made yesterday.”

He’s not smiling, but he is still handsome.

I coughed to clear my voice, and showed him my hand while wearing my wedding ring. “Sir, I’m a married woman, and faithful to my husband. It does not look right for me to ride in the car of a man that I don’t know.”

Ipinakita din ng lalaki ang kamay niya mayroong singsing.  “I’m a married man too and, also faithful to my Wife. I just want to go with you, because I want to taste the coffee that you made yesterday.”

“Then, wait for me to arrive at the coffee shop, SIR.” I said and turned away from him.

Nakakainis ang lalaking iyon. May asawa din pala tapos, gusto akong pasakyain sa kotse niya? Anong iniisip niya o nag-iisip ba ang lalaking iyon? 

Pinara mo kaagad ang unang taxi dumaan sa harapan ko. 

Pag-dating sa café ay napatingin ako sa isang sulok ng kawayan ako ng lalaking nakita ko kanina sa hopital. Nakakairita feeling close kahit hindi naka ngiti sa akin. 

Pag-punta ko sa counter ay mabilis na lumapit sa akin si Marie at Kimberly. 

“Ma’am, kanina pa nandoon ang customer natin. Nung lapitan konpo ang sabi niya ay mayroon siyang hihintayin at mamaya na mag-o-order.”Bulong ni Kimberly. 

“Ma’am, kilala po ninyo iyong gwapo customer natin? Siya iyong kahapon, diba? Close po pala kayong dalawa? Bakit hindi po ninyo agad sinabi sa amin?” Bulong na tanong ni Marie.

“I don’t know him and, especially, we're not close.” My simple answer to them.

I looked at the customer who approached us. I was shocked when I saw the man I had seen earlier in the hospital. 

“Good morning, Sir. What is your order?” I ask while not looking at him instead of the monitor. 

“I want the black coffee that was free yesterday.”

I look at the man. “Sir, it’s not free anymore.” I don’t feel him. I don't want to talk to him. I'm annoyed with him. 

“It’s okay, I still like that coffee.”

“Okay Sir, one hundred fifty pesos is all you will pay.”  

Pag-bayad ng lalaki ay pumunta na siya ulit sa pwesto niya sa isang sulok. 

Sa hindi maintindihan ay naiinis ako sa kanya at the same time ay patagong natutuwa makita siya.  What is this feeling?    

“Ma’am! Marie!”  Kinikilig na lumapit si Kimberly sa amin. 

“Why? What’s the problem?” Taranta kong tanong kay Kimberly. Ngunit base sakanyan mukha ay parang wala siyang problema, kung gayon ay bakit siya nag-mamadali nang tawagin kami ni Marie? 

“Alam ko na ang pangalan ni Sir Handsome busy customer natin.”  Kinikilig na wika ni Kimberly. 

Agad lumapit si Marie kay Kimberly. 

“Ano? Ano ang pangalan niya para ma-add ko siya sa f******k.” Kinikilig na wika ni Marie kay Kimberly.

I rolled my eyeballs. Pangalan lamang pala niya ang sasabihin. Well, I don’t care and I don’t have interest to his name. 

“Narinig ko ang kanyang pangalan ay,”   huminga ng malalim si Kimberly bago mag-salita.  “Reed.”

Napatingin ako kay Kimberly. 

“Ano nga ulit ang pangalan ni Sir Handsome busy customer natin? Medyo nabigi ako.” Tanong ni Marie. 

“Ang pangalan niya ay .  .  .  Reed.”

Reed? 

Sounds familiar. 

I look at the man whose name is Reed, and then, I immediately wipe my cheek when I feel my tears fall down here.

But, Why do I suddenly feel like I'm missing,  and pleasure? What does this feeling mean? And, why did my tears suddenly fall down?