Chapter 5 - The night we never planned

ELOISE'S POV

"Then coffee it is."

Napangiti ako habang sinusundan siya palabas ng bar.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero parang ayaw ko pang matapos ang gabing ito. Maybe because I was finally enjoying myself, or maybe because I didn't want to go home and be reminded of everything that had happened earlier.

Ares opened the door for me.

Ang gentleman naman ni Mr. Stranger.

"Thank you, Mr. Stranger."

He chuckled.

"You're welcome, Ms. Vivienne."

Napailing ako habang nakangiti.

Naglakad kami papunta sa café. Maganda ang ambience ng lugar. Warm ang lights, at relaxing din ang music na maririnig sa buong café.

"Do you like this place?" he asked.

Tiningnan ko ang buong lugar bago tumango.

"Yeah. Ang ganda. Ang tahimik."

"Good. At least I finally found somewhere quiet."

Natawa ako.

"Naghahanap ka pa rin ng peaceful na lugar, huh?"

"Apparently."

Nakakita kami ng perfect spot malapit sa bintana at doon kami naupo.

A waiter approached us and handed us the menu.

"Are you ready to order, sir and ma'am?"

Tiningnan ko ang menu. Hindi kasi ako masyadong mahilig sa coffee.

"Can I have a green apple fruit tea and a slice of chocolate cake, please?"

The waiter nodded before looking at Ares.

"An espresso for me, and a sandwich."

"Anything else, sir?"

"That's all. Thank you."

After the waiter left, I looked at him.

"Espresso? Hindi ka ba natutulog?"

He smiled.

"I'm used to it."

"Ang unhealthy mo naman."

"And drinking green apple tea is healthy?"

I gasped.

"Tea nga, di ba? Ibig sabihin, healthy siya."

Tumawa siya.

Healthy naman kasi ang mga tea!

"Okay, fine. You win."

I shook my head, trying to hide my smile.

For a few moments, we simply sat there, enjoying each other's company.

"So, Vivienne."

I looked at him.

"Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Again? Ang dami mo talagang tanong."

He smiled.

"Should I stop being curious about you?"

Napatawa ako.

"Go ahead. Magtanong ka na."

"What's your biggest dream?"

Hindi ko inaasahan ang tanong niya.

Ano 'to, beauty pageant?

"Hmm... I do believe my dream is..."

I paused before letting out a small laugh.

"Eme lang! HAHAHA."

He chuckled.

"Ano nga?"

Napangiti ako bago tuluyang sumagot.

"Simple lang. Gusto kong magkaroon ng sarili kong pamilya. Yung tipong may matatawag kang 'my home.' Isang lugar kung saan alam mong may mga taong naghihintay sa'yo kapag pagod ka na sa buong araw."

I paused for a moment.

"And gusto ko ring mag-travel around the world."

He listened quietly.

"That's a beautiful dream."

Napangiti ako.

"Eh ikaw?"

He looked down at his espresso when the waiter finally placed our orders on the table.

For a moment, he seemed lost in thought.

"I guess I just want to have a life where I don't have to worry about responsibilities all the time."

I tilted my head.

"Yun lang?"

He nodded.

"Sometimes, simple things are the hardest to achieve."

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

Siguro tama siya.

Marami tayong gustong gawin sa buhay, pero minsan nahihirapan tayong abutin ang mga pangarap natin dahil may mga responsibilities tayong kailangang unahin.

"Then I hope you get that someday."

He looked at me.

"Thank you, Vivienne."

I took a sip of my green apple tea before reaching for my cake.

"By the way, bakit Vivienne ang tawag mo sa akin?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Because that's the name you gave me."

Oo nga naman. Yun naman kasi ang ipinakilala kong pangalan sa kanya.

"Fair enough."

"Would you prefer something else?"

Umiling ako.

"No. Vivienne is fine."

He smiled.

"Then Vivienne it is."

Hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti sa sinabi niya.

We continued talking about random things. From our favorite movies to the places we wanted to visit someday. I even found myself telling him about my love for baking and how I once ruined an entire batch of cookies because I accidentally used salt instead of sugar.

He laughed so hard at that story.

"Wait. You actually did that?"

Tinakpan ko ang mukha ko dahil sa hiya.

"Huwag ka na kasing tumawa!"

"I'm sorry. I just can't imagine how those cookies tasted."

"Believe me, ang sama-sama ng lasa. Kadiri!"

He chuckled.

"At least you learned something."

"Yeah. Huwag na huwag mag-bake kapag inaantok na."

Pareho kaming natawa.

And for the first time in a long while, I didn't feel the need to check my phone or think about what someone else was doing.

I was simply enjoying the moment.

Until my phone vibrated inside my bag.

Pag-check ko, si Gabe ang nag-message.

Lagot na.

Gabe: Elle, are you home yet?

Napakagat ako sa labi ko.

Nakalimutan kong mag-update sa kanya dahil sa sobrang pagka-enjoy ko sa pakikipag-usap kay Ares.

I quickly typed a reply.

Me: Not yet, Dad. Nag-café lang. Don't worry, I'm safe naman.

Gabe: With who?

I glanced at Ares before replying.

Me: With Ares. Yung guy na na-meet natin sa bar earlier.

Gabe: Okay. Just be careful. Be safe, please. Call me kapag nakauwi ka na.

Napangiti ako bago i-lock ang phone ko.

Hay, Gabe. I'm so lucky to have you.

"Everything alright?" Ares asked.

"Yeah. Gabe is checking on me."

"Gabriel?"

Tumango ako.

"He's probably worried because I haven't gone home yet."

Ares smiled faintly.

"He's a good friend."

"He is."

Inilagay ko na ang cellphone ko sa bag nang hindi man lang chine-check ang oras.

Past midnight na pala.

I should probably go home.

But for some reason, ayoko pa umuwi.

"Do you want me to call you a ride?" Ares suddenly asked.

Tiningnan ko siya.

"Bakit?"

"It's getting late. I thought you might want to go home."

Napatingin ako sa baso ko.

Uuwi na ba ako?

Siguro dapat nga umuwi na ako.

Tama. Uuwi na ako para makaligo at makapagpahinga. Gusto ko nang i-refresh ang utak ko matapos ang lahat ng nangyari ngayong araw.

But then again, I didn't want to spend the rest of the night thinking about Nathan.

"Pwede bang mag-stay pa tayo?"

Ares looked at me, seemingly surprised.

"Of course. We can stay as long as you want."

Napangiti ako.

"Thank you."

He nodded.

There was something about the way he treated me that night. He never pressured me to talk, never made me feel uncomfortable, and never asked for anything in return.

He was just there.

And somehow, that made me want to know more about him.

"Ares?"

He looked at me.

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"Bakit ang bait mo sa akin?"

He leaned back against his chair.

"Do I need a reason to be nice to someone?"

Napailing ako.

"Siguro hindi. Pero strangers tayo. You don't even know me."

He smiled.

"Then maybe it's a good thing we met tonight."

Napatingin lang ako sa kanya.

And for some reason, hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang dapat kong sabihin.

He held my gaze for a moment before looking away.

"Besides, I think you're someone worth getting to know."

Biglang uminit ang mga pisngi ko na para bang nilalagnat ako.

I lowered my head, pretending to be busy with my drink.

"Kakaiba ka talaga, Mr. Stranger."

Natawa siya.

"Is that a compliment?"

"Huwag kang masyadong masanay."

"Too late."

Pareho kaming natawa. Yung klase ng tawa na kahit sandali lang ay nakakalimutan ko ang sakit na nararamdaman ko.

A few minutes later, nagdesisyon na rin kaming umalis sa café.

Outside, the streets were quieter than before. The cool breeze brushed against my skin as I stood beside him.

"Thank you for tonight, Ares."

He looked at me.

"Why?"

"For keeping me company."

He smiled.

"Thank you, too, Vivienne."

Tumango ako bago umiwas ng tingin.

I should probably book a ride home. Sobrang late na.

But before I could reach for my phone, he spoke again.

"Would you like me to accompany you somewhere safe?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Saan naman?"

"Only if you're comfortable. I don't want you to feel like you have to agree to anything just because we've spent the night talking."

I studied his expression.

For the first time that night, I realized that he wasn't trying to get anything from me.

He was giving me a choice.

And that made all the difference.

I took a deep breath.

"Can we spend a little more time together?"

He looked at me for a moment before giving me a small smile.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

He extended his hand toward me.

"Then, shall we?"

I looked at his hand before slowly placing mine over it.

And just like that, I took another step toward the stranger whose full name I didn't even know.

I had no idea what would happen after that night.

I only knew that, for once, I wanted to let myself enjoy something without thinking about the past.

A night without promises.

A night without expectations.

Just two strangers who happened to meet when neither of them expected it.

A night we never planned.