So Close (Book 1)

Chapter 29

NAT'S POV

We're in this little restaurant called C' sa Little Italy in New York. Actually, ang humble beginnings ng restaurant na 'to was in Clark, Pampanga in the Philippines. It's the house of one of the most delectable panizzas you could ever taste. 

Anyway, nandito kami kasi gusto naming magpipinsan kumain. You know, for old times' sake. And other than that, kasama namin yung kaibigan ni Kuya Joe na si Daniel. 

"Impecable tastes, Natalie," sabi ni Dan sa akin. 

First time ni Daniel sa C' kasi lagi siyang nasa labas ng bansa, always checking on his family business na exports. 

Inorderan ko kasi siya ng lemon iced tea nila kaya bilib na bilib siya sa akin. 

"Drinks pa lang yan, Dan. You won't and can't stop eating once you'd taste the panizza." sabi ko. 

Kuya Pete started ordering lahat ng mga gusto namin. He took two panizzas, two heaping plates of their special carbonara, two rissotos, and two king prawns with mashed potato. Kung bakit tigdadalawa lang, malaki kasi ang mga servings nila. One spoonful of each at busog na busog ka na. 

 "So, Natalie, doctor ka daw?" Dan asked. 

I nodded. "Yes. Like Kuya Pete, Kuya Johan and Kuya Dereck."

He chuckled. "You're a surgeon, a diabetologist and a cardiologist? I'm amazed."

It was my turn to chuckle. "Internal Medicine ang akin. Perhaps the 'jack-of-all-trades' ako."

"Even more amazing." he said. 

"And you're a businessman." I told him. 

"Yes. Manager ng mga exports." he said. "Joe must've told you."

"Word travels around this part of the city."

"So I'm told."

Dumating na ang mga orders namin. First kong kinain ang panizza. I placed some arugula and alfa alfa sprouts before rolling it. I was about to eat it nang naramdaman kong may nakatingin sa akin. How I knew? I just did. 

I looked up and my eyes connected on the last person I wanted to see. 

Bryce.

He was with someone na hind ko kilala, not that I cared. He was looking at me with narrowed eyes and lumipat 'yon sa katabi ko. Kay Daniel. 

"Is this how you do it?" Dan asked me. 

I broke contact with Bryce and turned to Dan. I saw his panizza and I couldn't help but chuckle. Parang rinansack ang panizza niya. He had it rolled and yung mga arugula at alfa alfa niya nakasuksok sa taas. Mukhang fountain ng dahon. 

"Open it up." sabi ko. 

I felt Bryce's eyes were still on us. 

Daniel did. After that, kinamay ko yung mga dahon and placed them on their right places. 

"Ayan! Kainin mo na," I said. 

And so we dug in. Kumain kami at nagtawanan nang makita kong meron siyang dahon ng arugula sa tooth niya at may naiwang alfa alfa sa gitna ng ngipin ko.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's all welcome our crooners for tonight! Mr. Arthur Manuntag, Ms. Judith Alegarbes, Mr. Ito Rapadas and Ms. Gail Blanco!"

Everybody broke into applause. Then, the singers took center stage. I knew them. Well, not personally. Sila kasi yung kumanta ng jazz versions ng mga songs ni Barry Manilow at Burt Bacharach.