The Monster Café (2021)

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

HANGGANG NGAYON ay naaalala pa rin ni Haven ang mga salita ni Soul. Ilang araw na ang nakalipas ngunit hindi pa rin nito makalimutan ang nangyari nang araw na 'yun. Sa sobrang takot ay nananaginip na ang dalaga ng kung ano-ano tuwing gabi. Zech was becoming worried. He knows something's up, but he doesn't pry. Haven tells him almost everything as he's her best friend pero ngayon... hindi niya magawa.

She flinched when a hand touched her wrist. Nabitiwan nito ang hawak na basahan. Bago pa niya ito makuha ay nakuha na ito ng lalaking may hawak ng kamay niya. Ang lalaking pinaka-kinatatakutan niya...

Soul Gaviola.

"You're spacing out." Malalim ang boses nito nang magsalita. "This is how you properly wipe the counter." He let go of her wrist and placed his warm hand on top of hers. Giniya niya ito sa pagpupunas ng counter. Haven's breathing hitched as he was too close. Why is he here?

"You saw something you shouldn't have, Haven Ibarra."

His words that day came ringing in her ears. Sa ngayon ay tinitiis niya ang pananatili rito bilang waitress habang naghahanap ng ibang mapapasukang trabaho. It's been a week since that incident happened and she's been searching for a new job ever since pero sa hindi malamang dahilan ay mukhang walang hiring sa kahit anong trabaho ngayon sa lugar na ito.

"Should I eat you now, like what I just did to that monster?"

Muli itong kinilabutan nang maalala iyon. That moment scarred her for life...

"Ibarra."

Haven snapped out of her trance nang tawagin nito ang pangalan niya. Wala sa sarili itong napatingin sa kanya na masyado palang malapit. Her eyes met with his emotionless ones. Dahil matangkad siya kaysa sa babae, he was looking down at her, checking her, probably even reading her thoughts. Ano ba si Soul? Ano pa ang mga kaya niyang gawin?

Sasaktan ba siya nito? Kakainin gaya ng sinabi niya noon?

"You..."

Bago pa maituloy ni Soul ang sasabihin nito, a familiar voice called her name. "Haven!"

Naputol ang titigan ng dalawa as Haven's best friend in his shining glory came jogging towards them. She gulped as Soul took a step back.

Nang makarating si Zech sa kinaroroonan nila, agad niyang nilagay ang likod ng kanyang palad sa noo ni Haven. Walang imik naman nilang pinagmamasdan siya. Haven doesn't know why he's here. He shouldn't be here!

Lumingon-lingon si Haven at napansin na kakaunti na lang ang mga staff na nandito pa. That's right, karamihan ng nagtatrabaho rito ay nasa morning shift kaya konti na lang ang natitira tuwing gabi. Buti naman, Haven thought. I wouldn't be too embarrassed if ever Zech decided to do something really weird.

"Wala ka namang lagnat. What's wrong with you today? Tawag ako nang tawag tapos hindi ka sumasagot."

"Eh? Wala naman akong natatanggap na tawag."

"Check your phone, dimwit."

"Alright."

She noticed Zech take a look at something beside her. Umiling na lang ang dalaga at hindi iyon pinansin. Haven slid her hand into one of her pockets and took her phone out. Binuksan niya ito at nakita ang 99 missed calls mula lamang sa iisang tao—walang iba kundi si Zecharias Gonzales.

"What the heck is this, Zech? 99 missed calls? Nahiya ka pang gawing isang daan, ah." bulalas nito habang ibinabalik ang phone sa bulsa. Wala naman siyang isinagot sa pantutuya ng dalaga kaya nagtataka nitong inangat ang ulo upang makita kung may kausap pa ba siya.