Written in the Stars (Estrella Duology #1)

09

Chapter 9

"Hi," an unfamiliar girl greeted.

Tinigil ko ang pag t-type sa laptop ko para tinignan ang babaeng nakatayo sa harapan ko. short hair with see-through bangs, morena skin, mom-jeans, and a simple white shirt.

"Ah hi? do I know you?" I asked, binalik ko na muli ang atensyon ko sa laptop. Nasa café lang ako, Dmitri told me na bukas ko nalang ituloy ang pag p-paint dahil may mag aayos sa bahay nila, sino ba ako para tumanggi. I'm not with Eivan ngayon dahil may date raw siya, and Lauren? she's too busy in her modelling career, pero magkikita kami mamaya.

"Actually no, itatanong ko lang sana kung pwedeng maki-upo dito since wala nang available na seat," I looked up again, nilibot ko ang mga mata ko para tignan ang buong loob ng starbucks. I don't want company but I also don't want to look and sound mean, I don't have a choice.

I put on my smiling face, "Sure," after giving her my permission she smiled like she just won a lottery. She sat in front of me, and placed her cup of coffee beside my drink... ang tapang ng amoy, now I'm rethinking my life decisions, hindi na ata dapat ako pumayag na umupo siya dito, let's just hope na she's not the type to share stories sa strangers, and by strangers I mean me.

I was busy typing an email for my co-workers about the plans on Dmitri's mural. "Nice watch," the girl in front of me said.

"Pardon?" I asked in confusion.

"You didn't asked for my name, I'm Melissa by the way, but you can call me yours," she smiled.

Call her what? Tinaas ko ang isa kong kilay, "Excuse me?"

Melissa laughed, "Joke lang, Issa ... you can call me Issa, ang seryoso mo naman masyado."

I sighed, "I just don't talk to strangers."

"I'm not a stranger, alam mo na nga pangalan ko eh."

"And you don't know mine, so you're a complete stranger," I tried to hide the sarcasm in my voice, I'm trying to be nice here.

"Alam ko, Nicole," napakunot ang noo ko at napatingin ako sa kaniya bigla nang banggitin niya ang pangalan ko. "How did— are you sure na hindi kita kilala? you look familiar, and don't call me Nicole."

"Hindi nga, kita ko lang sa ID mo ayan oh," tinuro niya ang ID na nasa leeg ko.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure, but we can get to know each other naman," binigyan ko siya ng seryoso na tingin, "Only if you want to," dagdag pa niya.

I just hummed as response, "You don't like Nicole? bakit naman ang ganda kaya, I guess I'll call you mine nalang."

A quiet afternoon is what I ask for, napabuntong hininga ako, "I'm actually busy, Issa right?" inayos ko na ang mga gamit ko at nag hahanda na para lumabas, "But we can get to know each other next time," sana wala nang next time, I smiled before leaving the café.

"See you next time, Mine! I mean Nicole," she waved goodbye, I sighed.

I chose to go home instead of going anywhere, I don't want another maingay na stranger, I still have 2 hours before lunch I'll clean my dorm muna. Hindi naman ganon karumi itong dorm... magulo lang. My clothes are un-organized, my paints are all piled up, even my laundry are all piled up, kailangan ko na rin mag grocery, simula nang tumira dito si Avery araw-araw na may nag luluto kaya ang bilis maubos ng groceries ko.

Binuhos ko ang lahat ng damit ko sa ibabaw ng kama, I have a lot of white shirt. Nilagay ko muna sa plastic lahat ng damit ko para hindi ito malagyan ng alikabok. I decided to start from my closet to my table, to my drawers, bookshelf and then outside my room.