#Wattys2023 Winner: Best Characters Award
❝This was probably what people meant when they said they disappeared into a moment.❞
*****
College exes Laurine Antoinette "Laurie" Navarro and Simeon Lee Aguirre didn't really expect to meet again. But with...
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❝Lee was certain that it was the universe's way of punishing him for trying to outsmart it.❞
— ❁ —
LAURIE WAS out of sorts that morning. Her awful mood probably began with Theo who decided to wake up late. May café kasi silang dinayo sa Bacoor. Nilibot niya ng tingin ang interior. There wasn't anything special.
Parang pinagsama-sama niyon ang trends sa interior design. There were neon lights and moderncylindrical lamps. Kahoy naman ang sahig at furniture. For Laurie, there was no cohesiveness in the interior but she wasn't really in a position to judge.
Effective kasi ang kung anumang ginagawa ng Café Maurice. Matunog din ito online dahil sa partnerships nito sa influencers.
"Why aren't you eating?" Theo mumbled. Medyo salubong ang kilay nito. "I heard about Lee, by the way."
Her brows immediately shot up. Hindi naman kasi tsismoso si Theo. "Stefan told you, didn't he?" Tumusok siya sa kaharap na lemon meringue cake. "What exactly did he tell you?"
Theo sipped from his iced tea. "Not much. He just told me about him. Ex-boyfriend mo raw from college."
Laurie bit her lip. Uminom siya ng kape pagkatapos. Parang kailangan niya kasi ng pampagising. There was just something with the way Theo said that phrase: "ex-boyfriend from college". "Yes, and what about it? Offended ka ba na ni-reject kita dahil sa kanya?"
Kumurap-kurap ito na ikinatawa niya. "Would you stop saying that?" mahinahon nitong sabi. "Fourteen ako no'ng naging interested ako sa 'yo. It doesn't count."
"You haven't liked anybody since so I'll always bring it up."
"I don't even think I liked you. Natuwa lang ako sa 'yo no'n," bulong nito.
Napatawa siya nang mahina. "You haven't answered me, by the way. Offended ka bang sinabi ko sa lolo mo na ayokong makipag-date sa 'yo?"
Theo pursed his lips, thinking. "No, you had a valid reason. Besides, I don't think he was serious."
"I believe I never asked you but back then, no'ng nag-away kami ni Dad, did you think my reason was valid, too?"
He just stared at her. Hindi yata ito makapaniwalang tinanong niya iyon. Laurie just wasn't the type who cared about what other people think. However, she always wanted to hear Theo's opinion. Wala kasi itong paligoy-ligoy. Masyado ring madaling basahin ang mukha nito kada susubukan nitong magsinungaling.
Napabuga ng hangin si Laurie. "Is that a 'no'?"
"No," Theo answered. Tinusok nito ang kaharap na blueberry cheesecake slice. "I get why you tried to leave years ago."
