#Wattys2023 Winner: Best Characters Award
❝This was probably what people meant when they said they disappeared into a moment.❞
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College exes Laurine Antoinette "Laurie" Navarro and Simeon Lee Aguirre didn't really expect to meet again. But with...
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❝Lee held back a 3-word sentence he preferred saying in person, not in a phone call.❞
— ❁ —
"THESE SHOULD go in the back," Laurie told Malie before kicking the café door open. Yakap ang isang box ng kararating lang na plastic cups, dumiretso siya sa coffee bar. Dahan-dahan niya iyong ibinaba. After that, she hurried outside to help Malie.
Malie carried two boxes and placed them on the cart. "So, wala talagang nangyari?"
Kunot-noo itong tiningnan ni Laurie. "You keep asking me that. Wala nga. We just kissed and slept, then I went here to help you."
"Okay, okay." Itinaas nito ang mga kamay, natatawa. "Nagtataka lang ako kasi biglang may pa-singsing?"
"It's just an early Christmas gift, Mal."
Matapos siya nitong pagbuksan ng pinto ay hinila niya papasok iyong cart. The door chimes loudly dinged, prompting some customers to glance in their direction. Laurie and Malie smiled sheepishly as they walked to the counter.
"Nagsabi nga pala si Cheska, pupunta raw siya mamaya. May isa-submit lang daw siyang requirements, then didiretso siya dito."
Stretching her arms, Laurie sat on one of the stools. "Okay, sige. Will she also help during the art convention?"
"Mm-hmm. May kilala raw siya do'n sa lineup ng artists, e. Matagal na raw siyang fan. Si Lee ba, in-invite mo?"
"I mentioned it last night but I don't think so. Babawi raw siya kay Charlotte." Dumukwang siya sa counter para kunin ang thermos sa purse. "Besides, I don't think it's polite if he attends. Baka sa kanya mapunta atensyon ng ibang a-attend."
Binuksan ni Malie ang ref. "Hala, Lauwie!"
"What?"
"May kasalanan ako."
"What?" Laurie quickly approached the fridge. Sinilip niya ang nagpalukot sa noo ng best friend. Sighing, she grabbed a plastic container. Sa loob niyon ang whipped cream na ginawa nila kahapon. "I knew we forgot something."
They were supposed to add gelatin to prolong its shelf life. Kaagad tuloy iyong umimpis at nasira.
Malie grabbed a teaspoon and scooped some of the whipped cream. Bago pa man nito maisubo ang kutsarita, tinabig ni Laurie ang kamay nito. Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang kaibigan.
Napamaang si Malie. "Bakit? Titikman ko lang naman."
"Mal, obvious namang sira na. God, you and your sweet tooth."
Tuluyan niyang kinuha ang teaspoon. Nang hindi tuminag si Malie ay inagaw na niya pati iyong container. After scooping the cream and washing the container, Laurie took her thermos. Nagmamadali niya iyong pinuno ng Americano. She was about to sit when Malie coughed behind her.
