Something That Will Last

5 // Eerie Constantin

5 // Eerie Constantin

Dahil sa overwhelming feeling ay sa kwarto ako dumiretso para mangagat ng unan! Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang lakas ng tama ng isang iyon at nagpe-penetrate sa sistema ko ang mga pang-iinis niya. Sa aming magpipinsan, actually sa buong pamilya, ako naman ang pinaka-game sa asaran.

Binuksan ni Jules ang pinto ng kwarto at sumilip.

"Vie, can you contain your kilig muna?" I saw her eyes rolled. "We're going to check Jerrick's portfolio sa condo niya."

Kumunot ang noo ko and made face. "Bakit kailangan pa ng portfolio, magmomodel ba si Juju sa birthday niya? Eh iiyak lang naman 'yon."

"Para kang bata, Viennica!" inis niyang sabi.

"Para kang nanay ko," I mocked.

I laughed hard when Jules mouth went agape. Tapos ilang sandali pa ay namula na ang mukha niya sa inis. A stick magically appeared on her hand. Mukhang ihahampas pa talaga sa akin. Now she's really exhibiting a typical Filipino mother!

"Get up!"

Tawa ako nang tawa. Pinunasan ko ang mata ko bago tumayo. Mabait pa rin naman akong pinsan so I'll play into her hands this time.

"Pero seryosong tanong, Jules. Hindi ba pwedeng dalhin na lang niya rito iyong portfolios niya? Is he luring you guys to his condo?"

"Sina Les ang may gusto." Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "Tsaka Jerrick doesn't just take his portfolios out for sharing. I know it's very personal to him since he still doesn't do business."

"Okay, I respect that. Pero dito na lang ako sa café. Please? Tutulong ako sa ibang gawain. I promise, I'll cooperate! Just not on this one," I pleaded.

The moment my cousin sighed I knew I got my bail. Masaya akong napasayaw dahil wala na siyang magagawa. I giddily pinched her cheeks before walking back to the café.

Sa front door ng bahay lumabas si Jules. Lesly and Cara were patiently waiting with Jerkrick. Just before they took off, I peeled my eyes away from them to turn to this cutie barista in front of me.

"Pol, turuan mo naman akong mag-create ng signature drinks."

I carefully watched how Pol makes coffee. I knew Tita Lar's instruction all too well, but seeing how Pol works made me realize that he's a full-blooded barista. It's his passion.

"Do you even remember the last custom drink you concocted?" he asked in his deadpanned voice.

Ngumuso ako at humihip sa hangin. "Touché."

Noong unang pasok kasi ni Pol sa Mostaccio ay nagkakahiyaan pa kami. We were like kids who were forced by our mothers to play together. Only that our playground was not built with slides and seesaws. Ours were with coffee makers and cups.

Ang awkward ng mga first few days namin together. It didn't help that Jules didn't want anything to do with the café. Nag-click din naman kami ni Pol, matagal nga lang iyong process.

It happened one night when we were closing Mostaccio. Normal lang naman ang dami ng tao that day pero bored na bored kami buong araw. Parehas kaming tamad na tamad maglinis. The ceramic cups were clinking loudly as we washed them all because of our boredom. Hanggang sa nagkatinginan kami at parehas natawa.

When air between us loosened, he ended up teaching me some tricks. He even helped me make my own strawberry custom coffee. We became tight friends since then.

"What's it called again?"

Napaisip ako. "We didn't name it."

"How about Sunshine?" He exaggerated the word again. Itinaas-baba pa niya ang kilay niya habang suot ang nakakainis na ngiti sa labi.