LA TASSE'E
Lyon, Rhône-Alpes, France
The restaurant was an ordinary bistro turned into an extraordinary dining pleasure. Its location was a few steps from the Place Bellecour. The entire place was just recently renovated by architects and it has everything now - a wine bar and a lookup table.
The bacchanalian frescoes and close tables gave it a cozy atmosphere and an undeniable charm to those people who wanted to experience fine dining. The charm continued on the plate with seasonal, but fine and tasty cuisine. There were musicians wearing black tuxedos, playing instrumental love songs using violins on the left corner of the area.
Kasalukuyan silang naghahapunan ni Claude sa isang hindi gaanong matao na bahagi ng restaurant. Kahit papaano ay hindi naman siya nakadama ng pagkailang kahit magkaharap silang dalawa. They had Pork fillet with dried fruit and hazelnut oil and a cold Côtes du Rhône wine on the table. They were seated on a table-for-two.
The man was a gentleman and didn't give any hint of being a madman. Hindi ito basta-basta humahawak sa kanyang kamay. Kung tutuusin ay ideal man na talaga ito. Bukod sa gwapo at mayaman, maganda rin ang ugali nito. Ngunit bakit parang balewala lang sa kanya ang mga katangiang iyon? Bakit parang may hinahanap pa rin ang puso niya?
Lorabelle's attention was closely focused on her own meal when she suddenly heard a soft hem. She automatically lifted her sight. Claude's gaze was hovering around her face and it made her feel uneasy.
He held her right hand and squeezed it gently. Ngunit pakiramdam niya ay walang dating ang hawak nito sa kanya. She didn't feel electrified like the way she used to feel when Steven was holding her hands. Shit! What the hell was happening to her? 'Di ba kailangan na niyang kalimutan si Steven? Bakit bigla na lang niya itong naalala?
"Lorabelle." She turned her eyes to him after hearing that baritone voice and their gazes met. She felt him squeeze her hand again.
"Lorabelle..." ulit ng lalaki.
"Yes, Claude?" halos pabulong na sagot niya habang patuloy na nakikipagtitigan dito.
"I—"
Claude wasn't able to continue speaking because his words were stolen by the sudden buzz of the phone inside her pink soft leather Gucci hobo bag. She swiftly pulled her hand back and dug her hand inside it. Mabilis niyang hinugot ang nag-iingay na gadget saka tiningnan ang caller ID niyon.
"It's a long distance call from Philippines," she informed him.
"Okay, answer it." The corners of his lips curved a charming smile. Hindi man lang ito nakitaan ng kahit konting pagkainis.
"Thanks. Excuse me."
Tumango lang ito bilang pagsang-ayon. Mabilis siyang lumapit sa bintana ng restaurant upang sagutin ang tawag mula sa kanyang kasamahan sa trabaho at kaibigang si Rosel. She pressed the "Answer button" and brought the stuff to her right ear.
"Lora! I'm glad you answered my call. Kumusta?" mabilis na sagot ng boses babae mula sa kabilang linya.
She felt different upon hearing the tone of the woman's voice. Para kasi itong nagmamadali na hindi niya alam.
"I'm okay. Teka, bakit parang kinakabahan ka dyan?" aniya at patuloy na nagtataka.
"Huwag kang mabibigla, Lora, ha? Huwag kang magka-nervous breakdown. Alam kong super love mo ang work natin—"
"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"
She didn't give the woman a chance to continue speaking. Kasi medyo hindi niya nagustuhan ang huling linya ng sinabi nito. She was on pins and needles that she felt the urge of needing to know what her friend was trying to bring out. May binanggit kasi itong nervous breakdown at trabaho. At oo, mahal na mahal niya ang trabaho nila kasi iyon lang ang tanging pinagkukunan niya ng kabuhayan.
What was Rosel trying to imply? Matatanggal na ba siya bilang regular employee ng kumpanya dahil sa pagpunta niya sa France? God! Nooooo! She wanted to voice a sharp, loud cry, but she tried to stay composed. She heard a deep sigh from the other line.
"Ano na?" medyo mataas na ang kanyang boses.
"L-Lora, kailangan mong umuwi rito sa Pinas kasi ibebenta na ni Mr. Divinagracia ang DLite Press," diretsang pahayag ng babae. Pakiramdam niya ay parang binagsakan siya ng sandamakmak na bomba. Para siyang namingi sa sinabi nito.
DLite Press was a publishing company which offered a range of customized publishing options which help people create a high-quality, marketable book. Its package included editing, cover and interior design, promotional tools, merchandising placements on major online bookstores.
It was the company where she immersed herself for five years and its owner was already selling it! She was Mr. Divinagracia's editorial assistant. Paano na siya? Paano na ang pag-aaral ni Jackie? Saan na siya kukuha ng pangkain nila? Halos maloka na siya sa kaiisip ng sagot sa sariling mga tanong.
"Lora,"
Napapitlag siya nang marinig ang boses nito.
"Rosel, paano na tayo? Saan tayo pupulutin ni Mr. D kung ibebenta niya ang kumpanya? Bakit naman naging biglaan?" Lorabelle felt those pools of hot tears trickling down her cheeks while she was speaking.
"He's diagnosed with stage two A prostate cancer. Kailangan niyang pumunta sa America sa lalong madaling panahon para maagapan."
Sukat sa narinig ay nakadama siya ng habag para sa boss na medyo may katandaan na rin. Well, Mr. D was a kind and a good boss to them. He didn't treat them like ordinary employees. He treated them like his own children. Puro na kasi nasa abroad ang mga anak nito at matagal nang namayapa ang asawa. He just loved his own homeland that's why he preferred to stay and manage the publishing company which was first established by his eldest daughter.
"Pero may mga empleyado rin namang mare-retain so may pag-asa pa tayo, Lora. That's why you need to be back here as much as possible," Rosel added. She knew that the woman was just trying to help her calm her emotions.
"S-Sige, Rosel. Uuwi kami ni Jackie within this week. Sana talaga kasali tayo sa mare-retain," she stated, hoping that they would really be retained. Sa mga tulad niyang hindi nakatapos ng pag-aaral ay mahirap makahanap ng trabaho na kasing laki ng sahod na ibinibigay ng DLite Press.
"Okay. May townhall meeting pala next week. Doon siguro sasabihin kung sino ang mare-retain. Pilitin mong umabot."
"Will do, Rosel. Salamat ng marami at tinawagan mo ako. Mahal pa naman itong long distance," wika niya. Palihim niyang sinulyapan si Claude sa mesa nila. Mukha namang hindi ito nabagot sa paghihintay.
"Sige, walang anuman. I'll just wait for you here. Mag-ingat kayo."
A fast busy tone followed, which was an indication that Rosel has ended the call. Inalis niya sa tainga ang cell phone saka binalikan ang si Claude upang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang dinner. While they were dining, the threat of being unemployed continued to dominate her entire being. Ngunit pinilit niyang maging masigla sa harapan ng lalaki para naman hindi ito mainsulto.
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PLEASE BE MINE...AGAIN (Completed/Editing)
Romance[WARNING: RATED SPG. THERE ARE SCENES THAT ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR MINORS AND READERS WHO HAVE SENSITIVE MINDS. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.] Lorabelle loves Steven so much, but she had to sell at a loss and leave him just to follow her dreams. Ngunit kasaba...
