Common Point

24 | Coffee and Dream

24 | Coffee and Dream

Reggie texted Almira asking if she was busy and she said she's not. Moments later her phone is ringing and there she saw Reggie's name who is calling her.

"Hello," she greeted the guy on the other line right after she picked up the call.

[ Nasa coffee shop ka ngayon? ]

"Yup," she replies as she holds her tickler notebook, checking her list.

[ P'wede ba kitang bisitahin d'yan? ]

"Okay lang naman," ani Almira na napatigil saglit sa pagche-check ng notes.

"Okay," ani Reggie at paglingon ni Almira ay nagulat siya nang makitang nakatayo ro'n ang lalaki na kausap niya sa cellphone.

"Aah! Sh--" she startled, lucky her she stopped herself from swearing, "Ginulat mo naman ako!"

Ngumiti lang si Reggie at nag-peace sign. Talagang lumalabas ang ka-cutean niya kapag gan'yan siya. Nahawa tuloy sa mga ngiti niya ang dalaga.

He faked a cough as he cleared his throat, "Can I order please?"

"I'm busy. Tinatamad ako," ngising tugon naman ni Almira na tinalikuran ang lalaki.

"Ay..." he frowned in disappointment, "is that how you treat your handsome customer?"

She turned back coming face to face with the guy, "You're not a customer, you're a friend."

He tsk-tsked, "Ano ba 'yang pinagkakabalahan mo?"

"Hindi mo alam?" Almira replied directly looking at the young man while pressing the tip of her ballpen again and again.

"That's why I'm asking." Reggie sighed with his raised eyebrows.

"Binabawi ko na pala yung sinabi ko kanina," Almira rolled her eyes, "you're now a customer and not my friend."

"Joke lang, s'yempre alam ko..." He paused, trying not to let out his cute cackle, "magde-debut ka na kaya ka busy kasi inaasikaso mo 'yong party mo 'di ba?"

Almira couldn't think of any words so she just nodded in response.

"So, friend mo na 'ko ulit?" Reggie retorted with a teasing smile.

He received a head nod for the second time.

"Hay, hanggang friends lang ba talaga?" anas niya dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ng babae.

"Ano?" tanong ni Almira na hindi narinig maigi ang sinabi ng binata dahil malakas lang ng kaunti sa bulong ang pagkakasabi nito.

Umiling lang si Reggie at sinabayan pa ng, "Wala, wala."

Pagkatapos ay parang may dumaan na anghel sa bubong ng coffee shop dahil bigla na lamang silang nawalan ng kibo parehas.

"Coffee?" Almira's word as she decided to break the ice.

"Huh?" takhang ani Reggie ngunit 'di nagtagal ay nakuha niya rin, "Ah, oo, sige." Sinundan niya pa iyon ng mga tango.

"Wait," she smiled as she moved her feet away from the guy. He's just following the girl just by his eyes.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay dala-dala na ni Almira ang coffee na ginawa niya. Naupo silang dalawa sa table at pinapanood lang ni Reggie si Almira habang nagsusulat at nag-aayos ng mga invitation cards.

Si Almira mismo ang nagdesign sa invitation letter niya para sa upcoming birthday party niya. S'yempre with a touch of old classic ang design ng invitation niya. Mga nakarolyong papel na kulay brown, sinadyang sinunog ang gilid para magmukhang luma na nakapaloob sa kulay brown envelope na may design din na makaluma na nagco-complement sa kabuuang tema.