As If I Remembered

Chapter 1

"Ano?!" Drey asked before removing his hand from her mouth.

"Remember that time na nagpasama ako sa inyo ni Zach mag-audition sa Search for Miss El Riego?",
Excited nitong tanong.

"Oo naman. Bakit?"

Napahinto saglit si Zach said ginagawa at hinintay ang sasabihin ni Stella.

Stella opened her phone and showed the text message coming from the pageant organizers that she was qualified to join.

"Woooah! Congrats!" Masiglang bati ni Drey saka nito niyakap so Stella mula sa kabilang side ng counter.

Napangiti nalang si Zach saka nito pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa. He just listened to his friends talking about the details.

One of the customers cleared her throat. Doon palang napansin ni Drey na may limang customers pa pala na nakapila para kunan niya ng order. Agad syang nag-apologize at ipinagpatuloy na ang trabaho nito.

Pumasok si Stella sa counter at dumiretso kay Zach.

"Congrats." Agad na bati ni Zach nang makalapit ito sa kanya.

"Thanks. Salamat sa mga advice at help mo sa'kin.. Ang galing mo kaya magmentor." She said full of enthusiasm.

"Well... You can thank me by helping out. We could really use a hand here." Saka nito itinuro ang mga kapeng ready nang iserve.

Stella looked around and saw how busy the cafe was. She nodded then immediately wore her personalized pink apron before heading back to the counter.

"Ako na dito. Ikaw na bahala dun." Stella said as she took the notepad and pen then pointed at the trays to be served. Drey nodded in response.

Stella and Drey had been Zach's friends since they were freshmen. Actually, they're the only close friends he has. He never really had an interest with making friends since they moved to El Riego three years ago.

Hindi employee ng Oasis Cafe si Stella, but she likes to help her friends, especially in times like this. She even learned how to make cappuccino and espresso from Zach, just by helping.

-

Napaupo si Warren sa stool chair malapit sa bintana. Katatapos lang nyang magpunas ng mga lamesa at magligpit ng mga upuan. "Nakakapagod!" He exclaimed. They were about to close the cafe.

"Oo nga. Ako Rin gutom na gutom na. Quarter to nine na pero di pa tayo nakakapaghapunan." Stella said while taking off her apron. "Ganito ba kayo palagi? Ito ang unang pagkakataon na tumulong ako dito at inabutan tayo ng ganitong oras." She added.

"Di naman. Nagkataon lang na nagkasabay ng leave sina Alice at Miss D." Drey replied. He was still wiping the counter.

"My God! Adik na adik siguro sa kape ang mga taga ERU." She said as she sat beside Warren.

"Baka adik Kay Zach." Drey Commented.

"Siguro kasi ilang linggo nalang midterm exams na. Masyado silang busy sa requirements nila. Hindi lang isang cup ngkape ang kakailanganin nila para manatili silang gising magdamag." Warren said.

"Warren's right, Ella." Zach said as he emerged from the employees' locker. "And all of us should start reviewing. The cafe isn't the only thing that should keep us busy." He fixed his collar and sat near Stella and Warren.

"Anyway, I should get going. Baka hanapin na ako ni mama. Dapat kaninang eight pa ako nakauwi." Stella said before she stood up and walked towards the door.

"Salamat ulit said tulong, Stella. At congrats ulit." Drey shouted. She gestured bye before she finally left the place.

Drey finished wiping and immediately went inside the lockers room to change.