Lost Then Found

28

Anong ginagawa niya rito!? Napatayo ako at the sight of Leverest entering through my restaurant's front door. Nakita ko namang binati siya ni manong na dali-daling bumalik sa counter upang kunin ang plastic bag na naglalaman ng inorder ni Leverest.

"Hey," I don't know what got into me but I found myself walking upon his direction. Nagtugma na naman ang aming mga mata nang niliko niya ako ng tingin.

A cold breeze of air seemingly passed by me when he just gave me a nod. Parang tumaas aking mga balahibo sa panandaliang lamig na bumisita sa'kin.

"O ma'am, ako na po rito, mauna na po kayo." Saad ni manong nang mapansing nandito pa pala ako.

"No it's okay, I should at least show some courtesy to our last customer for the day." I sarcastically smiled to Leverest.

"Ah, e, hindi po ako marunong mag-ingles kaya sige nalang po." Manong giggled before handing out customer his orders. Tumaas ang isa kong kilay nang mapagtantong pang-dalawahan ang kanyang inorder.

"Oh? You eat two servings?" I tried my best not to sound curious because I really am not. Humalukipkip ako at hinintay ang kanyang magiging sagot.

"No, the other ones's for my night shift partner." He handed manong his credit card without even spilling me the least bit of a look.

I silently scoffed, so my girlfriend pala siya? Who cares? Mauuna na nga ako! Without uttering another word, I made my way to the exit at dare-daretsong sumakay sa kotse ko.

Hindi ko alam pero bigla ko nalang pinalo ang preno, causing the loud honk to echo through the roads of the silent street.

Nagtagal pa ako nang kaunti sa outdoor parking lot upang pakalmahin ang sarili kong hindi mapakali.

I started my engine but immediately turned it off as soon as I saw Leverest heading this way. Hindi ko alam ngunit sinundan siya ng paningin ko. He made his way to what looks like his car. Napatango pa ako ng kaunti dahil sa tabi ko pa nakapark ang kotse niya.

I was waiting for him to leave first dahil baka mapansin niyang nandito pa ako. Pinawisan pa ako ng slight dahil parang walang balak umalis si Leverest. I'm literally sitting inside this car, aircons off, at nakayuko pa! Magkaka-stiff neck pa ata ako.

Minutes later napagtanto kong hindi talaga siya aalis, at dahil hindi ko na natiis ay binuksan ko na ang engine, ready to speed off.

Ngunit agad din akong pumreno, sabay paglaki ng aking mga mata, nang muntikan ko pang masagasaan si Leverest. And because of the large impact I forced on the brake, my forehead hit the middle of the stirring wheel, kung saan nakatatak pa ang logo ng aking kotse.

Ngunit hindi ko na iyon pinansin at agad na lumabas to check up on him. My eyes spotted him sitting on the floor inches away from my car.

"Hey, are you okay?" I went near him, and lifted his chin. Not realizing how close our faces were.

"You're bleeding!" I exclaimed when I saw red liquid dripping on his face.

"No shit, you're bleeding! Natapunan lang ako." He stood up and this time, he was the one who lifted my chin. He carefully examined my forehead.

Pero imbis na mahilo pa ata ako dahil sa natamo kong sugat, ay parang hindi ako makahinga ng mabuti.

"U-uh! Can you not!?" I pushed him far away from me as much as I can. Nakita ko naman siyang tumawa bago ako pumasok ng kotse. I did some breathing exercises before starting my engine.