Celestine's POV
"HAVE A GREAT DAY, MA'AM!" Sabi ko.
Nakangiti akong nag-ayos ng counter. I am so tired. Five am pa lang gising na ako. Now, it's four pm i have no break. Nasa restaurant ako kanina and now, nasa bakery na ako.
Kakaserve ko lang ng isang cake order, which is pick up ng isang costumer, yung kanina nga. Napatingin ako kay Daphne na nasa gilid ko. Nakangiti na nag-seserve ng pastries sa mga costumer.
Medyo maliit din ang bakery, pero kapag nabili ko ang lupa sa tabi nito. I'll expand it and maybe make this a cafe and bakery. Kasi marami din nagtatanong kung may sweet drinks din daw ba kami. Their questions are giving me an idea.
"Ma'am, ako na po diyan sa counter." Sabi ni Rosetta. Cashier ko talaga, pero dahil busy kanina tumao din ako sa counter.
I nodded. "Okay."
Nakakatuwa na mababait lahat ng staffs. Mabait din ako sa kanila. Palipat-lipat nga ako sa dalawang business. Bihira ako nasa restaurant dahil yung mag-asawa naman ang umaasikaso non.
I am more on baking here. Mostly some people request me baking their orders. Some of the pastries, hindi na ako gumagawa. Sila na, mga staffs ko. Kanya kanya naman mga trabaho namin dito, sadyang all around ako kasi noon naman ganon din ako.
Kahit sa resto, all around ako. Madalas chef, minsan waitress. Lalo na kapag maraming tao. Nakakatuwa at malago ang negosyo, nabawasan din kahit papaano ang mga problema ko sa buhay.
And also because of my new family, my problems lessened. They help me as I help them. Life was so hard for me and I'm lucky I survived all the challenges in my life, but some of it are still hard to overcome. I still have time, I think so.
"Ma'am, may costumer po. Special po kasi." Sabi ni Yuna.
"Sige, salamat." Sabi ko at pumunta na sa maliit na office ko. It's comfy naman for me and Daphne.
Kaming dalawa ang halos kumakausap sa mga special orders. Ito kasi ang mga customized cakes. May mga regular din kami sa labas.
Pagpasok ko ay nakaupo na pala doon ang mga costumer ko. I smiled at her and walked my way to my chair to sit down.
"Hello, I'm Celine." I said. Nasanay na rin ako sa Celine pati sa Cel. I mean nasa pangalan ko parin naman yun, pinaikli lang.
"Hello po, miss Celine. I'm Reese. I would like to have a customized cake po. Dinayo pa po kita." She chuckled.
"Taga saan po ba kayo?" I asked.
"Caloocan pa."
I was shocked. Ang layo ah. May sasakyan naman siguro siya. I nodded. "Do you have something in mind, ma'am?"
I took a pencil and may sketchbook. Well, doing this needs to be artistic. To make the cake amazing and appealingly delicious.
"Well, it's my mother's birthday. Gusto ko iregalo sa kanya ay cake. I wanted it to be two layers." She explained to me while smiling.
I drew a two layered cake. "Okay.. then?"
"Then, it should be like a flower theme. She likes flowers especially tulips."
I nodded. I drew tulips on the cake at ginawan ng design. "What will be the color po?"
"Pastel po sana and can I request it to be a money cake? Bigay ko na rin po now yung payment and cash na ilalagay po." She said.
I nodded and showed her what I drew. "Ganito po or you want me to put tulips here, as the topper." Turo ko sa taas.
Balak ko talaga lagyan, mas maganda kasi more color sa cake, pwede kasi fondant that I will mold into flowers or frosting depende sa gusto niya.
"Sige po, miss. I would love that." She said.
Pinag-usapan na namin ang payment and date. Nagulat pa ako na sabay sa birthday ni Kaye, anak ni Hetta at Jasper. I bitterly smiled, mabuti pa sila endgame talaga. Oh well, sabay ko na lang cake ni Kaye.
I always do this, giving them free cakes. I mean, they are my friends. I just do it anonymous. Hindi ko nga alam kung kinakain nila kasi mamaya isipin nila may lason o ano man. Kada may birthday at kasal, binibigyan ko. Regalo ko na dahil di naman ako makakadalo.
I sighed and looked at my schedule. Mabuti this week walang ibang order kundi yung kay Ma'am Reese. Isasabay ko na lang pareho pagpunta ng Manila. Hiniling din naman ni Ma'am Reese na kung pwede ideliver daw dahil medyo busy daw ata sila at nakakatuwa din na dinayo nila kami, so I said yes.
It was a a tiring week. I managed to finish both cakes on time. Emman is the driver and I am with Daphne here sa loob ng van. Papunta na kaming Manila. Papadiretso ko sila Daphne sa Caloocan at ako naman ay ibibigay ang cake ni Kaye.
Well, mabuti talaga post nang post mga kaibigan ko. Alam ko saan mga venue. Habang nakaupo sa van, I was scrolling through my phone, when I stalked Iya. I was surprised to see a post she shared. It was Valerie's post.
'Congrats, love birds!❤'
Napangiti ako. She's engaged with my brother. Nakakatuwa talaga, magiging tuluyan nang masaya si kuya. I turned off my phone and just waited for us to arrive.
After those agendas I had a busy time with the businesses. Sunod sunod nanaman ang orders and catering services. Nakakapagod pero kakayanin. I am so glad na hindi din kami nagkikita ni Dominico kasi nasa Europe daw.
"Mamita, what's this po?" Sorrel asked when he came over.
"That's a gift for you. Open mo. Iniintay lang kita pumunta dito." I said.
Shadow sat down beside him. He opened the gift and was surprised. He stood up and hugged me. I gave him my warmest smile.
"Thank you, mamita! I love it po! It's a robot!" He said and took the toy out of the box.
"You're spoiling him." Priston said.
I raised my brows at him. "Kesa naman sa iba ko ibigay pera ko. Pamangkin ko naman yan."
"Hindi mo naman kadugo si Priston ah. Hindi mo pamangkin si Sorrel." Si Daphne.
I glared at her. "Unless maging asawa ka ni Blaze." Ngisi ni Emman. Inirapan ko sila habang sila ay tumatawa.
"Sino po si Blaze?" Sorrel asked.
"He is mamita's ex." Donna explained to Sorrel.
"Donna!" I said. Tumawa naman sila.
"Ex is like old relationship po diba?" He asked.
"Yes, anak. Paano mo nalaman yan?" Donna asked him.
Sorrel pouted and point at Emman. "Tito Emman po kasi last time, may girl na lumapit sa kanya. They talked po saglit, sabi ng girl po old girlfriend siya ni tito Emman then tito Emman told me ex na daw po sila. Matagal na daw po wala silang relationship. Kasi si tita Daphne na daw po."
Tumawa kami ni Priston. Daphne raised her brows at Emman. "I can explain! Sabi ni Sorrel siya lumapit, totoo naman. At napagusapan lang namin na ako na daw pala may hawak ng resort, yun lang!"
"Siguraduhin mo lang, Emmanuel." Sabi ni Daphne.
Months had passed and nasa Manila kami ngayon. I needed to check on some of my branches here. Napag-isipan din namin na mag-walwal nila Daphne at Emman.
Pagpasok ng bar bumungad agad sakin ang amoy ng alak. It's been months since my last time drinking. Event pa yun. Puro ako trabaho talaga. Mabuti nagyaya si Emman.
Nang makaorder si Emman. We started drinking na. It was fun. Maganda din ang tugtog kaya I am enjoying. Habang umiinom ay may napansin din akong grupo ng mga college students na lalaki.
Nagtutulakan pa sila na parang mga tanga. Hindi ko sila pinansin. Siguro mga lasing lang. Umalis saglit ang dalawa dahil iihi daw si Daphne. Naiwan lang ako kasi tinatamad akong tumayo. As I drink my glass may biglang lumapit sa table namin.
"Hi, miss." Yung college student. "Pwede makipag-friends? I'm Ares."
Tumingin ako dito. "Celestine." I said.
"You're pretty, can we dance? Ilang taon ka na?"
"How old do I look like?" I asked him.
He smirked. "Well, you look young. Mga 21."
Natawa ako. Bolero ang batang 'to. "Guessing you're college student huh?"
"Mismo." Sabi niya. "21 na ako."
"27 naman ako." I said.
Nanlaki mata niya. "Wow, you look far from your age."
"Many say that." I said.
"Well, can I get your number?" He said.
"Is that what your friends dare you to do?"
Nanlaki mata niya. "You know?"
"I was once your age, malamang. Common na yan. Anyways, I'm with someone."
He smirked. "Friends, right? I saw you with them."
Umiling ako. "My boyfriend will come. Excuse me." I said and took my bag to leave.
The plain old my boyfriend will come line ni Celestine. Well, hindi ko din gusto kausap yung batang yun. Halatang playboy galawan at pormahan.
Habang naglalakad ay hindi sinasadyang may mabangga ako. Nagulat ako na sila Daphne at Emman iyon.
"Bakit umalis ka?" Daphne asked.
"May mga bata don, ayoko."
"Oh well, let's dance. Iwan mo si Emman diyan." Sabi niya at hinila ako sa gitna.
Sumayaw kami ni Daphne, habang si Emman ay nasa tabi namin sumasayaw din. I've never had fun like this after so many years. I miss going to bars here in Manila.
Halos ata lahat ng bar sa Batangas na puntahan ko na. Sampung taon din ako doon at noong college ako may mga kaklase akong walwal nang walwal.
Habang sumasayaw hindi sinasadyang umangat tingin ko sa second floor at may nakita akong pamilyar na lalaki. I was shocked to see Ralph! Nagulat pa ako lalo nakatingin siya sakin at nagmamadaling bumaba.
"Daph, alis na tayo. Nakita ko bf ni kapatid ko." I said.
She nodded and looked at Emman. "Tara na."
Agad kami umalis. I heard him calling my name! Agad kaming lumabas ng bar at umalis na doon. Hindi na nagtanong ang dalawa at bumalik na kami sa hotel na tinutuluyan namin ngayong gabi.
Months passed, I'm making my brother's wedding cake. Yes, ikakasal na si Kuya. Nakakatuwa talaga. Malapit na ako matapos dahil finishing touches na lang ito. Nasa bakery ako dito sa Manila. Dito ko na ito ginawa, hassle kasi kung sa Batangas pa.
It's nine am at mamayang 10am ang kasal. Sa reception na ako didiretso kasi kailangan mailagay ko ang cake doon bago pa man dumating sila.
I wore a cream jumpsuit that you can see it also like a dress. I also wore my flatform cream sandals. I put my hair on a clean mid pony tail and put some accessories. After umattend ng kasal, may aattendan akong event sa isang mall.
Nagtatago ako sa likod ng pader, medyo malayo sa reception. Dumating na sila at nagsisimula na magsaya. Pinanood ko silang lahat at nakangiti kong pinagmamasdan sila.
And I was shocked when the bouquet time came and there I saw Ralph kneeled down and proposed to my sister. A tear escaped my eye. I remembered that moment, Blaze proposed to me.
Napailing ako at tumalikod na. I am happy for my siblings. I went in the bathroom first to fix my makeup lalo na lumuha nanaman ako. Nagulat pa ako na may biglang pumasok sa cr.
"Celestine?" I was relieved to see my mother. Akala ko kung sino na. "You're here. Hindi ko alam bakit ako pumunta dito, yun pala may instinct ako na nandito ka. Hindi kita nakita sa simbahan. Pumunta ka ba doon?"
I smiled. "No, I just gave my gift kaya nandito ako. Yung isang cake po."
She nodded and smiled sadly. "Aalis ka na?"
I looked away. "I have no reason to stay, mom."
"It's your kuya's wedding, anak." She said. "Matutuwa siya kapag nandito ka."
I gave her a small smile. "I know, but now it's not the time pa. Please give me more time, I'm sorry." I said and left her.
In the end, I cried once more. Ang sakit talaga. Hindi ko na naattendan ang isang event na dapat nandoon ako. Umiyak na lang ako sa bahay. Umuwi na lang ako sa Batangas dahil I don't feel better here.
Habang umiiyak ay lumapit si Shadow sakin at dinilaan ang kamay ko. Pinatong din niya ang kamay niya sa tuhod ko habang nakaupong pinapanood ako.
I held his face and scratched it a bit. "I'm fine, Shadow."
He howled at me.
"Why can't I be happy? When will I be truly happy? Bawat ngiti ko, napaplastikan ako." I said.
Nagulat ako na lumapit si Sorrel sakin at niyakap ako. Dati naman kasi hindi ako iyak nang iyak, ngayon lagi na lang. Ang hina kong tignan. Umangat tingin ko makita na nakatayo si Donna sa harap ko. She smiled at me and sat down beside me.
"Stop crying, mamita. Its makes me cry din po." Sorrel said in his sad voice.
I caresses his face and he hugged me once more. Yumakap na din si Donna sakin at bumulong. "Everything will be fine, nandito kami, Celestine."
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ashbellezza