Happy 3rd anniversay, The Spaces in Between! Happy 3rd anniversary sa first meeting nina Andreau and Zade! <3
Awow, two updates this week. Parang himala ata 'to lol. Anyway, ito ang POV ni Andreau ng first meeting nila ni Zade (aka TSIB Chapters 1 & 3). Awkward Andreau ulit lmao
If you're on Twitter, use the hashtag #Thing2Ch3 para mabasa ko ang reactions niyo yay!
Enjoy reading! <3 <3 HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Sana makatanggap kayo ng book-quet huhu
***
The One With The Meet Cute
Twelve years ago
February 14
If people could see Andreau Cortez now, aakalain siguro nila na sinagot ito ng nililigawan niya dahil sa nakakabulag at abot-tengang ngiti nito. It wasn't even his annoying artista smile (shows off too much teeth and super bright that it can blind you with its fake-ness) Mars sometimes complained about during his interviews with the press. Nilalabas lang niya 'yon kapag medyo uncomfortable na siya sa mga tanong ng reporters. As if they would notice the difference.
But the smile was sporting as he got off his car, though? Para sa mga espesyal na tao lang niya pinapakita 'yon.
Espesyal, katulad ng kikitain niya ngayong tanghali.
He's not meeting up with his secret girlfriend (or boyfriend), and of course, definitely not with Sarah. (Although she texted him thrice earlier. He never replied sa takot niyia kina Anya at Mars.) Nakareserve lagi ang February 14 para sa kanyang "original dates".
His parents. He never failed to visit his parents' graves kahit busy siya sa trabaho o school.
Full disclosure: Andreau Cortez loves Valentine's Day. He loves this cliched day not because of its commercialized grandeur (he totally hated it kahit may dalawang Valentine's Day movie na siya) and sometimes unrealistic notions.
But because...it's his parents' anniversary.
Too bad they weren't here to celebrate this day with him. He'd lost them to a fatal car crash almost nine years ago, an event that changed him forever. Hindi pa rin siya tuluyang nakakarecover hanggang ngayon. (Mukhang mahihirapan ata siyang makarecover. It still hurts every single day.)
"Hello, Mom, Pa," he greeted as he went inside his parents' mausoleum. Nilapag niya ang isang bouquet ng tulips, his mom's favorite, bago umupo sa harap ng mga puntod. "Sorry if I haven't visited in awhile. I'm busy with...things. Work stuff. Acads stuff. God, I hate adulting."
With a shake of his head, he continued, smiling brightly, "Happy anniversary to the best parents in this world. I hope you enjoy your time up there. Pa, don't forget Mom's favorite wine. She hates it when you get the wrong one. Did I ever tell you that time where she threw that cheap-ass wine you bought her? Dinilig niya do'n sa tanim mong oregano ata 'yon. She killed your plant, Pa. Not me.
"Mom, make sure Pa won't eat too much chocolate. Shit, ako pala dapat paalalahanan no'n. I secretly ate half of Tristan's chocolates earlier. Of course, you already knew that. Don't worry, ngayong araw lang naman ang chocolate binge ko. I deserve that after the stress I've been through lately.
"God, I'm so tired. Bone deep tired. Sabi nga ni Mars magquit na raw ako habang maaga pa at kaya ko pang umalis. Easier said than done. Gusto ko na ngang magquit at magfocus na lang sa studies. I really want to but...I can't let this go. Why the hell did I sign that stupid contract anyway? 'Yon talaga ang pahirap sa 'kin ngayon. The things I sacrifice for my studies. Sana pala nakinig na lang ako kay Marisse dati pa. Bakit ko ba kasi pinipilit grumaduate next next year? Sana pala tinapos ko na lang muna ang contract ko then doon na lang ako nag-aral ulit. Hindi 'yong... sorry for ranting about this, Mom. Pa. Kayo lang talaga ang napagsasabihan ko nito.
"Speaking of... I think Anya and I are okay now. 'Yon ang sinabi niya sa 'kin kahapon. But knowing her, magkakaroon pa 'yon ng follow up talk after the election. Don't worry, Mom, sinabon na ako nina Anya and Mars for you. I've learned my lesson the hardest way. I... I'm so embarassed. Parang ibang tao ang gumawa no'n at hindi ako. How could I do that? Maybe Anya's right, the loneliness of this damn job's getting into me. I shouldn't let that consume me but sometimes... sometimes...the sadness becomes so unbearable and I just want to make it stop. Getting involved with Sarah was a mistake. And I'm deeply sorry for that. Hindi niyo ako pinalaki nang gano'n. I'm sorry for disappointing you guys. It won't happen again. I promise."
Andreau paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. It's hard talking to his parents like this. Isa pa naman 'to sa mga oras na sana may sumasagot sa lahat ng sinasabi niya pero...wala eh. He couldn't open up to other people like this. Words fail him most of the time, sa takot niyang hindi maiintindihan ng iba ang iniisip at pinagdadaanan niya. Dito lang, sa apat na sulok ng mausoleum ng mga magulang niya, siya kumportable na maglabas ng mga problema niya.
"Shit, sorry. Bakit ba puro malulungkot ang sinasabi ko ngayon," he laughed to himself, wiping the stray tears off his eyes. "In other happy news, mukhang matutuloy na ang pagsali ko sa CinPinas, Pa. Anya and Lee found me someone yesterday. I'm not yet sure if she can do the job well. Mamaya pa lang siya kakausapin ni Dan at sana okay siya. Nga pala, crush ni Dan 'yong kakausapin niya mamaya. God, I wish ma-explain niya nang maayos ang docu. Baka kasi lumandi lang siya mamaya. Pa, multuhin mo nga yang inaanak mo para matauhan na. Sumusobra na minsan eh.
"Happy anniversary again, parents. I miss you every day. I...I love you both. Always."
For a moment there he felt less alone.
(He wished that feeling could last longer.)
***
Pabalik na si Andreau sa campus nang magring ang phone niya. He ignored the call, thinking it was Sarah. Hindi niya maintindihan ang gusto nito sa kanya. Last time niyang nakita si Sarah noong nahuli sila ni Mars sa bar at wala na silang communication after that. He took that as a sign na tapos na ang kung anumang namagitan sa kanilang dalawa. Balik co-stars and loveteam na sila. Nothing more. Papatayin na siya ng mga kaibigan niya kapag lumandi pa siya ulit.
(As if marunong siyang lumandi.)
He finally answered the call on the fourth attempt.
"What?" he hissed.
"Wag mo akong sungitan." Si Dan lang pala. Sana hindi na niya sinagot.
"Ano nga? I'm driving."
"Pabalik ka na ba sa campus?"
"Yeah, around 30 minutes nandyan na ako. Why?"
"Kakatapos lang ng klase ko. Sunduin mo ako ha."
Unbelievable. "Huh?"
Dan tsked. "3pm, remember? Sa Cafe Feliz? Subukan mong magpanggap na nakalimutan mo, isusumbong kita kay Anya sige ka." Dan should stop using this Anya thing as blackmail. Hindi na siya natutuwa.
"I didn't forget about it," he grumbled.
"But you're planning to bail on it, right?" Andreau could see the grin on his best friend's face right now. Gusto niyang sapakin ito sa sobrang inis. "Basta maayos ang usapan natin. Ikaw ang kakausap kay Zade."
"Akala ko ba ikaw na? You volunteered."
"Patay ako kay Lee pag ako kumausap. They would know. Driver na lang ako."
"Kala ko ba crush mo siya?" God, that juvenile word annoyed the fuck out of him. Crush, really? Since when did Dan return to his 15 year old self? "You talk to her."
"I don't fucking need a wingman, Dreau. Ikaw ang may kailangan kaya ikaw ang kumausap."
"I'm not comforta--"
"Arte puta. Pag ako nairita ako na gagawa ng proposal mo. Sisiguraduhin kong nakakahiya 'yon. Ano, reklamo pa?"
Andreau sighed. "Fine, I'll talk to her."
"Hay sa wakas! You're so fucking exasperating. Tatawanan talaga kita mamaya pag nagbackfire lahat ng kaarteha--"
He hung up.
***
Ears still ringing from Dan's incessant nagging, Andreau got off of his car, his mouth pressed in a thin line. He even slammed the car door shut, much to Dan's surprise. Mga 10 minute walk lang naman ang Cafe Feliz mula sa campus pero nagpasundo pa ang best friend niya. Bakit ba naging extra annoying ang mga tao sa paligid niya lately? Ito ba ang parusa ng universe sa kanya?
He brushed those unwanted thoughts aside and walked towards Cafe Feliz. Contrary to what Anya had said yesterday, wala masyadong tao sa loob ng cafe. It was only three in the afternoon; may klase pa ang karamihan sa mga estudyante sa campus. Ngayon lang niya na-appreciate ang daily coffee run (or Dan's landi coffee run) schedule na ginawa ni Dan. Andreau hated it when people gawk at him whenever he's inside the campus. Feeling niya nasa mall show o taping siya. For him, magkaiba ang buhay showbiz at buhay university niya. Mas gusto niyang ma-enjoy ang privacy niya habang nasa campus. After all, he's here to learn and get that Film degree. Nothing more.
But thanks to that stupid and very ridiculous Chismis Squad blind item last year, nasira ang kakarampot na privacy bubble na meron siya. Those months had been hell for him and Dan. Lahat ng galaw nila binigyan ng malisyosong meaning. Himala ngang hindi sila sumabog sa sobrang galit; medyo ill-tempered pa naman silang magbest friend.
So in a way, thankful siya sa existence ng Cafe Feliz dito sa labas ng campus, kahit na may halong landi at selfishness ang totoong rason ni Dan sa pagpunta nila rito araw-araw. This became their new safe place, and so far hindi pa siya nadi-disappoint sa drinks at pagkain dito.
Pero mas magiging thankful siya kung papayag si Zade Pascual sa proposal niya.
Andreau stopped behind a row of cars parked in front of the cafe and mentally reviewed his game plan for this afternoon. It wasn't a comprehensive plan though; wala kasi siyang kaalam-alam tungkol kay Zade Pascual. Well, he'd learned five things about her yesterday: she's born and raised in San Ignacio (an advantage), a freshman student (a disadvantage), magaling sa research, trustworthy, and....cute.
(No, the last one's not important. At all.)
Based from this limited data, the only game plan he came up with last night was...to use his charm. Hihimatayin siguro si Lee sa kakatawa kapag nalaman nito ang plano niya.
Lagi kasi siyang tinatawanan ng mga kaibigan niya kapag ginagamit niya ang Cortez Charm sa mga walang kamalay-malay na tao. Bihira lang niyang gamitin 'yon. Maging siya kinikilabutan kapag ginagamit niya ang "charm" sa ibang tao. It's a side of himself that he's not proud of.
In this case of Zade Pascual, he'd alloted 10 minutes -- pitching the proposal, some charming (he shuddered at the thought), and finally, eliciting a yes from her. May 5-10 minutes na allowance pa just in case may questions and/or clarifications. After that...tapos na. He'll get her number at magfo-follow up na lang every 7 pm sa mga susunod na araw. Once makuha na niya ang lahat ng kailangan niya for his research, he'll ask Mars to buy Zade Pascual a cake as a way of saying thank you and job well done. (The last part would still depend on her performance. Kung hindi pasado sa standards niya...well, baka isang box ng chocolates o isang thank you card na lang ang ibigay niya.)
Siguro sapat na ang game plan niya para mapapayag si Zade Pascual, 'di ba?
He glanced back at his car, only to find Dan glaring at him. "What?" he mouthed.
"Dalian mo pucha," Dan replied, glare still in place.
Fine. Asshole.
Ignoring the suprised look on the security guard's face, Andreau opened the cafe door, bell jingling over his head. He lingered by the entrance to look around the cafe. The whole rustic decor reminded him of the summer days he'd used to spend in their family resthouse in Baguio. It's almost suffocating in how comforting it was to be here. The tantalizing smell of freshly brewed coffee and straight-from-the-oven baked goods, the low tones of a Celine Dion saxophone instrumental played through the speakers. It was wider than he'd expected. The front of the cafe had two huge couches and some chairs, with plenty of tables and outlet connections for laptops. It also had a wall with shelves stocked with books and magazines at the far end. He liked the overall look of the cafe, save for the tacky red hearts and Cupid figurines that adorned the wooden tables. The dingy looking Cupid doll hanging over the register caught his eye.
Seriously, there's such thing as too much decor. Gusto niyang makita ang itsura ng Cafe sa normal nitong ayos. Siguro mas relaxing 'yon.
There's a huge blackboard behind the register, filled with a menu of drinks and pastries written in a tidy handwriting. He examined it for a second. Nice. marami pa pala siyang pwedeng i-try dito next time.
He made a beeline for the counter, heading for the register sitting between an assortment of cookie jars and the glass display full of cakes and cupcakes. Surprisingly enough, a girl in an apron stamped with the cafe name came through the back door, a pack of tissues in hand.
"Good afternoon, S-sir. Here's y--" She stopped speaking as the pack she was holding fell off her hands.
The girl instantly knelt down and picked up the tissue scattered all over the floor. Doon lang napansin ni Andreau ang isang familiar na paper bag at dalawang to-go cups sa may register. It was their order. He smiled upon catching a glimpse of the girl's -- barista's -- name tag.
Zade.
Ah, thank goodness. Mukhang kampi sa kanya ngayon ang universe. Time to execute his game plan. Dapat mapapayag niya si Zade Pascual in less than 10 minutes.
Sana.
(Hindi. Dapat mapapayag niya ito kaagad.)
Zade had her head down as she handed him their order. "H-here's your order, S-sir."
Okay, let's get this over with.
"Zade Pascual, right?"
Her head snapped up. That was his cue.
Andreau unleashed the full power of his Charm Smile on her. He knew he looked so goddamned pathetic, but this smile never failed him to get the things he wanted. Ever. That charm smile worked on nosy reporters who always ask him tidbits about his (non-existent) love life, on medtechs who took his blood samples, and on his very loving (and sometimes, wild) fans.
But this time, it did not work on Zade Pascual.
At all.
He blinked at her for a moment. What the fuck just happened?
"B-bakit?" The girl awkwardly nodded, eyes still void of emotion expression.
Oh.
Andreau felt like he'd been kicked in the chest for no reason. He saw...that. Whatever that thing was. One moment she looked like she's gonna faint at the sight of him, and the next thing...she looked at him as if he was yesterday's stale bread on display. She seemed very uninterested.
That was a first.
That felt weird. Very uncomfortable. Very...unwelcomed.
The disappointment that suddenly brewed in his chest was baffling.
He looked at her for a moment, his eyes scanning, drinking in everything he could. Her face. Her body. His gaze settled on her features, eyeing her mouth.
Dan had told him she was cute. Andreau begged to differ.
She's...she's something else.
He noticed how tall she was, merely inches shorter than his six foot frame. The nervous beat of her fingers tapping the cafe counter. And her eyes. That bothered him the most.
See, a voice sounded like Lee popped inside his head, hindi lahat ng freshmen patay na patay sa 'yo. Bahala ka na dyan, Dreau.
Oh fuck you, Leandro. He shook himself from his thoughts. Nadi-distract siya sa plano niya.
Andreau flashed that stupid charm smile again,wider this time, hoping it would elicit a positive (or at this point, any) reaction from her. Leaning over the counter, he almost whispered, "Can I talk to you for awhile?"
She looked up, frowning, squinting at him. "B-bakit?"
Oh. He asked for any reaction and she gave him one. Not the one he'd wished for, but still, disappointing.
Now that they were closer, he was all too painfully aware of the flush on her cheeks. Pero bakit gano'n pa rin ang mga mata niya, parang walang pakialam?
(Goddamnit. What'd he expect? This girl would swoon at the sight of him? Immediately say yes to his proposal?)
The rest was a blur after that; fragments na lang ang naalala niya. How the cafe manager came in and pushed Zade away from the counter. How Zade flinched when he accidentally gripped her arm. How the warmth of Zade's hand overwhelmed him when he dragged her out of the cafe. How his (stupidstupidstupid) heart fucking stammered the whole time.
He's so sure that stupid Charm Smile was still plastered on his face all throughout but deep inside? Andreau Cortez was very very confused.
***
He made Zade Pascual fucking angry at him, he's sure of that.
She didn't bother to hide her death glare for the rest of the drive. Iniwasan na lang ni Andreau 'yon at tahimik na pinractice ang inihanda niyang proposal kay Zade. Kahit 'yon man lang masunod niya ngayong araw. Nabalewala lang ang inihanda niyang game plan kagabi. Sa Cafe Feliz lang dapat sila mag-uusap, pero eto, paikot-ikot sila nina Dan sa campus.
Malaki naman ang sasakyan niya pero ngayong katabi niya sa backseat si Zade, pakiramdam niya nagsisiksikan silang dalawa. At bakit ba doon din siya umupo? Mas okay sa harap na lang siya umupo, at least doon makakapag-isip pa siya nang maayos. Tsaka takot siya na bigla siyang sakalin ni Zade rito sa sobrang galit. Mahirap na.
Dumoble ang kaba niya nang i-park ni Dan ang sasakyan niya sa likod ng Fine Arts building. The stony expression on Zade's face still remained.
Fuck, what to do now?
"Are you okay?"
"I'm not fine, okay?" Zade lashed out. The venom in her tone went straight right into his gut. That weird rush of disappointed started to brew inside his chest again. "You came in our cafe and dragged me out. Sa tingin mo anong okay doon, ha?"
His confusion turned to fear. At that point Zade reminded him of Mars, na tipong hindi tatalab ang kahit anong bullshit na sabihin o gawin niya.
Just...great.
Nagulat siya na hindi nabanggit nina Anya at Lee kay Zade na magkakaibigan sila. Hindi naman sa gusto niyang ipagmayabang ng dalawa na may kabarkada silang artista. Pero close naman sila kay Zade, 'di ba? Ni minsan hindi talaga siya naikwento kahi--
Okay, attention-seeking whore. Shut the fuck up.
"Ano na nga 'yong sasabihin mo?" Zade asked. "I don't want to be rude pero kailangan ko na kasing bumalik sa cafe. Hanggang 4:30 kasi ang shift ko, baka pagalitan ako ni Sir TJ."
Andreau glanced at the clock on his dash. 3:32pm na. Fuck.
At last, he went on with the proposal he'd prepared last night. Confident pa siya habang ine-explain kay Zade ang brief background ng CinePinas Docufest. Pero nang tumagal, unti-unting napalitan ng panic ang confidence niya. Zade seemed so bored and unimpressed with his proposal.
Dapat ba naghanda siya ng powerpoint presentation? Malay ba niyang visual pala si Zade! Apat na beses niyang chineck ang script niya for this propsal at madali namang intindihin 'yon. (Pinractice pa nga niya kay Tristan, his five year old cousin, 'yon kagabi at mukhang naintindihan naman niya kahit paano.)
Pero bakit gano'n ang asta ni Zade sa kanya? Saan siya nagkulang? What could he do to make this better?
Simple lang, Anya's voiced piped in inside his head. Dapat hindi mo siya ginalit in the first place. Malas mo talaga, Dreau.
He tried asking help from Dan kaso busy ito sa cellphone niya.
Ugh.
"So...there, that's my proposal. I hope I didn't bore you," Andreau finished, and promptly wanted to dig himself a hole and hide in it. Forever.
Less than 10 minutes pala, ha? Look at the mess you made, Cortez. What a way to embarass yourself in front of a pretty girl.
Wait. What?
"So...are you in?" His mouth felt unbearably dry. He was feeling ridiculous and strange and was convince he was coming down with something.
Zade regarded him for a moment before deadpanning, "Kelan mo planong pumunta sa San Ignacio?"
"April sana, since doon ako free. Inaayos ko na ngayon kasi wala na akong free time sa March. Well... given na tanggapin ng committee ang proposal ko."
"So...what exactly do you want me to do?" Zade's nose scrunched in confusion. Andreau wanted to tell her not to do that because...well..uhmm... He wasn't sure why.
Nilabas niya ang ipad at pinakita ang Gantt chart niya for the docu. "Eto sana, sa coordination ng mga tao doon. Also for the research--"
"Five years na akong hindi nakakauwi doon, Andreau."
Andreau blinked again. And again. That alien jittery feeling was returning to his stomach. And she just remembered to tell him that now? Five years?! Ginagago pa rin ba siya nina Anya at Lee? Oo na, pinanganak at lumaki nga si Zade doon pero kailangan niya ng latest data--
"Pero may contacts ka naman do'n, 'di ba?" he asked calmly. " Kailangan din kasi ng permit sa LGU to shoot. I need someone to coordinate with that. Also if may case studies din for the proposal. So...yeah."
Pinabayaan niya munang pag-isipan ni Zade ang lahat ng sinabi niya. Nang masyadong napatagal ang pagmumuni-muni nito, sinabi niyang all expense paid ang pag-uwi ni Zade sa probinsya if ever papayag siya sa proposal. It sounded like a bribe, but he has no other choice. Desperado na talaga siya.
When she said the words Fine. April, right?, he swore his heart almost leapt out of his chest. He didn't know exactly why, dahil ba sa finally, may chance na siyang manalo (at mananalo talaga siya) sa CinePinas, o dahil napa-oo niya si Zade Pascual.
Yes, maybe the first one. Definitely.
He badly wanted to hug her, but that seemed weird so he settled for a handshake. A handshake. Fuck him sideways, he really wanted that hug. So bad.
You just met this girl today, Andreau. What the fuck's wrong with you?
Since walang maayos na internet sa dorm nina Zade, binigyan niya ito ng flashdrive na may lamang listahan ng requirements at iba pang files na kailangan niya for his proposal. Nagulat pa si Zade nang sabihin niyang dalawang linggo ang immersion nila sa San Ignacio sa April.
Oh right, the immersion. She'll be there, too. Sa April na lang niya aalalahanin 'yon.
Para hindi na rin sayang sa oras, pinatawagan na ni Andreau kay Zade ang contact nito sa San Ignacio. Ayaw pa sana ni Zade, wala raw kasi siyang load, kaya pinahiram na ni Andreau ang phone niya. Lola pala ni Zade ang tinawagan niya, na isang barangay captain sa lugar nila. From there kung sinu-sinong government officals ang nakausap nila, nagbabaka-sakaling may available na data sa munisipyo. Hirap na hirap sila na makipag-usap sa ilang taga-munisipyo, pero pinangako naman ng lola ni Zade na papakiusapan niya ang mga ito kinabukasan.
Nang maayos na ang lahat, doon lang bumalik si Dan sa usapan. Agad na nainis si Andreau sa ngiti ng best friend niya, kitang-kita pa ang gilagid nito. "Okay na kayo? Tara, hatid na natin si Zade sa cafe. Baka nagwawala na ang boss niya doon."
"No need na," Zade said as she stuffed the flash drive inside the pocket of her dark jeans. "Tapos na rin ang shift ko. It's already 5pm."
Dan frowned. "Shit, sorry about that. Don't worry, kakausapin na lang namin 'yong boss mo bukas. Hindi ka naman aawayin no'n, ano?"
She shook her head, snorting softly. "He practically shoved me out of the cafe so mukhang hindi naman. Pero teka nga, friends talaga kayo nina Ate Anya at Kuya Lee?"
Habang busy si Dan sa pag-o-orient kay Zade sa kanilang barkada, inayos naman ni Andreau ang listahan niya for his docu. Masyadong engrossed ang dalawa kaya hindi nila napansin na halos mabutas ang iPad ni Andreau sa diin ng pagta-type nito. Seriously, he needed to smack himself out of this. May nakain kaya siya kaninang umaga kaya ganito ang pakiramdam niya? He'll remind Marisse to clean out her fridge, baka may panis na pagkain doon. Delikado na.
Once done typing, Andreau set aside his iPad and cleared his throat. The two immediately stopped talking and turned their attention to him.
What now?
"Ano, tara na?" Dan exclaimed as he started the car's engine. "Ihahatid ka na namin sa dorm mo, Zade. Or pupunta ka ba ng Fair? Pwede ka naming ibaba--"
"Wait."
It took him a moment to realize it was him who said that. Teka, ano nga bang sasabihin niya? Wala na, 'di ba? Nasabi na niya lahat ng gusto niyang sabihin kay Zade. Mamaya na lang siya magti-thank you kapag bababa na ito sa dorm niya. Ano pa 'tong wait na sinabi niya!?
Zade quirked an eyebrow but didn't say anything as he flushed and straightened himself out.
"Bakit, dadaanan ba natin sina Anya at Lee? May klase pa sila ah, tapos 8:30pm pa ang Valentine's concer--"
Then, without any thought, Andreau Cortez uttered the weirdest sentence he'd ever said in his life. Like ever.
"Would you like to have dinner?"
Uhm. What?
***
Part 2 ng February 14 ng AZ sa Chapter 4!!!! The (awkward) dinner! Hahahaha