HER
Hi Im Meisha Jill Perez, 22 years old. Graduated in Business Ad in UP. After I graduated I decided to start my business and as of the moment I already own a Coffee Shop.
56'Cafe
And I'm currently handling my brothers business too, a restaurant. He's out of the country so as her little sister since wala pa naman siyang asawa, I help him handling it.
"Ms Jill somebody wants to talk to you outside. "
Well Im busy checking the Menu for next week when Karina enters. Karina is one of the staffs here in Kuya's Restau
"Who? " I ask her without looking at her.
"He said po he's a friend daw po"
He? Sino kaya yun..
"Okay. Give me 5 minutes please"
I keep all the menu planning. And started to fix the table, Im actually planning to go na din because I still need to go my Cafe.
"Okay po Ms Jill" Karina then went out.
Paglabas ko ng office, I SAW HIM.
THAT JERK!
"What do you need?" I ask casually not even looking at him
"Hey, Mich, that's rude!" He smile playfully.
Akala niya talaga natutuwa ako sa kanya? As if.
"Jan Dave Ciena", I look intently at him, "Kung ayaw mong ipahuli kita ng pulis, umalis kana dito! Will you?!"
Nanggigigil talaga ako sa lalaking to, sa araw araw ba naman manggulo.
Well, meet him everybody, he's my bestfriend. He is Jan Dave Ciena. May alitan kasi kami this past 3 weeks. Kaya ayaw ko siyang makita. At galit talaga ako sa kanya
"Michiiii, sorry na kasi. I really mean it. Please, talk to me na"
"Pwede ba JANDAVE! stop acting like its my fault,"
"Im not..."
"Then, leave!"
"Mich naman..." He tries to hold my hand.
"Anoba Jandave! Hindi na talaga ako natutuwa sayo!"
I walk outside the restau kasi tinitingnan na kami ng mga tao. Nagmadali akong maglakad pa sasakyan ko. Well, as I was telling you, pupunta pa akong sa Cafe ko. And yes po, nagmamadali ako.
I saw him walking too... Sinusundan niya ako.
Nagmadali naman akong maglakad then I reach the door of my car. ----
"ANOBA!" Hinila at pinaharap niya ako. He pinned me on the car, "What's wrong with you?!"
"Im sorry, okay? I know Im such a jerk. I know I'm wrong, please let me explain naman oh, Mich"
Inirapan ko nalang siya. Im not gonna talk to him!
"Mich, I know na--"
"No! you dont! Stop saying you know, because you don't!"
I know siya ng I know, di naman talaga niya alam. Nakakainis lang
"Mich... Please, let me explain." Niyakap niya ako. So ako pa ang masama ngayon?
"Jandave, Im busy. And I still have to go to my Cafe, I need to work" mahinahon na ako ngayon.
"Mich, please I really miss you and I need you to talk to me..."
"Akala naman nito aping api siya" kung di ko lang talaga to bestfriend, sinapak ko na to. Kakayamot!
"Jandave, seryoso ako. I have to go to my Cafe."
"I'm sorry muna kasi"
Haaaaaaaaaay! Haynako! Nakakainis talaga siya.
"Oo na, oo na, okay na tayo, I'll listen to you, later, okay?"
Bigla siyang bumitaw sa yakap niya at tiningnan ako sa mata.
"Mich, Im sorry"
I smiled at him, irritatingly.
Tapos hinalikan niya ako sa pisnge. Ah! Abnoy talaga tong lalaking to.
***
56'Cafe
"So tomorrow just make sure that everything is set for the event ha?"
"Yes po"
"And don't forget to put all the necessary stuffs in the car. "
"Yes po Ms Jill. Mmmm, question lang po"
"Yes ano yun?"
"Is it okay po ba if we can already accept orders online. I posted na po kasi some of our delicacies and there are a lot of comments na po that they want to order na"
"Oh, I forgot to visit the page pala. Well I'm still planning to hold that platform kasi wala pa si Trishia eh, kulang tayo. Baka mahirapan kayo sa orders. Walk in lang muna tayo, as of now"
"Okay po, inform ko nalang po muna ang mga nag order online"
"Yes please"
Luckily my shop is a catch specially to some students kaya kahit kakastart ko lang madami naman ng bumili and I even got suki na.
By the way, I am launching a new product in my Cafe kaya may event bukas. It will be more of a sale sa ibang products and introduction sa isang product namin which is ang newly baked brownie with strawberry filling. I started baking that 3 weeks ago. I tried so much to achieve the right proportion of ingredients and thankfully na perfect ko na.
"Any other concerns?"
I ask my staff kasi parang inaantok na sila. It's already 7:00.
"No Ma'am" they all replied in unison. I have 5 staffs, one of them is on leave because of her pregnancy. They all have different things to do in my Cafe and they are so hardworking and respectful. I'm very lucky naman talaga.
"Okay, that's it guys, thank you. You can now leave"
"Thank you po Ms, babye po."
"Sige, ingat kayo"
"Bye Ms..."
Isa isa nang nagsi alisan ang mga kasamahan ko dito sa 56'Cafe.
Hinatid ako ni Jaydi dito kanina kaya I'm pretty sure nandito pa yun.
Nakita ko si Jaydi (si Jandave yan, tinatawag ko lang siyang Jaydi kapag di na ako galit, tapos siya Mich ang tawag sa akin) nagttea siya doon malapit sa counter. Nakatayo lang siya habang hawak hawak ang coffee cups at saucer niya.
"Jaydi, wala ka pa bang balak umalis?"
"Wala"
"Wala ka bang work and hindi ka ba hinahanap ni Tito?"
"Diba kasi Mich, mageexplain pa ako sayo?" Ibinaba niya ang dala niya at lumapit sa akin. Kami nalang pala naiwan dito. Nang nasa malapit ko na siya, hinawakan niya ang kamay ko.
"Kasalanan ko talaga lahat Mich. Im wrong when I choose her over you. Maling mali ako doon and I'm sorry"
Alam niyo kasi, may nangyari between me and his gf na ex na niya ngayon. Nagkasagutan kami nun dahil sa movie. Well, actually madami na kaming alitan nun dati. Hindi ko lang siya pinapatulan nun. Pero that time, hindi ko na napigilan pa. May nagtanong kasi sa akin nun, a friend of mine, kung whats the plot of the movie that I recently watched, I told her na ganto ang nangyari, eh kasama namin si Cathy ( yung ex ni Jaydi) kasi inaya namin siya na maghang out kami, to get acquainted. Pero sa bawat sasabihin ko, she keep on saying na 'hindi! Ganto yun', as in lagi niya akong kinokontra. But my friend supports me. Syempre, in the first place kaibigan ko yun. Kaya ayun, nainis na siguro siya. Nagtaray ba naman sa akin.
Actually, ayaw ko talaga sa kanya eversince. Kahit nung hindi pa siya gf ni Jaydi. Kaso naging girlfriend siya ng bestfriend ko kaya pinakikisamahan ko nalang. Hindi naman sa pagiging plastik, pero ganun na nga yun hahaha. Pero talagang ayaw ko sa kanya. Respeto ko nalang yun kay Jaydi, kaya pinapansin ko si Cathy. Tapos yun nga nagkapikunan kami tapos bigla niyang inopen si Jaydi. Sabi niya, "Insecure ka talaga sakin kasi boyfriend ko si Jandave" kumulo talaga dugo ko nun. Kasi dun ko lang din nalaman na siya pala ang nagpapakalat ng balita noon pa, nong bago pa sila na may gusto daw ako kay Jaydi at kesho inggit daw ako sa kanya kasi ako kaibigan, siya girlfriend. At andami pa niyang sinasabi na lumabas lang nung araw na yun. Imagine, sa harap ko ang bait niya but shes ruining my image in my back. Ang babaw niya diba? Kakayamot😡 so ayun, maldita mode ako kaya pinagbitiwan ko siya ng masakit na salita na narinig ni Jaydi kasi kakarating niya lang nun. Sabi ko kasi sa kanya, " In your dreams Cathy! Ako maiingit sayo? Sino kaya sa ating dalawa? Sino kaya sa atin ang naiinggit kapag kasama ko si Jaydi? Sino sa atin ang naiinggit sa career? FYI your just nothing compare to me, everyone knows about it. So dont act as if your good enough because you will never be. Magmature ka na nga, benteuno kana, am I right?! So stop acting like you're 8 years old because your face says it all. Can you just stop being so immature and childish brat?!"
Tapos nag walk out na ako. Iniwan ko siyang mangiyak ngiyak doon. As if! Iyak iyak lang siya kasi nandun si Jaydi. Anyways I thought, I dont need to explain to Jaydi what happened kasi kilala niya naman ako. I didn't do it just because I wanted to but because she pushed me.
Pero mali ako. Kinabukasan ayaw akong pansinin ni Jaydi kasi sabi daw ni Cathy, layuan niya daw ako. Hinayaan ko nalang. Whatever! It's his choice by the way, so why bother?
After 1 week nagbreak sila kasi nanglalaki yung babaeng yun. Pero di ko pa din pinapansin si Jaydi non. Abay pinili niya yung babaeng yun ah?! Kasalanan ko pa ba? Bahala siya sa buhay niya. Kaya ngayon ganyan yan. Gusto makipag ayos sa akin. Kahit papano magbestfriend kami nyan kaya okay na nga lang.
"Alam mo Jaydi... Alam ko naman talagang pipiliin mong paniwalaan siya kasi girlfriend mo siya eh, ang akin lang, mas matagal mo naman akong kakilala. I expect na kilala mo ako na hindi ako warfreak. So dapat alam mo na nasabi ko yun dahil may ginawa siya, not because I just wanted to. At alam ko na alam mo na ayaw ko talaga siya for you? Pero never ko siyang inaway, kasi bestfriend kita. Akala ko naman alam mo yun.. Nakakainis ka sa part na yun alam mo ba?" Atlast nasabi ko na para naman maintindihan niya ako.
"I know, Im sorry," Hinug niya ako. "Im so lucky that I have you Mich. I love you and I won't do it again. Nadala lang ako sa feelings ko sa kanya nun kaya pinili kong di ka kausapin. I just want to make her happy. But sadly, she found her happiness with someone else."
Naghug back naman ako sa kanya. I konw that he is still in pain dahil sa break up nila.
Pero at the same time, ang saya ko lang kasi okay na ulit kami. Gusto ko naman kasi talagang imikin na siya, pero mapride talaga ako eh. I thought, F.O. na nga talaga kami eh. Nakakamiss din kaya tong mokong nato.
Pagkatapos ng moment namin ni Jaydi. Kumain lang kami somewhere tapos hinatid na niya ako sa bahay. Actually, this isn't the first time na hinatid niya ako. He always do that. Kilala na din pala siya ng pamilya ko at ako rin sa pamilya niya. Well, 4 years ba naman kaming bestfriend diba? Hahaha.
Nung nasa bahay na ako, nakareceive ako ng text from Jaydi.
[Thank You and I miss you so much Mich]
[Whatever Jaydi]
"Meisha, do you and Jan--? "
"Yes Mom"
Alam ko na agad sasabihin niyan. Nakita niya siguro si Jaydi sa gate. Kasi antagal niya na akong kinukulit na magbati na kami ni Jaydi. Supporter yan siya eh.
"REALLY? Ahhh, Im so happy for you both."
Inirapan ko nalang si Mommy. Kasi alam niyo, pinagmamatch kami niyan ni Mommy. Kasi bagay daw kami ni Jaydi.
😒
Kaya minsan ayaw ko yan siyang kwentuhan tungkol kay Jaydi kasi sasabihin niyang inlove ako.
Nakita ko naman si Kuya, nasa dining room. Nga pala I have 3 Brothers, we are 4.
Im not the youngest though. I have 2 older brothers , then ako at yung youngest na lalaki . Ako lang girl. The eldest is there in California, Chef yun at siya yung may ari ng Restaurant. Then yung isa, yung nandito, Chef din, kaso wala pa siyang balak mag restau. Tinatamad daw siya. He's working in a 5star hotel. Ayaw niya daw sa restau ni Kuya kasi baka malaman daw sweldo niya. As if naman nanakawin Hahaha but anyways I still support her.
Tapos yung youngest nasa Australia doon siya nag-aaral ng Medicine. 3rd year college na siya. Actually nakatira siya kasama Mom at Dad ni Jaydi.
So nilapitan ko si Kuya...
"Hey, musta? " nakita niya pala ako,
"Okay lang, ano kinakain mo? " sagot ko
"Piattos, gusto mo? " inoffer niya sa akin.
Kumuha naman ako
"Okay na pala kayo ni Jan? "
"Yah"
"Bakit? " he asked while having that irita face.
Ay oo nga pala, hahaha meet Kuya Kenzo, ang ayaw na ayaw kay Jaydi. Kung si Mama, gustong gusto si Jaydi, eto naman si Kuya, ayaw na ayaw don hhahaha
"Mahal ko eh" biniro ko nga, kinidatan ko siya at tumawa
"Mukhamo! Oh, sayo nayan. Ayoko na kumain" bigla niya binigay sa akin lahat. Tapos naghugas siya ng kamay at umalis na. Baliw to si Kuya. Pikon yun pagdating kay Jaydi talaga. And guess what, dahil lang sa basketball. Talo kasi siya sa every match nila.
Tinapos ko nalang kainin ang piattos, at umakyat na sa kwarto ko.
*Phone rining..
Tumatawag si Jaydi.
"Bakit? "
Humiga ako sa kama
(I-- I, I, )
"Ha?"
(I just w-want to tell you that,)
Nag pause siya.
.
.
.
"Hoy, Jaydi, anong gusto mo sabihin?"
(Pwede ka ba bukas?)
"Para?"
(Ammmm, gala?)
Mmmm, baka busy na ako bukas kasi may meeting pa ako sa mga investors ng Restau ni Kuya. And also sa launching na bago kong product sa Cafe.
"I'll see, pero Im not quite sure kasi full sched ako tomorrow eh"
(Sige, tawagan nalang kita Mich bukas ah?)
"Okay, okay. Bye"
Then I ended the call. Nagpamusic nalang ako, at nag night routine na.
********
Napabalikwas ako ng maalala ko ang event na mangyayari bukas. May meeting pala ako with the Chefs of the Restaurant from all over the country.
Muntik ko na makalimutan itanong kay Kuya,
I grabbed my phone and dial Kuya's #.
KUYA Kian....
(Hey, honey. Napatawag ka?)
"Kuya, I have an important thing to tell you. You remember about the meeting with the Chefs?"
(Ah, yes. Is it tomorrow?)
"Yeah. And you know what, Im still confused about the menu that you gave. You have changed it right?"
(Oh! About that... Yeah, I changed some of the meals written there. I get the idea from the different Chefs I've worked with. And, well, since you are there, you can ask more details about the food from them directly. Im sure, everyone's there.)
"And then? What else would I say to them?"
(Ammm... You could tell them that Im starting a restaurant here in California. Ask them if they are willing to put there name in the menu planning.)
Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi niya.
"Hey? What? You're planning to put up a restaurant in California? Are you staying there for good? How about your restaurant here in the Philippines?"
(Im still thinking to give it to Kenzo)
"Ah? Are you sure about that? Kuya Kenzo won't even accept it."
(Then I'll make him accept it, time will come for that Honey)
"Okay. Sabi mo eh. Pero Kuya can you like give me some questions that I could ask the investors tomorrow? "
( I'll be the one to ask them the necessary things I want to know, honey. Just focus on the menu and ask the chefs about their thoughts about it.)
"Okay..."
(Take care)
"Yeah bye"
Toot. Toot. Toot.
Sinuot ko ang tsinelas ko at bumaba. I need to see Kuya Kenzo. I need to ask him to come to the meeting tomorrow because I have mentioned kanina, he's a chef. I'm sure he can help me.
Pagbaba ko nasa dining sila Mom and Dad, they are already eating dinner.
"Hey, Mom" tumingin naman si Mom sa akin.
"Hey, Baby... I thought you're sleeping na so I didn't bother inviting you to eat dinner. Cmon honey, let's eat"
"No Mom, I'm still full, thank you. By the way have you seen Kuya Ken?"
"Amm, I think he's in the Prayer Room. I saw him there earlier, why?"
"I just want to ask him something. Thank you Mom. Eat well"
PRAYER ROOM*
Sa bahay namin, we have this room. We have an altar here, we have a kneeler. Para lang siyang chapel pero maliit lang. We do family rosary here. Si Dad ang nagdesign neto. My Dad is so pious kaya gusto niya may ganito ang bahay.
Nakita ko si Kuya Ken doon nagbabasa ng book. I think he's doing spiritual reading. Pwede naman siguro siyang istorbohin noh?
"Kuya" parang bulong lang na sabi ko.
"Why?" Lumingon siya sa akin
"Can I ask something? Outside?"
"Okay" he close the book and he stand up.
Lumabas ako ng una. Then maya maya lumabas na din siya.
"Why?"
"Amm, I just want to know if you will attend the meeting tomorrow?"
"What meeting? Meron ba?" Kuya.
"Yeah.... " umirap ako sa kanya. "You know, different chefs will come and they're gonna eat in Kuya Kian's restaurant"
"Oh? Ah, really?" Kuya.
"Yeah"
"Nah. I won't come" naglakad siya pa dining room
"Hey, Kuya why?"
"It's boring, you know" Kuya.
"Ofcourse not! I will give the meeting kaya"
Nakarating kami sa dining room. Mom and Dad are still there. He get some wine in the ref, then he get the wine glass.
"I won't go Meisha"
"But Kuya, you have to"
"I don't have a restaurant. So why bother?" Kuya.
"But you're a chef"
"And?" Kuya.
"I need you there.. Kuya naman. What if something will happen na out of my capacity? Ofcourse I need guidance."
"Kaya mo yun, Hon. It's easy, you just have to say the menu and explain each one according to what it consist of. Then, you have to tell them you're not the owner para wala na silang masyadong tanong. Let your servers do the rest"
Binigyan niya ako ng wine. Ininom ko naman iyon.
"Honey, we'll go ahead ha. Goodnight baby" Mom kissed my forehead and I saw Dad approaching.
"Dad..." I pouted, it's like you know asking him to help me convince Kuya Ken.
"Alam mo, Meisha, it's not yours, so don't worry about it too much" Kuya Ken.
"Yeah, but its Kuya Kian's"
"Siya nga hindi yan iniisip eh. He could have just simply manage it by himself and then be contented. Pero hindi, he's there in California, finding another job. Seeking something he can't find. Tsk"
"I'll go ahead baby, I'm very sleepy and I'm very tired." Dad also kissed my forehead.
"Goodnight Dad" and I saw him head upstairs. My Dad is a businessman while my Mom is a doctor. They are both busy with their lives but they are very hands on to each one of us.
"Kuya, do you know about his plans?"
"Nasesense ko lang. But ofcourse I won't agree with it. I also have my own decisions in life"
Ngumiti nalang ako in response. Uminom ako ulit ng wine.
"Basta Kuya, please be there. I'm not here to ask you if you're going or not. I'm here to tell you to come" I smiled at inilapag ko sa harap niya ang wine glass ko.
"Thanks. Goodnight Kuya iloveyou"