The Unexpected Customer

    THREE days passed like a lightning. Today is the last day of the week. I'm wearing our white polo shirt, with a blue and green neckline, a brown knee-length denim shorts. Unlike my usual go-to hairstyle, I chose to be different today. I let some of my hair fall on my cheeks to look like a messy bun but neatly while I made my makeup look simple.

"The goal of supply chain management in the hospitality industry is to provide customers with the right bundle of time, place, form, and possession utilities. Meeting this goal efficiently, effectively, and sustainably is a challenge."

I'm taking down notes habang nakikinig sa discussion ng prof namin. Our subject is about supply chain management in hospitality industry habang ang susunod ay food and beverage operations management. Pagkatapos ng klase ay balak namin kumain ni Kate sa Angkong dahil pareho namin paboritong kainan'yon.

"We will have a quiz on Monday. Read your notes because it will be 60 items. That's all for today! Class dismissed!"

Finally, lunch break came. Hinila ni Kate ang dulo ng buhok ko kaya napalingon ako sa kanya.

"Oh? Bakit?"

"Kanina pa nagva-vibrate phone mo. Buti hindi ka nakikiliti?" tumatawang sabi niya.

"Busy ako makinig sa prof, 'eh!" Napakamot ako sa pisngi saka natawa.

"Good girl 'yarn?" I just sneered at her.

Aligaga akong kinuha ang phone ko sa bag. Napanganga ako nang makita ang limang text messages ni Khriz at isang text message na galing sa isang unregistered number. May text rin na galing kay Nanay.

From: Khriz Altamirano

Pop up bukas, G ka?

From: Khriz Altamirano

On-going ba class niyo?

From: Khriz Altamirano

Sama ka please :(

From: Khriz Altamirano

Bumawi ka sa ginawa mong pag-alis last time

From: Khriz Altamirano

My cousins will come

From: Nanay <3

Miss u ate q paopao i2

From: 0906******

Hi, Miss Ma'am :)

Magbilis akong nagtipa ng reply kay Nanay. Paniguradong tinakas na naman ng kapatid kong si Pao-pao ang cellphone ni Nanay dahil wala pa siyang sariling phone. Seven years old pa lang kasi si Pao-pao kaya hindi pa namin siya sinasanay sa gadget.

Nagreply na rin ako kay Khriz. Palagi na lang alak ang nasa utak ng mga Altamerano, naku! Syempre, huli kong nireplyan yung unregistered number na kilala ko naman kung sino ang may-ari.

To: Khriz Altamirano

Maawa ka naman sa kidney mo

From: Khriz Altamirano

Eto naman parang others. It's your day off, tom!

To: Khriz Altamirano

Masamang espiritu lumayo-layo ka sa akin

Pagkatapos ko magreply kay Khriz ay nagtipa naman ako ng text sa unregistered number. Sinave ko rin naman pagkatapos ang number ni Zach.

To:  Architect Zachariah

Saan mo nakuha number ko?

I thought he wouldn't reply right away because they might have an ongoing class, but I was surprised when I saw his number on my phone screen. Ang bilis magreply, ah!

From: Architect Zachariah

Connections, Miss Ma'am :)

Connections?! Anong connections naman? Wifi connection? Char!

"How's your set up with Benjie?" Tanong ko habang kumakain sa may gazebo sa BGPOP building. Masyadong maraming tao sa Angkong kaya nagtake out na lang kami at dito na lang kami kumain.

"Ice lang naman. Pupunta kami bukas sa Katipunan,"

"Sa pop up?"

"Yup! Pupunta ka rin?"

"Oo, niyaya rin kasi ako." I sipped on my ice tea na binili namin sa labas kanina.

"Sino? Si Altamirano, no? Anak mayaman 'yon, 'ah. Nanalong senator yung tito niya last election, "

My lips parted. "Oh? hindi ako aware na may kamag-anak siyang senator," sabi ko.

Alam ko naman na mayaman ang mga Altamirano pero hindi ko inaasahan na senator pala ang isa sa mga tito niya. Teka, Tatay nina Dwight yung senator?

''Palagi kayong magkasama pero hindi mo alam? Roommate mo 'yon diba? Buti sa Apartment lang kayo nakatira at hindi sa condo?"

I shrugged. "Well, sa apartment ako nakatira dahil mas mura saka mas malapit dito sa USTE. Hindi ako sure sa reason niya pero sigurado naman akong reasonable 'yon," sagot ko.

Nagpatuloy kami sa pagkain habang paminsan-minsan ay pinag-uusapan namin ang mga kung ano-anong bagay. After all my classes that day, I went straight to the apartment before going to work. Khriz texted me na hindi siya dito sa apartment matutulog dahil pinapauwi raw siya ng mommy niya. Ayos lang naman sa akin dahil safe naman dito sa apartment saka hanggang 10:30pm naman ang pasok ko sa coffee express ngayong araw.

''Welcome to Coffee Express! May I get your order, Please?'' I greeted every customer with a big smile.

Hindi ko inaalis ang ngiti sa mukha ko dahil naniniwala akong a simple smile can change someone's bad day. Naks! Pwede na siguro ako sumali sa Miss Universe!

''Isang cherry vanilla milkshake with an extra shot of chocolate drizzle and spaghetti meatballs.'' Inabot ng customer ang card niya kaya mabilis ko 'yon kinuha at ni-punch ang order niya.

"Here's your table number, Ma'am. Ihahatid na lang po namin ang order niyo sa table niyo, thank you." The customer just nod at me.

Kuya Jugs, our head barista went near me. ''Ariella, pwede bang ikaw na lang ang magserve sa table 14 sa second floor? May pinagawa kasi ako kay Nigel sa kitchen."

I nodded with a smile on my face. ''Sige, kuya Jugs.''

I brought the tray with chocolate mac breve espresso, cafe latte, and two slices of Nutella crepe cake while walking up to the second floor. Hinanap ng mga mata ko ang table 14 at nang makita ay mabilis akong lumapit doon habang nakangiti.

However, my smile quickly vanished when I saw a familiar customer sitting there. He's still wearing his school uniform while happily talking to a gorgeous lady with long brown hair, petite yet with a big cups, and based on the uniform she's wearing, she's from FEU!

Ako lang pala ang nilalandi, ah? Malandi ka!

I greeted my teeth with annoyance. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla na lang akong nakaramdam ng inis. Naiirita ako dahil ang laki ng ngiti niya habang kausap ang babaeng kaharap niya ngayon. I want to tear his smile off his lips right now!

Huminga ako ng malalim bago dumiretso sa table nila at ibinaba sa lamesa ang mga order nila. "Here's your order, Ma'am and Sir," I said with a forced smile on my face.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Zach quickly shift his gaze at me. His lips parted in surprise while staring at me. Palihim akong napairap dahil sa reaksyon niya.

"Enjoy your order po," sabi ko.

"Wait–" mabilis niya akong pinigilan sa akmang pag-alis.

I turned to him and smiled politely. "Do you need anything, sir?"

"I didn't know you worked here..."

Just like his voice when he found out that I was studying in USTE, his voice sounds sulking. Para siyang batang nagtatampo dahil hindi ko sinabi sa kanyang dito ako sa Coffee Express nagtatrabaho.

Hindi pa tayo masyadong close para sabihin ko!

"Uh... Sir, if you don't need anything babalik na po ako sa working station ko," sabi ko dahil nakakahiya sa kasama niyang babae na nakatitig sa amin ngayon!

"Zach, you know her?" She was obviously confused about why his date was talking to a girl like me.

"She's a friend," Zach answered while still staring at me.

Napataas ang kilay ko. Friends? Kailan pa? Hindi ako nasabihan na friends kami!

"I'm Karen. Nice to meet you!"

Matipid akong ngumiti. "I'm Ariella. Enjoy your order, Ma'am and sir," sabi ko ulit at tinalikuran na sila.

Bumaba na ako pabalik sa first floor nang maisip kong itext si Khriz. Itetext ko siya na pumapayag na akong sumama sa kanila bukas sa Pop Up.

I went back to the counter to take care of the customers when the man I was talking to a while ago appeared in front of me. Nasaan na yung babaeng kasama niya? Hindi ko pinahalata na nabigla ako sa biglaang pagsulpot niya, bagkus pinilit ko pa rin ang ngumiti dahil nandito siya bilang customer at hindi bilang Zachariah na kakilala ko.

"What's your order, Sir?" I said with a smile plastered on my face.

"Ariella,"

"Dine In or take out–" napatigil ako nang marealized kung ano ang sinabi niya.

I frowned. "Sir, may I take your order, please?" I repeated, trying not to show any irritant.

"Oras mo..." He answered.

Kung wala lang ako ngayon sa trabaho ay kanina ko pa siya nahampas sa mukha para damang-dama niya ang gigil ko!

"I'm sorry, sir, but if you aren't going to order, can you step aside so the others can have their turn?" mahinahon na sabi ko.

Napalingon sa gawi namin si kuya Jugs. I smiled at him, letting him know there was nothing to be worried about.

He sighed before he massages the bridge of his nose. "I'd like to order three boxes of assorted donuts, take out. Plus five cafe latte espresso dine-in."

My lips parted. Five cafe lattes? Magpapakamatay ba siya?! According to the Mayo Clinic, people can only drink up to 400 milligrams or 3-4 cups of coffee a day. While, Australian researchers found that drinking six or more coffees a day increases a person's risk of heart disease!

I faked a cough. "O-Okay," I stuttered. "Ihahatid ko na lang po sa table niyo, sir," napipilitan na sabi ko.

"Ariella, I'll wait for you until your shift end." I was about to say something, but he quickly disappeared in front of me.

Apat na oras pa ang hihintayin niya bago ako matapos sa shift ko!

"BABE, ang tagal mo naman maligo! Anong oras na, oh! Magdadrive pa ako at susunduin pa natin si Duke sa taft,"

Mabilis akong sumilip sa pinto ng banyo. "Anong ginagawa ni Duke doon?"

Khriz shrugged. "Lumalandi siguro,"

"I can't imagine na lumalandi si Duke. Baby pa si Duke sa paningin ko," tumatawang sabi ko. "Tapos na ako. Ikaw naman ang maligo," I said.

"Marunong na nga gumawa ng baby 'yon!" She answered before entering the bathroom.

I'm wearing a black halter corset crop top and tattered denim jeans. Hapit sa katawan ko ang suot kong top kaya kitang-kita ang nagmamalaking cleavage ko. Hindi sa pagmamalaki pero nasa semi-large ang size ng dibdib ko. Sabi nga nila, If you've got it, flaunt it!

I did my usual makeup routine before I sprayed my cheap yet worth-trying perfume. I smell like chocolate vanilla with flower scent. Wala akong suot na kahit anong jewelries bukod sa silver earrings na regalo ni Khriz sa akin last christmas.

"What's your perfume, ate?" Nilingon ko si Duke na nakaupo sa likod. Ako kasi ang nakaupo sa passenger seat.

I grinned. "Bakit? Mabaho ba?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

He shook his head. "Nope. Actually, I like your scent."

"Totoo ba?! But this is an inexpensive perfume." I tucked my hair behind my ears. "Nabili ko lang ito for less than three hundred pesos."

"Seriously? Why it's so cheap yet smells nice?" He looks amused while asking.

"May mga affordable naman pero worth it na perfume, no. Nabili ko 'tong sa'kin sa online,"

"I ordered my perfumes online, too." Sagot ni Khriz.

"I also bought mine online! And my perfumes aren't that expensive. Less than five thousands are cheap naman, diba?"

Napaawang ang bibig ko at ilang beses akong napailing. "Baby ka pa talaga," sabi ko and he proved it to me by pouting.

Cute!

"Baby, amp! Marunong na nga gumawa ng baby 'yan," sagot ni Khriz. I slapped his arms.

"Huwag ka nga ganyan kay Duke," sabi ko at pinandilatan siya ng mata.

Khriz stopped teasing Duke when we arrived at our destination. Eto palang ang pangalawang beses na nakakapunta ako dito sa Pop Up dahil madalas kami sa BGC. Hindi rin naman kasi ako palaging sumasama sa kanila dahil madalas ay busy ako sa work.

Hindi na nakakapagtaka na ang daming conyo dito dahil malapit ang Ateneo dito. Nakita na kaagad namin ang mga pinsan nina Khriz at Duke sa iisang table. May nakalapag na kaagad na tatlong bucket ng alak. Mabuti na lang at uminom na kaagad ako ng gamot kanina.

"Finally! I thought hindi na kayo makakarating!" Salubong ni Hazel.

"Sinundo pa namin itong bunso natin!" Sagot ni Khriz pagkaupo namin. "Where's the San Mig, Dwight?"

"Here," Napakurap-kurap ako nang ilapag ni Dwight ang tatlong San Mig Apple sa harapan ko. "That's for you since you don't drink hard liquors," Sabi niya.

I smiled at him. "Thank you! Pero balak ko pa naman sana uminom ngayon ng marami!"

They all stared at me in unison.

"What's with you, babe?" Tanong ni Khriz.

"Brokenhearted ka ba?" Hazel asked me.

Napailing ako. "Hindi no! Gusto ko lang subukan tutal kasama ko naman kayo, eh."

Khriz lifted her eyebrows at me. "Basta isang bote lang, ok? You have your San Mig naman,"

"Oo naman," I nodded at her.

Nagsimula na akong uminom habang nakikinig sa kwento ni Hazel tungkol sa kung paano siya ireject ng crush niya na taga Ateneo. I just found out that she's studying in Ateneo while Duke and Dustin are studying in La Salle. Hindi ko naman naiwasan na hindi magulat nang malaman na balak ni Duke maging Doctor just like her mom, and Khriz's mom.

"So, pangarap mo maging Fashion Designer?" Tanong ko kay Hazel.

"Yup, And I'm planning to establish my own clothing line soon," Nakangiti siya habang sinasabi 'yon kaya napangiti rin ako.

"Hindi talaga dadating si Dustin?" Tanong ni Khriz.

"He's busy," matipid na sagot ni Dwight.

"Busy with girls?" Khriz sarcastically fired back. "So, tayong apat lang? Boring naman!"

"I already texted some of my friends, and they're coming,"

"Great! The more, the merrier!"

Dwight shrugged. "Khriz, no hookups with my friends, please?"

Khriz chuckled. "Try ko!"

"Harot mo," bulong ko.

"Hanapan kita ng haharutin later," She whispered back at nagulat ako nang dilaan niya ang tenga ko. 

"Khrizanta, Kadiri ka!" I pinched her waist, which made her wince.

Nagpatuloy ulit kami sa pag-inom habang nakikinig sa bawat kwento ng bawat isa. Habang mas lumalalim ang gabi, mas marami akong nalalaman tungkol sa mga Altamirano. And all I can say is that they're wealthy, and their family members were all professionals.

I just wanted to plunge into my seat when a familiar almond-brown eye met my gaze. My lips parted in aghast while watching him walk towards our table.

He's wearing a Khaki polo shirt, white cargo pants, an ebony wristwatch, and white sneakers. He's also wearing a gold chain necklace while his hair is in sleek back. He looks so extra handsome with his looks tonight kaya hindi na ako nagtataka kung bakit maraming babae ang napapalingon sa kanya.

Wait!

If he's walking towards our table with those two guys beside him, it means... Sila yung mga kaibigan na pinapunta ni Dwight?!

When I shifted my gaze, I was startled to find that Dwight was staring at me. "B-Bakit? May dumi ba ako sa mukha?" Tanong ko.

Slowly, the side of his lips curved. "Do you want to drink more?"

Without hesitation, I nodded. "S-Sige. Thanks," he just nodded at me.

"Dwight, pare!"

Sabay na napalingon ang magpipinsan sa bagong dating na mga lalaki. Kitang-kita ko kung paano lumaki ang ngiti ni Khriz habang nagpapakilala ang tatlong kaibigan ni Dwight. It looks like she found someone to flirt with tonight.

"This is Hazel, Duke, and Khriz, my cousins. She's Ariella, a friend of us," Dwight introduced us.

Hunter, Zachariah, Leoniel.

Leoniel is the only person studying in La Salle habang ang dalawa ay kaklase ni Dwight. Naupo sa harapan ko si Zach and his lips curved up into a smirk when our gaze met.

I averted my gaze at the same time I grabbed my liquor and drank it. The scene last night in my workplace suddenly flashes black.

AKO mismo ang gumawa ng order ni Zach. I asked Pearl to watch the counter for me. Maingat kong dinala sa magkabilang kamay ang tray na may lamang espresso at dahan-dahan umakyat papunta sa second floor.

I didn't expect to see him alone at their table earlier. The girl his with is nowhere to be found.

Nagkibit-balikat ako at lumapit na sa kanya. I slowly put his order above the table. "Enjoy your order, Sir," sabi ko.

I saw him smiled at me. ''Thanks, Miss Ma'am. But quit the formality and call me Zach."

I scoffed.

"Sir, nasa trabaho ako ngayon. I need to be professional. So, if you don't mind? I'll go ahead." Hahakbang na sana ako paalis nang may maalala akong kailangan kong sabihin. Humarap ulit ako sa kanya. "Don't drink the coffee you ordered in one sitting, or else you might have a heart attack,"

The corner of his lips rose. "Are you concern about me?" He playfully smiled at me.

"Sinasabi ko lang, Sir."

He chuckled. "Really? Sobrang bait mo naman," he grinned.

I scowled. "Sinasabi ko nga lang..."

"Naniniwala naman akong hindi ka talaga nag-aalala sa akin," he showed me a teasing smile.

I greeted my teeth. "Zachariah! Stop teasing me, will you?"

His lips twitched. "Damn. I really like it when you get annoyed every time I tease you,"

Kapag talaga ako napikon, hahalikan ko siya!

Char!

I glared at him. "Ewan ko sayo!"

"Chill milady," I'm still glaring at him. "Let's talk later when you finish your work, okay?"

My eyebrows creased. "Why do we need talk? Ano bang kailangan mo sa akin? If you're thinking about your things, then I'll bring them back to you on Monday. For now, umuwi kana and stop pestering me."

He frowned. Ang makakapal niyang mga kilay ay halos mag-isang linya na.

"W-Why are you always pushing me away?"

I gulped because suddenly his stares became heavy, which cause me to avert my gaze.

"K-Kasi hindi naman tayo close para hintayin mo akong matapos sa trabaho. Saka hindi naman tayo magkaibigan, diba? So, don't waste your time waiting for me." Mabilis ko na siyang tinalikuran dala ang walang lamang tray.

Sigurado naman uuwi na rin siya pagkatapos ng mga sinabi ko, diba? Hindi naman talaga kami magkaibigan kaya hindi niya na kailangan magsayang ng oras para hintayin akong matapos sa trabaho.

Hindi na siya mawala sa isip ko hanggang sa matapos ang shift ko. Nagpalit na ako ng damit at binalik sa loob ng locker ang apron ko bago ako lumabas ng shop. But to my surprised, Zach was still waiting for me in front of Coffee Express despite what I'd said earlier and after four hours of my shift!

My eyes widened while staring at him. "Gago ka ba? Hinintay mo talaga ako?!" I yelled out of frustration.

Hindi niya pinansin ang pagsigaw ko bagkus, He showed me his boyish smile before he opened the side door of his car for me. Ano bang nakain ng lalaking ito at hinintay niya pa ako ng apat na oras kahit hindi naman kami close?

Crush ba niya ako?

"It's already late and dark. It's not safe for you to go home alone." He took a deep breath. "So, I'll take you home to make sure you're safe." His voice is full of authority, making me nod like a puppy.

*****