"Hey you, what are you doing?"I asked the guy who's meters away from me.He was looking deep down the river where the water running down endlessly.
Napatingin siya sa'kin.My face turned into crimson when I saw how he smiled. "Hindi ako tatalon,"sabi niya, sounds like he's assuring me.
"It wasn't that,but are you sure you're okay?" I asked again.
He nodded."I am,"sagot niya.He scratched his forehead."Tama ba sinabi ko?"
Hindi ko pinansin 'yon.Tumuloy na ako sa K-cafe na katabi lang ng river na nadadaanan dito. I'm sure he was familiar-that I saw him somewhere.
As I entered the cafe, the door chimes signaled that there was another customer, probably me, but when I turned around, I saw him, with his big smile again.
"Hi," he simply said.
"Are you here for a drink?" I asked unknowingly.
"Hindi,"sagot niya."Palagi ka bang andito?Parang pamilyar ka kasi."
That was what I thought too."I am," I answered. "Madalas,maganda kasi rito.The ambiance, the vibe, the aesthetics, and the K-stuffs here."
"Pang-attract talaga sa customers yung K-pop,'no?"naka-ngiti niyang sabi.
"Yeah, I agree."
"Han,halika na rito."We both look in the direction where we hear, I assume, his name.
It was a fine lady in her casual clothes, wearing the apron of the cafe.
"Trabaho muna ako,"paalam niya,"enjoy ka rito."Tumakbo na siya palapit sa babae.Hindi pa rin nawawala ang ngiti niya kahit kausap niya yung babae.
Lumapit ako sa counter para umorder ng latte.Pamilyar din sa'kin yung nasa counter.Mabilis lang akong naka-order at umupo na muna habang naghihintay sa malapit sa counter.
A K-pop song is playing at the cafe. It was a catchy and refreshing summer song-but tapos na ang summer sa Pilipinas-still it was perfect because lagi namang mainit.
"Riselle,"tawag sa pangalan ko.Mabilis naman akong tumayo nang kunin nung Han ang latte ko at kumuha ng tray para ilagay do'n.
"Your order, ma'am, "he playfully said, or did it just sound to me that way? Nilapag niya ang latte sa lamesa."Regular customer ka pala namin?"tanong niya habang nakangiti pa rin."Kaya pala pamilyar ka,e."
Tumango ako."I almost thought you're a customer too,"sabi ko."I seldom see you here din kasi siguro."
"Paminsan-minsan dumadalaw ako rito kaya pamilyar na hindi ako,"sabi niya sabay tawa."Gets mo sinasabi ko?"tanong niya.
"I slightly get you."
He nodded and smiled widely.Umalis na rin siya nang tawagin siya nung nasa counter na lalaki.
They started chatting, so I glanced at my latte.I put the lid up and sniffed the latte,feeling the bitter yet sweet aroma.
I sipped while feeling the heat in my mouth go down to my throat.The ambiance of this cafe and the new song playing added to the sparkling feeling in my chest.

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