Sugar in my Coffee Cup

Intro: 

   I never thought that a time like this would come. Me, sitting on the couch one morning, cuddling with the person I never thought I would fall in love with. It was like a fairytale. A love story that I once stopped believing in. A whisp of heaven on earth. Staring at his face, tracing every inch with my fingers. Yes, indeed. I never had this feeling for a while. And now, Here, beside me, a man that I would lay my eyes on. Jino.
 
   It was one hot afternoon, Nag lalakad ako papuntang patio para imeet ang mga kaibigan kong si Jessica and Pia. Matagal ko ng kasama ang mga ito. Almost 4 years na. Most of the time, kami kami lang talaga ang magkakasama. We go shopping together, travel together, party together. We were inseperable. Maybe we just prefer living this way kasi parepareho naman kaming single. So we dont really bother each others lives.
 
   We practically have time in our own hands. Pia was the oldest among the group. She's 26. She 's been single for quite a while. Yung Boyfriend niya kasi, nagpakasal sa ibang girl. I mean. I really dont know her story. That's all I got. She's a little reserved, kaya hindi masyadong alam yung storya on why she is single.
 
   The youngest is Jessica. She's 23. Siya naman, naging single not long after na umalis yung last boyfriend niya papuntang Middle East. I pretty much know how they become a couple, but the reason of break up was not clear to me. Kaibigan ko din kasi yung lalaki. So ni-respeto ko nalang yung desisyon nung dalawa to keep things between them.

   And who am I? I am Sofia. 24. Kung bakit ako single? Happy Endings. I was vulnerable. Pathetic. Worthless. Yan lahat ng naramdaman ko after series of relationships with guys na ang laging talo ay ako. Laging ako ang iniiwan. Then I started to hate relationships. Hearing about them, Love stories. Whenever I see happy couples, I secretly whisper "Maghihiwalay din kayo. Akala mo seryoso yan sayo?" I was bitter. Rude. And not to say evil. Hindi ako man-hater. I just hate the idea of falling in love.

Or so to speak, I stopped believing in love.

Back to reality

"Lets just go grab some coffee and I'll drive you home." Inaya ko sila Jessica and Pia.

"Sure. Your treat?" Sagot saakin ni Jessica.

"Dear, I Love You. But its coffee. Not like you cant afford it" Sagot ko sakanya

"Exactly. Its coffee. Not like you Cant Afford it" Sarcastic na sagot no Pia saakin.

"Then You pay for my gas. Then Coffee is on me" I accepted the deal. Haha. Con Artist Mode. Mas mahal ang gas kesa sa kape.

**Coffee Shop**

"Hi, May I take your order?" Sabi nung barista.

"Hmm, I'll have Large Caramel Macchiato, Skimmed Milk with Cinnamon. Hot." sagot ni Jessica

"Ako, I'll have Signature Chocolate nalang, large" Sagot naman ni Pia.

"I'll Have Amricano, Large with Extra Shot. Single Bill Please" Ako yung huling umorder.

   Nung nakuha na namin yung orders namin, pumunta sa side counter yung dalawa to add sugar and whatever they are doing sa kape nila.

I stood sa side, sipping my coffee.

"Tough Girl, Eh?"

"Sorry?" I raised one eyebrow, asking him

At sino naman tong lalaking to? Ang gwapo naman niya. Matangkad, siguro, nasa 6 ft. siya, Buff ang katawan. yung halatang nag wowork out. Maputi, chinito, matangos ang ilong at ang..

*Sniff*

... SOFIA!!!! Wake up!

"Americano, Extra shot, No Cream, no sugar. You must be one tough woman to take that all in." sagot niya saakin.

Ngumiti siya saakin.

OMG. Kanin Please! MAGHUNOS DILI KA SOFIA TORRES!

"Sure I am." Matipid kong sagot sa kanya.

Relax lang Sofia.

Pero ang *sniff*

ARGGGHH!! Stop it SOFIA!

"Hi, I'm Jino." Inabot niya ang kamay niya para makipag shake hands.

OMG, Manly Hands..

"Hello, I'm leaving" tinignan ko lang ang kamay niya. Pero hindi ko inabot ang kamay ko para makipag kamay sa kanaya. Umayos ako ng tayo dahil aalis na kami nila Jessica at Pia.
Lumabas kami, hindi na ako lumingon kasi ayokong makita pa yung stalker na yun. Ha-Ha

**Parking Lot**

"Who's that guy? You Know him?" Tanong ni Jessica

"Nobody. Just random people" Sagot ko

"Pero nag uusap kayo." sagot ni Pia.

"He suddenly approached me and starting talking to me. Saying nonsense stuff" Sagot ko sa dalawa.
Pinaandar ko na yung sasakyan para ihatid sila sa bahay nila.

*Sofia's Thought*

Gawd he's damn hot.

Those eyes, his smile, his body, his voice, and his...

*Sniff*

Scent. Arghh!!! Seductive.

Who is he? Will I ever see him again.. Jino..  Ugh! Damn Your Ideas Sofia. Bakit kasi ang arte mo kanina. May pinaglalaban ka ba? You're a tough Girl, Wag ka magpapadala sa ganyang klaseng tao.

**Next Day**

   Maaga akong pumasok sa opisina. May meeting ang mga supervisors ng bawat department. General assembly yata. May naririnig rinig na ako na Merong bagong President and company. I dont really care. As long as I am doing my job, I'm good. Dahil ako ang Editor in Chief ng Fiore Magazine, kasama ako sa meeting.

"Ang tagal naman. Anong Oras ba magsisimula ang meeting?" Naiinis na tanong ko kay Joanne. HR Manager namin.

"Parating na siguro yun." Pabulong na sagot ni Joanne saakin.

   Bumukas and pintuan ng board room kung saan kami naroroon. Unang pumasok si Big Boss. Nag May ari ng kumpanya. Si Don Enrico Elizalde. Mabait si Don Enrico. Hands on siya sa mga office works. Sinisigurado niya na maayos lahat ang takbo ng bawat department. Sana lang mapantayan siya ng papalit sa kanya.

"Good Morning Family" Yan ang isa ko pang gusto kay boss. Never niyang pinaramdam na empleyado kami o tauhan. Pamilya. Pamilya ang turing niya saamin.

"Hindi na ako mag papaliguy ligoy pa. I know, these past couple of weeks, naririnig niyo na anf news about my retirement. Well. Thats true. I think its time for me to leave all this to a new breed of talent and I am pretty sure na hindi kayo papabayaan kahit anong mangyari. In a short while darating na ang papalit saakin sa aking posisyon at ang Bagong President ng EC Holdings Inc."

   Nag take kami ng 15 minute break bilang late ang Bagong president ng kumpanya. Ano ba yan. Hindi pa man din nag uumpisa, late na kaagad. Sos!

"Balita ko, gwapo daw yung bagong president. Bata pa. Apo daw ni Don Enrico." Sabi ni Chismosa 1.

Gwapo? sos.. Baka puro mukha lang yan ha. Kaya niya kayang tumbasan ang galing ng lolo niya sa pag handle ng business

"Matalino pa. Eto o, tignan mo, Ni research ko ang company site tungkol sa kanya. Wow. Grumaduate pala siya ng Business Administrarion sa Montford University. At may Masteral pa sa Harvard. Nag internship din siya sa isa sa pinakamalaking publishing company sa New York. Ang Galing." Sabi ni Chismosa 2

Hah! Okay. Siya na ang matalino. Pero pustahan tayo, babaero yan.

"Look, (Quoting from the article) "Known as J.I. Elizalde, He is one of the most sought after bachelor in the Philippines. According to a source, he has never been involved into any public relationships or has gone out publicly about any of his relationships. He currently is single. "

Wow ha.. Ano to? telepathy? Sagutin lahat ng nasa isip ko? Ah Ewan. Paki ko ba sa kanya. J. I.  Elizalde.

Malapit nang mag resume ang meeting ng...


**KRIIIIIIINNNNNGGGGG!!!**

"Fiore Magazine, This is Sofia."

Shet.

Tumawag pa tong makulit naming editor.

"Okay. Okay. You may bring the layouts now. I will wait for it"

Ayan. Hindi na ako makakabalik sa board room. kailangan ko kasing asikasuhin yung next issue namin. Maraming vacant pages. Ang nakakainis pa dito, kailangan kong makipag usap sa nakakainis na editor na to ng dahil lang sa mga layouts na hindi niya magawa gawang ayusin,

*TikTokTikTok*

1:30 pm na.

   Hindi na ako nakahabol sa board room. Pero ayos lang. Hindi namain importante yung makilala ko yung bagong president e. Lunch Break. Bilang nahuli na akong mag lunch kina Jessica at Pia,  lumabas nalang ako para mag take out ng sandwich.

   Habang nasa elevator ako pababa, nakarinig ako ng sumisigaw ng hold the elevator. Lalo ko ngang pinindot yung close door. Haha..

Selfish.

Habang namimili ako ng sandwich nabibilhin..

"Hi, We meet again, Ms. Leaving" yung lalaki kahapon sa coffee shop.

Oh Gawd! That smile!! Stop Smiling at me!! I'm Melting!Compose yourself Sofie.Relax

"You. " Sagot ko sa kanya. Oo SOFIA. Siya nga!

"Remember me? From Coffee shop" He smiled at me.

"Of Course. How could I forget. " What Sofie? Bakit ang taray mo?

"Haha. What A conincidence. Any way, I would like to say sorry for jumping out of nowhere yesterday, Its rude. I'm sorry." Sabi niya saakin.

Then he followed it with a half smile.

"No its fine. Its nothing. I was just a little jumpy then." Sagot ko sa kanya. Oh C'mon! who can resist that smile and eyes.

"So, your work is around here? or you just hang out here often?" Tinanong niya ako.

"I work here. In that building actually."

"Really? Which company, If I may ask?"

"EC Publishing. For Fiore Magazine. "

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko sinabi sa kanya yun. Kailangan ko ng bumalik.

Kinuha ko ang inorder ko, at nung magbabayad na ako,

"Here, let me. Its on me." Sinagot niya yung sandwich ko. Hala siya

"No Its fine. I'll pay for it" Pero too late. inabot na niya yung pera sa crew at nag keep the change.

Nakakahiya sa kanya. Pagkatapos ko siyang tarayan, ililibra pa niya ako. hindi ako papayag. Kailangan makagawa ako ng paraan para mabayaran ko to.

Naglalakad kami palabas ng store when his phone rang

"Hello. Okay, Okay.I'll Be there" binulsa na niya yung telepono niya.

"I have to go. " patakbo siyang umalis

"But the meal? How can I repay this?" medyo malakas na sabo ko sakanya, medyo malayo na siya saakin

"You owe me dinner! Next time!" Kumakaway pa siya Its a sandwich! dinner! what! Next Time?

May Next time pa?

"Okay" mahina kong sagot.

Kahit alam kong imposible yon at hindi ako papayag nalumabas kasama ng taong yon

Pagtalikod ko, biglang sumigaw naman siya. Bumalik siya.

"Miss Leaving!" Lumngon ako sa direksyon niya. Nakita ko siyang humahangos at nung nakahinga na siyang maayos,

"Can I at least have your real name?" Ha-Ha! Oo nga pala.

"Leaving" ang tawag niya saakin. Tumalikod ulit ako at Nagsimulang maglakad papalayo.

Then I stopped.

Looked back

"Sofia. Its Sofia"