- Erizza's POV -
Mirasol Cafe has always been the best spot to hangout. The cafe is seen as "cute as a button" which is actually the shop's theme. The ambiance radiates happiness and gaiety wherein vibrant colors are used, but among them the yellow color stands out the most. No wonder why it is called "mirasol" the Tagalog word for "sunflower".
The cafe's fresh interior is enhanced with wooden chairs painted in pastel colors that reminds me of pretzels, there are lovely throw pillows, soft bean bags that you can squeeze yourself in to, warm string lights that are hanging against the brick walls, and aesthetic mugs with cute phrases and figures that is neatly designed on the counter. Overall, it is the perfect place to enjoy and rewind.
During my college days, me and my friends at my university and my friends that I met during my trainee days as a flight attendant used to hangout here a lot--especially after long days of flight. It is usually a part of our routine that once we arrive here in Manila we should take a break here. Until now, those memories feel like brand new. And right now, I feel nostalgic just by thinking about it.
Surely, a cup of flat white coffee will trigger that nostalgic feeling. Plus, a plate of classic snickerdoodle. It's a blast in the past, isn't it?
I heard the door of the café chimed. Two ladies just entered, laughing and chatting like no one's around. They went straight with their bodies close to each other towards the counter still laughing and chatting until a couple next to them gave them a look.
My gaze at them was cut off by Farlin when she put her hands in the air and moved it to make a big circle. She is storytelling again her life encounters that are always interestingly witty.
"It was really big!" she exclaimed, her round eyes widened out of exaggeration.
"Like how big?" Meera asked full of curiosity.
"Is it like a bean bag?" Quinn also asked.
"No." Farlin answered like a strike of a lightning bolt.
"I mean yeah, ok--you got the picture right?--it's like a bean bag but it's not a bean bag but it's two times bigger than a bean bag and it's so smooth, firm, and really bouncy when you moved your hips up and down on top of it," Farlin explained while making hand gestures. She talks fast, full of emotions like she's reciting a dialogue of a theatrical drama.
"How does it feel?" Meera asked again.
Farlin leans in and roams her eyes on us. "Oh heavens! The best feeling ever!" she exclaimed blissfully that made Meera and Quinn gasped.
Pam and I shared a glance and chuckled because of Meera and Quinn's innocent reaction. It seems like new information has just been unlocked.
"That's why go and buy a gym ball" Farlin persuaded and winked.
"I wondered what 'big thing' are you saying," Pam smirked, and this time our two innocently curious friends looked at her.
"Oh Pam, not now," Farlin said rolling her eyes. "Don't change the topic" she added.
"I'm not," Pam countered.
"I know how your mind works Pam," Farlin said while pointing her fork at her.
"Well, do you mind sharing us what's on your mind?" I but-in looking at Pam whose smirk widened.
"It's--" Pam was just about to speak but Farlin immediately cut her off.
"Oh come on stop it!" Farlin hissed.
Pam and I just laughed at Farlin while the other two are just looking at us with a puzzled look.
"Fine, fine," Pam surrendered.
"But seriously, buy a gym ball and use it when you workout" Farlin advised and chewed her food.
"Hmm, this cheesecake is so good" Quinn commented while chewing her mango graham cheesecake.
"I feel so guilty today, I said I will eat less but here I am eating a whole plate of pudding," Meera pouted while looking at her half-eaten ube pudding.
"You can just eat less again tomorrow," Pam said to her.
"I cannot resist it, you know. Especially, if it's you girls called for a simple meet-up" Meera admits.
"Me too, I cheated today just for you girls but it's worth it." Farlin, the gym addict said while smiling.
The five of us are always busy in our lives, and today is the only time we can be together again. Just sipping our favorite drinks and eating our favorite desserts inside this cafe--the witness of how our strong friendship began.
"I've been dealing a lot of urgent papers lately. My boss doesn't even give me rest." Pam speaks in a plain voice. Pam works in a shoe company wherein she is the secretary of the CEO. I know she's very meticulous when it comes to checking the papers that are waiting for approval. She also checks the designs of the shoes if it fits the standards of her boss as well as if it will hit the market. Sometimes, I wonder if she's really the secretary or...she should be the boss.
"Last week my voice became raspy after hosting three weddings in just one day." Quinn said. "It happens all the time," she added. Quinn is an event coordinator and a wedding host, she's been hosting for almost four years now. As the oldest among us, she is the busiest. Like me, she also travels a lot because of her in-demand environment. A lot of TV shows had appointed her already as their host in the past and recently she mentioned that she's gonna be hosting the wedding of one celebrity couple.
"A lot of men are buying roses from my shop. And do you know whom they're all for? It's for their girlfriends. Next time, I'll paint them white." Meera said looking irritated. Meera works as a florist and she has two shops around Manila and three shops outside the city. We know Meera had dated a lot of boys before and none of them lasted for more than a year. With her pretty small face and petite figure, men will definitely want to date a woman like her.
"Girl, it seems like we're in the same situation" Farlin said to Meera. "I assisted merely couples for three days straight," she griped, irritation written across her face. "It's a pain in the eyes" she grimaced. Farlin is a resort desk clerk in a 5-star hotel and resort. She's the wildest and boldest among us. Though she hadn't been in a relationship before, Farlin hates talking about romantic stuff.
"Well, seven days ago I've been to Venice and this week will be the start of my one-month vacation!" I chirped. The four of them put their forks and spoons down which made a light scratching sound.
"Really?" They all said unbelievingly with the same tone.
"Yeah," I said while nodding.
"Take me with you" Meera pouted while clinging to my arm beside me.
"When no men are no longer buying roses from you," I said in a teasing tone that made her lips became poutier.
"I should start painting them white tomorrow," she said in a low voice but the four of us still heard it.
"By the way, I bought you souvenirs" I smiled.
"You always buy for us Izza" Pam pointed out and sipped her frappuccino.
"I don't forget," I remarked.
I grabbed my round rattan handbag behind me and rested it on my lap. I zipped it open and pulled the souvenirs that are secured in a decorative jewelry box. I placed it on the table and the girls took a look at it.
"They are murano glass bracelets," I said. I bought them the day before we left Venice and made sure that the color of the bracelets is based on their favorite color. They opened the box already and picked the bracelets that matched their tastes.
"Gosh, it's pretty!" Meera squealed after she put it on.
"Thank you Izza" she giggles then clings into my arm again.
"Oh, it's matching my earrings, how do I look?" Farlin asked and raises her hand leveling her right ear.
"Boho-chick" Quinn answered and winked at her.
"I wish I could really travel with you" Meera sighed while still looking at her bracelet.
"We should really go out of town just the five of us" I suggested and took a sip of my iced vanilla latte.
"Oh, we really should" Pamela reiterated while nodding her head.
"Let's go to Samal, I know a colleague who works there" Quinn recommended.
"You know what girls, let's plan this when all of us are already available," Farlin said all of a sudden and all of us nodded to agree.
"Right" Pam sighed. "My boss should better sign the papers already" she added.
"I should appoint someone who could be my substitute," Farlin said.
"I hope I can have empty schedules too but the crowd loves me," Quinn flexed.
"I'm gonna kick out all the men in my shop who wants to buy roses!" Meera snarled.
"Gosh, Meera you're still a man-hater?" Farlin asks, her eyebrows suddenly met.
"As if you can" Pam tsked.
"Really girls? You won't support me on this?" Meera asked frustratingly, her eyes begging at Farlin and Pam who shakes their heads to disagree.
"But if Leland asked you out again we promise that you don't have to pay anything when we'll travel together" I said to Meera.
The other three looked at me and each of them gave me high-fives with excited grins on their faces.
Meera stayed frozen on her seat and her mouth hang open.
"That's out of the topic!"
"It is but it's an advantage" I crooned.
"Izza!"
Meera stomps her feet and cries like a child. We really love teasing the baby of our group. The others started telling her what could be the love team name if ever they get back together and we can't help but to laugh because of how ridiculous they sound.
We just spend the afternoon inside the café laughing our hearts out, teasing each other, and talking about our lives. How I really miss this moment of my life. I wish I could just stay here with them but we know we also have to go.
When the clock ticks at 4:00 pm, it is the time to go home. We said our goodbyes and left the café together.
I stand beside the stoplight, patiently waiting for the green signal. I'm planning to get a taxi just a few blocks away from here. Though, I wish I have my own car right now, but unfortunately it needs repair so I left it at a car repair shop.
It's not just me who is standing near the edge of the pedestrian lane. Some are teenagers, employees, senior citizens and people who seemed to have been in a good time. The same as the people on the other side of the street.
A minute later I saw the green light finally signaled us to move ahead, the cars decreased in speed until they slowly stopped for us to cross. I stand here for the meantime to let them pass the lane first.
All of a sudden, my eyes caught someone familiar. My eyes were instantly glued to him and my feet feel like they are pinned on the ground.
I know at this moment who the man is. He's here. I thought we will never see each other again but he's really here.
However, I can't help asking myself questions.
'Am I dreaming?'
'Or am I just being deceived by my eyes?'
But watching him right now with our eyes locked and walking towards my direction is giving me an unexplainable feeling.
There are a few people who are walking along with and pass him that blocks my sight of him, but it's not a hindrance for me not to witness how the sun hits his face and how the wind blows his hair.
When the orange light signaled, he made a few slow steps until he's only a few centimeters away from me. We are both standing under the stoplight where his smile is all I can see.
"Cassian..."
"Erizza..."