"Can I invite you for a cup of coffee?"
At last, José finally gave her an emotion. Nagulat siya sa biglang pag-aya sa kanya ni Kaya. Hindi niya matukoy kung nagkamali lang ba siya ng pagkakarinig o hindi.
He probably thought that there's no way that the most popular girl in their whole university will ask him to have a cup of coffee with her. Isa pa, silang dalawa lang at hindi kasama si Jia.
"Uhm, José?" Muli niyang tinawag si José nang hindi siya sumagot. When Kaya saw his shocked face, she chuckled softly.
Inulit niya ulit ang inbitasyon niya kay Jose. "So, can I? Please, I really want to show my gratitude."
It's probably because of her pretty face.. no, I think it's because of her eyes. No, maybe it's her voice?
Habang busy sa kakaisip ng rason si José kung bakit siya umuo sa inbitasyon ni Kaya, dumating na ang order nila.
"Thank you po." Kaya said to the waitress.
Dahil sa binigay na information ni Jia sa kanya, she ordered a mocha latte and slice of strawberry cake for José and she ordered a frappe' and a slice of tiramisu cake for herself.
Napangiti siya nang makita ang pagkislap sa mata ni José nang makita ang favorite drink and favorite cake niya sa harapan niya.
Wow, so Jia's not lying.
"I really want to thank you for that day when you saved me from my embarassing moment. I feel bad because I was too out of it that time, hindi na ako nakapagpasalamat. Pati rin kahapon, I missed the time to say my gratitude dahil umalis ka agad. Thank you talaga."
José just nodded.
Wow, so Jia was right. He's really a man of few words. Baka nga a man of no words pa. Hindi pa ata niya narinig na magsalita siya kanina pa. This is difficult.
Nabanggit ni Jia na introvert daw siya, and
most introverts tend to become more talkative when the conversation turns to something they're passionate about.
Kaya also heard from Jia that José was obsessed with studying and passionate about programming. It just so happened that she didn't have any clue about any of it, so she don't know what to ask. They were totally different.
"I'm curious about something. Can I ask about it?" Kaya tried to broke the silence.
José who was busily eating his cake responded.
"Hmm."
When she heard his voice, a smile tried to escape in her mouth. It was just a sound he made pero grabe na ang effect niya, paano pa kaya kung words na?
"Why did you chose to save me that day?" José was completely taken aback by her question. He didn't expect it. Napatigil siya sa pagkain at tumingin sa kanya. Because he couldn't maintain eye contact, he looked away and then he scratched his neck out of habit when he's nervous.
"Well.." panimula ni José. Kaya stopped breathing for a second, checking if what she's hearing is real. He's gonna speak!
"You were being ridiculed. Paalis na din ako that time kaya I figured na isama ka na lang din. I just can't pretend that I don't know you, you are Jia's cousin after all."
When she heard his answer, she's touched that she suddenly wanted to hug him, but she didn't want to overstep his boundaries. Isa pa baka maging uncomfortable pa siya mas lalo.
So if it's not for a fact that I'm Jia's cousin, he won't help me? Wow, I really need to thank Jia from this too.
Tumango-tango naman si Kaya sa narinig amd then she continued eating. Ganun din si José. Pero nang isusubo na ni José ang last slice ay biglang nagsalita ulit si Kaya.
"Can you follow me back on IG?"
"I'm not active there."
"Please kahit na, I just want it as trophy."
Napataas naman ang kilay ni José, Trophy?
Does she mean, 'yung pag-follow back ko ay ituturing niyang trophy? Why? That's a weird comparison.
He took a sip of his coffee, "Why is it a trophy?"
Kaya smiled and paused before she said anything.
"Because I'm interested in you and I think.. I like you."
José widened his eyes in shock. Muntik pa nga siyang mabulunan. Tama ba ang narinig niya?
"Huh?" Kunot-noong tanong niya. Hindi siya makapaniwalang lumabas 'yun sa bibig ni Kaya.
Kaya smiled again and repeated her words without even a hint of hesitation.
"I said I'm interested in you and I think I like you."
His lips parted in a mix of shock and confusion. He can't tell if Kaya was joking or if she's being real because she said it like it was no big deal. Isa pa, he thinks it's too good to be true. How can she say it like that so easily? She's so direct and straightforward, but because of this very reason, José concluded that he was just being played by her. Not to be judgmental, but she recently had an issue with cheating. She played with people's feelings before, and now she's telling him that she likes him? How can she expect him to believe her?
José snickered. Kaya looked at her confusely.
"I'm sorry but I'm not in a mood for playing."
"I'm not playing though?"
"So you mean, you're being for real? You like me?"
"Yes." Kaya shyly admitted. But instead, he acted differently from what she's expected to react.
He snickered again, this time it's a bit louder. If you see it from another point of view, it's like he's mocking her. Her smile slowly faded.
"I'm sorry to be rude but you're literally a cheater."
Kaya widened his eyes in shock to what José just said. She gasped by his blunt and unexpected words.
"You're aware that we met because of that, right? When you were being unfaithful. You dated them both at the same time. And now, not long after that incident, you're telling me you're interested in me?"
Kaya was completely speechless.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want to believe you. I can't believe you. How am I supposed to know I'm not just another one of your victims? I saw them fighting over the title of being your boyfriend. How am I supposed to trust that I won't end up like that, all because I fell for your lies? Assuming I believed you, how could I be sure I wouldn't get hurt?"
After hearing all of that, she was completely destroyed. She couldn't even defend herself. He was harsh, but he was right. Everything he said was the truth. How could he believe she liked him, considering she had been unfaithful in the past? Unless he's stupid, he would probably bite the bait and accept her words without hesitation. But this time was different; she was serious about her feelings for José. Sure, she didn't like him that much yet since she still doesn't know him. Right now, she only had a crush on him, but it was real—she was genuinely interested in him.
"Just to be clear, I didn't help you clear your issue online because I wanted to. Jia promised me a reward; I did it for my benefit, not yours."
José got up in his seat. Ready to go.
"You have said your gratitude right? Thank you for the food. Can I go now?"
Kaya, who's head was looking down from embarassment, nodded. José immediately left.
What's that? I thought he's a man of few words? So, he's capable of speaking like that?
Kaya felt that a tear had fallen down on her cheeks. Not long, she bawled her eyes out. Pinagtitinginan na din siya ng mga tao dahil bigla na lang siyang umiyak.
"It must be bad break up."
"Right? The guy just left. Siguro nag-cheat 'yung lalaki tapos ang pinili niya 'yung side chick kaya umiiyak si girl."
"Or baka baliktad be. Si girl confessed that she's in love with someone else kaya nag-walk out 'yung lalaki?"
"Oo nga 'no." Rinig niya ang tawanan ng dalawang babae na nakaupo sa likuran niya.
Wrong, you're both wrong. Anong break up at cheating? Wala pa ngang kami may ganun na agad? Those girls doesn't know anything.
She got up, wiping her tears away.
"Or maybe, she got dumped?"
Kaya can't help but to look at those two girls who are gossiping about her and glared at them before she left the café.
Bwisit, chismosa. Can they just mind their own business? I'm still broken here and they keep rubbing salt to my wound.
Nagulat si Jia pag-uwi niya dahil naabutan niya si Kaya na may hawak-hawak na beer. Naka-dalawang can na siya.
"What's with the beer? Are you broken hearted or something?"
Nilapag na muna ni Jia ang gamit niya atsaka tinabihan si Kaya sa sofa. She also grabbed a beer and took a sip of it. Pagkarinig ni Kaya sa sinabi ni Jia ay bigla na lang siyang umiyak nang napakalakas. Jia can't help but to chuckle a little.
"This is new, who's the lucky guy that's making you cry like this?" Jia asked, amazed. This is the first time na makikita niya ang pinsan niyang umiiyak, mostly kasi it's the other way around. Siya lagi ang nagpapaiyak.
"I'm just trying to ask him to follow me back on IG!" Suminghot siya and then sipped her beer.
Jia just stared at her, not having a clue.
"He was so harsh but he was so right that it hurts! He said I'm literally a cheater!" she wept.
"I mean-- he's right but still, can't he be gentle with his words?! He also said that he helped me not because he wanted to, it's for his benefit and not mine."
Jia's forehead crumpled. I think I now have a clue.
"So, it's José?"
Kaya suddenly stopped crying and looked at Jia pitifully. But instead of giving her cousin a comfort, she just burst out laughing.
"The hell.. so it ended up the other way around? Ikaw ang nasaktan?" Jia asked while still laughing. Halos hindi na nga siya makapagsalita nang maayos dahil she's busy laughing out loud at Kaya.
"It was José.. who broke.. your heart? Pfft!"
Kaya stopped crying and glared at Jia who was still laughing, nahulog na nga siya sa pagkakaupo niya sa sofa dahil sa sobrang pagtawa niya.
"I need to give him a medal."
Kaya who's annoyed slapped Jia at her shoulder pero walang effect dahil tumatawa pa rin siya.
"Sorry hahaha. It just surprised me. To think na alalang-alala pa ko para kay José dahil sa'yo, siya pa pala ang magpapaiyak, not you."
She took a big breath. "So, what exactly happened?" She finally stopped laughing, but she's still grinning.
"I said that I'm interested in him and that I like him. He got worked up and suddenly fact checked me. He said that we met because of this cheating incident, so paano daw siya makakasiguro, kung assuming na he believed at me, that he won't end up like them? He thought I'm just playing with him."
"I'm serious though. It's the first time that I have ever felt this way. I went ahead of myself and declared my feelings to him, thinking that I have a chance."
Jia moved closer to Kaya to hug her.
"Wow, so ganito pala ang feeling ng heartbreak." Natatawa na lang na sabi ni Kaya habang umiiyak.
"Yah, that's how it feels like kaya you should enjoy it to your heart's content."
"Gaga, enjoy really?" Nagtawanan silang dalawa.
"But something's weird though."
"What is it?"
Kaya broke the hug and looked at Jia. Then suddenly, her lips raised into a smile.
"I feel like I like him even more."