Chapter 8

Chapter 8 His approach

"The reaction of the people through technology is sometimes doubtful. But seeing the reaction face to face are often much better.

-UnleashingDesire

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Celindra is already drinking coffee in the shop, waiting for Sam. Kanina pa siya nandito, kadalasan kasi ay dito siya nag-aalmusal. She is reading her book in the very corner of coffee shop.

"Excuse me Sister Cel." Celindra looks up to see the waitress, Hanna. "Kakapasok lang po nung lalake. I think siya po yung hinihintay niyo." Tinuro naman ni Hanna yung lalaking nakaupo malapit sa pinto. He is looking left to right. Celindra looks at her watch. It's exactly 9am. Sam is puctual.

"Bring him to me." Hanna smiles and nodded. Hanna have been working in shop for three years now. Every weekends at 8 am Celindra will come to the shop for coffee and a bit of pastries. At bago pa siya magsimulang magtrabaho ay nagpupunta na si Celindra sa shop nila. That's why the manager of the shop knows her well.

Hanna approached Sam with a smile.

"Good day sir. Please follow me. Miss Cel has been waiting for you." Sam was shock that Celindra is already in here; he thought that he was earlier than her.

"Celindra?"

"Yes sir." Sam stood up and follows Hanna. He then saw a lady in the corner reading a book. He is very familiar with the book. He unconsciously grinned.

"Sister Cel." Tumingin naman agad si Celindra kay Hanna. Napansin niya na nakatayo si Sam sa likod ni Hanna habang nakating sa libro niya at nakangisi. Ibinaba niya naman ito agad at tumayo.

"Hanna, please bring us brown coffee and.." Celindra looks at Sam.

"Brown coffee too." Celindra nodded at Sam's response.

"Bring us some biscuits." Before Hanna could even go, Sam spoke.

"Bring us some water too." Hanna looks at Sam and nodded.

"Yes sir." She immediately went to get their orders.

"Please sit down." Celindra didn't wait for him to sit down as she sat on her chair. Umupo na rin si Sam.

"You came earlier that I thought." Sam started the conversation.

"I always go here early in the morning. That is also the reason I told you to meet here." Celindra explained.

"You are patron here?" Celindra nodded to the question of Sam.

"They have occasionally events that I like to go and support."

"Like what?" Sam is positively curious about those events. He also thought that maybe he can join there.

"Charity events like; bidding, teaching kids, performing and parties where you can directly give the money to the owner of the shop. The owner will personally give it to the chosen charity." Sam nodded to her explanation. He also gained information about her. She loves to help.

"That's great. But is it legit?" Sam asked.

"Yes it is. The owner will always give evidences about the transaction to those who sponsored. And I became witness of the transaction. But I only joined when I don't have much to do. If you are interested, I can add you to the group page." Sam, who had been waiting for the invitation of Celindra, grinned.

"Sure, I would love to help."

Napangiti naman si Celindra dahil dun. Bago pa nila mapalalim ang usapan ay dumating na si Hanna kasama ang isa pang babae na si, Patricia. She is the cook of the shop.

"Sorry to interrupt you sister Cel. Here's your order." Hanna said as she put everything down to their table.

"Mr. Yu Min heard you visited and made me give this to you." Patricia put the sweet cupcake in front of Celindra while smiling. Patricia didn't even bother to look at Sam.

"Oh! Please thank him for me." Celindra smiles as she looks at the delicious looking sweet cupcake in front of her. Tumawa naman si Patricia at winave ang kamay niya habang umiiling.

"Mam, you know well how sir pampered you. He doesn't need thanks at all." Patricia said as she chuckles. "Well, I need to go in now. Enjoy your food." Patricia went away with Hanna in tow.

"Mr. Yu Min?" Sam muttered. Tumingin si Celindra kay Sam nung narinig niya itong bumulong.

"Ah, yes. Mr. Yu Min is half Filipino, half Chinese. His father is Chinese. He is the owner of the shop." Sam looks at her and nodded. Alam ni Sam kung ano yung nafefeel niya. He is jealous. Pero alam niyang wala siyang karapatan. He can only sip his coffee and felt bitter.

"I saw you looking at the book. Have you read this already?" Celindra opened another conversation to lighten the mood. Tumingin naman agad si Sam sa kaniya, pushing every ounce of his mental strength to make his jealous feeling away.

"Yeah.. I already did." Celindra nodded and eat her cupcake. She saw Sam glaring at the cupcake. Hindi niya alam kung bakit but she put the half eaten cupcake at the side of the table.

"I only started earlier. What do you think about the book, the story itself?" Celindra has been very curious about what her readers thought. Although, there is comment section, she wanted to see the real reaction, face to face.

Nung nakita ni Sam kung gaano kacurios si Celindra ay napangiti na ito.

"It's amazing. The story can make the reader think he or she is the one acting the character. I felt every emotion of the characters. Everything felt real yet I know it isn't. The thing that I always love about Draco's book is there are no antagonize, no villain but the story can still stand in the top. He focused on the story between her main characters and didn't dwell on other's life." Sam looks very sincere. He chuckled and continue; "Just read it and you will feel it." Celindra felt warm and proud.

"When did you start to become Draco's reader?" Celindra again asked. Napahaplos naman ng batok si Sam. Uminom siya ng kape niya bago sumagot sa tanong ni Celindra.

"I saw Draco's book when he was just starting. I was browsing through the book store and saw the book from the bottom of the shelf. It was untouched. It was published three months before I saw it. I bought it because of curiosity. I'm glad I did. After reading the whole book, I like it very much and start to look for Draco's information. But there is only the information that the book that I bought is actually the first book she published. There is no information about him at all." Uminom si Sam ng kape at kumain ng biscuit.

"So... You are Draco's reader from the start?" Sam nodded and drank his coffee.

"Yes. When I saw that her is second book was published, I immediately bought a copy. It's great, much better that the first one. To tell you the truth, as time goes by, Draco's works are improving and becoming more famous that I ever known."