Leigh Ann & Oliver

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti habang inaalala ang una naming pagkikita. That was summer of 2010, at dahil sobrang init ng panahon ay madalas akong nakatambay sa Pink Oven, isang coffee shop na malapit sa university namin.

I was alone that time since ako lang ang kumuha ng summer class sa aming magba-barkada. Mahirap na ang maraming load since graduating na ako sa pasukan. Madalas pagkatapos ng klase saka ako dumi-direstso sa Pink Oven, either para tumambay o kaya ituloy ang research papers ko.

Naaalala ko pa rati, lagi akong may dalang camera, either my mirrorless camera or my Polaroid. Hilig ko talaga ang kumuha ng mga larawan, kahit ano basta maganda sa paningin ko ay kinukuhanan ko ng litrato.

One day, I was trying to take a picture of a dog. Glass wall lang ng Pink Oven ang naghihiwalay sa aming dalawa. Its paws were up the glass like he's begging me for food, and I couldn't resists its adorableness. Walang pag-aalinlangang kinuha ko ang camera kong nakapatong sa lamesa. I was about to take its picture when someone picked him up. My camera followed the dog, at nang makita ko ang mukha ng pumulot sa kaniya ay parang may sariling buhay ang daliri ko at pinindot ang shutter button ng camera ko. Oh crap!

I heard the film drop on the table but my eyes were still glued on the guy holding the dog. He's handsome, like artista-level handsome. Perfectly shaped brows, hazelnut brown eyes, rosy lips, even his slightly crooked nose looked appealing to me. I really did check him out, didn't I?

My eyes were still at the viewfinder of the camera when he looked at me and winked. And my damn fingers pressed the shutter button... again. Holy crap, I groaned in frustration.

Pasimple kong ibinaba ang camera sa lamesa saka dinampot ang Caramel Macchiato na in-order ko kanina. Patay-malisya akong uminom doon at iniiwas ang tingin mula sa glass wall ng coffee shop. I pretended that nothing happened, until someone came to my table.

"Uhm, miss..." Matalim ang mga matang tiningnan ko ang nagsalita, pero agad din akong natigilan nang makita kung sino ito. "Is this seat taken?"

Oh god, it's the handsome guy outside the coffee shop minus the adorable dog.

Bahagyang napaawang ang labi ko nang mapagmasdang mabuti ang mukha niya. Mas gwapo pa pala siya sa malapitan. Hindi ko alam, pero parang nakadagdag pa sa karisma niya ang maliit na pilat sa ibabaw ng kaliwang bahagi ng labi niya. My eyes trailed on his physique and I silently cussed when I saw his built. Damn, even his white long sleeved polo couldn't hide his toned body. Parang ang sarap tanggalin nito para makita ang full view—

"Excuse me? Miss?" Oh my god, Leigh. Did you just check him out? Damn, what is wrong with me! I cleared my throat and nodded. Obvious namang walang nakaupo sa harap ko. Why does he even need to ask?

Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting pagkailang nang tuluyan na siyang nakaupo.

"Oliver Ramirez." Tumaas ang kanang kilay ko nang may inilapag siya sa gitna ng lamesa. Tissue? May trash bin naman sa entrance, why drop it on my table? "In case you need a model, I'm up for the job. Just call me," dagdag niya sabay kindat sa akin.

Napaawang ang labi ko. Did he just volunteer himself? Woah, the confidence. Sasagot pa sana ako pero agad siyang tumayo at iniwan akong nakaawang ang labi at tulala. Wala sa loob na pinulot ko ang tissue na inilapag niya sa lamesa. And I burst out laughing when I read the note written on it.

"I'm no photographer, but I can picture us together. ;)" – Oliver R. 09*********

Seryoso ba 'to? Iniwan talaga niya sa akin ang number niya? Am I that obvious kanina? Napapailing na itinupi kong muli ang tissue at ibinulsa sa suot kong pantalon. As if I'm going to call or text him anyway. Plus I don't think I'm going to see him again since hindi siya mukhang taga-rito sa amin.

I sighed. I might as well start with my research paper. Kailangan ko ng matapos 'to since dalawang linggo na lang at matatapos na ang summer classes namin.

Little did I know, it was the start of something unexpected.

THE FOLLOWING DAYS CAME NORMAL. Napadalas ang pagtambay ko sa Pink Oven, hindi dahil umaasa akong makita ulit ang lalaking 'yon, ngunit dahil kailangan ko ng lugar para gawin ang research paper ko. And the coffee shop was the perfect place since hindi ito gaanong matao at maingay.

One day, I was about to go to the counter to order my favourite caffeine fix, nang biglang may lumapit na barista sa table ko.

"Iced Caramel Macchiato Upside Down for Ms. Leigh Ann," nakangiting sabi ng binatang barista bago inilapag ang isang baso ng inumin sa table ko. Tatanungin ko pa sana kung kanino ito galing pero nakaalis na siya.

I picked up the glass when I saw a post-it note attached to it. Kunot-noong kinuha ko 'yon at naupo.

'This coffee is made espresso-ly for you, beautiful.' – O.R.

Muntik ko ng maibuga ang inumin sa nabasa. I could feel the goosebumps on my skin dahil sa ka-cornyhan na nabasa ko. Napapailing na inipit ko na lang ang post-it note sa organizer ko. I should start doing my paper, unlike the one who gave the note, I don't have that much time to spare writing corny stuff.

I thought that was the first and last time that I'll receive that kind of post-it notes, but everytime na pupunta ako ng Pink Oven, automatic na binibigyan ako ng barista ng paborito kong order at laging may naka-attach na post-it note rito. From corny pick-up lines to coffee puns, every cup of coffee has a different note attached to it. Minsan nga ay hindi ko namamalayang napapangiti na pala ako habang binabasa ang mga 'yon. It's like I've been looking forward to every post-it note.

But then sabi nga nila, all things should come to an end. And I will never forget the day, when I received the final note. It was the day when I received the news that I got the highest mark on our research paper. Ang saya ko ng araw na 'yon, kaya naman I decided to drop by Pink Oven and get my favourite coffee. As expected, may note na naman. But the message written on the note left me puzzled.

'What if? – O.R.'

No corny pick-up lines. No coffee puns. Just two words. That was the last note that I received from him. And ever since that day, wala na akong natanggap na note kasama ng kape ko. I've been thinking what he means by that what if. If only I could see him once again and asked him what it is about. Pero alam kong malabo na 'yon, that was two years ago for freak's sake.

I was lost in thought when I heard a low tapping on the glass wall beside me. My eyes lit up when I saw an adorable dog in his cute little tuxedo. He's even wearing a pink bow tie! The dog's paws were up against the wall, like he was begging me for food. At tulad ng nakasanayan ko ay kinuha ko ang camera na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa para kuhanan ito ng larawan. I was about to take its picture nang biglang may pumulot sa kaniya. My camera followed the dog and when I saw who picked him up, I absentmindedly pressed the shutter button. Oh god, the déjà vu.

Parang tambol sa lakas ang tibok ng puso ko nang masilayang muli ang mukha ni Oliver. He was still the same handsome guy that I saw that day, two years ago. The same guy who gave me those notes. Ang kaibahan lang ngayon ay nakasuot siya ng tuxedo ng katulad ng suot ng asong hawak-hawak niya. Is he...

'Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. – Dr. Seuss'

I couldn't help but think of that specific quote from Dr. Seuss. Maybe I did complicate the meaning of his question, when deep inside I already know what the answer is. I'm just scared to admit it. That's why I chose to avoid, complicate and deny things.

Muli kong ibinalik ang tingin sa lalaking nasa kabilang bahagi ng glass window. He waved at me and gave me the same playful smile that he gave me two years ago. The same smile that made my heart skip a beat, which I denied too many times.

I gave him a curt nod and smiled back at him. But the smile on my lips slowly faded when I saw a lady clad in white off-shoulder dress and silver heels walked towards him and gave him a peck on his cheeks. She looked at him lovingly, like he was the only person she could see. And as a single tear rolled down my cheek, I know right then and there, that he would always be my favourite what if.