Chapter 8

"Tea or coffee?" her voice is sharp and impatient. Pinaparamdam din ni Cass na ayaw siya nitong kausapin.

He turns to see Cass seated beside him, her hair now cut into a short, chic bob. Gone are the loose brown curls and the sunburned cheeks.

In her stead is a polished, sophisticated woman who could now easily pass for a magazine model. Flawless makeup, a dark green wrap around dress, and impeccable heels.

She is worlds away from the wide-eyed gurl he had met only a few minutes... years? Dreams? Timelines ago?

Hindi ko alam.

Ibang iba na ito ngayon. Muntik na niyang akalain na ibang tao ang nasa tabi niya. She looks like a stranger to him now.

"Uhhm... tea siguro," he replies, still trying to conceal his surprise at her new look.

Tumango si Cass at hinarap ang flight attendant na nakatingin sa kanila. "Tea for him. None for me." she curtly said.

He stares at her as she hands him a steaming cup of tea, still trying to understand her icy demeanor.

Bago na itsura niya pero bakit hanggang ngayon galit pa rin siya?

Diba kapag bagong gupit start of something new na?

Napailing siya sa naiisip. Namomroblema ka na kung ano-ano pa naiisip mo.

Napaisip siya kung bakit ito nagalit. Hindi niya alam kung dahil pa rin ba sa napag-usapan nila nung nakaraang eksena sa 'panaginip' niya. O mayroon siyang bagay na ginawang mali... ulit.

Habang nag-iisip ay tumingin siya sa tanawin sa himpapawid. Madilim.

"I should've known. Note to self. Never sir anywhere near 1F." she mutters as she crosses her legs and smoothes down her dress.

"1F?" tanong niya sa dalaga.

"1F." she gestures his seat. "The first window seat is reserved for THE Mr. Villaroel... ALWAYS!" she reminds him sarcastically. "God, why do they still seat us together? Hindi ba alam ng crew na break na tayo?"

His heart stops. So it did end. He mumbles an uncertain apology. "Baka nakasanayan lang."

Nakita niya ang pag-ikot ng mata ng dalaga. Tumingin ito sa gilid at bumuntong hininga. "Well, I'm just finishing off all my leaves and then I'll go."

Inayos ni Cass ang suot na neck pillow at tsaka kinuha ang libro na nasa pocket ng upuan sa harapan niya.

The Notebook.

That's one of her favorite books. Mahilig siya sa mga romantic novels lalo na mga isinulat ni Nicholas Sparks.

"Bakit? Saan ka pupunta?" tanong niya rito.

"It doesn't matter now." she replies sharply.

Heion, it's better than 'none of your business'

May biglang naalala si Heion na naitanong na niya sa kay Cassandra.

"Cass... ang snowflake?"

"France. First time to see snow."

"And when was that?"

"When I left you."

Napatingin siya sa dalaga. "Are you going to France?"