Chapter 10

Chapter 10 His approach

"Our past sometimes made us feel bounded chained and restricted. But if you can't make yourself free, let others help you free. You are not alone; bear that on your mind."

-UnleashingDesire

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Sabay silang naglakad papunta sa bagong restaurant na nadaanan nila kanina nung naglilibot pa sila. It's a seafood restaurant.

"Good morning mam, sir. Have you made any reservation?" Sam blinked. Hindi nila alam na kailangan palang mapareserve muna.

"No." Celindra immediately said. Sam looks at Ceindra with guilt.

"Alright, do you want to dine right now? There is still two available table for two." The waitress smiled at them. Tumingin agad si Sam dito.

"Yes, please." Sam sigh a relief and smiled.

"Please follow me."

Sinundan nila yung waitress sa bandang dulo kung saan meron pang bakante. Naupo na sila at bago pa maka-alis ang waitress ay pinahinto siya ni Celindra.

"Wait. How can I have a reservation here?" Celindra asked. Ngumiti naman ang waitress.

"Mam, you can call our restaurant for reservation. Here. This is the calling card of the restaurant." Celindra took the calling card and nodded.

"Thank you."

"Is there anything else mam, sir?" Pareho namang umiling ang dalawa. "Then, the waiter will come here to get your orders. Enjoy." The waitress went away.

Sam look at Celindra and ask; "You're going to eat here again?" Celindra nodded.

"If I took liking of the taste, I might as well bring Linda here. She too, likes seafood." Sam nodded at Celindra.

"You really like seafood then." When Celindra heard Sam, she chuckled.

"At first, not that much, but after staying with Linda for years, I caught some of her likes too." Just as Celindra finish speaking a waiter came.

"Sorry for interupting mam, sir. Can I get your order?" The waiter smilingly asked as he gave out the menu.

"Yes." Celindra took the menu and starts choosing foods and drinks. Sam stated his too.

The waiter repeated their order to check if all have been written.

"Is that all?" The waiter lastly said.

They said; "Yes."

"The food will be here for fifteen minutes. Would you want some freebies first?"

"What are those freebies?" Sam asked.

"It's shrimp soup and lemon juice." Celindra immediately nodded when she heard that.

"Yes, please."

"Just shrimp soup and can I get some water too?" Sam asked while looking at the waiter.

"Of course, sir. I will immediately bring the freebies. Excuse me." The waiter went away.

There are actually no freebies if the customer ordered small amount of food. But the two ordered many dishes that it will take a while. Giving them some freebies is something that the restaurant always does.

'Hindi halatang mayaman yung dalawa pero ang dami at mahal ng mga inorder nila. Tama nga ang kasabihang; 'don't judge the book by its cover.' Ito ang nasa isip ng waiter habang siya ay naglalakad paalis sa pwesto nila Celindra at Sam.

"Can you finish those five dishes?" Sam asked while smiling at Celindra.

"Are you asking that or are you asking if I would give you some?" Celindra grinned. They ordered different dishes. Exactly, ten dishes, some wine and water. Sam chuckled.

"Well... Can you give me some?" Celindra chuckled at him.

"Only if you give me some of yours too."

"Of course."

"Then, we have a deal." Both grinned at their silliness.

"Here are the freebies." The waiter came back with two soup, lemon juice and water. After he put it on the table, he excused himself and go.

"Well, this smells good." Sam said as he stir the soup a bit. Celindra 'hmmed' and nodded, scooping some soup to eat. They both eat the soup without taking, making every bit of the soup tastier.

When they finished the soup their dishes haven't arrived yet. They started the conversation with another topic. It's Sam's life.

"My whole name is Sam Axel Francisco. I'm already 29. I have three sisters and one brother. I'm second child and my other brother is the youngest. My big sister is 30 years old, Maya. My sister, the third one is very close to me. She's Vanessa, she turned 26 a month ago. The next is, Ally, 24 years old. She's another fun of Draco's. And lastly, my brother Shawn, 7 years old." Celindra felt the names are familiar.

"Seven years old?" Nagulat si Celindra sa laki ng agwat ng bunso nila.

"Yeah.. He is adopted. Big sis's friend died with her husband, a car accident 6 years ago. They don't have any relatives at all. Maya's friend is orphan and her husband is from other country. There is no one who will take care of the child. She wanted to adapt her friend's child but mother disagreed. Instead, mother and father was the one who adapted Shawn." Celindra can only nod at him.

"Exes?" Celina grinned at him.

"Three. My first love is actually a puppy love. It was way back first year high school, broke up with a childish reason. It was one year relationship. The second one is when I was on my senior high, grade 11, lasted only one and half year."

Celindra suddenly spoke. "Grade 11?" she asked.

"Yes. That time there is no grade 11 here but our family went to America when I was already on my fourth year. I still need to take grade 11 and 12 there." Celindra nodded with Sam's explanation.

"The third one?" Sam smiled at her question.

"I met her when I was passing a project in the faculty of teachers. She is a student of Art department. I courted her for three months, I think? We lasted, for four years."

"Why did you break up then?" Celindra curiously asked.

"She wanted to pursue her career. Go around the world. Paint every lovely scene. She didn't want a long distant relationship. I joined her for half year. But I could caught up with her. We had fights and such. Until, I finally gave up. I couldn't just go from town to town, city to city and country to country without any progress with my life. She's happy with it but I felt emptiness." When Celindra saw Sam is done with his speech, she couldn't help but ask.

"When did you feel that?"

"I felt that after 3 months of travelling. I also told her about it. I still stayed with her. I thought it was a fleeting feeling; it will go, just as she said. But it didn't. It turned worst. I felt that travelling like that, is not for me. After we broke up, I learned that my family is actually already living here, in the Philippines. And so, I flew here and started my life again."

"You are not in contact with your family?" Celindra frowned

"No. She didn't want to. No gadgets, just me, her and her painting materials."

"Oh.." Celindra didn't know what to say to the girl's possessiveness.

"Excuse me mam, sir. Here is your order." The waiter is with the other waiters, putting all their orders on the table.

'Just right in time.' Celindra thought.