Undying Flame (Nathan Kyle & Jhauztine Chloe Story)

Chapter 20

I was queuening at K's Real Bean when my phone rang, displaying Dawn's name. I smiled, swiping to answer.

"Chloe-bar!" she shrieked. I needed to put a distance between me and the phone to save eardrum.

"Hey to you too." I answered laughing a bit.

"So, are you free tonight? Nood tayo sine."

"I can't today, Dawn. What about tomorrow?"

I heard her sigh, but there's no trace of disappointment in her voice when she replied, "May date na naman kayo ni Archie? Nakakaselos na 'yan ng kunti."

Natawa ako ng bahagya, "Ikaw naman! 'Di naman ako nagreklamo nang kayo ni Emer noon."

"I was just kidding! But I'm happy your happy, best friend. There's nothing I want for you but that." She hushed those words out, sounding sentimental.

I let a small smile appear on my face, "Yeah, he makes me happy."

"Dapat lang, ano!" her feistiness was back again. "Sige na, I'll let you go. But tomorrow, you're mine and I'll be at your house at six."

"Sure, sure. Bye, Dawn-nut."

It's been three months after Kyle. Hindi ko masabi na talagang okay na ako pero parating na ako roon. Hindi ko na siya naiisip katulad mg dati. May parte pa rin ng puso ko na kukikirot kapag naaalala ko siya, ngunit 'yon na lang 'yon. One painful memory I'm soon be letting go.

I met Archie through Ric, well kind of. He's not none of those men he emailed me. Thank God. He's a friend of Ric who he met at the gym, na nakatira rin pala sa building niya. The first time we saw each other was when I went to pick my jacket from Ric's place. It was like a scene in a movie, we bumped into each other, said our apologies, and then he asked me for my number.

Nakakatawa nga dahil ang unang text niya sa'kin, was him confirming if I'm Ric's girlfriend. Ayaw naman daw niyang manloob at manira ng relasyon.

Pagkatapos kong sabihin hindi, it sorrt of took of there. We texted a lot and after four days we decided to meet. I came clean about Kyle and everything, which he accepted and even promised me to help me move on from him.

Kaya lahat ginagawa ko para makalagpas na sa sakit ng kahapon. Kasi nangako ako kay Archie na magiging official lang kami kapag sigurado na akong nakalimutan ko na si Kyle. He was most willing to wait, which made me happier with him.

"Hi, Miss Chloe. Here's your Jazzy White Chocolate Dream Latte." Tugon ng barista sabay abot sa'kin ang inumin ko.

"Bayad na ulit?" at this point, hindi ko alam kung bakit pa ako nagtatanong. It's been two weeks since I started to received free drinks, not knowing who pay for it.

Tumango siya, "Yes, Ma'am."

I just smiled and cheerfully took the drink from her. Hindi na ako magtatanong kung sino dahil tulad ng ibang araw, hindi rin nila sasabihin sa akin. Magpapasalamat na lang ako sa hangin kung sino mang hulog ng langit ang nanlilibre ng kape ko araw-araw.

Palabas palang ako ng coffes shop nang maksalubong ko si Archie na siya namang papasok. Nagkagulatan pa kaming dalawa na nauwi sa tawanan.

"I was looking for you. Sabi sa opisina mo bumaba ka raw." he said, hugging me and speaking directly to my ear.

I shiver, thankfuk for his warmth. "Bumili ako kape." Sagot ko, saka ko siya tinitigan. "Paano mo alam kung saan ako hahanapin?"

He just grinned before pressing a kiss on my forehead. "Sino pa ba makakaalam? Eh 'di ako lang naman talaga?"

Napangiti na lang ako saka ko biglang napagtanto. "OMG! Ikaw 'yong nanlilibre ng kape ko, 'no? Umaga saka hapon?"

He looked at me confused before he nodded, "Yes, ako nga. Damn, sabi ko na hindi ko maitatago ng matagal."

I giggled against his chest before giving his back a subtle smack. "Ikaw talaga! Kung anu-anong pakulo mo!" Sambit ko saka kumawala sa bisig niya.

He held my free hand with his. 'Yong isa naman niyang ibinulsa niya. "C'mon, I'll walk you back to your office and wait for your shift to end. May naisip ka na bang puntahan ngayon?"

I swayed our intertwined hands. I was quietly thinking until we reached the building's double door. "Kain na lang tayo sa labas?"

Muli siyang tumango at ngumiti, "Whatever works for you." Saka siya humalik sa noo ko at nagpaalam na sa K's Real Bean na lang din siya maghihintay.

With only two more hours left in my shift, it ended without me even noticing it. Medyo busy rin kasi kami dahil maraming demands ang IT team ni Mr. Ric Orfiano.

Nag-text naman ako kay Archie na agad namang sinundo ako sa harap ng building. Hindi ko rin kasi dala ang sasakyan ko ngayon gawa ng siya ang naghatid sa'kin kaninang umaga.

We decided for Chinese since nag-cre-crave rin ako ng dumplings kaninang lunch.

"I can't drive you to work the day after tomorrow. Night shift kasi ako." Pagpapaalam niya habang naglalagay siya ng dumplings sa plato ko.

"Okay lang. Ano ka ba. Sabi ko naman sa'yo kapag 'di mo kayang mag-drive, kahit 'wag mo na ako ihatid at sunduin."

"But I want to. 'Yon na nga lang ang time natin magkita kapag may trabaho tayo parehas, hindi ko pa ba gagawin?" I blushed and smiled, making him grind.

"Basta, alam ko namang p*****n duty mo sa ospital. It's best to have some rest."

Tinitigan muna niya ako ng matagal saka siya tumango at sumang-ayon. "Kumusta na raw pala si Tito?"

I let my shoulder sag before blowing out a breath, "Ayun, sabi ni mama, he's responding well with the treatment."

"Bakit parang hindi ka masaya?"

I chewed my bottom lip. I was idly staring at my dumplings before I answered. "Because I'm afraid that it will end up the same as the last time. Bigla-bigla na lang hindi eepekto kay papa 'yong gamot, then we're gonna switch with a new one only finding it to end the same.

He reached across the table, cupping my cheeks with his hand. "Hey, your dad's going to be fine. He can defeat this, he can conquer cancer. I haven't met him yet, but I know he's putting a damn fight. Kanino pa ba magmamana ang maganda niyang anak 'di ba?" he ended his encouragement with a lopside smile making me mirror the same expression.

"Magaling ka talaga mambola, ano?" biro ko na siyang ikinatawa niya.

Our dinner was filled with him telling me ghost stories being passed around at the hospital were he works as a Radiologic Technologist. I'm not a die hard fan of anything scary but the mysteries did pique my interest. Hindi nga naming napansin na tatlong oras na pala kaming nasa restaurant.

"Buti hindi nagalit 'yong manager na nag-overstay tayo." I kid when he's leading me up the porch of the house.

Nagkibit-balikat lang siya. "Marami naman tayong in-order kaya okay lang 'yon."

Nginitian ko siya bago ko binuksan ang pinto. "Good night, Archie. Thank you for today."

He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my forehead, "Anytime, anywhere, for you. Always. Good night, Chloe."

I watched his car disappear in the night before I headed inside. Nakipagdaldalan pa muna ako kay Dawn. Gusto niya kasing laging updated sa mga nangyayari sa amin ni Archie. Inabot kami ng madaling araw kaya hindi ko narinig ang alarm ko.

It was already eight when I woke up, making me speed through the house to get ready. I texted my team that I'll be late, also shooting texts to Archie and blaming Dawn why I'm tardy for work.

My manager assured me that everything is under control when I'm already on my way to the office. Sorry pa nga ako nang sorry sa kanya dahil pasado alas-nuebe na at ipit pa ako sa traffic. She was very understanding and even suggested for me to grab breakfats before coming to our floor since she's sure that I skipped it. Hearing my stomach growling I bit the offer and chose to swing by K's Real Bean to grab some coffee and bread.

Apat lang kami sa pila at ako ang pinakahuli, busy akong mag-chat sa mga ka-team ko para updated ako sa mga nangyayari nang narinig ko ang isang pamilyar na boses. Napataas ako ng tingin at napatitig sa lalaking nakatalikod sa'kin at kausap ang barista.

"She didn't come here this morning?" tanong niya.

"Hindi Sir, eh. Unclaimed 'yong kape ni Miss Chloe ngayong umaga."

"Ganoon ba? Does she look sick yesterday when she went here to get her coffee? Baka kasi nagkasakit siya kaya wala siya ngayong umaga."

Muling umiling ang kausap niya. "Hindi naman, Sir. Mukhang okay naman siya. Lagi ngang nakangiti si Ma'am, eh." I know she was about to say more but her co-worker pointed at me.

I felt my eyes going big, hindi ko ba alam kung magtatago ako o ano.

"Ah, Sir." 'Yon na lang ang natatanging nabanggit ni Ate Barista bago niya ako tinuro.

The scene felt like itbwas played in slow motion. Kyle turned and he too was shock to see me there. My eyes roam his face and the familiar ache in my heart came back.

He had cut his hair shorter.

Hindi ko alam ang gagawin. Do I say hi? Aalis na lang ba ako?

He was the first one to react. He grinned, the dimpled one I loved. Before he said. "Chloe."