A Miserable Romance

Chapter 2 - Impression

Chase couldn't lift a smile the whole morning. He left the apartment without any words and proceed to Kaye's house where he immediately took a shower.

"So that kid bought disaster again?" she asked in amusement since Chase just gave her a rough idea of why he left his apartment in a bad mood.

"Ba't kasi ayaw mong kunin yung condo na gustong ibigay sayo?" she asked mindlessly but immediately regretted it seeing Chase stop upon hearing her words.

Kaye cleared her throat and asked, "Sasabay ka ba sakin sa pagbukas ng café? I need to be 2 hours early today kasi may schedule ang function room."

"Aalis kana ba ngayon?" Chase asked.

Tiningnan naman ni Kaye ang relo nito, "Oo, pupunta ka rin naman diba ng café? Mauuna lang ako para sa preparation, e secure mo lang na nakalock lahat sa bahay bago umalis."

Kaye inherited her small house from her family and Chase has been welcome anytime here so Kaye would sometimes let him sleep or stay without any worries.

At dahil nagmamadali si Kaye, she no longer stayed and went to her café. Chase chose to work on his manuscript,while drying out his hair. He had an appointment at 1 PM with his editor but he will first go to take some lunch at Kaye's café.

He prepared his desk and proceed on editing some chapters, it has been his daily routine to update his current book since being a writer was his only job right now, and he was immersed in editing when his phone received a message. He took it casually but when he saw the sender, he stopped.

Are you free next week?

He stayed in place, with his eyes staring at the screen. He then put the phone out and stared at the blue sky through the window.

I'll check. He then answered.

"Tae...napagalitan nalang ako tuloy." Jin, one of Kyle's friend groaned and proceed to sit on one of the chairs.

Kyle also sat across him, massaging his head, "Kung alam ko lang na madedelay ang hang-over ko sana hindi na ako pumasok."

He groaned the same pain since they had been lively since morning only when the boring class strike did the headache from drinking last night took effect.

"Order mo nga ako ng frappe." Utos ni Kyle sa kaibigan, "Sama mo na rin si Ofius."

His friend raised his head, "Pupunta siya?"

"Nagmessage sakin, sabi niya wala na silang pasok buong umaga dahil walang instructor."

Jin groaned, "Sana all, pagod na talaga ako, gusto ko ng umuwi ba't kasi dito pa tayo? Ang layo nito sa school at mga babae lang pumupunta dito."

Kyle flashed him a glare, "Bibila ka o bibili ka? Ang sakit sakit na ng ulo ko dadagdagan mo pa."

Jin rolled his eyes and stomped towards the counter. Kyle was yet to rest his head when a hand pats him on the shoulder and when he turned he almost groaned in frustration, it was Ofius with his all-bright smile and lively aura.

"Yo Kyle, dito na ba yung lugar?" Ofius proceed to take a chair and traveled his eyes around the place. "It's good though."

"Dito nga, dito yung tambayan nina Stacy at mga kaibigan niya." Sagot ni Kyle.

"Ayos," Ofius grinned.

"Eh kung ligawan mo nalang kaya ng deretso? Para kana mang old school na may marami pang trip."

Ofius disagreed, "Love is sweeter when its unexpected boss."

It was Kyle's turn to roll his eyes and proceed to massage his aching head, matagal na silang magkaibigan ni Ofius at gusto nitong e pursue ang kaklase niyang ubod ng kagandahan na si Stacy. Ofius was that rare romatic guy na gusto talagang mag effort para sa babaeng gusto niya. But he snapped when he took a glance at the entrance, he saw a familiar person entering the café and it shook him to the core. He immediately hid his face, covered it with his jacket and tried to avoid looking at that direction.

Napansin naman ito ni Ofius, "Bakit? Bakit?"

"Shh! Nandito yung roommate ko!" he hushed him but Ofius would always lean on his curiosity and immediately turned his head around just to see the same gloomy face of Kyle's roommate he saw earlier, he chose an isolated space with two chairs only, around the edge corner near the small patio, almost unnoticeable.

"Ofius!" tawag nito, "'Wag mong tingnan! Baka mapansin tayo!"

"Ikaw lang naman ang ayaw mapansin." sagot ng isa.

"Huh?!"

"Mga boss, frappes niyo." Timing din ang pagdating ni Jin. "Akala ko ba maraming plates ngayon Ofius?" tanong nito sa isa. Plates is working drawings that architecture students majorly work on their field.

"Cramming is the key," Ofius answered as he put the straw and continued watching Chase in the corner typing something on his laptop.

"Kyle, ano nga ulit pangalan niya?" tanong ni Ofius.

"Sino?"

"Ang roommate mo."

"Ah, si Kuya Chase." Sagot niya, "Naku Ofius kung gusto mo lahat kaibiganin, 'wag lang siya. Mababaliw ka lang."

Jin giggled, "Bakit? Crazy ba?"

Kyle scratched his head, he usually don't talk behind Chase since the man is not that bad but not also that good. But since they started it, he started spitting, "'Nung una akong lumipat sa apartment, nandoon na siya. Akala ko friendly kaya naging komportable ako kaagad pero nung araw na yun, nung gusto ko lang hiramin ang heater niya, akalain niyo naman! Sasabihan ka ng 'wala ka bang pambili?'"

"Talaga!?" Jin burst into laughter, "Hindi naman siya mali!"

Kyle glared at his friend then clicked his tongue, "Kaya sabi ko mababaliw talaga kayo sa kanya, minsan pag nag-uusap kayo bigla bigla na lang yan sisimangot at magwa-walk out na para bang hangin ka lang."

"Baka menopausal," Jin stated.

But upon hearing it, Ofius became more curious, "Wala ba siyang kaibigan? O pamilya?"

Kyle shrugged, "Dunno, at di ako interesado."

But they snapped out of the conversation when a group of beautiful young ladies entered the café.

"Pre, pre!" Jin vigorously patted Ofius.

Out of the girls who entered, the most stunning one was named Stacy. She had long slick hair with a small face, puffy lips, and beautiful round eyes which was exactly the reason why Ofius liked her. And Stacy knew him.

"Ofius?" she spotted him and walked towards their table, "Nandito ka?"

Kyle and Jin were blinded by the campus beauty and almost suffocate themselves but Ofius was calm and smiled back, "Vacant time namin ngayon, kayo?"

Stacy smiled and took a strand of her hair to be placed behind her ears, "Vacant rin."

"G-Gusto niyo bang magjoin samin?" Jin courageously asked. He and Kyle weren't that good-looking nor had any good reputation on the campus but Ofius does, since this guy was an architecture student and was a great protégé that had won several awards locally and internationally. His family was a lineage of great architects in the country, he was also an artist.

Stacy showed her gratitude and invited her friends over.

Ofius also smiled back and forth to make their conversation comfortable but his eyes were glued to one place.

"Belated happy birthday Kyle." Stacy greeted him.

Kyle childishly scratched his head, "Thanks Stacy, wala ba akong birthday gift?" he said in almost a whisper that made all the girls on the table giggle.

"Kahit kiss lang raw sa pisngi Stacy." Jin said that made them all giggle including Stacy.

"Naku, 'di pwede." Sabi nito at tiningnan si Ofius only to see that the man's attention wasn't on her. And when she followed his eyes, she doesn't know if the guy was looking at the patio or the man at a single table.

But Ofius frowned when he saw a woman, who was wearing a t-shirt with the same logo as this café talking to Chase, with her hand on his shoulder.

"Ofius?" tawag nito. And the man finally snapped, "Magtatagal ba kayo dito?" tanong niya.

"Ah, pwede rin." He mindlessly answered and still made a side glance in Chase's direction.

Stacy smiled, "How about we do some arcade?"

"Okay, game ako dyan!" Jin raised his hand.

"Same!" Kyle agreed, with all the pretty girls in the university, this is a feat in his lifetime.

"Then it's settled, right Ofius?" Stacy turned to Ofius again but saw the man already frowning while looking in the same direction of that man on the single table.

Ofius was seeing that the lady who was just casually talking to Chase suddenly sat across him and they talked seriously with brows of the woman frowning every time Chase speak something.

"Ofius?" Stacy called again.

"Hm? Yes?" Ofius tried to snap his attention back.

Stacy just smiled and gently placed her arm on his arm, "We'll go to the arcade, wanna come?"

"Oh, arcade." He made a glance at Chase's table and this time, the woman seemed to be giving him some advice, "Sure, why not." he answered.

All of them left the café with excitement except Ofius whose eyes were still glued on Chase's back until they left the café.

"...hindi sa pagiging hypokrita Chase, pero yes, I would definitely agree na tanggapin yung mga binibigay niya pero bakit ganito?" Kaye spoke in a vicious manner. Chase was already silent, confused on some things.

And Kaye finally gave up, she stood, "I'll have your favorite meal be cooked, ponder what I said. Hindi pwede na magpatuloy 'to Chase."

Chase nodded, "Okay."

It was around 3 pm when his errands for the day are done. His deadline was extended since there are some minor issues regarding his manuscript according to his editor but overall, it was a good one. They met in the café so it wasn't a hassle for Chase.

He was taking the road toward his apartment, he had his umbrella on because it started raining again. His steps were fast and firm since he had his laptop in his bag and it has been with him for 3 years so he wouldn't risk staying it out in this pouring rain.

His vision was straightforward that was late for him to notice that someone was calling for him, "Hoy! Teka—"

The world in his sight rolled and before he could react at that moment, someone pulled him back and a long, metal gutter landed heavily on the part where he was about to walk on. The owner inside screamed in surprise sa naputol niyang alulud.

Chase landed on a stiff chest with strong arms holding him tight and when he lifted his head, instead of being grateful his face showed intense frown.

But before he could react to their situation, he noticed that his sling bag fell on his shoulder. His eyes widened since his laptop was in it! He was about to take it but the other guy was fast to take it first and gave it to him. Without any thanks, Chase took it and was about to check his laptop but realized that it was still raining.

He stopped and lifted his head only to see another familiar face, he frowned.

Ofius stood stiffly seeing the man frown so much at him. He scratched his cheeks and said, "Okay ka lang ba?"

Chase was still frowning and then noticed that the umbrella was still on him, the guy was holding it for him while he let himself be soaked in the rain. He reached for the handle of the umbrella.

Pero agad naman na umiling si Ofius, "Okay lang—" sabi nito sa inaakala na concern si Chase sa pagkakabasa niya but he stiffened when the man took the umbrella and casually turned away.

His hand that was holding the umbrella stayed in the air as he saw Chase walk away. He stared at the figure of the man who showed solid indifference, the cold from the rain was never been this cold to him.