CHAPTER 3
1277 Words
IT WAS ALREADY FIVE in the afternoon, and the coffee shop would be closed at seven in the evening. Nylah didn’t expect to see him again.
Ashriel Rios.
Hindi ito nagpakilala pero kilala niya ito. And there he was, standing by the door of her coffee shop two days later. The bell chimed softly as he stepped in. Hindi na ito basa sa ulan ngayon. His suit was crisp and his hair neatly combed, but there was something in him that made Nylah look away.
Katulad ng una itong pumunta sa coffee shop, umupo ito sa may stool sa counter.
Nylah forced herself to smile politely. “Good afternoon, sir,” she greeted. “I was hoping you’d have the same coffee you served last time.”
“Black coffee?” wika ni Ashriel saka tumingin sa loob ng coffee shop. Halos puno ang lahat ng mesa ng mga customer—estudyante at mga nagtatrabaho mula sa Rios Tower ang nakikita niyang kusmoter. May mga papasok naman na mag-o-order lang ng kape at tinapay saka aalis na.
“Yes,” Ashriel answered his own. “Any maybe a recommendation. Something to go with it.”
Napakurap si Nylah. Recommendation? Nagtaka pa siya. This man in front of her didn’t seem like the type to ask for suggestions. Pero sinagot niya pa rin ito. “Our scones are fresh today. Blueberry.”
Tumango si Ashriel. “I’ll take one.”
While Nylah was preparing the order, naramdaman niya ang titig ni Ashriel sa kaniya. But not in a predatory way… parang curious lang ito. Parang may sinusubukan itong basahain mula sa galaw niya.
Nylah had been in the underground organization and killed countless people—those are not innocents, though. Alam niya ang bawat galaw at ramdam niya kung anong gustong gawin ng isang tao sa kaniya.
She placed the coffee and scones in front of him. “Enjoy.”
He didn’t immediately drink the coffee. Instead, he looked up at her and asked, “Do you always work here?”
Natigilan naman si Nylah. “Yes?” patanong niyang sagot. “This is my shop.”
“Your shop?” bahagyang nagulat na tanong Ashriel. “You own it?”
May tipid na ngiti na lumitaw sa labi ni Nylah. “It’s my shop, so I own it,” she said. She wasn't used to small talk with strangers — especially not men who looked like him. Kaya nawala rin agad ang kaniyang ngiti.
Napatango si Ashriel. “That explains why it feels different here,” he said thoughtfully, glancing around. “Most coffee shops feel rushed. This one feels … home.”
Nylah didn’t know how to respond to that. “Thank you, I guess?”
“Don’t guess,” he said simply.
Before Nylah could reply, Evron’s small voice piped up from behind the counter. “Momma, can I have juice?”
Sinundan ni Ashriel kung saan nanggaling ang boses. And for some reason, he softened. “Your son?” he asked. She’s married?
And he feels disappointed at that.
“Yes.” Nylah nodded.
Napatango si Ashriel. “He looks like you.”
Bahagyang natigilan si Nylah saka tumingin kay Evron. Binuhat niya ito saka pinaupo sa stool, sa mismong tabi ni Ashriel dahil iyon lang naman ang bakante. Then she gave his son a glass of juice and scones.
“Thank you, Momma.”
Nylah just touched her son’s nose and went back to her work.
As Ashriel sipped his coffee, he couldn’t help but look at the kid. While having a snack, the kid grabbed a colorful, oversized book from a little shelf and began flipping through it, his small lips moving as if reading silently.
Medyo nagsalubong ang kilay ni Ashriel. Curious, he leaned a bit, catching the cover of the book.
An almanac.
The kid was pointing at maps, animals, and naming planets softly under his breath.
This kid might be a genius. Ashriel thought. He was genuinely surprised.
Marami na siyang mga nakitang mga bata sa mga event na dinadaluhan niya. Mga maiingay ang mga ito, hindi mapakali at laging naglalaro sa tablet.
But this one? He was focused. Intent and curious in a way that felt far too mature for his age.
Hindi namalayan ni Ashriel na nakatingin na pala siya sa bata.
Nang makabalik si Nylah sa counter, Ashriel said casually, “Your son… he can read that?” he asked, still surprised.
“Yes.” She didn’t sound boastful — just stating the fact. “He likes books more than toys.”
Bahagyang tumaas ang isang kilay ni Ashriel. “Impressive.”
Nylah nodded politely, busying herself with wiping the counter as though she didn’t want to linger on the topic.
Ashriel took a sip of his coffee and couldn’t help himself. “May I know what your name is?” tanong niya.
Napatigil si Nylah sa pagpunas ng baso. Tumingin siya sa lalaki saka itinuro ang sarili. “Ako ba ang tinatanong mo?”
Tumango si Ashriel.
Hindi sanay si Nylah na nagpapakilala sa ibang tao, but this one is a customer. She needs to be polite. She forced a smile, but not in a way that it was too obvious. “Nylah.”
“And your son?”
“Evron.”
Ashriel smiled. “Ashriel,” he introduced himself.
Nylah nodded.
Ashriel’s gaze stayed on the little boy who was still flipping through the almanac, lips moving as if reading.
“Hey, buddy,” he said gently. “What are you reading?”
Nag-angat ng tingin ang bata. “Planets. This one is Jupiter.”
Napakurap si Ashriel. “That’s right. Jupiter is the biggest one.”
Tumango si Evron saka itinuro ang isa pang planeta. “And this one is Saturn. It has rings.”
A smile tugged at Ashriel’s lips. “You know a lot for a three-year-old.”
“I like learning,” Evron said proudly.
Hindi na napigilan ni Ashriel. He pointed to another page. “Do you know what that one is?”
Evron squinted at the picture. “Hmm… Neptune?”
“Exactly.” Ashriel chuckled softly.
Nylah glanced up from the counter, catching the sight of Ashriel beside her son, and patiently teaching him. For a moment, she froze. The image felt too natural for her.
Hindi naman napansin ang tingin sa kaniya ni Nylah. He flipped a few pages and said, “Do you want to know a trick to remember the planet order?”
Nagliwanag ang mukha ni Evron. “Yes.”
Ashriel smiled and taught him a simple mnemonic phrase. Evron repeated it, giggling when he got it right.
“Smart kid,” Ashriel said softly, almost to himself.
Tumayo si Ashriel saka nagbigay ng bayad para sa kape at sconces. “Your son was sharp,” he said to Nylah. “You must be proud.”
“I am,” sabi ni Nylah.
Ashriel let out a small breath. “Next time, don’t force your smile,” he said, remembering the forced smile Nylah had shown him earlier.
Muntikang mabitawan ni Nylah ang hawak na pamunas nang marinig ang sinabi ni Ashriel. Mabilis siyang tumingin rito.
Ashriel smiled and left.
Napasunod naman si Nylah ng tingin sa lalaki. Ito ang unang beses na may nakapansin sa pilit niyang ngiti. Though when she forced a smile, it was too natural that no one could tell—but this man… she stared at Ashriel leaving her coffee shop.
Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Nylah.
Later, her attention shifted to her phone.
And an encrypted message popped in. She had a bad feeling about this.
- Writer
