Chapter 7 06

A week had passed. Flyers prepared. Desigining done. Cakes are baked. Grand opening later.

Sobrang bilis ng ikot ng oras. I am now reaching my goals. Earlier, I baked cookies for opening later. I've baked a lot for free.

I am stilk thinking on what to wear for the opening. But, I ended up choosing the coffee-like wrap around dress.

"You look so beautiful!" Lexus complimented when he saw me walking down from the stairs.

"I know right!" I flipped my wavy hair and followed him as he turn the engine of the car when we stepped out from the house.

"You will be really starting a new chapter of your life! Never did I expected this, for real," he bragged out as he turns the car on right.

I gulped. "That's why I am thanking you. . . For helping me on how could I find out what really makes me happy. . ."

He grinned. "Well, I could help you finding it. Aside from your happiness of pastries. . . I could be one too."

Mahina kong tinapik 'yong braso niya. "You're too much, hah!"

Pagkatapos kong sabihin 'yon ay tumawa lang siya. Tiningnan ko 'yong oras sa cellphone ko. Alas-syete na pala! The opening will be after half a hour.

Good thing at nakarating naman kami. We have gathered about the ribbons at the front door of the shop. No'ng isang araw lang din nalaman nina Tita ang tungkol sa shop ko na 'to, kaya possibly in any minutes ay makakarating na sila.

As I have said, nakarating na nga sila. Si Tita, Keil, si Rean na katabi si Jenia. How I really wish Jenia to be her, despite of what happened weeks ago!

"Wow! Ang ganda ng designings! By any chance, did you design this just like what you have in your plates before?" Napahawak sa labi si Rean nang makita niya nang buo 'yong shop ko.

Tumango at ngumiti lang ako sa kaniya. The title was really enough to read at the top.

'Montessori and Bakeshop.'

At first, I was really thinking kung ano ang ipapangalan ko. But, a thing came up my mind. I have decided to name it on my father's last name.

He was the very first who tasted the cookies I've baked for my TLE class back when I was still in high school. Kaya sobra na lang akong desidido na ipagpatuloy 'to.

"Ate! Araw-araw akong pupunta rito!" galak na sabi ni Keil. Sumulyap ako kay Jenia na pinagmamasdan lang ang shop. Sana naman ay nagustuhan niya.

"Ang ganda talaga, Astra!" huling nag-compliment si Tita. Nagpasalamat lang ako sa kaniya bago tiningnan 'yong cellphone ko kung ano'ng oras na sampung minuto na lang at grand opening na.

I've already created a business page of my shop. May simple promotions na rin sa group page. Never did I expected that people will gather outside my shop. Ani pa nila ang iba ang nag-absent para lang matikman ang mga bake ko rito sa shop.

Ang huli na lang na hihintayin ay 'yong landlady ng shop ko na 'to, bago pa man siya mahuli ay nakarating na siya.

"In three, two, one. Cut the ribbon!" sigaw nilang lahat.

May halong kaba ako habang pinuputol 'yong ribbon. Hindi dahil takot ako, kundi sa saya na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

"Come and join us start and open this up with a bright smile!" Halos mangiyak kong pagiimbita sa lahat pagkatapos kong buksab 'yong pinto ng shop ko.

The tables were already settled up. Si Lexus ang tumulong halos sa lahat ng settings ko rito sa shop.

"Astra! Ako na bahala ro'n sa counter!" galak na galak at halos abot-langit na ang ngiti niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Huh? 'Di ka ba pupunta sa café na pinagta-trabahuan mo?"

Umiling siya. "I quit right after you told me about your shop. Gusto kong sa 'yo magtrabaho!"

For seconds, niyakap ko siya at tinapik ang likod niya. "Thank you."

"This haven't made the half of payment for the damage I've caused to you-."

"Shh, 'wag na muna nating isipin 'yan. Let's go and serve!" Pumunta siya ro'n sa counter at ako naman ay nakatayo pa sa may pinto at binabati 'yong pumapasok.

"Ate! Ako na bahala sa costumers," suhestyon sa akin ni Keil habang kumikindat.

"Baka babae lang hahagilapin mo, ah!" pagbibiro ko bago siya iniwan para tulungan si Lexus na i-serve 'yong mga orders nila.

It was worth that I've bake a lot, even though I didn't expected this many people to come!

Sina Jenia at Tita naman kahit papaano ay kinukuha 'yong order ng iba dahil may kahabaan 'yong pila. As I could judge by looking, Jenia is having fun now.

"Hah! Sobrang saya at pagod!" halos magkakasabay kaming lahat na sabihin 'yon, pagkatapos kong baligtarin 'yong sign sa pinto na closed na ang shop.

All of the pastries were sold in just a snap. Ni icing ay walang natira! A lot of them takes their orders out! Some of them booked a indicated date for events. Oh my. . . Ang bilis ng balik sa akin ng mga blessings!

"Oh my god, Astra! We just accumulated thirthy thousand and seven hundred twelve pesos in just a day! Bestselling 'yong brownies at cookies mo!" sabi ni Rean nang iwan niya ang cashier at lumapit sa amin sa isang table kung nasaan kami.

My eyes widened. "Talaga?!" Tumango siya sa akin at ngumiti.

Wow, just wow! Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga nangyayari sa akin ngayon!

Naramdaman ko na lumapit sa akin si Jenia. "A-ate. . ." Halos magsayawan ang buong parte ng katawan ko nang marinig ko si Jenia na tinatawag ako.

"P-pwede ba tayo magusap?"

Tumango ako at nagpaalam kami na lumabas muna para ro'n magusap. Umupo kami sa bench ng park.

"About what I have said weeks ago, Ate. I am really sorry. Siguro. . . Siguro nabigla lang ako. D-don't mind those words, Ate. I-I really adore you so much. Where in fact, gusto kong maging malakas kagaya mo," Jenia confessed as she wipes her tears using the back of her palm.

I shrugged my head. "Nah. Mahirap din ang depression and anxiety mo, Jenia. I didn't validated your feelings. Which was really wrong to do. I am the one who should be sorry for being selfish."

Agad akong niyakap ni Jenia nang mahigpit. "Sobra kitang mahal, Ate. No one could know how deep my love for you is. You were my father and mother all this time. Kaya, don't ever call yourself selfish, hmm?"

I'll get annuled, I've built my own bakeshop, I've connected ties with Jenia and Rean. I couldn't ask for more.