It was just another slow morning sa utility stockroom ng Mo Hotels, except... something was different.
Peachy blinked twice. Tapos thrice. Baka guni-guni lang. But no, it was really there—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszkNnm1gUG
A sticky note.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3T94M8bOa
Color: pale yellow.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pcK8k6UkD
Ink: black.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2k6JqeG0c
Location: sa likod ng microwave kung saan siya laging nagtatago ng instant noodles.
Written in slightly messy but confident handwriting:
"Thanks for the tea. –C"
Tumigil ang mundo niya saglit.
"C...?" she whispered. Her fingers hovered above the note. Hindi niya agad ginalaw, parang sacred artifact sa museum. Kailangan pa ba niya ng gloves?
Sa isang iglap, lumambot ang tuhod niya. It was his. It had to be.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaBiFSzue3
Ang lalaking misteryoso, tahimik, laging mukhang nagdadalamhati—siya ang sumagot?
Her heart tap-danced like it drank three cups of kape.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexTEogTGPf
"Siya talaga 'to..."
Nakangiti na siya buong shift.
That night, Peachy stared at her notebook—the one she never showed anyone. Dito niya sinusulat ang notes na hindi niya nailalagay. 'Yung masyadong personal. Or masyadong totoo.
She ripped a small pink square from the pad.
"You're welcome. :)33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcPKD2i3Pi
P.S. You look less sad today. That's nice."
She almost crumpled it. Too much ba? Too soon? Too honest?33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ulWdGsh2V
But then she remembered—33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7AqW2amQj
She'd rather be too much than nothing at all.
Inilagay niya ito sa parehong lugar, sa likod ng microwave. May maliit na bato para hindi liparin ng hangin.
The next day, walang note.
Pero sa susunod, meron na naman.
"I didn't know sadness showed. Thanks (I think)."
She giggled.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKELm8ojBU
He's witty pala. And self-aware.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAQ9rRkSAm
She replied:
"It doesn't show. It lingers. Like the scent of burnt toast."
And just like that, it began again.
Their exchange became... a thing.
Walang usap. Walang text. Walang harapan.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEV2f5SSjn
Sticky notes lang—parang lihim na laro.
Sometimes one-liners:
"Do you always hum off-key at 7AM?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbmLqKqIBS
"Only when I think no one's listening."
Sometimes thoughts too small to say aloud:
"Do you believe people can start over?"33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EBGjOnX1H
"Yes. With warm food and cold apologies."
It became her favorite part of the day.
One Sunday, she arrived early. Too early.
Nagulat siya nang mahuling nagsusulat si Charlie sa sticky note. Nakayuko, seryoso, nakaeyeglasses pa. He didn't notice her—yet.
She froze.
Should she leave? Should she cough? Magtap-tap ba ng paa?33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwny8IVSeg
But she stayed. Silent. Watching him write something, crumple it, write again.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOcKGAlosg
Finally, iniwan niya ang note sa usual spot. He turned.
Their eyes met.
She smiled, almost instinctively.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WLwHNi8rS
He... paused.
Then—he smiled back. It was small. Almost reluctant. But real.
"Hi," Peachy said.
"Hey," Charlie replied.
That was it.
The next note came with a doodle. A badly drawn teacup.
"Noticed you like jasmine. Good choice. It's calming. Like you."
She stared at it longer than she cared to admit.
But not all days were sunny.
One Wednesday, he didn't leave a note.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYFN7pe6AS
Next day, wala rin.
By Friday, Peachy started doubting herself again.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvyUNKQL4n
Did she overstep? Was it too much?
She was used to being ghosted—but this felt worse. Because she was hoping. Again.
Saturday, she arrived later than usual. Tired. Hungry.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UHhXJCGXk
Opened the microwave nook to heat her soup... and there it was.
A folded sticky note—pink, but written in black ink.
"Sorry. Got overwhelmed. It happens. I didn't mean to disappear. –C"
She breathed out a laugh, eyes softening.
On the back of her old receipt, she wrote:
"Okay lang. I get overwhelmed too. But I don't disappear. I bake. Want muffins?"
Charlie never answered that one in words.
But come Monday, may iniwang paper bag sa pantry table.
Labeled in awkwardly cute handwriting:
"Blueberry. In case you still meant it. –C"
She took a bite.
And cried. Kasi sobrang sarap. Or maybe dahil sobrang saya.
That day, Peachy left a note that wasn't witty or careful.
Just honest.
"I hope you don't disappear again.33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdhlcbAwrM
It's nice having someone listen. Even in silence."
No reply the next day. Or the day after.
But on Friday, may bagong note.
This time, hindi na sa microwave.
It was taped sa locker niya.
"I won't disappear. Not if you stay."
END OF CHAPTER 7
33Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQCEXE8SOW
