Kira even managed to convince him to try drive-through McDonald’s coffee, and while Santi regretted that particular coffee choice, he didn’t regret taking that detour to pick her up. And for two hours, everything was good. He actually felt like...himself again. Not the rotten apple of his grandfather’s eye, not the brother who stubbornly refused to get with the program. Just...himself.
“I’m heading to the Laneways, can I drop you off there?” Santi asked, as they exited Star Tollway and found themselves in Lipa. Like the spell of their impromptu road trip had lifted.
“Yes, thanks.” Kira nodded as they headed down the highway. “You seem different, did you know that?”
“Different?” Santi echoed, curious.
“You’re smiling again.”
He couldn’t deny that. Was surprised that she had actually noticed that he didn’t do it that often.
“I’ve always enjoyed my time here,” he admitted. “Even when I was made to think it wasn’t enough, I still enjoyed it. I used to think there was something wrong with me, that I was enjoying what I’m doing here. But I’m starting to think that maybe my goals could be changeable.”
Then he pulled the car over to a parking space, and turned to Kira. It was difficult to describe the happiness he felt, that someone was looking at him the way she was, that she was glad to be next to him. It made him feel warm inside, for someone as wonderful as her to see him.
“Whoever said that must be very, very wise,” she told him.
“Wise enough.” He shrugged, before she pinched his side and made him laugh. Of course Santi had to retaliate, which meant she had to retaliate again, and she was so brilliant at breaking through his defenses that he actually had to carefully take her wrists to stop her. And suddenly her face was inches away from his. The air in the car suddenly seemed warm, and was that a blush spreading across her cheeks?
“Santi,” she said, and her voice was a little breathy. She was a little close, but he let himself come even closer. When she smiled, and tugged at the hem of his shirt a little, he obliged and came even closer.
He wanted to kiss her. It was no longer surprising to him, to feel that urge. Like he’d had it in him all along. Except now, he was tired of holding himself back from what he wanted, and what he was feeling. Sitting with her in his face for the last two hours had made him feel loose, and comfortable. Safe, even. Safe enough to ask for what he wanted.
“We have a business deal to fix. You haven’t even tasted the new tartufo yet.”
“I know,” he said. “But that’s tomorrow.”
“Always a day away,” Kira joked.
“Kira, I—”
A sharp knock behind Kira made them both jump, Santi’s head hitting the ceiling of his car. They both turned to see Gabriel Capras and Sari Tomas smiling smugly at them, the couple holding hands like they had just found two more possible members of their little Love Club.
To Kira’s credit, she didn’t look at all embarrassed, simply clearing her throat and lowering the window on her side with the press of a button.
“Yes, mamsir, may I help you?” she asked her friends in a sugary-sweet tone, even if Santi was sure her face only said, “go away, go away now.”
“Did we interrupt something?” Gabriel asked innocently, his voice equally as sugar sweet. He tilted his head so he could get a closer look at Santi. “Or were you thinking of joining me and Anton Manansala V. Santillan for our meeting at Sunday Bakery?”
“Manansala?” Sari next to her boyfriend asked, her lips quirking in amusement. “Like the—”
“Like the National Artist, yes,” Santi sighed, not that he was particularly proud of the name. At this point, there was only one thing he could say to them to get them to go ahead to Sunday Bakery. “My mother is an enthusiast. I was actually about to head to Sunday Bakery for our meeting. I have bread from Patis.”
“What!” Gabriel exclaimed as Kira and Sari looked confused, and Santi reached to the backseat to grab the goods he’d picked up before driving to Legazpi. Patis Bakery in Makati was one of those places that claimed to “elevate” the humble panaderia, as if there was something wrong with the current iteration. But even Santi had to admit that their bread was pretty good, worth some of the hype. Santi had managed to grab the last of jamon and keso de bola croissant sandwiches, pan de coco brioche and raisin bread ala Baguio Country Club.
Santi thought that it would be enough to distract Gabriel from the fact that they’d been caught seconds away from another kiss. But sometime in between the croissant sandwiches and their second cups of Café Cecilia coffee, Gabriel pulled Santi aside, leading him to the landing of the staircase that led up to Sunday Bakery’s kitchen. From where they were standing, Santi could just see Kira and Sari talking and taking bites of their food, not so surreptitious about casting them curious glances.
“Just have to talk to him about the Grand Opening!” Gabriel yelled over his shoulder in explanation. “Santi, do you think we should get doves and release them when we open the bakery?”
“Doves are for weddings, Gabriel, we don’t need—” Santi began, but Gabriel shook his head.
“Yeah, don’t worry, I already ordered the party poppers. What are your intentions with Kira?” he asked seriously. “She’s our landlord, not to mention my friend, so my old-timey toxic male instinct is to protect her. Even from you, Sants.”
“I like spending time with her,” Santi explained, looking at where Kira and Sari took bites of the pan de coco. “In the interest of disclosure, I have known her since I was a child. She was the one who gave me the idea of moving to Lipa.”
“Oh yeah, Sari told me how you were all in a little neighborhood barkada,” Gabriel said, waving his hands around as he quickly replaced the bakery’s depleting supply of the mini caramel cakes. “Thanks for telling me that, by the way. Ithoughtit was super random that you ended up in Lipa.”
“You don’t seem surprised,” Santi said, curious. “About me having feelings for Kira.”
