Chapter 3
1413 Words
"Ate what's your problem ba?"
I am biting my nails. That's so awkward! He saw me looking at them and the worst is I looked like a stalker caught in action!
"Ate this really tastes so good!" Kahit puno ang bibig nakuha niya pa ring magsalita.
We are on our way home, and here she is. She kept on complementing the cookies. While me, here I am overthinking what just happened earlier. I don't think I still have the courage to approach him next time. I was really just so embarrassed!
Uminit ang pisngi ko.
I immediately went straight to my room as soon as we got home. While taking a bath I still couldn't move on from what happened.
Later on, I just decided to do all my pending schoolworks I have that day.
Speaking of school. It's been 1 week since I started remote learning. It wasn't that hard adjusting since this has been my set up back then, when I was in 9th grade.
Naibaba ko ang ballpen na hawak ko nang may maalala. He went out of the staff room. He's a staff member of that cafe? Probably, not? He looks so out of place.
And Pierce is his name.
"Pierce, Huh? Such a nice name."
Napapitlag ako nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ko.
It was mom.
Napatayo ako agad at lumapit sa kanya ng kinakabahan.
She looked at me seriously, and slowly down to the bandages I have in my ankle.
Ngumisi siya,
That look on her face. I never want to see it.
Yumuko ako. I started picking my nails.
"Your first ever big competition, huh?" Her eyes wandered around my room, then to me. "Too bad, seems like God knows where to put you to where you belong."
Gale, huminga ka, huminga ka lang. Focus on your breathing please. I continued picking my nails.
"You dream so high. Ambisyosa ka na dati pa. Ang kapal naman ng mukha mo kung iisipin mong mag tatagumpay ka. Gayong alam mo na dapat hindi ikaw 'yong nasa posisyon na yan."
"Mom, stop it, please." Halos hindi ko na mabanggit ng maayos ang mga katagang 'yon. My lips were trembling as my tears are threatening to fall.
"Why?! You're guilty? You should! You stole your sister's life! That's why you should be guilty! Nakakadiri ka!" Lumapit siya sa'kin at nagsimulang itulak ang balikat ko gamit ang hintuturo niya. "This is your sisters dream! And you decided to live with it?!Ang akapal ng mukha mo!"
Nanginginig akong napaatras.
"Why? Nasasaktan ka?" Umatras ako at halos matumba dahil sa tulak niya at panginginig ng mga tuhod ko. "Nasasaktan ka?!" Tuluyan na akong bumagsak at humagugol.
I cried myself out right after she stormed out of my room. Buong gabi akong hindi makatulog dahil sa nangyari.
Nang may mugtong mga mata at may mabigat na damdamin bumaba ako at kinuha sa ref yung cookies kanina.
I smiled a little when I saw the smiling face of the gingerbread, kumuha lang rin ako ng almond milk at inakyat sa taas para roon kainin.
I looked at the empty box of gingerbread cookies. It somehow lessened what I'm feeling earlier.
I smiled a bit. The power of gingerbread, huh?
I continued doing my schoolworks, and later on brushed my teeth and slept.
"Galeena Rillorta, you're back!" I laughed at Selena and hugged her back.
I also hugged Yna and Lavender.
They've been my closest friends and classmates since Senior High School. Nagkataon lang na pare-pareho kami ng interest kaya hanggang ngayon magkasama pa rin kami.
"Miss you, bff." Si Yna, at nag finger heart naman sa'kin si lav. I gave her one as well and laughed at her.
"Missed you all!"
My homies.
It's been two weeks since the incident. My ankle is fine now, wala na ring bandage at nailalakad ko na ng maayos.
Hindi naman ako masyadong magha-habol ng mga gawain since I have my remote coaching. Itinuturo kasi sakin lahat ng mga lessons at activities na nata-tackle nila through face-to-face.
"You are going to have your second major performance task in my subject. You are going to perform aerobic dance. Per groups should consist 10 students. I'll let you choose your own group. Class Mayor, send me the names per group once finalized." Our P.E teacher announces.
"Oh four na tayo! Hanap pa kayo anim," Lav,
"Hoy tangina, palapit si Irish! Tumalikod kayo, Tumalikod!" Tarantang sigaw pabulong ni Yna.
Tarantang tumalikod si Selene at biglang hinatak si Anne, sinundan naman siya ng dalawa. Anne is with our other classmates, they're group of 6.
"Hehe uy, Anne, Magaling kang sumayaw 'di ba? Oh tara na sa group namin. Sama na rin kayo guys!" Ngumiti ng pilit si Selene at tumango tango. Ginawa rin 'yun nung dalawa. I laughed at them.
"Yes! Complete na kami! ha-ha." Sigaw ni Lav.
"That's so mean," I told them after the class but I can't hold back my laugh.
"It's called saving yourself from disaster, Gale." si Selene na humagalpak ng tawa at nakipag high five kay Yna.
"Bruh, I can still feel my back pain after the aerobic dancing we had in Senior High! She's such a terrible leader." Lav exaggerated and held her back, acting like it hurts.
"Excited pa ako no'n sa sleepover pero mauuwi pala sa sakit ng katawan. Akalain mo 'yon inabot ng umaga yung practice! Wag na talaga!"
They're right though. Classmate namin si Irish no'ng Senior High. She became our leader because aside from she's a good dancer, she insisted on becoming one.
I remember her scolding at Lavender no'ng first practice namin kasi hindi niya magawa ng maayos 'yung sayaw.
We had a little fight after that. Lavender is not the type of person who can grasp the steps in one practice, it's the same in terms of academics. Pero kapag pinaglalaanan niya talaga ng oras para pag aralan, she'd remember it even if it takes a hundred years.
That's a long story to tell.
"Guys nga pala, congrats niyo 'ko. Natanggap ako sa first work ko!" Yna suddenly announced.
Among all of us, Yna is the most dedicated and smart. She's consistently been at the top of our class since Senior High
Dati pa man vocal na siya na gusto niyang mag-apply ng trabaho. Kaya ngayong pwede na siya, hindi na siya nagsayang ng oras para mag apply.
"Is it legal?" Selene asked. Agad siyang binatukan ni Yna.
"Gago ka talaga. Hoy, kahit naman gustong gusto ko na magpayaman, hindi ko 'yon papasukin 'no." She hugged her body, acting like a scared puppy.
Binatukan ko siya.
"Ano namang trabaho mo riyan?" I asked.
"Secret! I value my privacy 'no!" I don't know if she's kidding or what. "Pero seryoso. Sa cafe lang. Secret na lang muna!"
Bago umuwi. Dumaan muna ako sa Gingerbread Cafe, it was the cafe near NorthU's. Sinundo kasi ni mommy si Lara kaya ako na ang bumili ng para sa kanya.
I know she can't ask mom a favor. Takot lang niya.
"Hi, Ma'am. What is your order?"
I just told her my order. Since medyo kaunti ang tao, pinili ko na rin munang mag stay at umorder para rito kainin. I think I should try going here at night? This is perfect spot to study.
The cafe's ambience is so relaxing lalo na kung hindi masyadong crowded.
Habang hinihintay ang order ko. Luminga linga ako at nabaling ang titig ko sa painting. It was a simple painting of a happy family.
Napaisip ako.
What if Dad didn't leave Mom. Would this happen to us?
My mom.
I sighed.
"Sana ako nalang 'yang painting. Para maranasan ko namang mabiyayaan ng pagtingin mo,"
Nabaling ang tingin ko sa nagsasalita.
Yna?
"What the hell? Ginulat mo ako!" I held my heart, over reacting a bit. "This is where you work?" gulat na tanong ko.
"Ang oa ha! kanina pa kita nakita. Lalim ng iniisip mo, ah?" She began putting my order on the table. "Congrats, Ma'am. Ikaw ang unang naka discover ng secret ko!" She said that enthusiastically but almost whispering.
I laughed at her.
She looked at the counter. Naging seryoso siya nang bumaling muli sa'kin. I knew then that this should not he part of her work. So I nodded at her. But since she's facing me and her back is facing the counter, hindi nakawala ang pangloloko niya.
She winked at me.
"Maiwan na kita, ha. Enjoy your food, mom!"
"Mom your face!"
....
- Writer
