Palmyra: Evan Vinter

Chapter 3: New Life, New Lady.

*Anissa's POV*

I woke up with a smile.

At last, I'm free.

It's time for me to get up and get myself going. I have to find a job and a place to settle in.

I grabbed my baseball cap and hoodie then I went to a local restaurant to eat breakfast.

While eating natanaw ko ang ilang estudyante na papasok sa restaurant na ito. I was thinking how can I go to school here. Hindi ko pwedeng ipakita ang records ko dahil tiyak na mahahanap ako kaagad nila Papa.

Bahala na.

As soon as I left the restaurant, dumeretso ako sa University dito. This City has it's own University. A well known and has a very good quality of education.

Rubrum University

Deep sigh as I entered the Registrars office. There I saw a woman that seems like in her early 40's. She gave me a warm smile as she saw me entered.

"Magandang Umaga," Bati nito sa akin.

I returned a smile as well.

"Are you here for enrollment?" She asked

.

I nodded.

"May I ask where are your papers?"

I bit my lower lip. "Actually, Ma'am—" I looked at her name plate, "Ma'am Sylvia, I don't have my papers with me. M-may inaayos pa po. But maybe there is a way na makapasok pa rin po ako sa University niyo?"

Miss Sylvia smiled at me. "What would be the reason, iha?"

I exhaled and took my baseball cap off. Kasunod noon ang pagsuklay ko sa buhok ko gamit ang aking kamay.

How the hell am I going to explain to her everything?

Nagulat ako ng bahayga siyang nagulat nung makita ang mukha ko.

"Iha, are you okay?" Tanong nito. Mukhang nakabawi na siya sa pagkagulat.

I nodded. "Ma'am, is there anything I can do para po makapagpatuloy sa paga-aral kahit wala pa po yung papers ko?"

Miss Sylvia sighed and smiled at me. "I'm sure you have a valid reason for it, darling."

She stood up and got some papers. "Okay, I'm going to give you one semester para ayusin ang dapat ayusin. If the next semester comes at wala kang naipakita na papers sa akin ay hindi na kita pwede tanggapin."

My eyes lit up. "Yes po. Promise!"

Natawa ang ginang. "Ano nga ang kinukuha mong kurso?"

"Uhm, Business Administration po," I chuckled nervously.

Naningkit ang mata ng ginang. "Are you sure?"

I nodded.

Tumingin ito ng matagal sakin. "Come over here and I'll give you an exam para malaman ko kung anong course ka talaga nababagay at sa kung anong year na."

Sumunod ako sakaniya.

~~

"Wow." She whispered. "Darling, you're a prodigy. Pwede ka kahit saang kurso, and oh boy, senior year in any of the 4 year courses. This time, I want the truth, anong course mo?"

I smiled at her. "Business Administration po talaga."

"Wow." Again, sabi nito.

She smiled at me. "Welcome to Rubrum University, Issa."

I smiled widely. "Thank you so much po!"

She chuckled. "Classes will start tomorrow. And here is your schedule."

Kinuha ko ang papel at nagpasalamat muli sa ginang.

~

After there, pumunta ako sa salon. I realized na I need to change everything, even my appearance as well. So I decided to get a new hair color.

Nagpakulay ako. My dirty blonde hair is now somewhat brunette in color.

"Perfect! You look so pretty, Miss!" Sabi ng nagkulay saakin.

"Thank you."

Ginupitan din niya ako ng buhok. Ang dating napakahabang buhok ko, ngayon ay halos midrib na lang ang haba.

I must admit, I like this look. It's far from the Anissa that they know.

~~

I went back to the local restaurant na pinagkainan ko kanina for late lunch. Masarap ang pagkain nila at affordable pa.

About my savings, I think I can still manage to support myself kahit magpart-time job lang muna ako.

Yung babae kanina na kumuha ng order ko ang kukuha ulit ng order ko ngayon.

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Nag-iba ka ng hairstyle, miss?"

Oh, she remembers me.

I smiled at her.

Ngumiti naman siya ulit saakin at kinuha na ang order ko.

I ate there and went back to the hotel.

~~

I woke up in the middle of the night with a hungry stomach.

Wow, Annie, natulog ka lang tapos paggising mo gutom ka na.

It's already 11:37 pm

After I took a shower, I went again to that restaurant to eat midnight snack.

Pagkarating ko roon ay medyo kakaunti na lang ang tao. I sat on the counter tutal iisa lang naman ako.

And to my surprise, the lady who served me earlier is working at the counter.

"Uy, ikaw ulit," Natatawang sabi nito habang pinupunasan ang baso.

"You're still here?"

Natawa ito. "Pauwi na rin ako mamaya. Over over time lang."

Tumango ako at tumingin sa menu.

"Bago ka lang dito noh?" Tanong nito.

Ngumiti lang ako, not answering her question directly.

~~

Pagkatapos ko kumain ay nagstay muna ako sa counter ng kaunti. Nakita ko ang babae kanina na nagtanggal ng apron at lumabas na sa likod ng counter.

"Ahh, sa wakas tapos na ang shift ko," Sabi nito.

She sat 2 seats away from me.

"Oh, Sana," Nagabot ang isang waiter sakaniya ng isang platong pagkain.

"Salamat, Jun!" Ngiting sabi nito at kumain.

I didn't realize I was staring at her until she looked at me.

"Gusto mo?" Alok nito.

Umiling ako. "Hindi. Salamat."

Tumango lang siya.

Kinain ko na rin ang natitirang ice cream sa baso ko.

"Bago ka rito noh?" Sabi niya habang kumakain ng fries. "Hindi mo pa alam yung ibang kainan dito bukod sa Danny's eh."

I nodded.

Pinunasan nito ang kamay niya ng tissue at inabot ito sakin.

"Ako nga pala si Sana," Pakilala nito.

Inabot ko ang kamay niya at nakipagshake hands.

"Annie— Issa. I'm Issa," I blurted out. Kailangan ko na masanay sa Issa.

Tumango ito. "Mas bagay yung buhok mo kanina. Maganda ka pa rin naman pero mas gusto ko yon sayo."

I muttered my thanks and gave a small smile.

"Nagmo-move on ka noh?" Biro nito sakin. "Ganun din ako nung na-heart broken. Buti nalang sayo bagay, sakin nun hindi eh. Ang pangit," She laughed.

Though she is talkative, I feel that she is a good person.

"Bakit pala simula kaninang umaga nagta-trabaho ka rito?" Pagiiba ko ng usapan.

She took the last bite. "Kulang kasi kami ng tao rito. Ilang araw na rin akong halos buong araw nagta-trabaho pero okay lang para malaki sahod kaso nakakapagod."

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko. "So it means you're hiring?"

Nagtaka naman si Sana. "Oo, bakit? May balak ka magtrabaho dito?"

I nodded and she laughed like a crazy woman.

"Sorry ha, pero kasi sa itsura mo palang parang anak mayaman ka na eh. Sigurado ka ba?" Tanong nito.

"Oo naman. Kailangan kong suportahan sarili ko," Sabi ko.

Tumigil ito sa pagtawa. "You also live on your own?"

I nodded.

Tumango rin siya at nagseryoso. "Sige. Tutal naman kailangan namin ng isa pang crew sasabihan ko ang manager dito."

"Salamat, Sana."

Ngumiti ito ng tipid.

"Ano nga ang buo mong pangalan?" Tanong ko. She might be my first friend here in Sangria City.

"Raqui. I'm Sana Raqui."

I smiled at her. "Nice to meet you, Sana Raqui. I'm Issa Collins."

Ngumiti ito sa akin.

She seems a good person. And if I really am going to stay here, might as well have a good friend.

A new place, a new life.