Sweet Escape

Chapter 3

The evening just started, but the bus stop is already packed with people. Everyone is trying to make their way home. Some are tired and just want to rest straight away. Some are excited to meet their friends and unwind. While May and Reina are just casually walking, thinking of how to survive tomorrow. Talking their way out of the boredom of waiting their turn to get past the waves of people in rush hour.

“So... Have you found a side job?” Mae asked. “Oh right, I almost forgot!” Reina replied with a loud voice. “I saw a job post at the convenience store nearby. I’ll submit a resumé tomorrow.”

 “Ooh. That’s nice, but you don't have to shout, you know,” Mae teases her. “I was worried that you won't find one asap. Thank God! You already did.” Mae added. 

As they walked, they saw a man with an apron carrying some squids. Reina looked at them and sighed, “I wish I could eat those squids. Looks tasty.” 

“Do you want one?” Mae asked. 

“Nah. Mother is waiting at the hospital. I need to go there asap.” Reina replied. As she turned her head, she saw two students from behind. She thought—“They’re probably enjoying themselves right now… Wait, that hair looks familiar. Isn’t that the guy I saw earlier from the convenience store? Why is he..?” 

“Rei! Hey Rei!” Shouted Mae, interrupting Reina’s thoughts. 

“W-what? I-I’m sorry, did you say something?” Reina replied as she faced Mae. “I said, have you already talked to Chris?” Mae repeated her question. 

“Oh no! I was about to, but my boss kept looking at me. I didn’t have the chance.” she explained. 

“Make sure not to forget it when you arrive at the hospital. Gosh! Doesn’t he have anything better to do? He keeps on texting me nonstop!” Mae complained. 

“Okay, I’ll try,” she said. “I have to hurry Mae, I’ll text you later. Bye!” Reina waved goodbye as she ran to catch the bus. 

After a few moments, still, on the bus, she peeked at her phone. No texts and calls. She thought—“Why didn't he text or call me? Why does he reach Mae, about me? Is he upset because I didn’t reply to his messages?” she sighed, exhausted from all the things that have happened to her and around her lately. As she looked at the cars passing by the window, she thought, this is the only time she has to think about him.

“I should text him,” she muttered.

So she typed, “I’m sorry babe. Dad got into an accident, since then I’ve been so busy. I hope you’ll understand. I love you.” Then she hit send. 

Thirty minutes passed, still no reply from Chris. Moments passed, and she made her way to her father at the hospital, then she received a notification message. When she peeked at her phone, it was from the store she was applying to, reminding her to bring her resume and proceed with the interview. She was disappointed. She's still expecting a reply from Chris. She waited patiently while trying to sleep beside the hospital’s bed. Hours passed. She can’t sleep, trying to think about her boyfriend. The night had passed, but she didn’t hear anything from him. 

“What is he up to?” Reina told herself as she was so confused about Chris looking for her, yet not replying to her messages. So she texted him again, “Hey, babe. How are you? Is everything alright?”

“Sweetie, why are you still up?”, she was so startled when she heard a voice. “It’s almost 3’oclock in the morning,” her father mumbled. 

“Oh my!” she yelled. “Please dad, don't talk like that. You sound like a ghost,” she teases her father. “I’m just reviewing for my job interview tomorrow,” she added.

 “Oh. where did you apply?” her father asked.

“In a convenience store near our office. I can work there after my shift, and it’s nearby. It is indeed convenient.” she said, trying to make a joke to see her father laugh, but he didn’t. Reina looked at her father. He was sad, and before she could explain the joke her father said, 

“If only I didn’t get into an accident, you wouldn't have to do this. We couldn’t send you to college and now I’m letting you work 2 jobs without a rest” her father said with a cracked voice, trying hard not to cry.

“Dad, it is my choice not to study. It wasn’t your fault, and besides, I still don’t know what career suits me.” Reina said with a sad voice.

“Oh dear, you just have to ask yourself. What makes my heart flutter? or Why am I doing this? You have to know what it is that makes you keep doing it. You see, some of us aren’t very lucky to know and get what we want in life. Some may know what they want but don’t have the opportunity to do so. Some are very lucky, they know what they want in an instant and have the fortune to sustain their needs without any problem at all.” her father said. “But you know what advantage we have?” her father asked.

“Knowledge. We try different things, hoping that it sparks the passion inside us. The knowledge we accumulate can help us to achieve more in life.” her father added. Reina was amazed by what her father said.

“Thank you, dad, for the advice. That was wonderful,” she smiled at her father like nothing was bothering her. She knows deep in her heart that she also wants to find her passion, that something you can enjoy while earning some money, that something that keeps your life feels meaningful, and that something that can make you feel genuinely happy, but she was too afraid to take risks. Now that her father is in the hospital, her mother can’t take jobs because of her little sister, and her brother is in a prestigious school, what choice does she have? She felt like it’s not too important right now. What is more important is to give what her family needs.