The Choice

Azrielle Nicoyashia Dela Cruz Cabrera "Should I choose Law or Programming?" I asked while looking at the papers "Choose whatever you want" My sister said without looking at me, "Are you confident?" "Being a lawyer?" she nodded and I shook my head, "Not really" "Then choose programming since you have potential on it, you are talented so be wise" I simply nod at her and take a sip on my coffee, we're on a cafféé early on the morning. I told her to come if she's not busy, I want to ask her opinion personally since this is for my future and also to see her. Recently I am working at a big company but still I'm thinking about finding a job that suits my skills and what I really want. "When did you comeback?" she asked out of nowhere leaning on the desk looking at me seriously, "You didn't even bother to tell me, we've been waiting for you. Do they know?" I shook my head and lean on the chair, "Nope, and please don't say anything to them, I'm here for work and I'll be back to states in just a few days. I can't stay longer I have so many work to do" "You're a busy woman huh?" She raised an eyebrow and smirked at me, "Including your ex he's a busy man too and he's fine actuall-----" "The hell who asked?" She acted like she's shocked and she even put her hands over her chest forming 'o' on her mouth, "Bitter ha Nicolia?" I rolled my eyes, "Stop talking about him, let's change the topic. How are you guys doing lately?" I heard her whispered something but let out a deep sigh before taking a sip on her coffee "They are all busy with their works, we barely see each other but we keep in touch unlike you" her voice broke and tried to make a fake cough to lessen the atmosphere I looked away and tried to stop my tears from falling, "Sorry is not enough, but I'll just finish my job and became successful then I'll try to fix everything" She tried to reached my hands and hold it tightly, "Don't worry, Alam ko nag ooverthink ka. They are not mad, maybe tampo lang kasi you don't reply with our messages. But I know they understand, mahirap lang talaga pag nasanay. Cringe but they miss you, even me I miss you a lot you're my lil big sister who's bosing around like you're elder!" she tried to make me feel comfortable and gave me a smile, we stopped when her phone rings and she excuse herself for a moment. She came back after a few seconds and rushly fixing her things "You know I wanted to stay longer but I have to go" "Why so fast?" "My daughter fell on the floor" she really looked worried so I let her go, nang makaalis na siya ay umalis na din ako. I don't have time to sit and relax, too many to finish too many to do. I just want to see all of them before I go back to states. I was on my way to Villa Flor Subdivision to visit our home, where we used to live when we we're studying. It looks like no one is living here since it look messy and dirty on the outside. I have the duplicate keys so I went inside, and literally no one comes here. Dust is everywhere, the floor is messy even the kitchen. They didn't plan to go back here huh? I wanted to call my sister to ask about the house pero naalala kong nag aalala siya sa anak nya and she's on her way home so I didn't bother her anymore Mukha namang wala ng natira so I decided to renovate the house and to rent some people to clean the entire house,"Put the things on a box, then clean the whole house. I'll be back, I just need to go back at my condo" I reminded them and they started cleaning I drive back to my condo to finish the report and the papers that will be needed for the meeting tomorrow. I have to be updated to maintain my position, and I have to earn enough money so I can stay here in the Philippines with my friends. "Hello sir I have done the report, I'll just send it your email" I called my boss from US "That's good, I'm expecting a lot from you Ms.Cabrera" my boss complimented and ended the call I let out a deep sigh and put my phone on the table, I lean on my chair and closed my eyes for a moment. "You can do it" I whispered and go inside the bathroom to take a bath, super init that's why I need to take a bath. After that I just wear a plane white oversized shirt and a cargo black pants with a simple white snickers. I even bring my shades since it's sunny outside, babalik kasi ako sa subdivision to bring foods for the people that are cleaning our house. Nagdrive thru nalang ako sa jollibee para less hussle, after that nagdrive na ako papuntang subdivision. Kanina wala pang gasinong tao but now may mga nakikita na akong tao sa labas which is kinda familiar sakin but most of them looked new ones. Bumaba na ako sa kotse at pumunta sa loob, malinis na yung labas and konting linis nalang sa loob. Mukhang di naman kailangan ng renovation, linis lang talaga ang kailangan kasi it looks modern padin. Tinawag kona sila para pakainin kasi alam kong napagod sila, it was around 3:00 pm ng matapos nilang linisin ang buong bahay. They even put new bedsheets and pininturahan na din daw nila yung mga nasirang pintura sa wall since may nakita silang pintura sa likod "Thank you for your hard work" I gunniely smiled at them and gave their pay, nagpaalam na sila at umalis. Naiwan ako sa loob at naupo sa couch sa salas, I put my phone on the coffee table and lean on the couch. I let out a deep sigh and looked around, "It's been 4 years" I decided to live here to lessen my expenses, mahal ang bayadin sa condo and I don't own that nagrerent lang ako. Nilipat kona yung mga gamit ko sa kwarto ko dito, I even organized some of my books and clothes. I only have 6 days left to stay so I want to relax. My boss even called me that it was a nice report and presentation, he even said that I should take a break here and go back soon. After putting my things, I decided to bought some groceries good for 6 days. I simply take a bath and wear my black sweater with matching khaki jogger pants and a boots. I went outside and drive to the nearest mall here I bought some groceries like canned foods and instant noodles since I don't know how to cook, I was spoiled at US with my roommate. Yeah I don't live alone, I have a roommate at my condo she insist na siya nalang sa house chores and sa pagluluto since nakikitita lang daw siya. At first I object at her offer but she's so makulit so I just let her. Masarap siya mag luto and she's a filipina kaya no hussle "This is 835.87 pesos ma'am" I gave my credit card and she punch my groceries, after that I put all of my groceries at the back sit and planned to eat dinner. Since I'm here naman na I go back inside the mall to find somewhere to eat, I choose to eat at Mang Inasal because this is our favorite fast food restaurant! I mean this is my favorite restaurant since he hates waiting, kasi mang inasal takes almost an hour before serving. Wait what the hell am I talking about?! Erase! I ordered 2 pieces of chicken with extra rice and softdrinks, "That will be 287 ma'am" I handed my credit card for the second time to pay for it, "Here you go ma'am, please wait for 10-20 minutes as we process your order" the crew casually said and handed me my order number I look for a single table to sit, and I found one near at the glass di nga lang siya single table, good for two siya but since yun nalang available I don't have a choice. I sit down and wait for my order, since it will take a minutes to process my order I decided to go online. Just now I saw our memories even their message years ago, I haven't respond to their messages yet coz I'm busy since day 1. I badly want to be with them, especially him but I have to finish too many works. Sometimes napapaisip nalang ako remembering how fun it is when I'm with him, including my squad or friends. It was kinda selfish to choose my dream over all of them, but I have to in order to gave my self a better future a better life But my life is better when I'm with all of them especially when I'm with him, "Can I sit here?" someone asked, I didn't bother to looked at him and just nod, since I don't own the table, the sits and the restaurant How did I know that he's a man? based on he's voice and scent. I was busy scrolling on my phone looking at our memories that's why I don't pay attention to whoever the man in my front is."How is he doing recently?" I whispered and turned my phone off, I covered my face and looked outside in the glass I leaned on the table and glanced on the man in front of me, I barely see he's face because he's busy with his phone. I let out a sigh that catches he's attention,"Problem Miss? are you uncomfortable with me her------" I shooked my head immediately and sit straightly, "Nah, I'm just tired" "Ow I see" he slightly nod and looked back on he's phone, actually he's handsome I can't deny that. But I think he's not interested on me, I saw him smiling while facing he's phone so I assumed that he already have a girlfriend. Well I wish di ako masabunutan noh? nakikiupo lang yan! Pero I'm a little nervous, what if makita kami ng girlfriend niya?! Then there's a weird feeling inside me, is my heart beating fast? Ow right kabado nga pala ako baka kasi makita kami ng girlfriend niya masabunutan pako! I giggled secretly, trying so hard to hide my laughs because of what the hell I'm thinking. Humalumbaba nalang akong tumingin uli sa labas, I saw him glanced at me but I didn't bother to look at him back. After f*****g 20 minutes dumating na yung order ko and finally makakain na ako, pero out of respect hindi muna ako kumain kasi wala pa yung pagkain nung lalaki. Nakakahiya naman kasi kakain ako sa harap niya?! tas siya nakatingin lang? ala uy nakakailang! "Why don't you start to dig up?" he asked when he noticed that I'm not eating yet "Wala pa yung sayo e" I casually answered and he raised an eye brow on me "Are you waiting for me?" He smirked and leaned on the table "No, out of respect. I'm distructed okay? it looks bad naman if I'm eating here while you there watching me eat" "Who said I'm going to watch you eat?" Ayon napaiwas nalang ako ng tingin sa kahihiyan, oo nga noh? assuming ko! Kaya I don't have a choice but to start eating na, I heard him chuckled and umiling pa siya bago nagselpon uli. Di kona siya pinansin and eat silently, in just a few minutes dumating na din yung order nya so we eat silently. I was really distracted but I didn't show it, I eat as fast as I can so that I can leave na!, "Eat slowly miss" he said out of nowhere, napabagal tuloy ako sa pagkain! Not because he's right but because nakakahiya! Am I that obvious?! "Are you.. Nevermind" he looked serious this time, he even finish he's food first although I eat first! He left na so I let out a deep sigh and start to eat comfortably, "Daplis konang di maenjoy" I muttered a curse and tried to get back my appetite, after that I go back home and start to do leisure things like playing on my phone or on my laptop. I even watched tv and do some chores like whipping the floor and organizing my groceries "I'm so damn bored!" I lay down on bed and try to sleep, and thanks god he let me! But after a few moments I waked up because of my f*****g alarm! Hinagis ko yon and tried to sleep again but f**k I'm not sleepy anymore! Bumangon na ako at naghilamos at toothbrush, it was only 5 am in the morning so I planned to jog and go to the gym to stretch my self up! I wore my black sports b*a and black leggings to finish it I wore my white snickers and get some extra clothes, towel and water to keep my self dehydrated. Nilibot ko lang ang buong subdivision and napansin kong madami na ding nabago dito, may park din ang subdivision namin but wala pang gaanong tao kasi maaga pa nga. Nagpunta lang ako sa pinakamalapit na gym dito and doon nag work out, after that nagshower na ako at nagpalit para magbreak fast sa malapit na coffee shop dito I just wore a simple black oversized essential shirt with the match of my white jersey shorts and my white snickers. "Woah!" napatigil ako at nilimot yung nalaglag kong gamit, I bumped on someone while I'm on my way out "Sorry" I sincerely apologize after kong malimot yung mga gamit kong nanlaglag, I was so shocked to know kung sino yung nabunggo ko "You again?" "I'm sorry who are you?" he scratched his head a little and formed an 'o' in his mouth when he remembered, "It's you the mang inasal girl!" I scoffed in disbelief, who am I again?! "The what?!" I tried to calm my self, giving me a nickname like that is really kinda annoying! "Ow sorry I don't know your name" "Nico!" I introduced out of annoyance, "I'm Azrielle Nicoyashia Dela Cruz Cabrera! now remember that and don't you ever call me mang inasal girl!" He looked shocked when I looked at him, there's no words come out from his mouth. He can't even say a single world like 'ahh' or 'okay'. I pushed him slightly and snap a finger infront of his face, "You're f*****g spacing out!" When he come back to his sense, he glanced for me a second and walked away from me. He didn't even say a word or anything? what the f**k is wrong with that guy, and after being shocked he looked serious this time. Nilingon ko siya and he's fixing he's things ready to leave, "Hey aren't you going to say anything?!" He stopped and looked at me with he's dark eyes, he stepped forward until we reaches the wall. He's infront of me, he's face was so close and he's eyes looked like in pain? what the hell is wrong with him---- "It's been 4 years Ali" he smiled painfully at me that made me remember everything. ____________________________________________________________________________ Nico is a business woman recently, she works at states but have to go back to Philippines to do some personal stuffs. -Smiling:)