Almost (Vol. 2) /SJU Series #1

2-4

CORINTHIAN

"Ate jowa mo na ba si fafa number two?” Mandy asked me.

"Come again?" I urged.

My eyes were fixated in front of my computer, I couldn't make even a swift glance to her. I badly needed to finish these reports or else I will self-destruct. These bunch of folders would be the reference for the upcoming store inventory. The f*****g ICGs were waiting for this in their system.

"Come again another day. Little children wants to play."

Nilingon ko siya saka binato ng nahagip kong metal paperclip. Swerte naman at nasalo niya. She sneered while looking at me. Napakamot na lang ako sa anit ko. She's a bloody twenty–year–old woman stuck in a fifteen year old body.

"Siraulo ka talaga. Kaloka ang mga rebutt mo."

Given that she's bubbly and an annoying orange, still I got to learn new incredible words from her such as gay lingo and kanto words. I have nothing against those and to be honest I found it amusing to use. Kaya ayan nahawa na rin ako sa mga kabaliwan niya. She kept on pushing back and forth on her nails. Napailing na lang ako. Grabe kasi ang pagkudkod at naaawa ako sa nail bed niya.

"Ang sinasabi ko, 'te, eh kung kayo na ba n'ung madalas na naghahatid sundot sa'yo dito." She grinned wickedly.

"Hatid sundo, dzai. Ikaw talaga kung anu-anong inilalaman mo d'yan sa kukote mo. Sayang ang allowance na ibinibigay namin ni Aristotle sa'yo." Sermon ko.

She cackled and continued what she was doing. I averted my eyes to my computer and focused on my thing again.

"Ano nga status niyo, ate?" She persisted. Ang kulit talaga ng anak na ito ni Amalia Marasigan, my biological mother.

"What is it to you, Amanda?" I asked in total exasperation. Hindi ko siya nilingon dahil busy ako sa pagta-tally ng quantity of sold items. "Saan mo ba nakuha ang idea na mag-on kami ni Dean?"

"Dito sa mga dry skin sa paa ko." She was sarcastic. I glared at her but she just smiled. "Joke lang. Peace be with you, ate." Bawi niya kaagad.

"For the record, Dean and I were just dating. I don't see anything bad about it. We we're both single and ready to mingle. You know that's what mature people usually do." I rolled my eyes.

"Companion o higit pa don?"

I could feel her intriguing stare again. Hindi ba titigil ‘to? Sarap kutusan.

"Sort of." I answered in lack of euphemisms to use.

Hindi na ito sumagot pero mabilis ang kanyang pagtayo saka lumakad palapit sa akin. She pulled the chair across mine then quietly sat on it.

"Ate," she called again. I didn't look at her, but I acknowledge her presence by a nod. "Alam mo maghapon akong nag–net surfing kahapon. Gusto mo'ng malaman kung anong latest chika ang nakalap ko?"

"You researched something or just visited your favorite porn sites?" I jested, still not looking at her.

"Grabe ka naman sa 'kin,'te. Nagbagong buhay na kaya ako. Once a week na lang ako manood ng mga ganon." She giggled. "Hindi ka ba talaga interesado sa chismaks ko?"

Umiling ako. Itinuloy ko ang ginagawa para matapos na. Sumisigaw na sa pagod ang katawang lupa ko. I couldn't wait to hit the bay already.

"Ayaw mo talaga, 'te?"

"Ayoko. I–chika mo na lang 'yan sa turtle."

"Weh? Kahit si ex–fafa ang involve?"

Natigilan ako dahil sa narinig. My forehead scrunched for a moment, then I looked at her. Ang lapad ng ngiti ng gaga. Kapag tamang trip na naman 'to, nako makakatikim ng matinding kurot ito sa akin.

"Tell me about it."

"Aysows gusto din naman pala."

Humagalpak siya ng tawa bago inilabas ang cellphone. She pouted her lips and rubbed her chin; her other hand browsing on the phone.

"Ang totoo nag–research ako tungkol sa VGC. Mula sa company history, family organization at sa kung anu-ano pang detalye. Ate...

"You're hedging, sister. Get straight to the point."

I'm starting to entertain a familiar tension building up inside me. Disoriented, I came closer to Amanda, taking a good peek on the screen of her phone.

"Ang gwapo pala nito kaya nabaliw ka. Choke me, dadeee ang peg!" Amanda squealed like a pig slashed on the throat.

I blinked my eyes, trying to feign excitement. Halu-halo ang emosyon sa totoo lang. Then, I looked at his picture with poignant remembrance. He was still good looking just as how I remembered. The photo was a very romantic shot taken at the beach. A couple shot indeed. Dashiel and Emilia smiling sweetly; obviously in love with each other. The pain I buried in the deepest part of me ascended and swallowed me whole. My heart constricted inside my chest as the tears stung in my eyes. Animo tinutusok ng ilang libong karayom ang puso ko. Oo, apektado ako. I heaved a sigh that turned into a tired huff. Bwisit! Bakit ba kasi ipinakita pa ito ni Mandy sa akin?

Eh, bakit mo kasi tiningnan? Tapos ngayon iiyak-iyak ka d'yan.

"O, ate walang iyakan, ha. Kaya ko ipinakita sa'yo 'to para matauhan ka na wala na kayong chance ng lalaking 'to." Halos ipagduldulan niya sa mukha ko ang phone. "Kaya nga kita tinatanong kung kayo na ni Dean kasi I got this feeling na para ka talaga sa kanya. Pustahan mas magaling siya mag-alaga ng puso."

I sniffed and wiped the corners of my eyes. "You think so?"

"Opkors." Mabilis naman niyang sagot.

"Thanks, Mandy. Isa ka talagang alamat." I joked, still hugging her.

“Ako pa ba?” She hooted.

Our crispy laugh floated in the air. She hugged me tight and I did the same to her. Yeah, maybe it's high time I should get over Dashiel and start new memories with Dean. Baka nga kami talaga ang itinakda para sa isa't-isa. Pwede ko naman siguro pagbigyan ang sarili ko na maging masaya ulit. Moving on was a long term goal. It doesn't happen overnight, still everyone deserves a happy ending.

_____

It was a rainy morning when I pulled the car in front of Mayumi’s school. I really hate rainy days, but I have to deal with the bad weather.

"Be a good girl, okay?" I told my daughter and handed her lunchbox.

"I will try." She cooed and bowed her head. “But I can’t promise, mom.”

I slowly shook my head. Hindi naman pala–away si Yumi kaya lang siya ang madalas na binu–bully. At syempre hindi ko anak 'to kung hindi siya palaban. I decided to brought her by myself to personally raise my concern about this particular kid. Hindi naman kasi nagku–kwento itong baby girl ko. At ang siste kay Abby at Mandy ko pa nalaman ang tungkol sa bagay na ito. Kaya nga hindi na ako nagdalawang–isip na sumadya dito sa school niya.

"Listen to me, baby. If you bumped with that kid again, you just ignore her, okay?" I gently said.

I tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear. She pouted her lips and nodded quietly. Inayos ko ang suot niyang bag at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. I inhaled her mild baby bath scent. She smelled so good, made me wanna bite her rosy cheeks. She's really irresistible.

"Go inside now. Don't forget what Mommy said." I noted.

"Okay. Bye, mom!" she yelped and waved goodbye.

I went to the registrar's office to asked some information. After a minute, I headed to the guidance counselor's office. Sadly, it was close. Feeling pissed 'cause of the situation, I headed to the principal's office. Inside, the assistant of the Principal was the one who accommodated me. I tackled my main purpose. She told me that they would give me a call as early as possible once the guardian of the kid agree into the invitation.

"We'll keep you posted regarding this matter, ma'am." The assistant principaal politely said.

"Thank you. I'll count on that." Magalang na paalam ko.

I went to the parking area and drove straight to work. It's going to be a long and tiring day again.

_____

EMILIA

"What? You're on a fight again?" sikmat ko kay Katniss.

Ang aga–aga pero ito ang bungad ng mahusay kong anak. I rolled my eyes. Napaka–garapal talaga ng ugali ng batang 'to. Ilang beses na akong napatawag sa school dahil sa mga kalokohan na pinaggagawa niya. Quota na kami sa pakikipag meet–up sa guidance counselor or kahit sa principal pa nga. Halos wala na akong mukhang maiharap sa mga teachers niya. Isama pa ang mga magulang ng mga bata na nagreklamo.

"Lia, hindi ganyan makipag–usap sa bata. You're scaring her." Sita ni Dashiel sa akin.

"I'm sorry, mommy. My classmate kasi she's always magaling in recitation and spelling. She always got high grades and I'm always next to her." Sabi niya at bahagya pang umirap.

"That's what you get from playing too much of your gadgets." Sermon ko sa kanya. "Eat. Finish your breakfast. I'll tell Mang Igme to send you to school."

Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin ko sa batang ito. I gave everything to her even in the most dirtiest way. Pinilit kong buhayin siya kahit ayoko. Kahit hindi ako mahal ng ama niya ay ipinilit kong ipagsiksikan kaming dalawa sa buhay ng mga Verasco. Sukdulang maging sampid kami ay wala akong pakialam.

Dinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga ni Dashiel. Kunsumidong tunay din ito sa behaviour ni Katniss. Salamat na lang nga at mahaba kanyang pasensiya. Hindi katulad ko at ng mga naging nanny ng bata. Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses na kaming nilayasan ng mga ito at ang ilan ay kusa na lang sumusuko sa kapilyahan niya. Nakakaumay, eh. Ang sarap ibenta sa ebay.

"Dad, pwede ikaw na lang hatid sa akin sa school?" Paglalambing nito. "Yung mga classmates ko hahatid sila ng mommy or daddy nila while me it's always Mang Igme or Kuya Tonton."

"Nako, Katniss, 'wag ka'ng demanding at busy iyang daddy mo." Inis na saway ko.

"Nakakainggit kaya, mom. You know what, even the loser I make away the other day hinahatid ng mommy niya." Pagbibida nito na nanunulis ang nguso.

"You don't call someone a loser, okay? Masama 'yon." Pangaral ng daddy niya.

“Okay, dad.”

Ramdam ko ang matalim na tingin ni Dashiel sa akin at sa totoo lang kinakabahan ako. Napalunok pa nga ako ng matindi bago pilit na ngitian siya.

"But, dad, you're going to send me in school di ba?"

Bahagyang itinulak ni Dash ang cereal bowl kay Katniss at sinabihan na ubusin na ang pagkain.

"Much as I want to, I can't sweetheart. Daddy have an important meeting today. I'm sorry but mommy will do it, right, Lia?" Maawtoridad na sabi niya bago pinukol ako ng matalim na tingin ulit.

"Okay. But promise me you'll buy pasalubong po, ha. I love you, daddy." She said in glee then showered kisses on his dad's face.

Minsan pa ay tinapunan ako ni Dash ng nakakamatay na tingin. At ayoko kapag pinapamukha niya sa akin na parang wala akong karapatang tumanggi.