Mga Pangako kay Akasya

Chapter I – Si Acacia

Chapter I – Si Acacia

[Asha's Perspective]

October 11, 2021

7:42am

Here we go...

I whispered to myself before I entered the office. My hand trembled as I held the doorknob; It is my first day at my first job kasi.

It's almost eight na and sobrang busy nilang lahat kaya walang nakapansin sa pagpasok ko. The office was full of noise: from conversations about the revisions to the project plans, phone calls, and the constant clicking of mice and keyboards.

I want to make an impression, so kahit sobrang kinakabahan—

"Hello po!" I raised my voice to get their attention.

They looked at me, and kitang-kita ko ang confusion on their faces. They must be thinking, sino to? So...

I immediately smiled and introduced myself. "I'm Acacia Cruz. I love indie pop and jazz music, pagdating sa movies, romance genre po is my favorite. Ako po pala ang bagong office engineer niyo. I'm excited to work with all of you po."

I bowed, and as I lifted my head back. "Asha po pala ang nickname ko." I added, with a sweeter smile this time, showing my two dimples.

Their confused look was immediately replaced by warm smiles. Kitang-kita ko pa kung paano napatingin sa mga kasama nila ang ibang guys sa likod, halatang kinikilig.

Without a doubt, sobrang effective ng introduction ko. I guess, no need to apologize for the messy bun and blush on, yey!

Tumayo si Boss, the one who interviewed me, and he immediately introduced me to the team. They all seem nice naman, hindi ko nga lang masyadong natandaan ang names nila bukod kay Sir Ian. He asked me kasi, "Sigurado ka bang office engineer ang in-apply-yan mo?"

I didn’t realize that it was a romantic joke. Na-gets ko lang ang context when we shook hands. It's like he don't want to let go habang nakatitig. Sobrang obvious sa mga mata niya how much he likes me. He complimented me din, ang confident ko raw. So ‘yon. Thanks, Sir! Kinilig ako nang slight.

After a few short introductions, bumalik naman na agad ang focus ng lahat sa work. Dinig din kasi ang bell outside, signal na start na ng working hours. Halos lahat nagsuot na ng PPE at lumabas, naiwan kaming mga office engineer, si Boss na ngayon ay may kausap na sa phone at ang document controller namin na ngayon ay papalapit sa 'kin.

"Ma'am..." Ano nga ulit name niya sabi ni Boss. Hindi ko matandaan!

"Felisa." She said. Nahalata niya sigurong I’m still recalling her name.

"Asha, 'di ba? Huwag mo na ‘kong i-ma'am. Hindi naman siguro naglalayo ang edad nating dalawa."

Nahiya tuloy ako, I'm not good with names kasi! Pero buti naman at hindi siya na-offend.

She asked, "Ilang taon ka na pala?"

"Twenty-three po."

"May boyfriend? Kung wala ay may mga single dito." She teased me.

I got shy, ‘di ko kasi alam kung paano mag-re-react so I smiled na lang. She then continued to orient me for a few minutes, before she brought me to my desk. "Kung may tanong ka, lumapit ka lang."

And finally, kaharap ko na ang computer ko. I took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

Because—

Today is the official start of my career as an engineer.

Actually, hindi pa nga ito ang ideal job ko since I am assigned sa office, handling paperworks. Ang gusto ko talaga is maging active part ng construction, from designing the structure hanggang sa pag-su-supervise ng mga workers on site. Sinunod ko lang talaga muna ang payo ni Dad, maganda raw muna ma-familiarize kung paano tumatakbo ang isang project through papers para daw pag-uwi niya, we will be a team. Siya na raw magtuturo sa 'kin ng mga bagay-bagay na sa site lang matututunan.

Civil Engineer si Dad sa abroad; He is my inspiration. My admiration for him is one of the reasons why I dreamt of being a civil engineer when I was a kid. Kahit nga tuwing december lang kami nagkikita, sobrang close naming dalawa.

I grew up with my Lola—si Mami! My mom died kasi after giving birth to me.

Noong bata pa ako, sabi nila may pagkabrusko raw ako, siga kumbaga. Sobrang hilig ko pa raw makipag-away, most of my friends call me tomboy nga.

I will never forget that one time, sumugod ang parent ng isa sa mga kalaro ko because binato ko siya ng sandals and dumugo ang noo niya. As in! Sobrang daming dugo. But he deserved it naman, sinilipan niya kasi ako!

After that time, wala nang nag-try na asarin ako at gawan ng masama. They respected me na always because they’re scared of me.

Pero eventually, mas lumamang naman na ang pagiging babae ko. 'Di ko na rin tanda kung kailan exactly, pero unti-unti rin naman akong naging mahinhin, dala na rin siguro ng mga napapanood kong romantic films. I always imagined myself kasi na bida ng isang super romantic na story with a happy ending. So ‘yun…

But of course, I remained outgoing. Comment nga lagi ng mga tao sa paligid ko, naging maganda ang bunga ng pagdadalaga.

Natutunan ko rin kasing intindihin at isipin ang kapakanan ng iba. I promised myself too, na tutuparin ko ang mga pangarap ko while bringing smiles to the faces of everyone I meet. Kaya, almost everyone na dumaan in my life ay naging malapit sa 'kin. They always say that I’m special, and I will always have a place in their heart.

In terms of romantic relationship naman, as in sobrang daming nagbalak, pero lahat na-friendzoned ko. Deep inside me, hindi ko pa kasi alam kung ano ang hinahanap ko in a guy so I just left everything to fate.

. . . .

After work, umuwi na kaagad ako. Napangiti nga ako habang papalapit. Si Mami kasi, nakaupo malapit sa gate at hindi mapakaling nag-aabang.

"Oh, kamusta unang araw mo sa trabaho?" Her eyebrows went furrowed. "May nang-away ba sa’yo?"

Isa rin si Mami sa reason kung bakit ang tapang-tapang ko noon. Pag may nang-away kasi sa 'kin, I know that she always have my back.

"Grabe ka naman Mami! Mukhang mabait naman po silang lahat." I hugged her tight and kissed her cheek. "Kumain ka na po?"

"Hinihintay nga kita. Tara, sabay na tayo, kwento mo first day mo." She then helped me with my bag, and naglakad na kami papasok.

Hindi kalakihan ang bahay namin, but our garden is like a park. It has a swing na nakasabit sa isang puno, and it is filled with plants and flowers. Yep! Mahilig kami ni Mami sa gardening! At siyempre pinakabida sa plants namin—

Sunflowers!

They’re my favorites; I even named them one by one. They’re like smiles of different people, na ang sarap tingnan under the sun. Sobrang ganda nila like me! And at night naman, they’re like warm lights. I love staring at them habang nagduduyan at nakikinig ng music, or minsan habang kalaro ko si Joey, my Pug.

Dalawa lang kami ni Mami dito, kaya kapag may mga overnights, project man 'yan, review, or movie marathons, dito lagi ang venue. Kaya super close ang mga friends ko kay Mami, sila nga taga-kuwento kapag may na-basted na naman ako na suitor.

Mabilis at simple lang naman na lumipas ang highschool at college days namin. At kahit working na, madalas pa rin naman kaming nagkikita-kita—coffee dates, gigs ng favorite bands, or sometimes karaoke nights.

. . . .

After namin kumain at magligpit, I took a light shower. Gusto ko na rin kasi humiga at makapagpahinga in my room.

My room is just simple. Wait, simple in terms of my preference, ha.

Pagkapasok, sasalubungin ka ng isang cactus shaped like a waving human, nakapatong siya sa desk cabinet. I named him Hi-Yo.

And since I am so in-love with music, I put speakers on every corner. A must for me kasi kapag nasa mood ako, I will just listen to my playlists all day. Wala na akong pakealam sa outside world.

Wala akong decoration sa walls bukod sa isang guitar na medyo sira na; It is my first guitar. Tagal ko na rin siyang hindi nagagamit since sobrang busy sa review for board exams and ngayon naman working na.

Last is the ceiling. It is filled with luminous toys—stars, sun, moon, different animals, and my favorite, ang T-Rex na kitang-kita ang mga pangil! Rawr! Pero syempre the most special is a picture of a woman carrying a child. Nilagay 'yan ni Dad so I'll always remember Mom.

Para antukin, I will either listen to music or watch a film, and my mood tonight chose to watch Before Sunrise—a romantic film about the unforgettable night spent by two strangers who just met on a train.

Mababa ang chance na mangyare in real life, but for hopeless romantic women like me, this film is a classic. It's both magical and realistic at the same time. Napaka-simple lang pero napaka-meaningful kasi ng bawat conversation nila about life. Tapos sobrang natural din ng chemistry ni Ethan Hawke and Julie Delphy.

The closing scene will always give my heart a smile na susundan ng bits of emptiness. I always wonder, what does it feel like to fall in love?

One thing na sa panonood pa lamang ng movies ko naiintindihan.. pero kahit sobrang curious n a’ko at na-e-excite, ayokong madaliin kasi I know, it will come naturally.

As the credits rolled, naramdaman ko na ang antok. I hugged my pillows, and as I slowly close my eyes, a question wandered into my mind.

Kailan kaya?