My Waitress, My Lover

Maingay sa Airport pero para kay Andy ang tanging naririnig lamang niya ay ang pag iyak ng dalawang anak nito. "Ma, wag ka na umalis," bulong ni Ate Sofia, 7 years old, while holding tightly to Andy's tattered luggage. "Hindi pa pwede, anak," Andy whispered back, kneeling down to hug both girls. Her heart felt like it was being ripped in half. "Si Mama aalis para sa inyo. Para makapag-aral kayo. Para may masarap kayong ulam araw-araw." Little Mira, 4, wiped her tears with her tiny hands. "Dadalhan mo ba kami ng chocolate?" Andy forced a smile and nodded. "Marami. Pagbalik ni Mama." It was 3 AM at NAIA Terminal 3. The air smelled like coffee and goodbye. Her sister, Ate Liza, was there to take care of the girls while Andy worked in Saudi Arabia. "Kayod ka dyan ha," Ate Liza said, squeezing Andy's shoulder. "Para sa mga bata." "Oo ate. Kailangan." When they called her flight, Andy stood up. Her legs were shaking. She hugged her daughters one last time. Kissed their foreheads. Memorized their faces. And then she walked away without looking back. Because if she did, she wouldn't have the courage to leave. 12 hours later, Andy landed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The heat hit her like a wall. The language was different. The people were strangers. She clutched her contract and her phone with 3 photos of her daughters as wallpaper. "This is for you, mga anak," she whispered. "Tiis lang si Mama." The agency van picked her up from the airport. "Andy Olaes?" tanong ng lalaki sa driver seat. "Yes po." Buong biyahe tahimik lang siya. Pinipindot-pindot niya yung phone niya. Walang signal. Walang load. "Ilang oras bago ako makatawag sa Pinas?" tanong niya. "Pag naka-settle ka na sa bahay," sagot ng driver. Pagdating nila sa accommodation, 6 na Pinay na yung nandoon. Lahat pagod. Lahat malungkot ang mga mata. "Bagong salta?" bati ng isang ate. "Ako si Ate Grace. Dito ka sa taas na bed." Gabi na nung nakahiram siya ng wifi. Video call agad. "Ma!" sigaw ni Sofia sa screen. Umiiyak. "Anak, okay lang si Mama dito. Malamig pa nga eh," nagsinungaling si Andy habang pinapawisan sa init. "Ma, miss na kita," sabi ni Mira. "Miss na miss ko rin kayo. Matulog na kayo ha. Mag-aral mabuti." Pinatay niya yung call bago pa siya umiyak sa harap nila. Kinabukasan, 5 AM. First day of work. Cafe "Al Qahwa" sa loob ng mall. Aircon, mabango, at puno ng tao. "Ikaw si Andy? Barista ka. Mag-observe ka muna," sabi ng manager na Iranian. At doon niya unang nakita si Jaren Reyes. Naka-business suit. Naka-sunglasses kahit nasa loob. Cold ang mukha. "Americano. No sugar," sabi nito nang hindi man lang tumingin sa kanya. Ibinigay ni Andy yung kape. Nadulas yung kamay niya. Tumapon. Diretso sa white shirt ni Jaren. "I'm so sorry sir!" nataranta si Andy. Tumingin lang si Jaren sa kanya. Walang emosyon. "You should be more careful," malamig na sabi nito bago umalis. Doon nagsimula ang lahat. ---