On The Edge (Girlfriends Series No.2)

Chapter 10

"No! You will go to Chicago... Stay with our relatives."

"Daaad, please. Let me go to NYC... kasama ko naman friends ko," pagmamakaawa ko sa kanya.

Pumayag naman si Mom at mga kuya ko, si Dad lang ang naging problema dahil nag-aalala siya na mag-isa lang ako sa apartment. Hindi naman kasi magtatagal ang mga kaibigan ko dahil may kanya-kanya rin silang trabaho o responsibilities na maiiwan sa Cebu.

Niyakap ko si Dad baka sakaling bumigay rin siya. "I promise to update you all everyday if you want," paglalambing ko.

"...at kaya sa NYC ako pupunta para habang nag-lie low ako sa pagiging model, eh kahit paano may matututunan akong bago," mahabang explain ko sa kanya.

I know NYC will be a bigger help to improve my modeling skills and to meet other models. It might also help to widen my experience.

"Uhm... Tito, sorry for interrupting the conversation but please allow us to help Mary... She also needs friends to rely on," singit ni Nalla sa usapan namin ni Dad.

"Don't worry, Tito... Hindi po namin iiwan basta-basta si Maan especially habang ongoing ang therapy sessions niya," pagsuporta ni Icelyn sa sinabi ni Nalla kanina.

"Saan kayo mag-stay doon? Have you find a place to live?" tanong ni Dad na humarap sa friends ko.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Actually! May nakita na ako," singit ko sa kanila.

"And where? How much did you pay? May hospital ba na malapit doon?" napakamot ako ng ulo sa sunod-sunod na tanong nito.

"Dad, calm down... Don't pressure your daughter." Haaayyy salamat naman at nagsalita na si Mom!

"Well the place seems good... sa Brooklyn... I think sa Greenpoint something 'yon," sagot ko sa tanong ni Dad.

"Kaya naman bayaran 'yung place... urban place 'ata siya."

"Oh sige kung 'yan ang gusto mo... Kailan ba alis niyo?"

"As soon as possible," sagot ko.

Kuya Iulian already found me a place to live at Greenpoint located in Northern Brooklyn. The place is known to be the third most expensive neighborhood to live in Brooklyn. It has a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks.

When I check the address given to me online, I'm going to stay in Guernsey Street while Kuya Iulian lives at Kent street, their place is just three blocks away from me.

Kuya Iulian rented the place as soon as I've got approval from my parents. They give me money to pay the rent for the months I'm going to stay.

Umuwi muna ng Cebu ang mga kaibigan ko para ayusin ang mga maiiwan nilang trabaho. Nauna na ako mag-ayos ng papers ko papuntang US at sinabihan ko na si Benj na magkita kami bago ako umalis pero wala pa akong natatanggap na reply galing sa kanya.

Sasama naman si Kuya Borge sa NYC pero ihahatid lang niya kami at babalik din siya agad dito sa Pinas. Sasakay na ulit siya ng barko sa susunod na buwan kaya nagpumilit itong sumama.

Dadalaw naman sina Mom at Dad kapag may vacation leave sila. Si Kuya Kasper naman ay ayun busy na ulit sa girlfriend. He is possessive to his girlfriend.

*ting*From: My Engineer

I can't make it. I'm in Baguio right now. Have a safe trip.

Unbelievable! Siya nagpumilit sa akin na pumunta ng US tapos hindi man lang niya ako kikitain bago umalis. Pakiramdam ko tuloy wala rin siyang balak na dalawin ako doon.

To: My Engineer

153 Guernsey St. Brooklyn, NY 11222

FYI... This is my address if you have the plan to visit me there.

*ting*From: G Squad Icelyn

Let's meet na lang at the airport sa manila. okay? Don't forget to double-check your things and documents.

Akala ko nag-reply na si Benj pero si Icelyn lang pala para ipaalala ang mga dadalhin ko. Napahiga na lang ako sa kama.

"Ayan na ba lahat ng dadalhin mo? Bakit ang konti ng gamit mo?" Hindi ko namalayan na nakapasok na naman si Kuya Borge sa kwarto ko.

"Bibili na lang ako doon ng mga damit ko and other essential stuff," walang ganang paliwanag ko.

"Oh! Alam kong may pera ka pero idagdag mo ito... para hindi ka maubusan doon," abot niya sa'kin ng sobre na may laman na pera.

Napangiti ako nang makitang makapal ang sobre. "Wow! Ang galante naman ng kuya ko... Magkano 'to?"

"Huwag mo na alamin... gastusin mo na lang."

×————×John F. Kennedy International Airport

"Finally we have arrived!" excited na sigaw ko. Mabuti n lang sumama si Kuya Borge para may taga-buhat ng gamit ko. Nag-shopping kasi sina Icelyn sa Cebu at binilhan din nila ako para may magamit ako kaya nadagdagan ang mga bagaheng dala ko.

Habang hinihintay na makuha ang mga luggage ay naghanap ako ng mabibilhan ng simcard dito para matawagan ko si Kuya Iulian. Hindi ko naman napansin na sinundan pala ako ni Kuya Borge.

"Ano natawagan mo na ba?" Alam niya na susunduin kami ni Kuya Iulian at sa totoo lang excited silang dalawa na magkita ulit.

"I'm curious... Hindi ka ba galit kay Kuya Iulian?" tanong ko sa kanya habang hinihintay kong sumagot ng tawag 'tong nasa kabilang linya.

"Hindi... Bakit naman ako magagalit?" saad niya habang nakakunot pa ang noo.

"Eh, you know naman he is... gay?" maingat na bitiw ko sa word na gay.

"Wala akong pake... Kung saan kayo masaya, suportado ko kayo... Kayo lang kapatid ko sa mundong ito."

"Aww... Ang sweet ng kuya ko... Nakakaiyak! Bakit wala ka pang girlfriend?" asar ko sa kanya.

"Tch... Dalian mo... Balikan ko lang luggage at mga kaibigan mo," sambit niya sabay alis sa harap ko. Nahihiya ito dahil nakita kong namumula ang tainga niya.

*riiing**riiing*"Princess! Nasaan kayo?" bungad nang nasa kabilang linya.

"Wait lang, Kuya... Hinihintay lang namin ang luggage... I'll text kapag palabas na kami."

"Okay... Okay... See you!" paalam niya bago binaba ang tawag.

"Hi! Are you alone? Do you need a ride?" A guy approached me and was trying to have an eye to eye contact with me which is I did my best to avoid.

"No... I'm with my family. Thanks!" I know I might be overreacting but it's better to be safe than sorry later. I suspect that he is trying to scam me for whatsoever.

I went to the bathroom to have a quick nature call. When I was about to go out, I saw the guy outside the bathroom I didn't realize that he followed me.

I can't make a call to Kuya Borge or my friends since I just bought the sim card and Kuya Iulian is on the outside. I'll just walk faster or run if he would still approach me.

"Hey! Can you help me? I'm lost—"

"Hi, honey! Are you done?" A girl approached me and pretended to be with me.

"Just pretend that I came with you," she whispered.

I took a glance at my side and the guy is still there. "A-Ah! Yes. H-Honey... I'm sorry... A guy keeps following me," I pointed the guy at my side.

"Why are you following her?"

"No! No! I don't know her," he defended then suddenly leave.

I took a deep breath before facing the one who saved me. "Thank you so much!" I almost cried.

"Are you okay? Do you want to report this to the police?" she suggested.

"I-I'm okay... There's no need... I-I need to go... my brother must be worried now," I said.

Agnes! Let's go!

"Oh. I have—"

Agnes!

"Yeaah! Just wait!" Ito siguro si Agnes. Napatingin ako sa bandang likod niya. Wait lalaki ba 'yun?

"I need to go... My boss gonna kill me any minute now... Bye!"

We bid our goodbyes. I hurriedly went back to Kuya Borge and the girls. If stare can kill, I'm already dead. At some point, I need to explain what happened.