Leave A Little Later - Soon to be Published under PaperInk Publishing House

#LALLCHAPTER24

Reign

Fighting and striving.

That's where I'm excellent at. I have been an aspirant my whole life and I still consider myself as one. I fought so hard, I strived even harder. At first, my only reason was to rise from the slope—kasi mahirap mabuhay.

I just realized that we still have a lot of things to fight for. If I were to compare my life to writing; my story does not end with a mere lame sentence. My world would not stop with just a few chapters, does not end with a simple comma, or with a clueless question mark and definitely not with unbounded exclamation point. Because just like in the art of writing, everything just ends at the very last period.

At hindi ako lumaban para tuldukan lang ang lahat.

As soon as I walked out from the director's office after submitting my resignation letter, I knew my life would never be the same. I heard rumors about me. They even said na wala nang tatanggap sa akin. That I better off of alone, dahil raw kasi sa kapabayaan ko, buong team ang naperwisyo.

As if I didn't know that. Kaya nga I voluntarily stepped down.

I went straight to my desk to gather all my things. As I put all my belongings in the box, I feel more and more distant from my dreams. I badly want to burst out, but I mustered all my strength not to cry in front of my workmates, ex-workmates rather.

I'm too young to be this sad and tired.

Nang matapos kong ayusin lahat ng gamit ko, lumapit si Mr. dela Cruz sa akin. He wasn't supposed to be here, dapat nasa tabi pa siya ng asawa niya.

Matipid akong ngumiti sa kaniya.

"Pasensya na po, Sir. Thank you rin po, I've learned a lot from you."

He just tapped my shoulder at inabot sa akin ang maliit na papel. When I unfolded it, I saw names of companies. I heave a sigh. I'm really leaving mosaic.

"I hope you find what's meant for you, Ms. Manansala," he simply uttered. I felt a soft pang inside me.

Tinulungan lang ako ni Mr. dela Cruz na ilabas lahat ng gamit ko at nagpaalam na siya dahil kailangan na raw siya ng asawa niya.

I then realized, wala man lang magsusundo sa akin. Gabrielle wasn't even here in front of me to console me or to at least help me all these shits.

Nag-abang na lang ako ng tricycle at nagpadiretso sa apartment namin. Kailangan ko na rin bang mag-impake ng mga gamit ko rito? Wala na naman akong nauwiang Gabrielle, eh.

Nang maakyat ko na lahat ng gamit ko ay lumabas na rin ako agad dahil wala akong balak magmukmok dito. Alas otso pa lang pero pumunta na ako sa bar na maagang nagbukas. Wala pang gaanong tao, maaliwalas pa ang buong lugar.

When I was able to order a beer, naghanap na ako ng pwesto. Sa kung saan mas tahimik at mas madilim.

Isang oras pa lang ang nakakalipas, pero hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang bote na ng beer ang nasa harapan ko. Wala akong maramdamang hilo o kahit ano, kaya naman napagdesisyunan kong umorder ng tequila at piniling manitili sa counter.

Unti-unti nang dumarami 'yung mga tao at umiingay na rin ang buong paligid. Maybe when I had my sixth shot of tequila, that's when I started feeling dizzy. I told the bar tender to switch my drink into vodka. He was a bit hesistant, pero kahit papaano'y may tiwala ako sa pagiging lasinggera ko. May plano talaga akong magpaka-wasted ngayong gabi, bahala na kung sino ang pupulot sa akin dito, ni hindi ko nga matandaan ang pangalan ng bar na 'to.

When I feel like I'm intoxicated as hell, I stood up and planned to mingle with people on the dance floor. But before I even make my third step, someone gently pulled my wrist. I can't see things clearly because of the amount of alcohol I consumed.