Way Back Home

02

I have been working here in their gym for about a week yet I couldn't still fix my sleeping routine. My work here starts at six in the evening and ends at exactly midnight. I only had five hours to sleep in a day kaya ay hindi ko maiwasang antukin sa klase dahil nakasanayan ko na ang walong oras ko na tulog.

I sighed. It's been a week yet I haven't been using the equipment, titingnan ko pa lamang iyong mga gamit ay tinatamad na ako. Mayroon namang sariling instructor dito pero hindi ko ito masyadong nakakausap dahil hindi ako masyadong malapit sa lalaki. Maliban kay Jeu, siya lang rin naman iyong tinuturing ko na kaibigan na lalaki.

And it's not like boys wanted me to be their friends. Their presence itself made me uncomfortable. Reason enough not to stay close at them.

It was nine in the evening when I heard the door open. I immediately looked at it and saw Jeu wearing his active wears. He's been working out ever since I started working here, hinihintay niya rin ako madalas at hinahatid pauwi kahit marami pa siyang dapat basahing libro. May dala siyang malaking bag kaya alam kong marami rami na naman iyong kailangan niyang basahin.

Lumapit ito sa akin at ngumiti. "Kumain ka na?" his usual question whenever he'll see me here.

Umiling ako sa kaniya.

Kumunot iyong noo niya at halatang magagalit na naman kaya inunahan ko na. "Mag-umpisa ka na nga, marami ka pang babasahin." Then I just rolled my eyes at him.

"Maldita as ever," he just commented and gave me his bag.

I couldn't help but chuckled at his statement.

Nakita kong kinausap niya iyong isang gym instructor at tumango tango bago sila nagsimula. Kinuha ko naman iyong isang libro niya at nagbasa basa. I had different emotions while I was reading, I was surprised at something and excited about the law at the same time. Political Science is a good pre-law course indeed, talagang marami kang malalaman sa kursong ito na paniguradong may lalabas rin sa pag-aaral ng abogado.

But I heard that it is a fair stand on law school. No matter how much you tried on college, everything will be back on zero.

Nang nakaramdam na ako ng antok ay tiningnan ko iyong oras at nakitang may dalawang oras pa akong natitira kaya napabuntong hininga ako. Kailan pa ba ako masasanay na matagal matulog?

Natapos na rin si Jeu at nagpaalam na maliligo muna bago bumalik sa akin at tumabi sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit tumagal iyong pagkakaibigan namin kahit hindi naman kami masyadong nag-uusap. We just both enjoy the silence between us and appreciates it. Kaya rin siguro hindi ako tumatagal sa iba kong mga kaibigan dahil totoong naiingayan ako sa kanila.

"Ave, I have chocolates here. Kain ka muna, inaantok ka na," sabi niya at ibinigay sa akin iyong pagkain niya.

Kaya rin niya siguro ako sinasamahan rito dahil takot siya kung anong mangyari sa akin kapag ako ay nakatulog. Tahimik kong kinain iyong at nagbalat upang isubo kay Jeu. Ibinuka niya naman iyong bibig niya at kinain iyon habang nakatingin pa rin sa binabasa niya.

We should be study buddies right now if ever I could afford to study and buy those books.

Kaunti lang iyong kuwentohang naganap pagitan sa amin ni Jeu at inihatid na ako sa bahay na aking tinitirhan. Tanging iyong ilaw na lamang sa terasa ang nakabukas. Kinuha ko iyong susi ko sa bulsa at binuksan ang pintuan. Malamang sa malamang tulog na iyong mag-asawa kaya dahan dahan ako sa mga galaw ko at baka makaabala pa ako sa kanila.

Both of them knew that I've been working but they didn't give a damn. I just should be thankful that I have a house to live in and eat foods for free in exchange to cook breakfast for them and clean the house every week. Good thing that they have a lot of money for them to have their laundry clean in a laundry shop. Baka hindi na kayanin ng katawan ko sa pagod.