Reduce To Tears

Chapter 1

The reason I'm striving hard ahead of time is because I wanted and wished for a better future, the only thing an illegitimate child like me could ask for. Naalimpungatan ako sa malakas na tunog ng aking alarm clock. I sat up and turned it off. It's exactly 6 o'clock in the evening and I need to move fast dahil may pasok ako ngayon sa Cabaret ng alas singko, I did my daily routine and took a cup of hot coffee, I prefer it plain and black, the bittersweet taste will surely awaken my nerves later on.

Life isn't as simple as you thought, when I was a kid I never got the chance to drink other beverages aside from this. I had a rough childhood and I decided to leave it six foot on the ground. When I'm done checking and making sure my place is safe, I hurriedly went outside and look for a ride, saktong may namataan akong tricycle kaya pinara ko na agad. As soon as I step inside the Cabaret I saw Maris, one of my co-workers slowly approaching me.

"Naku beh! Bat ngayon ka lang? Kanina ka pa hinahanap ni madame. Mukhang may ipapagawa sayo."

Excited na saad nito. Kumunot ang noo ko at magtatanong pa sana kaso tinulak niya na ako palayo sabay bulong ng goodluck. I made my way through the second floor which is led to my supervisor's office. I knock on the door three times before going inside.

"Magandang hapon Madame." Kabado at pormal kong saad. Nakatalikod siya sa akin kaya di ko makita ang kanyang ekspresyon.

"Did you had a nice sleep Mr. Bustamante? How unfortunate of you to get to work at this hour?" Gigil niyang saad habang dahan dahang lumalapit sa akin. Hindi ako nakaimik at yumuko na lamang, it's my fault and I intend to do anything as a sign of punishment. Kung hindi dahil sa kakaisip ko sa lalaking yon di ako aabutin ng madaling araw na mulat. Hays!

"I-I'm very sorry for the trouble Madame, sisikapin kong hindi na mauulit..."

Kahit magmukha na akong kawawa, huwag lang akong tanggalin sa trabaho. Looking for a part time job is quite bothersome, especially when you have nothing to use as a weapon for searching a beneficial one. Nagulat ako nang maramdaman ko ang marahang paghila niya sa aking buhok.

"Kung hindi ko lang crush ang kuya mo at kung hindi ka lang malakas sakin matagal na kitang pinatalsik. Baks please, I need his number on my contacts."

Inis at may halong pagmamakaawa ang kanyang boses, hinihila niya pa ang isa kong braso na parang batang nanghihingi ng candy. I suppressed a chuckle and pinched his arm. He's definitely not straight and so am I.

There is something about myself that triggered my true colors and I'm not clueless about it. Sinubukan kong ipagsawalang bahala dahil alam kong ito ang isa sa magiging dahilan na malabong tanggapin ako ng sarili kong magulang but as time goes by, the more I resist the more it is out of hand.

Niccolo Ferreyra or popularly known as "Nicole" is the owner and the one who manages this marketplace. If it's not because of him, I wouldn't be where I am right now. Noong mga panahong walang wala akong matakbuhan siya ang naging karamay ko. He's always been affectionate towards me, he taught me to fight for I have the right and to keep thriving for my own desires. Despite of not being related with each other, he gave me comfort and peace I never thought I could get from someone I barely know.

During the celebration of my 19th birthday last year sponsored by my kuya August, which is the first time he met him, he asked me if single ba ang kuya ko at halos hindi siya makapagsalita ng mga oras na iyon dahil sobra sobra nga raw ang kabog ng puso niya. Since then mas dumikit siya sa akin ang dahilan ay gusto niyang mapalapit sa kapatid ko.

"Azi huwag mokong tinatawanan. Alam kong nagkita kayo kahapon. Bakit di mo ako sinabihan? You're so unfair!" Napabalik ako sa reyalidad nang bigla siyang nagdabog at binato ako ng ballpen. Mabuti na lamang at nakailag ako, kung hindi siguradong diretso sana sa noo ko. Damn this guy, he's really unpredictable.