Before I knew it, I just graduated high school with Abby. Bumalik lang sa dati noon. Kaso, hindi na ko high school ngayon. I was now a college student at nag-aaral magdesign ng mga damit. Nagdecide kami ni Abby na tumira sa iisang apartment since wala nang space sa bahay and same to her too. I was taking a part-time job at a convenience store before and after my classes. Ayoko nang umasa kay mamu. I decided this for myself… to make myself busy hanggang sa hindi ko na sya masyadong iniisip. Isa pa, pinagpag-aral pa nya ng high school si Marco, ayoko nang dumagdag sa gastusin nya noh. Yun nga lang, hati kami sa tuition since hindi kaya ng sweldo ko na bayaran yung pagkalaki-laking tuition sa university na yun. Si Abby naman, service crew ng isang fast food chain. Daming pagbabago noh?
4 YEARS LATER na kasi eh.
“Girl, gising na!”
“H-huh? *yawn*” I stretched my arms and tried to get up. Anong oras na ba? 5:20 am.. ang aga pa pala eh.. I still have.. OMG 5:20 AM?! 6 ang pasok ko sa work!!!
Thus is my daily routine. I always took a bath for 20 minutes, 10 minutes for breakfast and preparing myself. Kainis diba? Sigurado, manghahabol nanaman ako ng bus nito. Grabe. Pero di bale na, exercise na rin ‘to diba?
Minsan, hindi ko rin maiwasan na madaanan yung bahay namin ni Rex. Today, that is. Ayun, wala pa ring nakatira.
Snap it, Marriane. That house has nothing to do with you now. Late ka na sa work, remember?
And yeah, late ako, as what I am expecting. “Andyan na ba si mam?” I whispered to my co-worker as I was taking my uniform at my locker. “Lagi naman syang maaga eh. Mabuti nga eh natitiis ka ni mam. Magbihis ka na bago ka pa nya makita.”
I was about to enter the comfort room when I heard the manager. “You’re late for almost A YEAR, Miss Santos.”
I looked her in grin. “Sorry po mam. Alam ko naman po na di nyo ko matitiis diba? Hehe.”
Ayun. Pumwesto na ko sa cashier since ako ngayon ang nakaassign dun. Pero minsan naman, naglalagay ng tags-tags at kung anu-anong pang pwedeng trabahuin dito sa convenience store. Wala naman akong reklamo eh kasi, sinabi ko naman sa boss ko na pwede ako sa lahat. There’s no time to be choosy since kailangan ko talaga ng work.
Pagdating ng 10, pasok naman ako sa university. Then, babalik ako sa store pagdating ng 4. Sinusundo naman ako ni Abby pagkarating ng 9 PM and then, sabay na kami umuwi together with her bf. Yeaa. Abby found her Mr. Right. And they were perfectly in love. Hay… ako kaya? Kailan ko kaya makikita si Mr. Right ko? Sheesh. Ewan. There’s no time for that.
“Hayy.. wala nanaman tayong masakyan, honey.” She said as we’re searching for a bus to take us home. Hay naku.. gumana nanaman ang pagkaflirt nito. I just looked at them in disgust.
Habang naghahanap ako ng bus, I saw a familiar car. I suddenly shook my head in confusion. Nagkamali lang siguro ako. Maraming sasakyan na ganun, pwede ba? And there’s no such thing para pumunta sya rito.
Babalikan nya ba talaga ako?
“Hoy Marriane!”
I snapped out in my thoughts as I looked back to them. “Tara na!” Abby said as she was about to enter the bus. “Ah, oo! Sige!” I ran to the bus and searched for a seat. Tatluhan naman yung upuan eh kaya tabi-tabi na kami. Dun ako umupo sa tabi ng bintana and went back to my thoughts. Paiiyakin nanaman ata nya ko eh. Kainis talaga. Aish, Marriane, wag kang iiyak.
“Marriane, ayos ka lang?” Abby asked. “Ah, oo. Ayos lang ako.”
***
Somehow, that night was so strange. Series of cold breeze rushed through me when I was lying on the bed. Napaisip tuloy ako, baka si papu lang ito. Baka tinitingnan lang nya ang kalagayan ko ngayon. Well, papu, I’ve change a lot. I’m well-matured lady now dahil 20 y/o na ko ngayon. Alam ko na kung ano ang tama at mali.
Naisip ko nanaman yung kaninang nakita ko.
*Flashback*
t doesn’t mean na talagang bumitaw na ako. Babalikan kita, kapag wala nang pader na nakaharang.”
*End of Flashback*
Ang tanong, may pader pa kayang nakaharang saming dalawa? Babalik pa kaya sya?
