Hide And Seek (A Series #4)

Prologue

Galing sa eskwela, dumiretso ako sa flower shop na aking pinagtrabahuan. Hindi man malaki ang kita ngunit nakakatulong naman ito sa akin. Mahalimuyak ang buong shop dahil sa iba't ibang uri ng bulaklak. I like working here because of the mello atmosphere in the shop. Kalma lang, walang gulo. Maganda pa ang nasa paligid.

Kasalukuyan kong inaayos ang isang bouquet at biglang nadaplisan ng cutter ang aking hintuturo. Maliit lang naman. Ngumiwi ako at inabot ang tissue. After putting a band aid, I resumed making the bouquet.

Payapa ang buong flower shop. Skylar Grey's Everything I Need song is on the speaker making me hum along.

May dalawang customer na pumasok at bumati ako sa kanila. Pumili sila ng bulaklak pagkatapos ay umalis ulit. Hindi lang simpleng flower shop ito kundi flower shop na may cafe. I'm the one assigned in the flowering and another part timer is assigned as the barista. Dalawa lang kaming staff dito, puro babae. Mula alas tres ng hapon hanggang alas syete ng gabi ang aming duty.

"Pumupunta ako rito dahil sa playlists mo, Ee." nakangiting sabi ni Ma'am Anna.

Ngumiti ako. "Music helps us relax po."

"Totoo. Your vibe gave the customers a home."

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang buong shop. May mga magkakaibigan na nakangiting nag uusap, umiinom ng drinks. Mga mag-asawa, matanda o medyo may katandaan.

"See you later..." aniya.

Tumango ako. "Maraming salamat po."

From the top, our social status is slowly dropping down. My father owned a hotel and went struggling for survival. I have to do some part-time jobs to earn a living for my fees.

He carried the burden on his shoulder alone and kept forcing a smile for us. Ilang buwan nalang ang sisikapin ko bago gumadruate ng kolehiyo. Kursong makakatulong sa business ni Daddy ang kinuha ko. Be a hotelier and a flower shop part-timer.

May isang nakakabatang kapatid ako, Kaden. High school, grade 11 to be precise. And Mommy right now is the one who stands as our head and light in the family because... Daddy died last year. Coronary artery disease and it lead to his heart attack during the meeting when the company stocks dropped and the investors are pressuring him.

We have no one to blame. Business is risk. After Daddy died, Mommy tried to revive the company. Nagkautang sila sa kahit sino nalang, nagdadagan ang utang ni Daddy noong buhay pa siya. Fourth time, the company did not rise. Nagkabulit na kami sa utang kaya walang nagawa si Mommy kundi isanla ang company at iba pa naming ari-arian.

Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin namin naluluwas lahat ng utang na iyon. I gave Mommy my savings that Daddy prepared for me for our daily needs in the mansion. Si Kaden ay may sinasalihan na science competition kaya kailangan namin ng pera pangbaon niya abroad. He's one silent but considerate child. Ayaw kong magpart time siya katulad sa akin kaya sa savings ko ulit kinukuha ang pera.

My savings siya ngunit hindi pa iyon makukuha niya kung hindi pa siya bente-uno anyos. Mommy sold mostly of her jewelries, our antique things in the house, one private resort we owned and few lands but it wasn't enough to cover up all the debts. None is enough.

I made two simple bouquets before I logged out.

"Mavy, mauna na ako." paalam ko sa kasama.

"Okay. Susunod ako. Ingat ka."

"Ikaw rin," sabi ko bago lumabas ng shop.

Seven and the sky is twinkling. Like white dusts were sprinkled. Isang malalim na hininga ang aking hinugot bago iyon pinakawala saka ngumiti. I turned my back and started walking towards the right side road.