Collide / [Park Jay]

02

A whole day of moving things in my new apartment is a lot tiring than I thought. Bandang hapon na nang tuluyang mailipat ang mga gamit ko at hindi ko pa iyon naaayos lahat. I just decided to go outside first to buy something to eat for dinner since I don't think I will be able to cook for myself tonight.

Habang naglalakad ako ay inabala ko rin ang sarili sa pagtingin-tingin sa lugar na kinaroroonan ko ngayon. This is only my second time being here so everything still feels odd and new. The first time was when Miss Cha, my former tutor, introduced this place to me and then now, when I finally made up my mind. Honestly, it's always been my dream to have a place of my own. And I still can't process the fact that it's happening now and this place is going to be my new home.

"Yes po, Miss Cha?" Sabi ko nang sinagot ko ang biglaang tawag niya. Nasa isang convenience store ako malapit lang sa apartment ko at dito ko na lang napagdesisyunang kumain.

"I forgot to tell you na na-submit ko na 'yong documents mo sa new school mo. All you have to do is wait 'til they call you para sa quick interview, for verification lang naman. And then you're good to go." I didn't get what she said at first because the manager and the store employee are having, I think, an argument. At dahil ako lang ang nandito ngayon ay medyo malinaw kong naririnig iyon.

"Talaga po? Thank you po.." Marahan kong sinabi nang kumalma na ang paligid.

"H'wag ka na mag-alala masyado, ha? Hindi ka pa naman huli sa lessons since two weeks pa lang since nag-start 'yong klase." She then informed me about a lot of things and what I need to do. Halos hindi ko na maunawaan iyon dahil naging abala ako sa mga naiisip. I really just can't help but to feel grateful because I have, at least, one person I can count on to despite everything.

Unluckily, I'm one of the many teens who belongs in a complicated family set-up. My parents were both too young when they had me and they split up before I could even realize what was going on. Eventually, nagkaroon na rin sila ng sarili nilang pamilya, the reason why I never got to experience staying at the same place. There were times when I live with my mom for a year or two, and then with my dad for another year. Because of that, I struggled a lot with my school. And that's how I was introduced to Miss Cha, my long-term tutor back in elementary up to middle school.

"Sige po. Pasensiya na po sa abala at salamat po talaga, Miss Cha." Sagot ko sa kanya.

"Ano ka ba? Wala 'yon!" Natatawa niyang sinabi.

I was still on my phone when a group of guys entered the store. Their loud laughs filled the whole place, making me a bit uncomfortable. Or siguro nabo-bother lang ako dahil mag-isa ako ngayon at first time ko lang dito.

Dahan-dahan kong niligpit ang mga kalat sa table. I only ate ramen and some banana loaf, which I didn't get to finish because I'm already full. Habang pinupunasan ko ng tissue ang table ay narinig kong may nagtanong mula sa likuran ko.

"Miss, saan 'yong shelf ng beers?" One of the guys asked. I stiffened a bit because he was too close when I faced him.

"I-I don't know." I simply answered.

"Oh, sorry. I thought you're working here." He smiled awkwardly before leaving me. Narinig kong parang tinukso pa siya ng mga kasama niya.

Naglakad na lang ako palabas ng store pagkatapos kong maitapon sa trash bin ang mga naligpit ko. I feel very anxious, probably because I'm still new to this place. Ginusto ko na lang na makabalik agad sa apartment ko.

Sa pagmamadali ko ay hindi ko napansin na may makakasalubong pala ako sa paglabas kaya nabangga ko siya nang hindi sinasadya. His guitar fell on the ground because of that and I immediately went down to pick it up.

"I'm sorry po. I'm really sorry!" Natataranta kong sinabi habang binibigay iyon sa kanya. Because of the adrenaline, I didn't even realize that it was heavy.

He just looked at me with a blank eye. The guy is wearing an all-black hoodie and a mask on so I couldn't see him properly.

I walked away right after I saw him nod. I just hope na hindi ko nasira 'yong gitara niya. Well, hindi naman siguro.