7300 Hours | YJW (ON-HOLD)

11

Kim Arin's POV

"Yaasss may saleee!!!" Sigaw ni Lizzy at hinila ako papunta sa isang store na may malaking poster na nakalagay na 20-50% off.

Napailing nalang ako pagpasok namin dahil alam ko na kahit pa sale ay wala din akong bibilhin. That's because I'm saving money pang bayad sa tuition ko sa art school na I'm currently attending. After coming out of the nursing home and seeing the beauty outside its walls, I became more interested in art. I found my passion in drawing and painting. Kaya I decided to apply nalang sa art school instead of going to an actual university. Although my parents left me enough money to pay for my needs, I can't solely depend on that so I also work part time sa lower department ng art school namin.

"Liz sabi ko naman sayo nag-iipon ako." She rolled her eyes at tinapat sakin ang isang floral jumpsuit.

"Pero bagay sayo eh. Libre ko nalang." She smiled at ilalagay sana sa basket yung damit ngunit pinigilan ko siya.

"Nooo wag na, nakakahiya naman. I'll help you nalang na maghanap ng bagay sayo." I assured her habang binabalik sa rack yung damit.

"Okay fine. Dun tayo sa likod, baka mas madami magaganda dun." She clinged onto my arms as we walked our way towards the back of the shop to look for more clothes.

I turned around and saw Luke walking behind us with one hand scrolling through his phone and the other one in his pocket. I felt sorry for him na he's forced to go with shopping with us again dahil Liz probably threatened him again with God knows what. Binalik ko nalang ang tingin ko sa mga racks ng damit at sinubukang maghanap ng top or dress na babagay kay Liz.

"This would look good on you." Tumalikod akong muli at nakita si Luke na may hawak na pink midi dress at itinapat sakin. Tiningnan ko ang presyo nito at napansin na hindi ito sale.

"Grabe ang mahal naman. Yun ngang binibigay sakin ni Liz kanina di ko kinuha kahit sale." Natatawang sabi ko kaya ibinalik nalang niya yung dress sa rack.

"How about this one?" Tanong ulit niya at ipinakita sakin ang isang white dress na may puff sleeves. I looked at the price tag and saw that it was on sale for a very good price.

"Hmm do you think bagay sakin?" Kinuha ko ito sa kanya at humarap sa mirror. The price is not bad for a dress like this.

"Uhh yes. Ibibigay ko ba sayo kung di bagay?" I glared at him kaya napatawa nalang din siya.

"Not bad pero no, kailangan ko talaga mag-ipon." Pagpigil ko sa sarili ko at ibinalik nalang ulit yung damit sa rack.

"Okay. Whatever." He shrugged and looked at his phone again while I walked towards the other end of the store to check it out.

Matapos ang ilang minuto ng pumila na si Lizzy sa counter para magbagad kaya sinamahan ko siya dito. Habang nakapila ay nagsscroll lang kaming dalawa sa phone namin. She's probably posting something on her social media again. Ako naman ay naghahanap ng mga art exhibitions around our area upang mapuntahan ito bukas dahil half day lang ang classes ko. While waiting, I can't help myself but to look at the white dress na pinakita ni Luke sakin. It looks really pretty. Pero the more I look at it, the more na mas mapapabili ako so I just looked away.

"Gusto mo nun no?" Biglang tanong ni Liz at siniko ako.

"Even if I wanted to, I really need to save up." I replied and sighed.

"Arin you barely buy something you want. I know mas prioritize mo yung needs mo, but you need to treat yourself din minsan." Napaisip ako sa sinabi ni Liz. She's right naman, I guess. I looked at it again.

"You know what. Stay here, I'm gonna get it." Naiiritang sabi niya at umalis sa linya upang kunin yung damit.

She's probably already annoyed na I'm thinking twice kung bibilhin ko ba iyon or hindi. But unlike her and Luke na may parents who's working abroad to support them, I don't have anyone else to depend on kaya I have to be frugal. Although may point din naman siya, minsan minsan lang naman.

"Excuse me? Ako ang nauna dito." Tumalikod ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Liz na parang nakikipagtalo.

"I'm in a rush miss. Babayaran nalang kita." Dinig ko na sabi nung lalake na kausap niya kaya dali dali ko silang nilapitan.

"I don't care kuya. Nauna ako dito so can you let go?" Halatang naiinis na siya at sinubukang hilahin yung hanger ng damit but I stopped her.

"It's okay Liz. Bigay mo na sa kanya." Sabi ko and looked at the guy who looks like he's getting impatient and annoyed na din by her.

"Ugh fine. If you weren't that cute, binatukan na kita kanina pa." She rolled her eyes and walked out of the scene. My lips parted and my eyes widened. She did not just say that.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa lalaki na mukhang nagulat din sa sinabi ni Liz. Nagkatinginan kami at napatawa nalang sa sinabi niya. I picked up the dress na nahulog sa floor dahil sa inis ni Liz at pinagpag ito bago ibinigay sa nasa harap ko.

"Thank you miss." Tipid na sabi nito and immediately walked towards the counter.

Nang matapos na magbayad si Liz, she clinged onto my arms again as we walked out the store. Lumamig na siguro ang ulo niya matapos yung nangyari. I turned around pero wala na si Luke behind us. He probably got so bored na humiwalay na siya.

"Luke texted me, sabi niya magkita nalang daw tayo sa sinend niya na location." Sabi ni Liz. Binuksan niya yung link at tiningnan kung saan iyon.

"Dazed Cafe?" Tiningnan namin ang location at napag-alaman na malapit pala ito sa UST.

"Bat naman naisipan ni Luke don? Ang layo natin. From Katipunan to España?" She rolled her eyes. We are currently in UPTC and it takes about 20 minutes papunta sa gustong kainan ni Luke. But then again, Liz bribed him with libre so hindi din siya makakatanggi.

"Hayaan mo na. Pinagod natin siya today kaya dun na tayo kumain kung san niya gusto." Napatango naman siya sa sinabi ko. We continued to walk and honestly at this point nakakaramdam na din ako ng pagod at gutom. I looked at Lizzy and mukhang mataas pa ang energy niya.

"Pagod ka na no? Pasok lang tayo dito saglit tas kain na tayo." Sabi niya at muli akong hinila papasok sa Fully Booked.

"Bilisan mo Liz gutom na talaga ako." Pagmamakaawa ko kaya naman dali dali na siyang lumakad papunta sa gusto niyang puntahan.

Tumingin lang ako sa mga notebooks dahil plano ko din na magjournal writing soon. I journal caught my eye. It was a pink leather journal with little airplanes. 'When can I travel the world.' I thought and sighed. I picked it up and decided to buy it. I'll probably just fill it with all the things I want to go to and do ngayon na nakakakita na ako. I might not be able to do them all agad pero at least I have a goal to reach at the end of the day. I took out my phone to check my twitter. I don't follow a lot of people. In fact si Luke at Lizzy lang ata finofollow ko. Sa sobrang busy ko with my life ay hindi ko na din ito mapagtuunan ng pansin. I opened it and saw Liz's post.