Red for Fire
_____________
"Brisis naman e. Sige na, ngayon lang talaga."
Pakiusap ni Jella. Katrabaho ko rito sa resto na pinapasukan. Gusto niya kasing ako muna yung magco-cover sa shift niya dahil ika nga'y may lakad daw siya.
"Babawi ako, promise!"
"Oo na." Jella beamed and kissed my cheek.
"Salamat talaga Bri!"
I don't usually say no since I need money too pero ngayon may gagawin kasi akong project at mag-aaral pa kaya siguro magka cram nalang ako ngayon.
Jella waved goodbye and off she goes. Napabuntong-hininga ako. Right now, rest is a luxury for me and I can't even afford that for now. Pinagsabay ko ba namam yung pag-aaral at pagtatrabaho.
As if I even have a choice. Sa bahay, hindi ako nakakapagpahinga dahil sa takot kong pasukin ako ni Gullas. Of course may lock ang pinto but who knows about what that man is thinking.
"Brisis! Balik ka na! Tapos na ang break mo!"
"Oh, overtime na naman Bri?" tanong ni Diana. Isa ring waitress. Medyo malaki at sosyal rin kasi 'tong restaurant na napagtrabahoan ko. Bukod pa dito, may isa pa akong trabaho, for weekend. Sa isang bar.
"May pamilya ka bang binubuhay at sagad hanggang buto yang pagtatrabaho mo?" she was half joking but it's true. Kinukuha ni Mama yung buo kong sweldo ko dito kaya hindi ko sinabi sa kanya na may iba pa akong trabaho.
"Gusto ko lang magtrabaho." palusot ko. Nice try Brisis. Baka naman maniwala.
And Diana did.
"Basta uso rin pahinga girl." tumango ako.
Maybe the only rest I'll get is when I die. Sarkastiko akong napangiti sa naisip. God help me with this morbid thoughts.
Ever since Papa died, a part of me did as well. I was in the dark but not for too long. Kailangan ako ni Mama. Na kahit naliligaw rin ako ngayon, I'd still hold her hand. But she let go of mine when Papa passed away. She gave up on her life.
"What's your order sir?" sabi ko ng magtaas ng kamay yung isa sa winiwait kong table. They were a bunch of guys, probably in their early to mid twenties. Buti nalang talaga tinanggap ako dito kahit seventeen pa lang.
"Your full name and number miss." creep. This is not new to me. This occurs every week and I give out the same short answers.
"Order?"
The man smiled. He looked boyish by the way he dressed. Hmm, very different from the men I knew from Manila. Bakit ko ba ikokompara? Hindi na naman ako makakabalik sa Maynila. All our properties there were sold off to pay Mama's debts.
"Damn, she's cold." rinig kong untag ng isa sa kasamahan nila. Kaagad rin itong sinipat ng katabi.
"Ah, so you're name's Bri?" I internally rolled my eyes.
"Hi Bri, I'm Brien." pakilala nito. He saw the nameplate I was wearing.
"I'm currently working sir."
The man smirked. I think he got the wrong idea.
"How about after work?"
"School works. May I take your order now?" I was growing impatient every second. He can't take a hint?
"You speak so fluent in english. Are you really from here?" Isa lang 'to sa mga dayuhan Brisis. Pagpasensyahan mo na.
"Yes." Pagsisinungaling ko nalang dahil paniguradong hahaba pa ang usapan kapag sasabihin kong lumaki ako sa Maynila.
