DOWN IN THE DUMPS

Chapter 12

My eyes were fixed on his creased forehead and his busy hands alternately. To see a new side of him being dedicative in his work seems unrealistic. Napilit lang siya pero ginagampanan niya ng mabuti ang trabaho niya.

Sa pagmamasid ko sakanya ay umabot ako sa puntong kinokompara ko ang sarili ko sa kanya. There’s no doubt that I’m enthusiastic whenever I want to achieve something — like getting him to work for me. I even offered him a bountiful of money just so he could get swayed to work for me.

We surely have identical characteristics; we are both driven by passion and money.

Day two pa lang pero mukhang matatapos na niya ngayon ang pinapagawa ko sa kanya. Kung wala lang siyang duty sa Dog Pound ay natapos na niya sana ang mga gawain kahapon which means I can save money for my luho.

“Seryoso? Babagsak ka sa mga subject na ‘to? Hindi ka ba pinagpala ng katalinuhan?”

I aggressively snatch the sandwich on the table and put it inside his mouth. Ang dami niyang dada! Kung tumahimik kaya nalang siya?

Dahil hindi niya iyon inaasahan ay nabulunan siya. He pounded his chest while he looked for water but there was none. Nang hindi siya mahimasmasan ay napatayo siya sa table namin at lumapit sa counter upang bumili ng tubig.

Apparently, we're at the café where Ady works. Class hours ng high school kaya wala siya rito ngayon. Dito ko napagdesisyonan na gumawa ng school works dahil sa black golden card. Ayaw kong gumastos pa kay Cherry’s dad.

Gusto ko ring makita kung ano talaga ang relasyon nila ni Ady. It’s a given that they’re close. Anyone could assume that their closeness might be in a romantic way but I’m doubtful because I can sense constraint from both of them. Parang may haligi pa silang hindi nabibiyak.

And I wonder how his human emotions for Ady work? I’ve seen them together twice and I’m eager to witness more of his human emotions.

“That’s what you get for judging me,” salubong ko sakanya nang makabalik siya sa table namin.

He wiped his mouth with a tissue paper and sat back silently. Bago pa siya muling humarap sa MacBook ay sinamaan niya ako ng tingin.

Through this part-time job I offered, I’ve witnessed how he’s excellent academically. Minsan nga lang siyang gumamit ng google dahil halos alam pa niya lahat ang mga topics na naroroon. Bakit kaya hindi siya mag-apply sa mga corporate companies or as a government employee para gamitin ang skills niya? Sayang naman kung sa dog pound lang siya, hindi siya aasenso.

My phone buzzed kaya naputol ang pag-iisip ko kung saan pwede i-maximize ang skills ni Cherry’s dad.

From: Unknown Number

Axis Laurier. Milea Bay.

Nang mabasa ko ang mensahe ay parang binuhusan ako ng malamig ng tubig. It wasn’t just my name and Milea Bay but it was like a cipher — a cipher I deciphered in an instant.

“Oy?” tatlong katok sa table ang pumukaw sa atensyon ko. “Pinagpapawisan ka,” dagdag pa niya kaya napahawak ako sa noo.

“Restroom.” paalam ko at tumayo nang hindi pa kumakalma ang dibdib ko.

Nang makapasok ako sa restroom ay dali-dali kong binuksan ang faucet at naghilamos ng mukha para mahimasmasan.

“You’re shaped by your experiences to be fearless Ax. Never forget about it. You are fearless.” I told my reflection in the misty oval-shaped mirror. “You are fearless.” I chanted to remind myself that I need to get back to my usual self who’s not scared of anything.