A Hundred Days With You

T W E N T Y - F I V E

THAT NIGHT---morning I mean, ended with me heading straight to the house without turning back, as usual, as I left Venice outside to be the one to bid goodbye for Kyler. Ni hindi ko na siya nahintay na makarating at bumagsak na kaagad ako sa kama. I slept immediately after that.

But because we slept 3 in the morning, Venice and I had trouble waking up early. Napatakip na lang ako ng mukha nang tawagin kami ni Mrs. Bernardo so we could prepare ourselves dahil may klase pa mamaya.

"Gumising na kayo. Male-late kayo. Naunahan pa kayong magising ng dalawang bata." Mrs. Bernardo's solemn voice said. Sa hinhin ng boses niya ay para bang pinapatulog niya kami at hindi ginigising. But contrary to that is her hand shaking my shoulder, trying to wake me up.

She tried to do the same to Venice, too. But I didn't have to open my eyes to see if she succeeded in waking her up because all I heard from Venice is a groan and she never spoke again so obviously, she's back on sleeping. And because of that, Mrs. Bernardo went back on me.

"Wait, 5 minutes. Just give me 5 minutes." Pabulong na sabi ko habang unti-unti nang nakakatulog. The last thing I heard is her muffled voices then I dozed off.

"BILISAN MO!" Venice gave me my shoes while panicking. "Male-late na tayo! Akin na iyang suklay sa gilid mo!"

"Ouch ha!" Reklamo ko nang hilahin niya ng mabilis ang suklay mula sa kamay ko. She apologetically smiled and made a peace sign and went back to combing her fine hair.

I rolled my eyes and continued wearing my shoes. After that, kumuha ako ng powder at nagbuhos sa kamay ko. I applied it evenly on my face and looked at the mirror to check my look when my gaze went on the side table. I looked at Venice and pointed at it.

"Hey, your things are still in there."

"Oh shi----" Nagmadali kaagad siya na kunin ang bag niya at isilid sa loob ang mga notebook na nasa lamesa. "Bakit hindi mo kaagad sinabi?!"

"I didn't know, okay?! Pasalamat ka nga at nakita ko!" I snapped. "Bakit kasi hindi mo niligpit kahapon bago tayo umalis?!"

"Hindi ko naman alam na male-late tayo sa paggising ngayon! Bakit kasi hindi ka gumising ng maaga?!"

"Ask yourself! Diba hindi ka rin naman nagising ng maaga?" I took her perfume and sprayed it all over my body.

"Wag mo naman ipaligo! Uubusin mo naman kaagad eh!" Inagaw niya sa akin ang perfume at siya na ang naglagay sa wrist at neck. "Dapat kasi ginising mo ako kanina!"

"Hindi nga ako nagising ng maaga! And I'm sure Mrs. Bernardo tried waking you up too. Pareho lang tayong hindi nagising and that's understandable kasi gabing-gabi na--I mean umaga na tayo natulog! And this cycle will continue for weeks for sure! At hindi ito mangyayari kung wala tayong trabaho!"

I faced her.

"Just think of it, if we continue this shit of a job we're doing, we will be constantly late for school and that would be a bad record for us. Isa pa, our lifestyle will be unhealthy! Baka maging anemic na tayo sa kakapuyat! We're depriving ourselves of the sleep and rest we deserve after a long day at school! Magmumukha tayong zombie kapag tagal!"

"Oh, anong point mo?" Venice raised her eyebrow at me.

I looked at her straight in the eye to convince her even more. I don't know if that will help, but I'll try.

"My point is, we should just leave the job and have an easier life! Ayokong magka-eyebags no! Though this face already has dark circles, but I don't want to work and that's my point!"

Venice just kept staring at me and I got frustrated with that. Ang dami ko nang sinabi tapos tutulala lang siya?

"Okay, let me think of it." My face lit up with what she said only for her to bring my hopes crashing to the ground. "Nah."