The Minxes Series Book One: Asking for the Moon

Chapter Fourteen

She had been having after school meet up with Xavier for the past few days. They would talk for a couple of hours at first but then, two hours became more. Minsan ay umaalis ito sa coffee shop na pinupuntahan nila twenty minutes bago ang umpisa ng shift nito. She felt guilty after that. Ayaw naman niyang matanggal ito sa trabaho.

Marami silang napag-uusapan. It's like she's knowing him more as days go by. She asked him what he was doing at Atticus' club when the incident happened. Doon niya nalaman na he was doing part time at the club.

She was suprised when she learned about it. Kaya naman pala hindi ito pumapayag na ihatid niya ito sa pinagtatrabauhan, iyon naman pala'y dahil doon mismo sa club na iyon ito nag-ta-trabaho.

He was a bit uneasy with her reaction when he told the truth. Pero kahit na ganoon, hindi siya nagpakita ng kahit na anong pag-angal sa trabahong pinasukan. Wala naman siyang karapatang pagbawalan itong magtrabaho doon ng dahil lang sa may issue siya sa lugar.

Kung tutuusin nga ay dapat pa siyang magpasalamat. If he hadn't been hired in that club, God knows what could have happened to her that night.

She shuddered at the thought.

"How long have you been working there?"

"Hmm... I started last month."

Gulat na napatingin siya dito, "But last month... people were saying—" She stopped herself on time, muntik na niyang maibulalas ang nasa isip. "Ahm, I mean—"

"It's okay. Alam ko naman kung ano ang iniisip ng ibang tao." Huminga ito ng malalim at saka sumandal sa upuan. Tinitigan siya nito ng diretso. "I once took a job in a gay bar. But contrary to what people think, I only worked there as a waiter and nothing else. Kinailangan ko ng pera eh. Xanya contracted dengue fever to the point where her platelet was down to a critical level. Kailangan niyang ma-ospital. I was short of money back then and so I needed an extra job. Iyong isang taga sa amin sa Sampaloc, inalok akong mag-trabaho doon sa gay bar as a dancer pero tumanggi ako. My parents would turn in their grave relentlessly if they knew I took the job, you know." He chuckled. "Alam nung taga sa amin na hindi ko tatanggapin ang trabahong iyon kaya ang pagiging waiter na lang ang inalok niya. I needed a job so I took it."

Tumango tango siya. "Are you still working there?"

Umiling ito. "Hindi na. Nang pumutok ang tsismis na nagtatrabaho ako doon bilang isang dancer ay agad agad, nag resign ako. My reputation at school is hanging by a thread already. I don't want to add another issue that could make that thread snap. I need my scholarship so bad. Kailangang mabigyan ko ng magandang kinabukasan ang kapatid ko. Ako na lang at ang lola namin ang pamilya niya."

Her view of him changed in that moment. Mas lalo siyang bumilib dito. Xavier is a good son, brother and a friend. Swerte ang babaeng mamahalin nito dahil napaka-responsable nitong lalaki.

"What do you plan when you graduate?"

"Take another scholarship? I'm pursuing UP. Para sa mga katulad ko, ang makapagtapos sa isang magandang unibersidad ang pambala ko para makakuha ng magandang trabaho pagdating ng araw."

Mapait siyang napangiti. Here, she's listening to him talk about a true and genuine aspiration. Samantalang siya, gusto lang makapasok sa kahit na saang university sa Metro Manila dahil ayaw niyang malayo kay Atticus. Tss... ngayon pumapasok sa isip niya kung gaano ka childish at pathetic ng rason niya.

"Ikaw? Anong balak mo?"

Napatingin siya dito. "Dati?"

He frowned. "Dati...? Bakit, may bago ka bang kino-consider ngayon?"