Thank God it was Sunday again!
I just woke up from a nap I took after we got home from church. Pagod na pagod ako sa buong linggong pagtatrabaho dahil maraming deliveries na dumating at ngayong araw lang ako makakabawi ng pahinga.
I stretched before getting off the bed. I was feeling hungry already, probably because I hadn't eaten last night again and hadn't had my breakfast yet today. Pumunta ako sa kusina para maghanap ng maluluto. As usual, wala na namang laman ang ref ko bukod sa nag-iisang itlog. I should probably buy some groceries later, if I still had some time.
Nagsaing muna ako bago niluto ang nag-iisang itlog. Dahil matagal pa naman maluluto ang kanina ay isinabahay ko na ang paglilinis sa bahay. Inilabas ko na rin ang mga damit na kailangan kong labhan. I tilted my head to the side when I saw the stack of clothes I had to wash. It was quite a lot.
My routine every Sunday went just how it usually was. Tanghali na nang matapos ako. Nakakaramdam na rin ako ng gutom dahil sa dami ng ginawa. If my memory serves me right, I still had some noodles in one of the cabinets. Pwede na 'yun bilang pantawid gutom. May kanina pa naman din na natira kaninang umaga.
As I waited for the noodles to cook, I listed the things I needed for the week. Kailangan kong bumili ng totoong pagkain, hindi lang mga delata, noodles, at preserved food. I should also buy some toiletries and detergent. Nang matapos ko iyon ay tiningnan ko kung kumpleto na ba bago in-estimate ang magiging total.
I guessed it would sum up to less or more than a thousand pesos. Not bad because it would take me weeks to replenish them. Laking pasalamat ko na rin na madalas kay Ate Sabeth ako nakikikain. Mas nakakatid kasi ako sa bilihin.
Naisip ko rin ang natitirang cash ko. Nakapagpadala na ako kay Mama para sa field trip ng mga kapatid ko. I sent an extra 500 pesos kaya umabot ng tatlong libo't kalahati ang naipadala ko. Ang natitirang apat na libo't kalahati sa akin ay mababawasan pa dahil mamimili ako ng kailangan ko ngayon. I also mentally recalled the dates when I had to pay my rent and utilities to Ate Sabeth.
Pinapanalangin ko na sana umabot pa ang pera na meron ako. Ayokong galawin ang savings ko at lalong ayokong magkautang kay Ate Sabeth.
Narinig ko ang pag-apaw ng sabaw ng noodles kaya dali-dali akong tumakbo para patayin ang apoy. I inspected it and was relieved to see that it still had a spoonful or two of soup. Ano ba yan! Noodles na nga lang, hindi pa maayos ang luto. Kung masunog ko pa 'to, wala talaga akong makakain ngayong tanghalian.
It was almost three in the afternoon when I left the house. Habang papalapit ako sa bahay ni Architect Javier ay napapansin ko ang sasakyan niyang nakaharang sa daan. The engine was also on. I wondered if he was inside his car?
Nasagot naman ang palaisipan ko nang makita siyang lumabas galing sa bakuran ng bahay niya. When he spotted me walking nearer, he smiled at me.
"May pupuntahan ka?" Tanong niya. Tumango naman ako at marahan na naglakad para maiwasan ang malaking bato.
"Pupunta lang akong Madrid."
"Sabay ka na sa 'kin. May bibilhin din ako roon." He offered. Saka ko lang din napansin ang ayos niya. He was wearing his usual outfits—khaki shorts, plain navy blue shirt, and Birkenstock. He looked like he just took a bath as well because the smell of his perfume could reach me despite a few meters of distance between us.
"Sure?" Paninigurado ko. He was playing with the keys in his hand.
"Yup. Tara na?" He gestured for me to go to the passenger side. Lumapit siya room at binuksan pa nga ang pintuan habang tinitingnan akong nakatayo lang sa daan.
Well, he offered. Ayoko na ring tanggihan dahil nagtitipid din ako ng pera pamasahe. Hindi naman sa sinasamantala ko pero sabi nga nila, when opportunity knocks, open the door.
BINABASA MO ANG
Lean on Me (Wandering Soul #1)
Roman d'amourAna was the first born of the Hermano family. She was not from a wealthy family. In fact, her family was always trying to make ends meet. With that, she became determined to work hard so that she could help. She was a dutiful daughter-the best in h...