HOLD ME TIGHT [Devil's Obsession Series 2]

CHAPTER 22

Coffee

"It's just a few days of break, hija. Namimiss na rin kita nang sobra." her mom stated while pouting, abala ito sa tanim nitong cactus nang tumawag s'ya. Malapit na kasi ang break at kinukulit narin s'ya nitong umuwi ng Pilipinas.

"But I actually want to work on a company here, Mom." saad n'ya na bahagyang ikinakunot ng kaniyang noogyang ikinakunot ng kaniyang noo.

"Whose company? Kay Marthy ba?"

Mabagal s'yang napailing." It was just a well-known company here, Mom that accepts interns."

Bumakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha ng kaniyang ina. "Nahihirapan kana ba? I can talk to your brother regarding your allowance."

She decided to cut her monthly allowance nang magsimula s'yang magtrabaho kay Marthy, her tuition fees so as her rent and allowance came from her own pocket since then.  Her brother disagreed to that but after convincing him so hard ay napapayag n'ya rin naman ito kinalaunan.

She chose to forego her monthly allowance as she started working for Marthy. Her tuition fees and rent were also covered by her own earnings from then on. Despite her brother's initial disagreement, after persistent persuasion, he eventually gave in.

"I understand that you want to be fully independent na, hija. But your brother and I don't want you to be overly burdened. Life isn't easy when you're shouldering all expenses, especially while you're still studying," she expressed.

She had pondered over this many times, but she no longer wanted to rely solely on her sibling's generosity. She aspired to stand on her own feet as much as possible and not remain dependent on her brother.

She smiled."Everything is fine, Mom. Wala na kayong dapat ipag-alala."

"Paanong hindi ako mag-aalala? I heard lumipat ka sa mas maliit na apartment and you ended up selling your bags. Hindi ko nga alam kung kumakain ka ba ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, look at your cheeks nabawasan na." maluha-luha nitong wika na tuluyan n'yang ikinatawa. Her mom is just too dramatic sometimes.

"I decided to sell them dahil hindi naman na sila magkakasyang lahat sa apartment na nilipatan ko. I don't need much of them, Momma."

She's currently at a coffee shop, facing her laptop and engaged in a video call with her mother. Despite being busy with work, she ensures to provide occasional updates to her mom.

"And you're having a part time job? Hindi ba't masiyado mo nang pinapagod ang sarili mo n'yan?"

"Time management is the key, Mom. And there's just two semester left graduate na po ako."

"Ang baby ko talaga, basta if you need anything don't hesitate to ask me or your kuya ha? You know him, hindi kailanman tatanggi 'yon sa 'yo."

She nodded. "I will, Mom. I love you!"

After saying goodbye to her mom, she headed to work, which was the coffee shop she frequented that was conveniently close to the university. She couldn't solely depend on her salary from Marthy because of her expenses, particularly since she's still a student.

"Table 3, gorjas." her co-worker Timothy said before he winks playfully. Ginantihan na lamang n'ya iyon ng pabirong irap.

Kababayan n'ya lang rin si Timothy kaya sila ang nagkakaintindihan sa trabaho, and she's thankful dahil hindi s'ya nito pinabayaan kahit nagkaroon s'ya ng matinding adjustment. Her first day was a tough one, she encountered a lot of people na napakahirap i-please. However, she's glad that she managed to get through them.

"Was that your Mom?" baling nito sa kaniya.

She simply nodded, kalaunan ay pinaningkitan ito. "Were you watching me while I'm having a conversation with my mom?"