What's with him?
"Where are you going Ms. Z?" one of my co-workers asked me.
"I'll get some coffee, you want?" Sabi ko sa mahinang boses dahil may nagtatrabaho din.
"No,thanks." She replied. And back to her work.
"Ahhm Zhai, pakitapon ng basura puno na kasi" someone said. She's not our boss, she's also the same with me.
"The fuck! Just throw it yourself Anika. Basura mo naman lahat yang nasa ilalim ng table mo." Saad ni Ms. Shanie na napalakas ang boses.
"Lower your voice please." Saad ng ibang nagtatrabaho.
"It's okay Ms. Shanie. Itatapon ko nalang." Saad ko bago kinuha ang basura at umalis ng hindi tinitignan si Anika. Kailangan ko ng mahabang pasensya.
Ganon lagi ang sitwasyon sa trabaho. Minamaliit. Inuutusan. But still thankful that I have this work and Ms. Shanie is here for me.
After sa work dumeritso ako sa bahay since 10am pa ang start ng klase dahil may meeting ang mga professors.
It's still 4am kaya madilim pa sa labas. And as I expected, naka-lock ang gate. No choice kaya umakyat ako as usual. I have a key sa main door kaya hindi na ako na hirapan pang pumasok.
Then I saw kuya in the living room. He's holding a paper with a cup of coffee in his right hand. This is the first time that he's awake this time. 4:15am.
Hindi siya lumingon sa gawi ko kaya lalakad na sana ako ng magsalita siya. "Saan ka galing?" he asked with his serious tone.
"S-sa bahay ng kaibigan ko" I lied.
"And go home at 4am?Hindi ka na ba magtitino?" Seryoso niyang saad without looking at me.
"Sorry kuya" I said.
"What's wrong with you Zhai? Hindi ka pinalaki ni mama para lang magbulakbol. Can't you just follow your ate Alfia?!" Dahil sa sigaw niya ay hindi ko na napigilan ang luha na kanina pa gustong kumawala.
"S-sorry–"
"Wala ka nalang ibang salita kundi sorry! sorry!" He said at umalis.
I wiped my tears pero hindi ko parin mapigilan ang mga luha.
Bakit ganito sila sa akin? I didn't do anything wrong. If I can just explain them that I worked at night for my tuition but it's nonsense. They won't listen. And if they listen, I'm sure that in the other night I don't have work because of my parents. Ayaw nila akong magtrabaho dahil nakakasira ng image nila. If I don't work, I can't pay my tuition and other things that are needed.
After a minute of standing I decided to go outside. I'm tired. But it's too tired in the house.
Pumunta ako sa plaza dito sa village. May iilang tao ang dumadaan pero walang tumatambay. Pumunta ako sa madilim na parte at doon binuhos ang iyak.
It's nothing. Kinaya ko noon kaya kakayanin ko 'to.
The stars look beautiful. The moon shines brightly.
"It looks beautiful"
"Ay Palaka!" napaigtad ako dahil sa isang nilalang sa tabi ko.
What the? What is he doing here? Hindi ko napansin ang paglapit niya sa akin.
I can see his face dahil sa liwanag ng buwan.
"Ah hehe sorry Zhai. It's late why are you here?" argh why is he here? Pati ba naman dito makikita ko siya. Tangina Lexine.
"Bawal? And it's not late. It's early. Alas kwarto na ng umaga. Tsaka bakit ka narito?" I asked him in a serious tone.
"Easy Ms. Nag jogging lang at nakita kong may tao rito and it's you. I didn't expect to see you here." he said with a wide smile. Kaya pala naka pang jogging ang outfit niya.
