Just This Time

Chapter Two

Therese's POV

"To Ms. Therese!"

The speaker from the counter echoed those words.

"Finally, drink ko na!" I excitedly exclaimed.

Tiningnan ko cell phone ko. Malapit na mag-alas siyete. Male-late pa 'yung tao, eh first day na first day. Siyempre, kailangan ko magkaroon ng mabangong first impression sa school.

I lava-walked my way towards the counter, and happily grabbed my cup and said "thank you" to the cashier with a smile on my face. You know, it won't hurt you to show thankfulness to service workers.

Pero as I exited the doors of Starbucks, and kaunti na lang eh nakasipsip na ako sa matcha tea latte drink ko, may napansin akong something peculiar: SINO SI DORIS?

Inikot ko yung cup ko. In fairness, maganda 'yung penmanship ng nagsulat, may pa-"have a good day" pang nalalaman. Pero sa lahat ng bagay na puwede niyang i-butcher, pangalan ko pa!?

Ang layo kaya ng T-H-E-R-E-S-E sa D-O-R-I-S, duh.

Napa-chuckle ako. Well, I guess i'm officially Doris now. Mas tanggap ko pa sana kung "Chariz" nailagay nila, eh. Hmp. 'Di bale. Enjoyin ko na lang 'to.

I took a sip and rushingly walked to stop a tricycle.

After a 3 minute ride i arrived at the school. Tiningnan ko ulit cellphone ko. 7:05 na. Eh 7:30 start ng classes namin. 'Di ko pa nga alam kung saan classroom ko. Ano ba 'yan.

Pero at least may matcha drink, 'di ba? Kaya mo 'yun?

This year, I chose to take up STEM. In college, I want to take nursing. My late mama was a nurse. Her name was Teresa. Oo, that name runs in the family. My Papa's sister is named Teresita. Who would've imagined?

Before my mama died, I told her that I'd reach what she dreamed for me. She always said I'd be a good nurse. Even though I'm afraid of blood. But she believed in me. So in return, I'll hold on to what she said.

Lately, my relationship with Papa has been crumbling. He spends too much time in the hospital. He's a doctor. But even though how much I wanted to not blame him, the fact that I only saw him once a week made us distant from one another. I don't know. Maybe gano'n talaga.

I continued to wander around the school. STEM Building One daw puwesto namin. Eh ang daming building na nakikita ko rito.

I started to scour every inch of land in the campus. Napa-relate ako nang wala sa oras doon sa kantang "kay tagal kong sinusuyod ang buong mundo...". Emz!

After like another 5 minutes ng paghahanap, wala pa rin. In-on ko ulit phone ko. 7:10 na. Tinawagan ko si Claire, kaibigan ko.

"Uy, nasaan ka?"

"Wait lang, nandito ako sa tapat ng faculty room. May pinapagawa sila," she replied.

"Ano ba 'yan. Naligaw na ako!" I exclaimed.

Aba, tumawa ang demonyo.

"Nasaan ka na ba? Malapit na matapos 'to. Pupuntahan kita diyan," she said.

"Nasa ABM Building Two ata ako," I answered.

"Okay, wait lang," she said.

I hung up. I inhaled deeply.

"Relax, Reese. Relax," wika ko sa sarili ko.

Time check. 7:13. What if lumipat na lang kaya ako sa ABM?

Hindi ko na mahintay si Claire. Nagsimula na akong magtanong-tanong. Pakapalan na lang ng fez, gano'n.