Hush, Kalea.

Chapter 2

"Kalea, okay ka lang ba?" Mei suddenly asked habang kumakain kami ng lunch sa staff room.

I snapped back in reality when I heard her voice.

Bumuntong hininga muna ako bago ito sinagot.

"I'm fine."

Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin na para bang naghihinala.

"Sigurado ka ba? Mamutla ka nung nakita mo yung isang customer dati eh hindi mo naman kilala. Parang takot ka rin kapag bumubukas yung pintuan ng convenience store. Ano ba talagang nangyayari sa'yo?"

What she said earned a sigh from me. it was true. I have been paranoid for the past five days.

It had been five days since I met that man and the man who looks exactly like him. But up until now hindi parin ako mapakali sa kada shift ko kada pag-uwi ko sa bahay. I even ride a taxi to go to my place kahit malapit lang naman at kayang lakarin kasi natatakot akong makita ulit niya ako.

Natatakot akong makita ulit siya.

I would see the face of that man in the midst of the crowd but when I approached him nawawala ito ng parang bula. I see his face in every man I meet. And I can still hear the words he whispered in my ears.

Nasisiraan na ako ng bait. I'm being paranoid over the slightest thing

I know damn well that he's going to make me pay for the price of being a sole witness in his crime. He even gave me a warning.

He will surely do anything to make my mouth shut and thinking of what he might do to me terrifies me.

"Okay lang ako, walang nangyaring masama. Masama lang talaga pakiramdam ko sa mga nagdaang araw hangang ngayon."

"You feel sick? You should've told us earlier nang maipaalam ka namin kay ma'am. Baka kung ano pang mangyari sayo habang nagtratrabaho eh."

I sighed. "I'm fine, I just need a good rest after this shift. Promise."

"Siguraduhin mo lang talaga. By the way, a-attend ka ba sa pa-party ni ma'am sa sunday?"

Nag-isip muna ako habang ngumunguya. Mabait naman yung manager namin panot nga lang pero kung yung anak niya ang pag-uusapan..

Just thinking about the manager's son makes my cheeks flushed.

I cleared my throat before speaking, pupunta kaya siya sa party?

"Oo, tutuloy ako. Minsan lang nagpapa-party 'yon eh." I said.

Tumango naman si Mei.

"Sige, it'll be good to see you in a dress once in a while." She said in a teasing tone.

"Siraulo. Kumusta pala pag-aaral mo?"

Mei is a college student. Nagtratrabaho siya bilang cashier dito para magkaroon ng extra income. She doesn't want to rely on her grandmother's money.

Sasagutin niya na sana ito ng sumilip si Jericho sa pintuan ng staff room.

"May costumer asikasuhin niyo, kakain lang ako. Nakakapanghina pala ang gutom." Sabi nito bago pumasok

Inunahan ko nang tumayo si Mei.

"Ako na, tutal wala naman akong ganang kumain."

Tinulak ko ang pintuan ng staff room saka bago pumunta sa counter.

Nakayuko ako bahagya habang naglalakad papunta sa counter.

I saw the items placed on the counter kaya ang ginawa ko lang ay ini-scan ko sa machine ang mga ito bago inilagay sa brown bag.