Cursed Vessel Of Anastasia

Kabanata 1

Chapter 1 : Glance

"Pabili ho, isang bote ng manti-"

"Wala, alis ka dito. Halimaw."

Wala na akong nagawa kung 'di umatras at humanap nalang ng ibang tindahan. Doon nalang ulit ako bibili kay Aling Nena, siya lang naman ang pumapayag na pagbentahan ako dito.

Because people here are very sensitive with my face, they see it as bad luck and believed that something bad will happen kapag nakikita nila ako.

"Aling Nena, mantika nga po," sambit ko nang makarating sa tindahan niya. Medyo may kalayuan kasi ito at kung minsan pa nga ay may mga tambay sa harap na lagi akong pinagtitripan.

"Tasha? Ikaw ba 'yan?" Kumapa-kapa muna siya sa paligid bago nahawakan ang bote ng mantikang binibili ko.

"Opo."

"Ay naku! Na-miss kita, Tasha. Ilang araw ka ding hindi lumabas sa bahay mo." Nahimigan ko ang pagtatampo sa boses niya.

Si Aling Nena ay isang bulag at tumandang dalaga. Whenever I see her, I can't help but to be amazed and inspired of how she was able to live her life. Imagine living in a cruel world full of judgment, brutality and inhumanity. Despite having her vision taken, she seems to be more contented than I am who had the privilege to see things. That's why on each occasion I feel lost, Aling Nena comes to my mind.

Hindi dapat ako magreklamo dahil nakikita ko at alam ko ang mga ginagawa ko.

Aling Nena... she somehow made it bearable for me.

Iniabot ko na ang pambayad. "Pasensya na po, medyo busy lang sa pagre-review," sagot ko.

And it's a lie.

Umuwi na ako bitbit ang binili kong mantika. Mag-isa lang akong nakatira dito sa two-storey house na iniwan sa akin ng namayapa kong lola. I don't have parents or relatives living with me here, it's just me and this tedious, lonely house. Though, it has been and will always be my comfort place.

I am planning to cook some fried eggs and hotdogs today, kaso lang, I've been hearing my phone ringing nonstop. Nakalimutan ko na naman sigurong i-silent.

"Mr. Solomon..." basa ko sa tumatawag.

One week had passed and since then, he was trying all his best to reach out to me and I entertained none of his calls. May parte sa 'kin na sinasabing sagutin ko na ang tawag para matigil na siya. Kinokonsenya ako dahil hindi naman siguro tamang basta ko nalang siyang iwan ng ganoon at walang pasabi. When on my graduation day, I was very excited and happy that he said he would take me under his wing, to train and gain experience.

Sa huli, napagpasyahan kong sagutin nalang ang tawag. Wala rin namang mawawala, kailangan ko lang i-turn down ang offer at humingi ng paumanhin.

I swiped it up to open. "Hello, Mr. Solomon."

"Finally! Ms. Guzman!" ramdam ko ang galak sa boses niya, "I've been trying to get in touch with you and you seem to avoid my calls. Well, you're really avoiding it," nahimigan ko ang pagtataka nito at pagbuntong-hininga.

Hindi nalang ako nagsalita.

"Anyway, I just want you to know that my offer still stand, Ms. Guzman," he said.

Ako naman ngayon ang napabuntong hininga. "Mr. Solomon, I'm sorry but—"

"Clients from Russia are visiting tomorrow," he cut me off and continued what he was saying, "I don't know what happened to you but I hope you still give it another go. You're my best student, Ms. Guzman. You will need this experience especially now that we're dealing with international clients."