ENVIOUS
“TATLONG PIRASONG GARLIC BREAD NGA PO, at isang mango juice.” sabi ko sa counter. It was an hour before lunch time. Mas mabuting kumain ako ng mas maaga. Kung hihintayin ko pa ang oras ng lunch break, marami nang tao rito mamaya. At isa pa, nagugutom na ako. I woke up late, I rushed to get in time for my first subject today. Hindi na ako nakakain sa bahay kaya nagugutom na ako.
Iniabot na sa akin ng babae ang aking order at ako naman ay naghanap ng bakanteng mauupuan.
I walked slowly. Itʼs not because this is just the first meal Iʼd have today—which is not also a proper meal. Itʼs because despite of waking up late, I didnʼt really got enough sleep. I think itʼs just an hour or two. At least, Iʼve got sleep. But whatʼs to brag about that when I barely didnʼt feel like Iʼve rested.
Iʼm kinda feeling sick today. It might have something to do with what happened yesterday. It was raining hard and I just stood there in the rain, exchanging words with that jerk. Instead of thinking about him, I sipped from my glass of mango juice.
“Hazel!” I saw someone from not so far from my table. She was waving her hand at me.
Malamya akong kumaway sa kaniya. I didnʼt have the energy to even greet her. Siya na ang kusang lumapit sa akin habang dala-dala niya ang balot ng pagkain at mga inumin. That was a lot for one person.
“Hi!” she smiles, sheepishly. “Do you mind if I sit here?” she then asked and pointed the seat across mine.
“Go ahead.” tugon ko.
Habang tinitignan niya ang mukha ko, biglang kumunot ang noo niya. “Mukhang namumutla ka, okay ka lang ba?” tanong niya.
Nanlaki ang aking mata at wala sa sariling napaayos ng upo. Napaiwas ako ng tingin. “A-Ayos lang ako.”
Para hindi matuon ang buong atensyon niya sa akin, iniba ko ang usapan. “Ang dami mo namang pagkain.” I commented, looking down on the foods and drinks on the plastic bag she holds now.
“Oh this...” Nalipat ang tingin niya sa dala niyang nakapatong sa lamesa. “Pagkain namin ʼto ni Cyrus hanggang mamaya. Dress rehearsal kasi namin ngayon.”
Si Cyrus? “Kasama mo si Cyrus ngayon?” nauutal na tanong ko na may bahid ng pagkagulat.
“Hmm.” tumango siya. “Hindi niya ba nasabi sa ʼyo na may rehearsal kami ngayon?” balik tanong niya.
Umiling ako. “We havenʼt talk much these days.” I said, in an embarassed manner. “Busy kami pareho e.”
“Hazel, no offense ha, pero maputla ka talaga. Did you had a good sleep?”
“Honestly, no.” Hindi ko magawang magsinungaling. Ewan ko ba pero ang gaan ng loob ko sa kaniya ngayon. She also seems like a good person and a trustworthy one.
“Oh... Sige mauuna na ako. Hindi na kita guguluhin para makapagpahinga ka.” aniya saka tumayo na at mahinhin siyang ngumiti.
Ngumiti na lamang din ako pabalik. “Here,” Inabutan niya ako ng dalawang cinnamon roll. “Take it.”
Bumaba ang tingin ko sa pagkain na binigay niya. “Uhm, thanks.”
