Unchain My Heart

SIMULA

“Tama ba ‘tong address na ito?” I whispered as I look at my phone

“Hey po, where is the Baranggay San Juan po?” tanong ko sa matandang babae na may dalang plastic, hindi naman siya looking older that much.

“Iha, pasensya na pero hindi ko nagets lahat ng sinabi mo.” natuptop ko ang bibig ko sa hiya

So tanga, bakit ba kase ako nag eenglish sa lugar na hindi ko alam?

“I'm sorry po manang. Nasaan po ba ang Baranggay San Juan?” ulit ko

“Iha, nandito ka na sa San Juan. Taga maynila ka ba? saan ka ba nakatira at parang naliligaw ka? kay gandang bata ngunit walang alam sa lugar” usisa ni manang na hindi ko alam kung nanlalait ba

I don't know if I should laugh or get offended because of manang's words.

“Bago lang po ako here manang, naghahanap po kase ako ng malilipatan”

“Nako iha, halika at sumama ka sa akin sakto at yung apartment ko ay may isa pang kwarto.” manang smiled at me as she started to walk, so I followed her.

“Alam mo ineng ma swerte ka at ako ang iyong napag tanongan. Marami ritong maaaring mag turo sa iyo ng mga apartment pero dinodoble ang presyo or di kaya tinataasan ng kaunti kapag alam na mapera ang uupa.” I nod while looking at her back.

I don't mind about the prices of apartments here, I just want to rest right now and pay everything as soon as possible. Money doesn't matter if you are longing to feel the soft bed. My shoulders are starting to feel the pain because I've been carrying my bags for almost 5 hours.

“Saan ka ba nang galing, iha?” I didn't know manang is chismosa. She turn left so did I

“I came from manila po. May nangyari lang po kaya I need to leave our place to have my peace of mind po” sagot ko

“Sige iha, kahit peace of mind lang naintindihan ko” I pinched myself to stop from laughing kaya the moment manang look at me, we both laughed.

Marami pa siyang sinasabi at kinukwento pero wala na akong maintindihan because I was busy checking the places and area. Marami rin akong nakikitang mga bahay, nakakahilo na ang daan, ni hindi ko na rin maalala kung saan kami dumaan ni manang.

Minutes have passed before we reached manang's apartment. Puro pawis na rin ako dahil sa sobrang init, I forgot to bring out my umbrella from my bag because I was busy looking around and following manang.

“Iha, yon ang apartment ko” I looked at the color gray of house that she pointed, malaki siya kumpara sa ibang apartment na nakita ko. Ito lang din ang nagustohan ko. Hindi pa kami tuloyang nakakalapit dahil itinuro pa lamang ni manang ang bahay.

“Manang how much po ang rent? and the buwanan?” my friends made sure I know some basic words that they are using whenever they are looking for apartments before I went here.

“Alam ko na yang tanong na yan iha, gets kita diyan” kumindat pa si manang!

“So how much nga po?”

“Ang bayad sa rent ay 4,500, kada buwan iyon. Ang tubig at kuryente naman ay ikaw ang bahalang mag babayad. Ang alam ko pwedeng mag bayad gamit ang gcash app”

“What is gcash, manang?” I never heard anything about gcash app

“Huh? tao ka ba iha? bakit hindi mo alam ang gcash app? jusko kang bata ka, matanda na ako pero mas marami pa ata akong alam sa cellphone apps kesa sa iyo” she even palmed her forehead! myghod, stress na ba siya sa akin?!