One year ago
"Oh Jane, nag-luto ako ng breakfast. Hurry up and eat, mali-late ka na," Dahlia, Jane's mother, pointed at the table the moment her daughter showed up in the kitchen.
"Wow, sinong may birthday?" Jane's eyes lit up at the spread of her favorite Filipino breakfast all laid out at the table waiting to be devoured. "Fried eggs, hotdog, tocino, hamonado, corned beef, ang dami ah. Buti may time ka pa mag-luto, ma? Aren't you going to be late? Mahirap pa naman parking sa hospital."
"I have plenty of time. IKAW ang mali-late if you don't grab a plate now and start eating," Dahlia handed her daughter a plate while marching around the kitchen.
"Dad left? Di kayo sabay ng shift?" Jane asked. She offered a quick prayer and started eating just as her asked of her.
"Yeah, he's going to do sixteen hours today," Dahlia informed her.
"Sixteen hours? Para saan? May utang ba tayo na hindi ko alam na kelangan natin bayaran?" Jane frowned. She didn't like it when her mom and dad over-work themselves.
Dahlia sighed. "Kaya nga ako nag-luto ng favorite mong breakfast, so you have more than enough energy to focus well on school. Today is the start of your senior year. It's time to take things seriously lalo na yang grades mo. Your dad and I didn't go hard on you the last three years kasi I know what really counts is this year. Time to step it up a notch. Your dad and I have been working hard to save up for your college fund ng hindi ka malulunod sa student loans, para you have nothing to worry about except maka-graduate and start a career maybe as a nurse like your dad and I. You know there's nothing we want more but for you to get accepted kahit sa Cal-State man lang, but if kaya, why not deretso na ng University, diba?"
Jane took a deep breath. "Si mommy naman, it's the first day of school, college agad iniisip. Relax ka lang. I got this."
Dahlia stared at her daughter. "Jane, seryoso ako. 'Wag mo naman sayangin yung pagod namin ng daddy mo. Please really do your best this school year. 'Wag mo pabayaan yung grades mo. Yun lang naman hinihiling namin sayo. Apply to as many colleges as you like. We've let you have your fun the last three years, ngayon ayusin mo naman sana, anak. I'm just thinking about your future. Tumatanda na rin kami ng daddy mo, hindi sa lahat ng oras nandyan kami para gawin lahat para sayo. You need to learn how to fend for yourself, too. It's now or never."
Jane nodded. "I get it, mom, okay? I got this. Don't worry about me. Now, can I please enjoy this lovely breakfast that you cooked para sa unica hija mo?"
Dahlia smiled. She went over to her daughter and gave her a kiss on the side of her head.
Jane grimaced but allowed her mother to treat her like a baby.
"I worry about you a lot, Jane," Dahlia couldn't help but tell her.
"Ma, carry ko toh, okay? Magkakasakit na kayo nyan ni daddy kakaisip sakin, kaka-worry sakin. I can take care of myself, 'wag nyo nako isipin," Jane assured her.
"I'm a mom. We're your parents. It's our job to worry about you. I just want you to have a good life. Ayoko lang mahirapan ka. The world is a scary place, and now na mag-de-debut ka na and you'r going to be an adult, your dad and I can't go and release you out there without making sure na ready ka na. This world is going to eat you alive if you're not ready. Kaya ganito ako, anak. That's why I worry a lot about you," Dahlia tried to explain to her daughter.
Jane gave her a reassuring hug. "I'll be fine, I promise. Carry ko toh, ma. Don't worry," she promised her.
"Sige na, tapusin mo na yan. I'll go get ready for work too," Dahlia gave her daughter another kiss before she started walking away.
"Love you, ma. Thanks for cooking," Jane called out to her.
"Love you so much, anak, and you're welcome," Dahlia replied before she disappeared into the hallway.
"What's up, madlang peeps," Jane nodded towards her cousin, Danny, who happens to go to the same high school as her.
"'Madlang peeps' ka dyan. Hurry up, bitch. We're going to be late!" He motioned for her to pick up the pace.
"Sus, ang OA. We have five minutes to get to class," she said, although, she did sprint right next to him.
"Exactly, bakla. Five minutes and you still have to line up to get your schedule. Nakakaloka ka. Hurry up! Bilis," he ended up pulling her towards the line.
"Did you get yours?" She asked.
He nodded. "Oo noh, kanina pa. Thirty minutes early ako pumasok because I know the lines are going to be long, you know that already."
"Eh sana kinuha mo na din yung akin," she whined.
"Ay sus, kasalanan ko bang late ka na pumasok? And besides, they're asking for an I.D., I don't think they'll give your schedule to me," he argued.
She sighed and patted him on the back. "I know, I know, pero there's a method to my madness. Alam ko na people would come extra early to pick up their schedules. Maraming tao. Ayoko ngang pumila. Tingnan mo, the lines aren't as bad anymore kasi nakuha na ng mga tao yung sched nila. Kung tutuusin I gave them a favor pa nga eh: pinauna ko sila. 'Work smarter not harder' ang tawag dun."
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Ay sya. Salamat pa pala sayo, madam Jane, for letting the whole school get their schedules first."
She snickered at him. "You're welcome."
He sighed and checked his phone. "Hurry up. Let's see kung work smart ba talaga yung pag-pasok mo ng late when you have to line up pa to get your schedule. Una nako, cuzzo! Bahala ka ma-late!"
Jane pouted at him. "Huy! Sandali na lang toh! Naman eh! Sabay na tayo!"
However, Danny jogged his way to his first class not wanting to get caught by the first tardy sweep of their senior year.
"Ay, bastos," she sighed and shook her head. "What are they going to do? Give detention on the first day of school?"
YOU ARE READING
Hey You
Fanfiction"Hey You" is a JaneNella Fanfiction starring Jane De Leon and Janella Salvador. Indeed, love moves in mysterious ways. It tucks its way deep into the corners of even those with the most stubborn hearts, and they won't even know it. No one can get a...
