Beyond This Existence

CHAPTER ONE

Chapter 1.

“SO, WHEN ARE YOU coming back home?”

Alenna’s eyebrows raised, “Who’s asking this time?” She’s doing video calls with her sister overseas. “Just me.” She snored in annoyance, “Come on. Alam kong si Mommy nanaman ‘yan.”

“It really is not. I’m just curious if you’re ever coming back or... you know.” She laid her eyes on her screen monitor where her sister’s smiling face is on. “I’m staying here.” she answered.

Narinig naman niya ang nakabibinging pagbuntong-hininga nito. “Are you settling with someone there?” Napatigil siya sa pagkikilay at nangdidiring tinignan ang kapatid. “What? No.”

“Then bakit mas pipiliin mong magstay diyan? Don’t tell me it’s because of Tati. Matagal ka nang bayad sa utang na loob mo doon.” Mahabang sinabi nito. “Hindi nababayaran ang utang na loob Nich. Saka ano ka ba? I have a job here.”

“Yeah. A job na puwedeng-puwede mo rin makuha rito sa Pinas.” Her sister’s sarcasm is much heard. Hindi nalang niya ito pinansin. “Ano bang pinagkaiba ng Germany sa Pilipinas? The weather? The paycheck?"

“The people.”

“The what now?”

“Hindi toxic ang environment dito unlike diyan Nich.” Mahabang paliwanag niya. Tinignan niya ang kapatid na nakataas na ang kilay, “what?” Natatawa siya sa itsura nito. “Totoo nga.” Tumingin ito ng nakakaloko sa kaniya. “When you said people, does it mean you really are settling with someone there?”

“I’m not Nich, my god! Nagta-trabaho lang ang ate mo dito.” Tinapos na niya ang pagkikilay at hinarap ang laptop screen kung nasaan ang kapatid.

“Walang pumapatol sa’yo?”

Nginisian niya ito, “Wala akong gustong patulan.” Natawa nalang siya sa naging reaksyon nito. “You’re thirty-two. You’re not getting younger, ate. Time’s clicking, fast.”

Nakangisi pa rin siya rito, “Don’t care.” How she missed their sister bonding. Gustong-gusto na talaga niyang umuwi ng Pilipinas but honestly, there is something keeping her here. It feels like ayaw pa niyang umuwi kasi may dadating pa.

“By the way, gotta go. It’s 3:58 AM na here, call time namin is 5 AM sakto. I am gonna be late!”

“Okay bye ate, mwa! See you!”

“Mhm! You too! Bye Nich.” At sinarado na niya ang laptop niya at sinandal ang katawan sa upuan.

Hindi naman talaga siya mal-late at hindi pa siya papasok. She used that excuse to stop her sister from asking so many questions. Her sister is engaged already while she, thirty-two years old, is doing a job she did not signed up for and is still single. Like she said earlier, she’s not interested in love. She’s not bitter though. She just has a lot of things to do other than be in love.

Malapit lang ang hospital kung saan siya naka-assign sa condo niya. Sadyang ayaw na niyang kausap ang kapatid niya dahil kung ano-ano ang tinatanong nito. It's true, she's thirty-two now and she knows she’s not getting any younger. Sooner or later, katulad ng kapatid niya, dapat na rin siyang magpakasal.

But I don’t want to get married… not now.

She closed her eyes and emptied her mind. Kinakailangan niyang i-clear out lahat ng thoughts inside her head because later, kakailanganin ang utak niya. Later, she will be accompanying a lot of patients. Paniguradong pagod nanaman siya buong magdamag kakaasikaso. Her hectic job really is exhausting, but she is somehow enjoying a part of it.