Love, Pearl

LOVE, PEARL 1

I sighed heavily, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on my shoulders.

"Oh, ayusin mo 'yan lahat ha," one of my co-workers jeered, motioning to the towering pile of papers on my desk.

She laughed, and I forced a tight smile, accustomed to their cruelty.

I don't know what I did to deserve this, but their words no longer cut as deeply.

On my way back to my cubicle, I heard them whispering again. "Nilalandi niya lang 'yung boss natin para makakuha ng promotion eh," a woman snickered.

Their gossip didn't hurt me anymore; I'd grown numb to it.

I often found myself in the office until the early hours of the morning, determined to finish my work on time. Drowning myself in tasks helped me forget the loneliness that haunted my life.

I was only fourteen when my parents left me, consumed by their business failures.

Once a renowned family, we fell into ruin when our company went bankrupt.

Blinded by desperation, my parents turned to substances and eventually died from an overdose.

I was forced to grow up quickly, becoming independent far too soon. But I was lucky; my grandmother found me crying on the streets and took me in, offering me the love and care my relatives never did.

"Apo... kumain ka ng mabuti kasi kapag ako nawa—" my grandmother started, but I quickly interrupted,

"Walang mawawala, Lola. Ito po gamot niyo, inumin niyo." I handed her the medicine, my heart heavy with the fear of losing her.

I worked tirelessly to afford her treatments, her well-being my top priority.

On my way to work one day, I saw a group of kids huddled together, hungry and homeless.

I glanced at the lunch I was carrying and walked over to them, offering it with a smile. "Kumain kayong mabuti ha?" Their eyes lit up, and my heart ached with a bittersweet joy.

Kapag kasi nakikita ko sila walang tirahan at walang makain, nasasaktan ako.

I know what it feels.

At work, the insults continued, but I pressed on, driven by the hope of a better life.

Umaasa akong magiging mabuti ang lahat balang araw.

I visited the kids regularly, bringing them food and listening to their dreams.

"Ate, paglaki ko po gusto ko pong maging doctor!" Emmi, a bright-eyed girl, exclaimed.

"Ako naman ay Police para protektahan si Ate Pearl sa mananakit sa kanya," Lester, a brave little boy, added.

Their words warmed my heart, a reminder of how hard life can be but also how strong we are.

PAGOD na pagod akong pumasok sa bahay. Dumaan muna ako sa kwarto ni Lola para tingnan kung kumusta siya.

Nakita ko siyang mahimbing na natutulog. Napabuntong-hininga ako, nararamdaman ang bigat ng mundo sa aking mga balikat.

Pumasok ako sa aking kwarto, ang tanging lugar na matatawag kong sanctuary.

Dito, nakakalimutan ko ang lahat ng sakit at hirap sa labas.

Dito, ako si Pearl– hindi 'yung inaalipusta sa trabaho, hindi 'yung nag-iisang tagapag-alaga ni Lola, kundi si Pearl na dati'y masaya at puno ng pangarap.

Naupo ako sa tabi ng aking collection ng pearls. Hinawakan ko ang isa, maingat na pinararaanan ang aking mga daliri sa makinis nitong ibabaw. Pumikit ako, at biglang bumalik lahat ng alaala.