May Liga sa Barangay namin that time, good timing dahil wala na akong pera, at need rin ni mama ng puhunan para sa Sari-sari store na matagal na niyang pinagplanuhan. We can't just borrow money from any loan sharks or cooperatives just to start a small store. Perhaps it will work, but it won't last. So we talked and planned to wait for a good timing, start with a simple things like selling hotcakes, buko juice, pinaypay, and pastil. And you know what? It worked!
(*Pinaypay is a fried banana, coated with flour and sugar as its toppings while Pastil is some kind of easy-to-go-food, a combination of cooked rice and grounded chicken, tuna, or pork*)
Four pm palang nag set na ako ng pwesto sa pinakamataong parte sa labas ng gym. My mom cooked all of the foods we need to sell, and I helped carrying it from our home to our 'tinda-spot'. Sanay na ako sa maraming tao kaya ayos lang sa akin dito mag-isa. But my sister followed and insisted to help. She's just nine years old and I was sixteen, but she's been helpful to us. The program isn't even started, but the hotcakes, or you can call it pancakes-low-budget-edition, were already sold out. Since wala akong phone, inutusan ko si Lorelei na umuwi muna sa bahay para sabihin kay mama na benta na lahat ng hotcakes. When she left, nakipagsales talk ako sa lahat ng mga dumadaan and thankfully dahan-dahan naring naubos ang Pinaypay.
Yes! I hid my excitement as I watched the remaining goods. I can still sell the Pastil later when the Liga starts. Soon as the Liga started, a young guy carrying an icebox took a seat on the big stone beside our spot. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nakain ko, pero bigla kong napansin ang extra chair sa labas ng daycare center. Tumayo ako saglit saka kinuha ito, at ibinigay sa kanya.
"Hehe, salamat." He looked at me shyly. I just smiled and returned to my chair. I focused on selling again, while the guy near me is selling softdrinks and ice creams. Napaisip naman ako habang nakatingin sa kanyamg ice box.
What if I save money for an ice box and sell softdrinks too next time? Nah. Sari-sari store muna. Okay. A small step will do and I could afford to grow our negosyo, right?
"Monica," I heard Mama's voice, and when I turned to her direction, she was holding a tray with a new set of hotcakes. I helped her carry it, but I noticed someone staring at me. When I checked, it was him. Yung guy kanina. He was staring at me. I'm not assuming things, but I knew when someone stares at you with admiration. I can see it in his eyes, and I admit this guy is handsome, but I just didn't know him.
I dismissed the thought when I remembered that I promised myself not to enter any relationship, or I'll end up like everyone else, getting a heartbreak and crying for someone who doesn't even deserve their tears. So NO. This guy is just a stranger, and I'm just overwhelmed because it was my first time interacting with a guy that isn't related to me.
Kadalasan kasi, naiinteract ko lang yung mga pamangkin ko, pinsan, at kaklase. May mga lalake akong kaibigan, pero lahat yun mga pinsan ko lang kaya sanay akong makipag-usap sa kahit sinong lalake. But so far, wala pa akong nakahalubilong lalake na hindi ko kadugo, and now meron na. Hindi pamilyar ang mukha niya, so hindi siya taga-rito.
"Magandang gabi po," he greeted Mama.
"Magandang gabi rin iho," nakangiting tugon naman niya. Then she asked me, "Magkaklase kayo?"
"Hindi po, Ma."
"Ganun ba, taga saan ka iho?" tanong ni Mama sa lalaki.
"Taga San Jose po talaga ako. Kakalipat lang namin dito sa San Juan," paliwanag niya.
Oh, I see. Kaya pala hindi siya pamilyar sa akin dahil galing siya sa kabilang barangay. Pero, bakit kaya sila lumipat? Hindi kaya nagfile ng complain letter ang kapitbahay nila at pinaalis sila roon? Sa anong dahilan?
No, Lucia. Mag focus ka sa pagtinda, wala kang pakialam sa buhay ng ibang tao. Buhay nila yan, at nandito ka para maghanap-buhay, maghanap ng pera at hindi makipagtsismisan.
I followed my intrusive thoughts and ignored them talking.
I was exhausted and satisfied at the same time when the Liga ended. Normal lang mapagod, at least may pera. I didn't saw the guy anymore. Nakaalis na siguro.
My eyes sparkled when I lifted the purse and it was a little heavy. The 'caching' sound of coins is pleasing to my ears. We went home, and Mama served us hotcakes for dinner. Hindi ko inakalang nagtira pala siya para sa amin. We're not really that 'words of affirmation-type' of a family, so we just enjoyed our meal without saying anything. I knew mom feels we're happy.
"Kaya pala naubos kasi masarap," sabi ko pagkatapos kumain. This is how I compliment my mom. She just smiled and asked us.
"Gusto niyo ba na ipagluto ko kayo ng isa pa?"
"Kahit isang truck pa ng hotcake ma, uubusin ko yan," sagot naman ni Lorelei at natawa kaming lahat.
We immediately stopped when we heard gentle knocks on the door. Mama opened it and I saw Papa carrying a raw 'Cardava' banana and he was soaked with sweat. Mama immediately helped him. I felt my chest getting heavy while staring at him. I glanced at his hands and it was dirty, but for me it was the cleanest hands I've ever seen because my father did the cleanest job even if it would make him look dirty.
"Kumain na ba kayo?" tanong niya. Isinenyas ko naman ang platong nasa hapag.
"Ikaw pa, kumain ka na?" tanong ko pabalik sa kanya. He just nodded, but his eyes looked weak and tired. I knew he hadn't eaten yet.
"Eto, may dala akong biskutso at biko!" He smiled and put the foods on the table.
"Pa, sa'yo nalang to. Alam kong hindi ka pa kumakain. Eto oh, may dalawang hotcake pang natira."
"Hindi na, busog na ako."
"Dong, wag matigas ang ulo. Anong silbi ng pagtatrabaho kung katawan mo rin ang susuko?" Mama interrupted.
"Siya, sige na." He then reached for his bag and handed Mama five hundred pesos. "Para sa kuryente, at eto..." He handed her another one thousand pesos. "Ikaw na ang bahala."
Tumango lang si Mama. "Sige, kumain ka na."
I looked away. I'm contented with what I have right now, but I'm not saying that I would let my parents continue living like this. I should do my best in school, and I should not fail them.
