"Mommy, I am fine."
I sighed while I was leaning on the kitchen island while I was holding my phone with my hand and holding a glass of water with the other. I yawned while listening to my mom as she started berating me again.
"Ada, you're not even calling to tell us what happened to you! You're still working for those people! We have told you to resign countless times already–"
I moved my phone away from my ear since I have memorized what she's going to say. It's not the first time my mom called me early in the morning just to tell me to resign. She wasn't asking me to do it, she wanted to dictate me to do it, really.
Noong nabaril ako noong nakuha si Maddie ay sinabihan na ako ng mga magulang ko na maling desisyon talaga ang pagpasok ko sa Praesidium. Hiyang-hiya ako noon kina Sir Nash nang makausap nito ang mga magulang ko. They were blaming him for sending me to assignments like that.
Kinausap ko kaagad ito noon at humingi ako ng paumanhin sa sinabi ng mga magulang ko. Alam ko naman na naiintindihan niya ang mga ito, sinabi ko naman din sa kanila noong simula pa lang na tutol naman talaga ang mga magulang ko sa pagpasok ko sa Praesidium.
Pero gusto ko ang trabaho ko. Maayos naman din ang suweldo ko, nagagawa ko ang gusto ko kaya walang dahilan para umalis at huminto ako.
Though what happened really made me question myself.
It wasn't the first time that I got shot, though. I was grazed before, but that was it. Aside from that, Maddie was taken away under my watch, too. She was tortured, she got hurt and she was harassed just because I wasn't able to protect her.
"Ada, are you even listening to me?"
I heard my mom's voice so I put my phone near my ear again. "Yes, I am listening, Mommy, but I have to go. I still have work–"
"So, when are you going to resign?" she asked again. Still tenacious of the idea that I will leave my job anytime soon.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "I don't know, Mommy. I have to go. Save the sermon some other time, okay? I love you, bye," I ended the call and put the phone on the island.
I know she's worried about me, but I also know the reason why she wanted me to quit. Bagay na sinabi ko naman na sa kanila na ayaw kong gawin noon pa man.
Kumuha na lang akong muli ng tubig at uminom bago bumalik sa loob ng kuwarto ko para makapaghanda na rin sa pagpasok.
I left my car at the facility so I have to book a ride now. I also need to have it fixed today or tomorrow since I will be leaving on Saturday. Ayoko naman na umalis ako at mawala ng tatlong buwan na sira ang sasakyan ko.
It was actually a good thing that Conrad drove me home last night, too. Sobrang traffic kagabi at kung nag-book ako ng masasakyan, tiyak na hindi ako makakauwi kaagad.
I just hated the fact that I had to hug him the entire time. Ano na lang ang sasabihin sa akin ng girlfriend nito kapag nalaman na ginamit ko na nga ang helmet niya, niyakap ko pa ang boyfriend niya?
"That wasn't my fault, though. Kung hindi ako hahawak kay Conrad, malalaglag ako, e," I shrugged while looking at myself in the mirror.
When I felt satisfied with my look, I immediately booked my ride so I could go straight to the facility.
Nang makarating naman ako ay dumiretso na rin ako sa loob para ilapag na muna ang gamit ko at muling lumabas para bumili ng kape pero sinalubong naman ako kaagad ni Ria.
"Sino ba 'yang secret admirer mo at may pakape na naman?" nakangising sabi nito at nagsalubong naman ang kilay ko. Nilingon ko ang mesa ko at may nakapatong nga roon na kape at isang paper bag na tiyak kong tinapay na naman ang laman.
