Prologue
The first raindrop fell in silence, kissing the parched earth with a promise of renewal. But with the rain came memories—unspoken, like ghosts lingering in the damp air. For Amara, the storm was not just a natural occurrence; it was a warning. The kind of warning that only the sky, with its darkened clouds and restless winds, could give.
As the storm grew stronger, she found herself walking toward the old bridge, the one where everything had changed. The one where they had last spoken. The one that had witnessed the beginning of the end.
With each step, the rain pelted harder against her skin, a symphony of sound in a world that had once been silent. She had always feared the rain, and yet, it was the rain that now called her back to face what she had long tried to forget.
I met her steady gaze as she spoke. “Where's Cynthia Amara Guevarra?” She asked in a somewhat derisive tone.
I stood up and sit in front of her. Gosh. She looks so professional.
“That's me po!” I said cheerfully.
Pagka upo ko pa lang ay napansin ko ang matagal na pagtitig niya sa resume ko. Kinakabahan na ako at baka hindi niya magustuhan ang mga naroon, but I trust my kuya Aidan.
Her eyes glinted with defiance. “Kapatid mo si Aidan?” She said with astonishment.
I look directly at her. “Opo ma'am” sagot ko.
“Well, in fact your brother is a good server here before. I hope you like that too,” She exclaimed.
I gave her a quick nod. “Makakaasa po kayo, pagbubutihin ko po,” I replied, my voice clear and high.
Alam kong magaling na server si kuya dito noon kaya naman humahanga din ako sakaniya. Tumigil lang siya rito noong kinakailangan niyang lumipat ng bagong paaralan.
She narrowed her eyebrows. “You are a HUMSS student?” The woman folded her arms across her chest and then she fix my paper under the table.
She stared at me now, her eyes full of questions, her quick glance seeming to assess the answers.
She spoke between gasp.“Why did you chose, HUMSS?” Her voice dropped even lower.
“I want to take law in college, ma'am,” I lowered my head.
Sa status ng buhay ko ngayon walang tyansa na maabot ko ang pangarap kong maging lawyer. My dad is a tricycle driver and I had two siblings. Natutulungan naman kami kahit papaano ng Kuya kong si Aidan dahil may part time job naman ito. Habang ang kababatang kapatid ko na si Aika ay na sa elementarya palang.
She pressed her lips tightly before she spoke again. “Based on your schedules, 5 ng hapon ang dismissal niyo right?”
“Opo, ma'am.” I shook my head.
“You're still a student. Sa nakalagay sa resume mo, you really need a job. You can go here after your class, 6pm in the evening,” She drawled.
Kailangan ko din talaga ang part time job na ito dahil nag preprepara na rin ako para sa aking kolehiyo. Ayaw ko namang iasa lahat kay kuya lahat dahil alam kong mahirap din para sakaniya ang pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at pagkakaroon ng part time job.
She look quickly at me. “Okay, Miss Guevarra you can go back tomorrow,” Thee woman stand up. “By the way, I'm Janella, the assistant manager here,” Dagdag pa ng babae.
Aakalain mong masungit at suplada siya sa unang tingin pero kung makaka-usap mo naman ay mapapansin mo ang palaging pagngiti niya. Siguro ay masaya ang lovelife niya.
