My Roommate is a Hoodlum

01 - Hello, Manila!

"Naayos mo na ba mga gamit mo, Saira?" My cousin barges into my room without so much as a knock, sticking his head in to check if I'm packed.

"Ano ba! Kumatok ka nga!" I yell, rolling my eyes.

Today's the day—I'm leaving for Manila. When Ate Ariel called last week to tell me their apartment was ready for me to rent, I could hardly sleep from excitement. A new city, a fresh start—it all felt unreal. I just graduated college here in Isabela, the place where I was born and raised, where everything is familiar but has always felt a bit too small.

My mom passed away two years ago after a long illness, and since then, I've been living with her sister, my Tita, who's got her hands full raising five kids of her own. Yes, five cousins! Ang sipag, 'di ba? But even in the chaos of that household, they all took me in and made me feel at home.

It's always been just me and my mom, though—no siblings, no dad. Mom only ever said he left when I was three, leaving nothing but one worn-out picture. Sometimes I catch myself wondering who he is, and what he's like, but then I think, if he didn't care enough to stay, why should I care to know him?

Today, though, all of that is in the past. I'm about to start a new chapter in Manila.

Ate Ariel and I have been best friends for as long as I can remember. She's three years older than me, and when she still lived here in Isabela, we went to the same school. She's the closest thing I have to an older sister, always looking out for me like I was her own sibling.

After college, she moved to Manila, where she met Mikio, her girlfriend. I remember how surprised I was when she told me she'd fallen in love with a girl, but after meeting Mikio, well it made sense, Sinong hindi ma iinlove dun? 

As I pack my bags, I pause, holding an old photo of my mom. A pang of sadness tugs at me, knowing I'm leaving behind the memories we made here. I miss her every day, and though it hurts, I know she'd be proud of me for chasing my dreams—even if it means starting over in a new city.

"Ate Sai, yung van andito na!" my younger cousin shouts from downstairs, jolting me back to reality. I grab my bags and hurry down, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves.

"Mag-iingat ka don, ha! Wag mong pabayaan sarili mo!" my Tita says, her voice shaking as she pulls me into a tight hug. "Basta tumawag ka lang kung may kailangan ka, Sai, ha!"

"Opo, Anti! Maraming salamat po sa pag-kupkop sa akin. Mamimiss ko po kayong lahat," I manage, my voice catching as I look around at their faces. My cousins, my Tita—all the people who filled this house with laughter, comfort, and noise. It was never lonely here.

"Tama na iyakan niyo! Mukhang naiinis na yung driver," my older cousin Timo teases, trying to lighten the moment.

I climb into the van, waving back at them through blurry eyes as we pull away. Watching them fade into the distance, I let a tear slip and whisper to myself, You got this, Saira. Laban lang, beh!

>>> Time skip >>>

The sounds of bustling Manila fill the air—the steady hum of jeepneys, the sharp honking of cars, and the distant chatter of people on the street. Even at night, the city pulses with life. As I stir awake, the driver lightly taps my shoulder. "Miss, miss! Andito na po kayo!"

I glance at my watch—it's already 2 a.m.

"Ay, kuya, sorry po!" I mumble, quickly gathering my things as I step out of the van. The humid air wraps around me immediately, thick and warm, so different from the cooler nights back home. Grabe, ang init.