The Seatmate.

Chapter 3.1 - The Bus Ride

The Seatmate – Chapter 3.1

Sofia’s POV

Medyo relaxed na ako sa upuan. Hmmmm.

*cough*

Lumingon ako sa katabi ko.

“So, are you on vacation?” sabi nung katabi.

Is he trying to engage in an actual conversation or this is just to show some respect?

Well, what the hell, he’s cute, and he brought my DSLR back, I guess there’s no harm in talking to a stranger now, right?

“Not really. It’s for work,” sagot ko.

“Oh, really? You work sounds cool, with the travelling and all,” sabi nung stranger.

“It’s awesome, but sometimes it’s really tiring, you know? Like, I have to wake up really early some days, and in others I have to sleep really late. But it has its perks,” sabi ko.

“Every work is like that, I think,” sabi nung stranger.

“What about you? Are you going to Baguio for vacation, or for work?” sabi ko.

“Nah, birthday ng isang friend,” sabi niya.

“Aw, ang sweet naman nun, pupunta ka pa ng Baguio dahil lang birthday niya,” sabi ko.

Pero anlakas ng effort niya naman! I mean, just for a night of partying, he’ll travel for like 6hours? Diba? Such a s sweet friend!

“Haha! Di naman,” he said, trying to be humble, I guess.

*ring ring*

May tumatawag sa phone ko.

“Excuse me,” sabi ko.

“Go ahead,” sabi nung katabi ko.

“Hello?” sagot ko sa phone.

“Fi!” sabi ng friend kong si Jenny sa kabilang linya.

“Jen! Ano na? Magaling ka na ba?” sabi ko.

“Not really. But I’m fine. I’m in the office right now, and I think may problem regarding sa site ng Candy,” sabi ni Jenny.

“What? Bakit ka nanjan sa office, eh may sakit ka nga?” sabi ko.

“Well, tumawag kasi si Sir. At pinapunta niya ‘ko dito. At okay lang naman ako, nakakalakad pa naman,” sabi niya.

“No, you are not okay. Nung umalis ako sa condo mo, sobrang taas ng lagnat mo. Dapat sinabi mo kay Sir na may sakit ka para nagpapunta siya ng iba,” sabi ko.

“Hindi pwede, sa department natin ‘to. At okay lang talaga ako, I swear,” sabi ni Jenny.

“Tsk tsk. O anyway, napatawag ka?” tanong ko.

“Kasi nga may problema dun sa site ng Candy,” sabi niya.

“Ano bang nangyari?” sabi ko.

“Yung Teentalk page, nagkagulo,” sabi ni Jenny.

“Okay, check the HTML, baka may gumalaw. Tapos tignan mo dun sa forum part, usually, dun nagagalaw, but make the site freeze first, baka mawala lahat ng archive. Pag na-check mo dun sa ofrum part, tignan mo sa mga header at mga body, baka nandun yung mali. Pakisabihan na din yung firewall people na taasan yung security sa site. Pag hindi pa naayos, patawagin mo si roger sakin, okay?” sabi ko.

“Yup, got it. See you soon!” tapos binaba na niya yung phone.

I sighed. Hanggang sa byahe, hinahabol ako ng trabaho.

“I’m guessing that was someone from work?” sabi nung katabi ko.

“Yup. May problema daw sa site ng isang magazine namin,” sagot ko.

“Sounds like you got it in control,” sabi niya.

“I hope so. Usually kasi hindi natatapos ‘pag sa site ang problem. Maraming hackers, and at the same time maraming client ang naka-login sa site, so hindi madaling ma-configure,” sabi ko.

“And you sound like you’ve been working for too long now,” sabi nung katabi ko.

“Nope. Just three years. I’ve worked there since I graduated. You see, my family owns the company, so I got work immediately,” sabi ko.

“Really? But maybe may skills ka talaga, aside from the connection, kaya ka natanggap,” sabi niya.

“Maybe, but you can never can tell, when you’re working for the company that your family owns right?”

“Exactly. I really agree, because I suffer that same problem,” sabi niya.

“Really? And what type of company does your family own?” sabi ko.

“My family owns a catering service, and some restaurant, but ha made me chef at the catering services,” sabi niya.

“Wow! Chef! That’s nice,” sabi ko.

“Yes, very yummy,” sabi niya, sabay tawa. Tumawa rin ako.

Paghinto naming sa katatawa, parang may bigla siya naalala, tapos lumingon siya sakin.

“Oh hey, I’ve talking to you for almost 2 hours and I still don’t know your name,” sabi niya.

“Right. I’m Sofia Venice Cheng, and you are?” sabi ko.

“I’m Andrei Abesamis, nice meeting you,” tapos nagsmile siya.

Maya-maya sabi nung konduktor, stopover daw muna ng 15 minutes.

Tumayo si Andrei.

“Bababa ka ba?” sabi niya.

“Nope, may food ako dito,” sabi ko.

11:30 na rin kasi, kaya kakain na ng lunch.

“Okay, I’ll just go to the bathroom,” sabi ni Andrei.

“Hindi ka ba nagugutom? Kais kung bibili ka ng food, may extra ako dito, share na lang tayo,” sabi ko.

Nag-pack kasi ako ng food para sa dalawang tao, eh since hindi na nakasama si Jenny, andami ko tuloy pagkain.

“Um, I guess I’ll just buy drinks then,” sabi ni Andrei.

“Great, okay!” sagot ko.

Tapos bumaba siya ng bus.

Kinuha ko yung dalwang lunchbox ko na nakalagay dun saplastic. Nagluto kasi ako ng cream dory kanina, at tsaka buttered corn and carrots. Tapos nilagyan ko ng tartar dip yung isang lalagyan. Hindi kais ako kumakain ng tartar dip or anything with mayo, so hopefully kumakain si Andrei nun.

Bumalik si Andrei carrying a bottle of Mogoo Mogoo. Yung lychee.

“Wow! Favorite ko ‘to!” sabi ko sa kanya nung inabot niya sakin yung lychee.

“Really? Buti na lang, kasi saying naman,” sabi ni Andrei tapos tumawa siya.

“Here’s your food. I do hope you eat tartar sauce, because I don’t,” sabi ko.

Naguluhan ata siya kasi kumunot yung noo niya.

“Kasi nag-pack ako ng lunch for two, dapat kais may kasama ako. Eh since di naman ako kumakain ng tartar sauce, dun ko nilagay sa lunchbox niya yung tartar sauce,” pag-eexplain ko.

Realization dawned on his face. “Aaahhh.”

Binuksan niya yung lunchbox. Tapos bigla siyang ngumit ng malaki.

“Cream dory! And buttered veggies!” sabi ni Andrei.

“Wag mong i-judge ha, hindi naman ako chef,” ngiti ko.

TO BE CONTINUED.