I was having lunch with my co-worker. We were at the cafeteria and we sat down at the corner table after we got our food. The lunch that the company provided every day was a huge help. Nakailang lipat na rin kasi ako ng trabaho and some companies weren't providing free lunch to the employees. So, I was hoping na makatagal ako sa company na 'to. Ang laking tipid kasi ng free lunch nila. Buffet-style pa and the menus were a complete course. Nakakabusog talaga.
I was glancing at the people coming in and out of the cafeteria. I'd really like to sit down at a two-seater table pero wala namang ganoon dito. Lahat ay mga long table at pinagdikit-dikit pa ang iba with five to ten seats. So, whether I like it or not, palagi kaming may nakakasalo sa table na ibang tao, kung minsan ay hindi pa namin kilala.
"Mag-relax ka nga, Shan! Kakain lang tayo, hindi sasabak sa gyera! Walang aatake sa 'yo rito."
I looked at Lyda na nagsimula na pala sa pagkain habang busy ako sa pagmamasid sa paligid. I could understand. Kanina pa kasi s'ya nagrereklamong nagugutom. The portion she got on her plate was too much, too. Pansin ko pa nga ang masamang tingin ng nagbabantay sa mga pagkain kanina dahil marami talaga ang kinuhang pagkain ni Lyda.
"Kumain ka na d'yan," she said. "Kapag nauna akong matapos, iiwan talaga kita. Marami pa kong trabaho."
I just nodded and started eating. Ayoko namang maiwan mag-isa rito sa cafeteria. I couldn't even eat alone. I was anxious about people's stares. I felt like someone was always watching over me. Hindi nawawala ang bigat na pakiramdam na 'yon na para bang palaging may nakatingin sa 'kin.
"Kumusta nga pala 'yung bahay na tinitirhan mo, Shan? Wala namang problema?"
I shook my head at her.
"No. It's good nga, eh. Accessible pa since malapit here sa office."
"Mabuti naman! Kaya nga ni-recommend ko sa 'yo 'yon! Hindi hassle sa byahe, 'no? Hindi pa tayo dadaan ng traffic."
It was Lyda who recommended the house I was renting in that small subdivision. Doon din kasi s'ya nakatira, sa ibang street nga lang. When she found out that I was looking for a place, mabilis n'yang binanggit sa 'kin ang tungkol doon.
Because the last time Ashton found me, I had to move away and quit my job again. Ganoon ang palaging nangyayari kapag nahahanap ako ni Ashton. I didn't know how he always managed to find me, as I also changed my surname. Ever since I ran away from my family, I became Xanthe Arevalo. People even mispronounced my name as Shan-taey and I didn't bother correcting them. Naisip kong mas okay na 'yon. Hindi ako mabilis na mahahanap ni Ashton.
It had been a year since he last found me. I was lucky to find another job agad. I was luckier that my co-worker recommended a place where I could stay na malapit pa sa office namin. Mura ang rent pero maayos naman ang bahay.
I was working at the back office. I didn't want any attention on me, which was so unlike before I was always in the spotlight because of my family's reputation. Pero hindi ko na hinahanap ang ganoon ngayon. I wanted to hide from people's eyes.
I admit that it was hard at first. My life changed drastically. I left a comfortable and luxurious life. I had a hard time adjusting to my new lifestyle after that. It was so hard because I didn't know how to be thrifty. Hindi ko alam kung paano ang tamang paggastos, kung paano magtipid. There were even times na ilang araw akong hindi nakakaain at naubos ang ipon ko dahil sa maling paggamit ng pera.
I mean, I bought an espresso maker because I love drinking lattes. But I realized na para makatipid ako, I could just drink a three-in-one coffee na mabibili sa mga tindahan. It wasn't as good as the latte, but it was fine. Mapagtyatyagaan kaysa naman maubos ang pera ko sa coffee. So, in the end, I just sold my espresso maker.