Chasing an Angel

THE ENCOUNTER - C1.1

Meng woke up late in the morning and found out that everybody is gone. She strutted idly to the kitchen to find what she could possibly stuck to her grumbling stomach. It seems that her companions in the house were all in a hurry to leave as evidenced by the pile of unwashed plates, glasses and silverwares stacked on the kitchen sink. This does not bother or irritate her however for she fully understands why.

They are four occupying this modest two bedrooms bungalow. One room is occupied by her cousins, the children of his uncle Mel. Leo is a licensed civil engineer and his younger brother Theo, which is on the K-11 grade level. She is sharing the other room with Bing, a K-7 student, her youngest cousin and daughter of her other uncle, her Tito Manny.

These two uncles are elder brothers of her mother. Their respective families reside a few kilometers outside of the city proper and this place was bought for her cousins or any member of the family to stay while they are either working or studying in the city so as to avoid the inconveniences of commuting daily. Meng's mother, their only sister, is living in another region and, in Meng's twenty years of existence, this is only the second time that she had set foot on her uncles' place, the first she could remotely remember was during her primary education years.

While still in college, she had already planned of exploring places outside of her abode since birth. To realize this, her initial step is to land a job in another place now that she had graduated from her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy course. This she thought is the most acceptable reason for her ever watchful parents to allow her to leave their home. And having successfully convinced them, partially due to the fact that she will be staying with close relatives, she was granted her freedom... at last.

After spending the first week alternately with her two uncles' houses, who are also neighbors, week two is now with her cousins in the city during weekdays to look for a job. This is her third day in this house and she is very grateful that despite the fact that they grow up barely knowing each other due to distance, her cousins are all very kind and supportive making her feel totally at home and at ease with everyone.

Meng scanned the refrigerator for her breakfast needs and finally opted for a piece of bread. She stuffed this with a grocery bought bottled sandwich spread and a piece of banana. Being in a hurry to make some explorations of the city to familiarize herself she ate her sandwich hurriedly then gobbled the remaining big chunk of banana into her mouth and proceeded to the sink to wash the dishes.

It was then that she heard the doorbell ringing and as her mouth is full she was hesitant to open the door to check if who is the unexpected visitor. Minutes later she was taken aback when somebody greeted "Good Morning" from behind her. The voice came from the side door leading to the kitchen which she has left open.

She turned around and saw a smiling stranger who likewise registered a surprised reaction upon seeing her face to face. Meng is very much aware of her bulging mouth which is full of still un-chewed banana as evidenced by her incapacity to open it, either to acknowledge or confront the stranger. Feeling a sudden jolt of shame she run to the comfort room and emptied all the contents of her mouth on the toilet bowl. She then tried to compose herself, and came out feeling stupid to face the stranger.