I'm Away

Lynn

I closed my tearing eyes. One more. One more and I'm done with this. Carefully, slowly, I grab the burger and bite it. The taste of the lettuce isn't new to me. I've eaten already 29, and this is the 30th. The tomato, too. All the ingredients, my tastebuds has already thrown used to the taste them. And this. This is the 30th.

"WOOOAAHHHHH!!!!" My coworkers yell collectively. Eating thirty burgers at Tuesday nights has become a tradition in our restaurant, excuse me, my dad's restaurant actually.

"I did it, suckers. Your turn." And I point at my coworkers who started this tradition thing.

Brithany stands and takes the tray full of burgers. "Get ready to see the monster." She says.

I look impressively at her, while the others clap their hands.

"You go, girl." I cheer as everyone else. It's her 2nd burger now, but certainly not her last. Everyone's eyes are on her, when suddenly a ring interrupts.

I pick my phone from my pocket, realizing that they didn't hear the sound because of their loud voices.

'One message received' I read.

'Meet me in front of the school.'

The numbers are unnamed. And in front of the school? Who could this be? It was just my first day and someone from my school texted me? That's strange. Maybe it's Lhoy or one of his friends. I don't know. The only way now is to go there and see for myself.

Maybe Lhoy wants to introduce himself or whatever. Creepy, you know. He knows my number.

I pick up my bag, "Hey, I need to go." I told my coworkers but they're too busy praising Brithany and her 9th burger.

******
As I step outside, I see the peculiar-looking vehicles again. About 20 commuters inside and 10 guys OUTSIDE. I'm not even kidding, they hook their hands to random steel outside the vehicle, desperate for a ride. "O, isa pa, isa pa. Aalis na."

I sigh. My car's busted and this is my only choice. I go inside the vehicle, people's stare on me. I sit like a sardine in the overcrowded can.

The person who screamed earlier yelled again, "Aalis na ang jeep!"

I look at the window, like other passengers. The air blows against me, and even though I surely know that it's polluted, I enjoy it.

People look at me with judging eyes. Is it because I'm a little more white? Is it because I'm of another hair color?

A guy from behind me passes me coins. I give him a confused look and he gives a laugh as a reply.

I keep the coins in my pocket and the other passengers laugh, clap, and whistle.

The woman in front of me whispers, "You're supposed to pass it to the people in front. And you too, you should give your 8 pesos and pass it to the front until of gets to the driver. This isn't a free ride, you know?"

I smile sheepishly.

So there's a system. I ask the lady, "What is this vehicle?"

"Philippine jeep."

*****

I sigh, it was only actually Lynn, the one I called yesterday at work. How idiotic was I to think it was Lhoy.

"Hey, Lynn! I thought you'll arrive here next week!"

She punches me jokingly. And really, it hurts.

"Silly you! Don't you want a pretty girl like me to come to you? Maybe I'll give you some of these." And she points at her face.

"I don't want to be ugly!" I yell jokingly.

She rolls her eyes, "Speaking of cute--"

"We're not talking about cute."

"Now we are. Speaking of cute guys, have you met one here? In your school?"

I just roll my eyes. Even though she's a friend, I can't trust her in keeping the secret about my crush on Dav.

"There's no cute guy here." I tell her.

She smirks.

"Hey, why did you change your number?" I ask,

"To get you thinking of course."

"Thinking?"

"Thinking who might be the one who texted you. You thought of someone, didn't you?"

"Kwento mo."

"What did you say?"

"Lhoy taught me that phrase. It's when you disagree with the second person."

"Wait... who's Lhoy?"

"A classmate."

"What's that? A crushmate?"

"Geez, Lynn."

She laughs then continues, "But seriously though, who's this guy?"

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Sorry for the short chapter but I feel this chapter doesn't need to be long.

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