Everything I Never Told You

Chapter One: Isla

Chapter One: Isla

New York City, NY
5:15pm

"Writing is the most painful way to forget someone. But it will always be my only escape from this world." I started stretching my arms nang makaramdam ako ng bahagyang pananakit ng aking likuran. I fished for my phone to check for the time and it reads 5:15. "So, I've been sitting here for two hours." I unconciously stated. I removed my eye-glasses and started massaging my temples. Recently, my attacks are getting viral that I couldn't manage it and the worst part is I have to meet my doctor twice a week. Which, for me, is not good. Ilang minuto ang pinalipas ko bago ako tumayo at sumilip sa bintana. Unti-unti ng nagpapaalam ang araw sa mundo pero hindi niyon maikakailang walang pagbabago sa buhay ng tao. I Iunged some air before fixing my things and took a bath.

Isang oras at kalahati ang ginugol ko para sa pag-aayos bago lumabas ng apartment ko. Nasalubong ko si Mrs. Grisham kasama ang aso niyang si Ashton. Ngumiti siya sa akin at bahagyang pagkahol ang itinugon sa akin ni Ashton. Lumapit ako sa kanila and patted Ashton's head which made me giggle because the dog definitely loves me.

"You're going to work, Isla?" Nakangiting tanong ni Mrs. Grisham. Sa lahat ng amerikanong nakakasalamuha ko ay siya lang ang bumanggit sa pangalan ko ng may tamang pagkabigkas.

Tumango ako, "Yep. Gotta make some dollars, Mrs. Grisham. Gotta pay some bills." Natatawa kong sagot bago naglalakad ng patalikod sa kanila.

Tumawa siya bago kumaway. "You take care, Isla, extend my kisses to Marcus."

I thumbs up bago nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa Taylor's. I served as a crew at Taylor's. Mr. Hardy Taylor owns the restaurant. He was a retired General who wants to spend the rest of his life sitting at the porch with his wife, who happens to be a Filipino. I grew up here in the States. I was born here. But I am not a pure American. My mom is but my Father is not. I only got every 25th to see both of them. They are both residing in the Philippines with my twin brother, Cyan, and my 15-year old brother, Calum. I decided to stay here because I am used to staying here. Huminto ang isang bus sa harap ko saka ako umakyat at ihulog ang bayad ko sa isang maliit na machine sa may pinto. Lumakad ako sa papuntang likuran at umupo sa bakanteng upuan. I wear my headset and started listening to Mayday Parade's Amber Lynn.

I started tapping nang may maramdaman akong bigat sa may tabi ko. Umurong ako palapit sa bintana at niyakap ang bag ko.

"Amber Lynn you've got me wishing for the stars tonight..." Mahinang pagsabay ko sa tugtog. "...you save my life and I can't find the words to say." Patuloy ko pa sa kanta. Huminto ang bus at sabay-sabay pumasok ang grupo ng mga kalalakihang may kasamang tatlong babae. I recognize them as the dancers from the school.

I removed my earpiece ng makitang bumubuka ang bibig ng isa sa kanila at nakangiting nakatitig sa akin.

"Ha?" I asked.

"You goin' to work?" Tanong niya. I remember him. He was my classmate in Physics. Carter? Garter?

"Yep." I answered. I am not really good with handling a conversation, I suck in that. I can't keep a conversation longer than 3 seconds and it only takes 3 seconds to feel awkward. I am suppose to put my earpiece back when he speak again.

"You okay, Mary?" He asked. He was one of those people who can't pronounce my name clearly. And he was one of those people who tagged me 'Mary' when my first name is 'Maria'.

I shrugged before nodding. He didn't speak and as if my cue, I put back my earpiece. Ilang sandali pa ay tumigil ang bus at tumayo ako at nagsimulang lumakad pababa. Hindi ko na pinansin ang grupo ni Carter because, firstly, they are not my friends, secondly, I don't even remember his name. Tuloy-tuloy akong naglalakad papasok sa Taylor's. I saw Meghan cleaning the counter. She smiled when she saw me enter Taylor's. Inalis ko ang headset at sinimulang ayusin sa bag ko.

"Good evening, Isla," Meg greeted. Meg's from school, too. I greeted back and started heading to the locker when she called my attention again. "Hold on, Isla," Huminto ako sa paglakad at kunot-noong napatitig sa kanya. May kinuha siya sa drawer at lumapit sa akin. She was holding an envelope. "A mailman went earlier. He told me to give it to Maria Isla Aragon." She handed me an envelope. I saw 'Deja Green' on the sender and I swear my eyes rolled.  "And this," Meg handed me again another envelope, "I signed 'em all since you're not yet here."

I scanned the second letter and saw 'Mary Harper' from the sender. I creased my forehead. What is it this time? "Thanks, Meg!" I smiled at her and head back towards the locker.

"Two big fries and two double pounded beef burger. Is there anything else?" Nakangiting tanong ko sa dalawang babaeng mukhang nawalan na ng pakialam sa mundo matapos ibigay ang nais nilang kainin para sa gabing ito. I cleared my throat, "Ma'am?" Nakangiti ko pa ring untag. Tumingin naman sila sa akin at tila ba iyon ang pinaka-walang kwentang bagay na ginawa nila sa araw na 'to.

"We'll call you if we need somethin'," Maarteng turan ng babae.

"Okay, just a moment," I stated and walk towards the counter. Pigs, I mused. Ibinigay ko kay Tyler ang order ng dalawang babae saka nagtungo sa isang lamesa para linisin ang mga kalat doon. I breathed. My life's a cycle. I've been doing this for the last two years and I would lie if I'd say I'm not tired. But what will I do? I have to work and to work is to earn and to earn is to live.

11:30 pm says the clock. I roamed my eyes in the whole place. Wala na ang mga taong kanina'y nagpapagulo sa tindahang ito. Unti-unti na ring naglilinis ang mga kasamahan ko. I helped to finished everything immediately. I am so exhausted and tired and I just want to rest. Mabuti na lang at wala akong klase para bukas because I really need to sleep. Nang matapos na kami ay agad akong pumunta sa locker para magpalit. Kinuha ko ang bag ko at nagtungo sa banyo. I looked at myself. I'm still the old same pale Isla. I smiled before going out. I saw Tyler and Meghan outside. They're my friends from work and at school and we made it a habbit to go home together. I run towards them and cling my cold hands on both of them. We started walking.

"So what's the letter say?" Meghan started. Shoot. I got letters!

I shrugged my shoulders. "I dunno, honestly."

"But you know 'em?" She asks. Tyler seemed to be just busy listening to us and he didn't bothered asking. That's one good thing about him. And also bad. He is silent and that's it, he's silent.

"One came from a friend and the other one's from my mom." They both looked at me surprised. I know it's weird. My family doesn't know where in America I am staying. I used to do house-hopping and when they got tired catching me, I became a resident of New York.

"Is she asking anything from you?" Meghan asks. Honestly, I don't know.

"Hmm." I didn't say anything after that. This day is tiring and dealing with this is a lot more tiring.

I bid them good-bye as I reached my apartment. I pushed the door and started walking upstairs, heading my unit. I slid my keys and open the door. Kumalat ang liwanag sa loob ng apartment ko at ganon pa rin naman, walang pinagbago. Agad akong dumiretso sa aking silid at ibinaba ang gamit ko. Tumungo ako sa banyo to take a half bath. Nang matapos ay naghanda na akong matulog nang may maalala ako. Inabot ko ang bag ko at sinimulang buksan ang unang sulat.

From: Deja Green
To: Maria Harper

I am needing the manuscript, M. Send them tomorrow.

Basa ko mula sa sulat. Ugh! Why do I have to have a bugger slash party popper editor? In the first place, she was the one who drag me into writing. Geez. Ipinatong ko ang sulat sa bed side table ko at binuksan ang isa pa.

From: Mary Adelaide Harper Aragon
To: Maria Isla H. Aragon

Isla, you need to come home. Your Mama Thalia is sick and she wants to see her only grand-daughter. Please, hun, just this one. I love you.

I heaved out a sigh. Mama Thalia is my mom's mother and she is dear to me. Wala akong balak umalis at magtungo sa kung saan but I can't just let her. Maybe, I can make an exception for this. Perhaps, I can. Just this one.