For Her

Chapter 3 - Eventually

Nandito ako ngayon sa condo ni Andi, one thing about Andi is that, she is so spoiled. Mayaman kasi ang pamilya nito, her dad is a lawyer and her mom is a doctor. Nagiisa lang itong anak, so we really treat each other as sisters.

"Ano? That was crazy! Bakit ka pumayag?" I guess, I expected this reaction matapos kong sabihin lahat ng pinagusapan namin ng kumag na Jacob Jacinto na yun.

"Well I'm in dire need of a job! At isa pa malaki rin ang kikitain ko dun, alam mo naman na kailangan ko ng panggastos namin sa bahay, lalo na ngayon na nagkakasakit si dad. How I wish could turn back time to how it used to be." Hindi ko na din napigilan maluha dahil sa sobrang frustration ma nararamdaman ko.

"You know you can always count on me. I can help you, I mean financially, you don't have to go through all these alone. O kaya naman kung gusto mo ay pauutangin na lang kita, atleast you can work para mabayaran yun. There's always another option rather than accepting that job."

Since nagsimula lahat ng ito, palaging nandyan si Andi to support me at palagi din siyang nag iinsist na pautangin ako ng pera. I don't see anything wrong with that dahil alam ko naman na babayaran ko rin siya kapag nakaipon na ako. But the problem was always me, hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ko makuhang mapapayag ang sarili ko na tanggapin ang alok niya. Ayaw ko rin kasi na magkakautang kami lalo na sa lagay ng buhay namin ngayon. Sabi nga nila, mas mabuti na ang may barya sa bulsa pero walang utang, kaysa may milyon na galing naman sa utang.

"Stop it ok? I'm fine, I will be fine. Hindi lang naman ito ang trabaho ko e, part time lang to since pang kailangan ko lang naman gawin ay ang magsulat Sa gabi. I still have all the time para makagtrabaho. Trust me on this one Andi. I promise, I will not do anything na makakapagpahamak sa akin." I said then smile to reassure her.

"Fine I believe you. Just promise me that you would take care of yourself ok? At kailangan mo sabihin sa akin everytime na may problem ka. I trust you so much Maria, you know that. Pasalamat ka mahal kita." And we hugged each other, surely I'm not alone in all these. It just felt so good that there's still certainty in my life full of uncertainties, and that's enough for me to keep going.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ate Maria! Look, sira na yung isang uniform ko. Natanggal yung butones niya. Can we buy another one? Isa pa, hindi na rin ito kasing puti katulad nang uniform nang mga classmates ko." I am here inside our apartment, nakuha na din kasi samin pati yung bahay na itinayo ni Mom at Dad. Maliit lang ito and sapat lang pra sa aming tatlo nina Mimi and Dad.

"Look Mimi, tatahiin ko na lang muna yan, pero kasi hindi pa tayo makakabili ng bagong uniform. Titignan ko kung magagawan ko ng paraan sa isang linggo. But for now, lalabhan ko na lang muna para pumuti at tatahiin ung mga sira. I got this ok?"

"Fine, it's just that, tinutukso ako ng mga kaklase ko, wala daw kasing nag aalaga sa akin. I don't really need a new pair of uniform because I know we can't buy one, but I just want to look like someone who has her mom taking care of her. You've been so busy and alam ko na ginagawa mo ito para sa amin, but you can't blame me! I miss mom so much." She cried, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko, kung ano ang sasabihin ko dahil kahit ano pang salita ang lumabas sa bibig ko,hindi na noon maibabalik ang dati, wala nang magbabago. Pero kailangan kong maging malakas para sa amin, kung sumuko na si dad, I won't. I won't make my life more miserable by being like him.

I fight my tears away, the very least I can do for her is to show Mimi that I'm strong, walang magagawa ang iyak ko sa ganitong pagkakataon.

"Mimi, look. Thank you so much na naiinitindihan mo ang kalagayan natin and I'm so sorry na wala akong magawa para maibalik yung dati. But I'm here for you ok? I'm now your ate, your mom, your dad and your bestfriend. Hindi kita papabayaan tandaan mo yan. I promise you, hindi pa siguro ngayon, pero things will get better eventually, you just have to trust me and believe alright? Next week, you will have your new pair of uniform, I can even braid you hair for tomorrow. Would that be fine with you?"

"Yes. I love you ate, I'm sorry din and thank you. Can I go to sleep now? I'm tired."

"Of course. Goodnight."

"Night Ate Maria," and she left.

Everything will be fine, atleast I would like to believe that.