Lisa, Lisa...parang nanood ka lang ng isang hollywood movie. Mmmm...para bang na-transport ako sa America na walang Visa. Pero ay..ganoon pala sila ka-intense..feel na feel. Di ko sila makuha sa isip ko habang papauwi ng gabing yun. Ang babae sosyal, ang lalaki kalahati-native, kalahati-alien.
Hanggang kinabukasan pagbalik ko sa internet cafe, patingin -tingin ako sa gate ng Blue Ridge School. In fairness, yung lalaki parang si Jonathan Jackson. Hayyy,,,
"Lisa?...", kanina pa pala si Janet sa harapan ko-- ang madaldal kong katrabaho. "Aba-aba-aba wag mong sabihin na nagdi-daydream ka na. Uy..sino ang swerteng lalaki na nagpatibok ng puso ng babaing siga."
"Ayee...wala. Iniisip ko lang yung utang ko at saka....meron ako ngayon. Kabuwanan ko kaya tuliro ako." Defensive tuloy ako.
"Oo nga tuliro ka nga..mamaya pag nakita ka ni bossing na di mo suot ang badge mo, malilintikan ka."
Bigla kong hinagip yong dibdib ko para i-check kung suot ko ang badge ko.
"Patay..baka may multa ako nito."
"Ipagdasal mo na lang na di si Sir Marco ang pupunta ngayon kundi si Ma'am Edna. Kahit masungit yun pero walang pakialam kung may badge ka o wala."
"Kailangan ko ng 15 minutes break muna. Hahanapin ko sa locker ko. May utang ka na time sa akin, remember nang nakipaglandian ka sa papa mo."
"O sige bilisan mo at baka may oorder na ng kape."
Tumakbo ako sa locker at nilabas lahat ng laman ng bag ko. Wala talaga..walang badge.
******************************************************************
My stepmom drives me crazy. It's hard to get a ride in our family car whenever she's around. She plays dispatcher all the time and she has to know where I am going. I lied---told her that I will go to Charlie's but I have our driver detour us to the internet cafe where the girl last night was working.
"Ricky, I just want to grabe some milkshake. Can you turn right where my school is? Right in that cafe?"
"Are you sure po, Sir? There's a Starbucks in the mall?"
"I am so sure. I know they have good milk shakes in here. I'll see later".
When I walked in, I am the first customer. There is a lady in the counter but I am sure it wasn't her.
"Good morning, Sir, how can I help you?"
I scanned through their menu on the wall and nothing would come to my mind. I was just here to return a badge but not really to order.
"What would you recommend?" I jingled the keys and the badge in my pocket.
"Well, we have mocca mint shake, choco mint shake, nutty choco mint shake....they are our customer's favorite."
"How about your choco mint shake --regular size."
"Right away in 5 minutes, Sir."
As I watched her razzled dazzled around pouring, mixing, shaking the drink-- I looked around for some clue of the girl. When she was done, I paid her and took my order.
"Is there anything else you want, sir?"
"Mmm.... are you the only one working in here?"
I saw her face turned point blank..
"Up front..yes but there's a lot of people inside....", she pointed to the room. "There are like 5 big muscled people in there....like bouncer." She seemed frightened, so I just bade goodbye and left the cafe.
************************************************************************
Lumabas ako na matamlay dahil di ko nakita ang badge ko. Nawala na talaga yun. Pero si Janet parang....
"Lisa, Lisa..hay naku buti na lang lumabas ka. Di mo naabutan. Nagkukunyari pang sosyal at akala mo alta-sosyodad, yun pala may planong mang-hold up."
"Ha!!!!"
"Oo..pero infairness -- milyun-milyon ang pogi points niya. Hayyy....natakot yata nang sinabi ko na may limang bouncer diyan sa loob. Di niya alam ikaw lang pala ang andyan."
"Okay ka rin pala ano? Ginawa mo akong panakot. E papano kung lumabas talaga ako at malaman niya na nagsisinungaling ka lang? Naku, Janet....nakakatakot naman niyan."
****************************************************************
I get in the car and told Ricky to bring me to the mall.
"Sir Brandon, your black berry has been ringing and ringing when you're out. "
I grabbed my phone at the back seat and Krizzia has rang the phone more than 10 times.
"Shittt!!!", I whispered to myself. If there's one thing that I don't like, it's someone who didn't get it at all.
"O Ricky, do you want a new cellphone?"
"Ay Sir..no money..I am just using this old nokia 3210..old model....just for my pamili po, sir."
"How about a brand new black berry model?"
"No joke sir?"
I handed over him the phone.
"Sir, how about you?"
"I will buy an iphone when I get to the mall."
"How about the sim card and your friends list here?"
"Can you do me a favor, Ricky?"
"Anything sir."
"Can you throw the sim card away? As in gone from my sight."
"Okay, sir..kung yan ang gusto nyo.."
"What did you say?"
"Ip dats what you want sir..i will."
"Thank you, Ricky."
Now, I will be Krizzia-free ---for now.
