"Pwede namang medicine, law...or engineering."
I always wanted to be a flight attendant when I was young just like my sister. But I was there when people threw criticism and disapproval at her because they think she's not enough for that dream. Hindi rin kasi siya nag-aayos ng sarili simula bata pa kami. She used to look like uncivilized kaya people call her ambitious. Kesyo hindi daw kagandahan, hindi maganda ang boses at hindi katalinuhan.
Look at her now, nagdalaga na parang modelo ang ate ko. Her features matured like a beautiful flower. Nag-aral siya ng education bago kumuha ng kursong turismo. She's one of the high demand flight attendants now in Cebu. So if people called her ambitious before, I want to be more ambitious. I want them to be annoyed over my dreams. I want to roll their eyes when they hear what I want in life.
That's the story of me desiring high paying jobs. I want people not to define me by my looks. Hindi pwede mag flight attendant kasi hindi matangkad, hindi maganda, hindi malumanay ang boses. I believe I can be all of that, but I chose to aim higher. I will be a lawyer. A profession that doesn't require face, although I have it. Let people say, 'abogado na nga, maganda pa'
"Ayaw mo magflight attendant?" he asked.
I sipped on my coffee. "Hindi naman sa ayaw."
"Seems like a long story."
Binaba niya ang binabasang libro.
"Oo, chika ko nalang sayo after finals."
Tinignan ko ang magandang view sa labas. Geriko and I decided to study together today because he's a having a doubt whether he'll pass or not. He ditches most of his classes whenever his family needs him sa San Fernando. Sa susunod na araw na kasi ang final exam namin, after that it's graduation day.
"Are you gonna say your real course that night?" he asked in the middle of silence.
I bawled at him closely. "Last month pa yung amper natin na yun, di ka ba maka-move on?"
"That's the last time we saw each other too."
Tama naman siya, isang buwan kaming hindi nagkita. Hindi ko alam kung nagkikita ang iba naming kaibigan, pero naging abala talaga ang lahat para sa finals.
That night ended calmly.
Si Travis ang naghatid sa amin using Liv's car, nagpaalam din ang iba naming kasama including Emir. Nalaman ko na Social Sciences ang inaaral niya at balak mag-aral ng abogasya next year.
"Hindi ka nga nagmessage manlang sa akin." I ranted.
"You didn't message me first." hindi niya makapaniwang sabi.
"Ako ba yung lalaki dito?"
"We're not together. Who messages first will not matter." he explained.
"O edi sana ikaw pala nauna nagchat sa akin if it will not matter."
Umirap siya sa akin and pretended to read again. Maganda ang ambiance sa coffee shop na napili namin. It is located in Camp John Hay. Salamin lahat ng walls kaya kitang kita mo ang kabuuan ng labas. Tahimik din dito at wala masyadong guests. Perfect place to study.
"Busy ka sa tinder. So I didn't bother you."
Binaba niya ang libro sandali, "Right?"
Tinignan ko ang tea niya na mint ang flavor. That mint taste! How can I forget? That night was really crazy, I'm not the person who forgets everything about the night she was drunk. Malinaw sa alaala ko kung paano kami maghalikan noon. It's wild actually, one of the things I didn't expect I will experience.
