Begin Again - A KaRa (Mika Reyes & Ara Galang) Fanfiction

Three

The next morning, I woke up to yet another song in Cienne's speakers that's in full blast. Hindi ba marunong 'tong bruhang 'to mag-lower ng volume sa speakers niya?!

I forced myself to get out of bed considering that there's no way that I'll be able to go back to sleep with that loud and annoying speaker. Bumaba ako ng hagdan and caught a smell of cocoa. Oh my God, could it be?! Binilisan kong pumunta sa kitchen and I was right, Cienne's cooking Champorado!

"Cienne! Thank you!!! Labyu talaga!" I commented.

Nag-smile na lang si Cienne at sinerve na 'yung Champoradong niluto niya. It looks like she's a bit down again today.

"Bat parang ang down mo?" I asked as I shoved a spoonful of Champorado into my mouth.

"Ha? Loka-loka 'to. Hindi ah!" She flashed a smile. Alam ko naman kung kailan nag-f'fake smile lang si Cienne. But this time, I could tell it's real. "But we do have a problem." She added.

I swallowed the Champorado in my mouth. "Ano 'yun?"

"Malapit na maubos 'yung savings natin," She said simply. "We need a job, fast."

Cienne and I saved up a bunch of money before we quit volleyball. That was enough to last a month, and since it's been a month and wala pa rin kaming nahahanap na trabaho, I guess nauubos na.

"Oh," I exclaimed. "Ni-withdraw mo na ba lahat ng natira?"

"Yes, nandun lang sa kwarto ko." She pointed at her room.

"Ah, okay sige. Let's just continue our job search. We'll find a job soon."

"But... what if we don't find a job soon? Anong gagawin natin?"

Sumubo ako ng isa pang spoonful of Champorado sa mouth ko. "Ang nega naman nito! Makakahanap tayong trabaho, okay? Be positive nga!"

"I'm just being realistic," Cienne looks away. "If worse comes to worst, I'm going to have to return sa U.S. Ayaw ko naman 'yun."

"Okay, so, what do you suggest we do?"

She looks at me in the eye. "I suggest you take Jerome's job offer. Lumiere is a big company, and there's no doubt na magiging mataas 'yung sweldo mo dun."

"Tsk." I played with my spoon. "Ayoko nga 'dun."

"Ang arte naman nito!" She exclaimed. "Mikang, we need a job. For now, ikaw muna 'yung mag-trabaho, and as for me, I'll continue looking for a job. We just really need that money."

"Ciennang, ayoko nga. Ayoko. That job's just not for me," I replied with a straight face.

Napahinga na lang nang malalim si Cienne. "Bahala ka. Dahil dyan, ikaw maghugas ng pinggan, bye!" And she took off.

Okay, edi ako na maghugas ng pinggan -- 'wag lang ako pagtrabuhuhin ng bruhang 'yan sa company ni Ara.

Nung lunch, we decided na mag-eat out na lang. At first I thought it was a bad idea kasi nga nauubos na savings namin so we really should start spending less. Pero bes, Jollibee pinag-uusapan eh. I could definitely make an exception for Jollibee Chickenjoy!!

Okay, in all seriousness, naubusan lang kasi talaga kami ng gas and sobrang gutom na kami so nag-Jollibee na lang kami. Is it wrong that I'm glad na naubusan kami ng gas though?? HAHAHA.

I bite onto Jollibee Chickenjoy's leg part and savor every crunch. I don't know why pero tuwing kumakain ako nito talagang napapapikit ako sa sarap??? Tinanggal ko 'yung crunchy na balat from the chicken, dipped it on their hot gravy and popped it into my mouth. Haaaay, heaven.