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

Eighteen

Tuesday came and it was time for Ara and I to go to the factory. We went out of the building and rode Ara's car to get there. It felt weird, riding it again for the second time. Nung isang gabi lang, nag-d'dramahan pa kami rito, tas ngayon, okay na.

Ara stayed silent throughout the trip, and so did I. Malapit lang naman 'yung factory, so it was no use chatting on the way. Nang makarating na kami sa factory, it was how I exactly pictured it: dull, huge, and cemented all the way from the floor to the walls.

Nang makapasok na kami, I felt a stroke of heat brush against my cheeks. Mainit dito, pero may malalaking electric fan na nakalagay sa certain places so may nararamdaman din akong hangin once in a while. There are five long lines of tables lined vertically across the building with hundreds of workers stationed on each table to do their job. May maliliit na machines na nakalagay sa tables tapos 'yung malalaki naman nasa sides.

Ara and I walked at the aisle between the third table and the fourth table. I'd noticed a lot of workers greeting Ara as "Hi, Miss Ara!" while she introduced me as "Mika, my assistant" to them.

"Ara! Naku, naku!" Nagulat ako nang may narinig akong tinawag si Ara by her first name. A woman with gray hair and a large mole at the side of her nose came to Ara as she'd hugged Ara tight. "Tagal mo na kaming 'di nabibisita, ah!"

Nung una, akala ko magagalit si Ara. But I realized she wasn't like that. Besides, matagal ko naman na siyang tinatawag by her first name, and hindi naman siya nagagalit.

"Sorry po, 'Nay Susie, naging busy lang po sa office," Ara replied. Napa-smile ako. "Ay, Nanay Susie, this is Mika. Assistant ko po."

"Musta, hija?" Nanay Susie wrapped her arms around me as I'd accepted it wholeheartedly. She pulled away and said, "Hija, 'yang si Ara talagang mahirap makipagsundo sa batang 'yan lalo na 'pag unang pagkilala niyo pa lang. Pero, hayaan mo, bubukas din ang loob nyan sa'yo."

Napakamot sa ulo si Ara. "'Nay naman e, mabait kaya ako dyan! Diba, Mika?"

"Talaga? Mabait ka sa'kin?" Pang-asar ko at napatawa naman si Nanay Susie.

"Nako, ikaw talagang bata ka!" Pinalo-palo naman ni 'Nay Susie si Ara sa braso. I laughed.

"Aray! 'Nay, ansakit naman!" Ara raised her hand to stop 'Nay Susie from spanking her even more. "Ano ka ba, 'Nay Susie! Matagal na po kaming friends nyan ni Mika. Okay na po kami."

'Nay Susie turned her head to me. "Totoo ba 'yun, hija?"

Napatingin ako kay Ara. She had her palms pressed together as if begging me to say 'yes.' Too bad I had other plans. "Hindi po, nagsisinungaling 'yan si Ara. Ang sama nga po nyan sa'kin e."

I laughed harder nang makita ko si Ara na mangiyak-ngiyak na after ko sabihin 'yun.

"Aba! Victonara Galang!" 'Nay Susie turned at Ara once again at mukhang papaluin na naman niya.

"Waaaiiittt!" I raised my hand to stop 'Nay Susie's hand from hitting Ara's arms. "Joke lang po 'yun, 'Nay Susie, joke lang..." Patawa-tawa kong sabi. "Friends na po kami ni Ara talaga. Promise."

'Nay Susie looked at Ara once again. "'Pag nalaman kong sinasaktan mo 'tong napakagandang dalagang 'to... Nako ha, Victonara..." Ara nodded as 'Nay Susie turned to me, smiled, and went back to her work.

Sumobra na 'yung tawa ko nang makita kong hinihimas himas ni Ara 'yung braso niya.

"Sa tingin ko, naging Spiker talaga 'yan si 'Nay Susie e... ang lakas pumalo!" Sabi ni Ara habang kinailangan kong hawakan 'yung sumasakit kong tiyan kakatawa. "At ikaw, tawa ka ng tawa dyan, salamat sa tulong mo kanina ah!" She said sarcastically.