Nice Bumping In To You (NBITY)

One

"Argh," napaungol nang mahina si Paije matapos marinig ang tunog ng alarm clock na nakapatong sa bedside table niya. She was right. She shouldn't have set the alarm clock last night. She made a mental note that next time, wala nang kahit anong klase ng alarm clock ang puwedeng makapasok sa kuwarto niya.

Her clock usually alarms at 5 am, 5:15 am, and lastly, 5:45 am. It's the third time she heard it kaya naman sigurado siya na 5:45 na nang mga panahong yun, or maybe past that. She didn't want to get up yet but she heard a knock from outside of her room.

As usual, kapag hindi pa siya bumabangon, talaga namang siguradong may kakatok at kakatok para tuluyang magising ang diwa niya. The person outside kept knocking and so she had no choice but to get up.

"Teka lang po. Nandiyan na. Gising na po ako." And she sat down on her bed. Sinusubukan niyang tuluyang gisingin ang diwa niya pero patuloy pa rin siyang hinihila ng antok. Tuloy pa rin ang pagkatok ng taong umistorbo ng tulog niya bukod s alarm clock niya na ngayon ay tahimik nang nakatambay sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

"Andiyan na po. Bababa na po ako." She whispered to herself, hoping that the person knocking would hear.

"Iha, bumaba ka na at male-late ka na. Pinatatawag ka na ng mommy mo. Magbreakfast ka na daw."

She finally stood up and opened her door. She was greeted by the person who has helped her mom take care of her since she was barely 1 year old, si Manang Tess. Ngumiti siya dito at yumakap, "Good morning po."

The old lady just heartily laughed. "Good morning rin iha. Ikaw talaga. Siguradong magtatagal ka nanaman. Alam mo na ngang mabagal kang gumayak, late ka pa kung gumising. Bumaba ka na at kanina ka pa tinatawag."

"Opo Manang. Maaga na po akong gigising bukas." She answered at nagpaalam na para bumaba papunta sa kusina.

"Paije, anak, late ka nanaman." She was greeted by the most lovely couple sitting side by side, having coffee.

"Good morning din po." She kissed her mom and dad and sat in front of them.

"Oh. Oo nga po pala. Can I eat out later for dinner?" She asked.

"Bakit? Saan? Sinong kasama mo?" Her mom immediately questioned. She was used to her mom being so overprotective. Good thing her dad kept quiet every time.

"I'll be with Sierra and the other girls. We'll just take a stroll around and then have dinner then we'll go home na. Don't worry." Paije smiled.

Her dad was the first one to nod but her mom was the first one to speak a word. "Sige anak. Tawagan mo nalang si Manong Lito kapag susunduin na kayo. O kaya yung daddy mo kung hindi pa nakakauwi. O kung hindi, magpahatid ka nalang kila Sierra. Wag kang uuwi nang walang maghahatid sa'yo o magsusundo ha?"

It was her mother's usual line. Sanay na sanay na siya dito dahil hindi ito nagbabago ng script sa tuwing nagpapaalam siyang lalabas kasama ang mga kabigan. "Opo mommy. At titignan ko po kung tatawid ako. Sa pedestrian lang po ako tatawid. I'll be fine, Ma. Don't worry about us." Dagdag niya habang nakangiti.

Her dad just laughed with her while her mom rolled her eyes at them, "Pinapaalalahanan lang naman kita Paije."

"Yes, I know. And I do always listen mom." Totoo naman. Lagi naman itong nakikinig. Takot lang niya na may mangyaring masama sa kanya. Di siya pupuwedeng mawala sa mundo dahil nag-iisa lang siyang anak ng mga magulang.

"Ma, da, I'm done here," she said as she stood up. "Maliligo na po ako." She placed the last food on her plate in her mouth and then started walking. Napailing nalang ang mga magulang. She ran up the stairs. Kahit sanay na siyang nale-late sa school, ayaw naman niyang ma-late sa unang araw niya sa bagong school pagkatapos ng mahabang bakasyon.

When she reached the bathroom, mahaba-habang proseso pa ang pinagdaanan niya. According to her friends, yung paliligo niya daw, parang orasyon. Dinadasalan pa raw siguro niya ang tubig bago ibuhos sa katawan. She couldn't blame them. Mabagal talaga siyang kumilos.

She tried to take a bath fast pero wala ring nangyari. She didn't bother rushing.

It took her almost a thousand years to get ready. Thankfully, she prepared her things last night dahil madalas siyang makalimot ng mga bagay-bagay. She got her things and then ran down the stairs to the living room and out of the door. She passed by her parents but then she realized she forgot her ID kaya naman bumalik nanaman siya sa kuwarto at patakbo muling bumaba sa hagdan.

"Sigurado ka bang wala ka nang nakalimutan anak?" Her mom asked. She kissed them goodbye and ran while shouting, "Wala na po. Babye! Love you both."

"Ingat ka." Sabay na sabi ng mga magulang niya.

Mental note, mas maaga siyang gigising bukas. Promise.