Runaway

Chapter 1

serena

Serena smiled. It's her last smile for the day. He's the last person she's smiling at in this day.

"Good evening sir, that would be 123 pesos," she said smiling.

Ngumiti naman 'yung lalaki at binigay ang bayad niyang 150 pesos. Pagkatapos niyang ibigay ang sukli, napatingin siya sa orasan. 11: 13 in the evening.

Bigla siyang napasimangot dahil hindi siya nakapag-wish nung 11:11. Pero nangyari na ang nangyari. She packed her things at nagbihis na. Just in time, dumating na yung ka-workmate niya.

"I'm going, bye!" she said and waved her hands at her workmate and left.

"Ena!" napalingon siya sa kanya and saw her holding her notebook.

"Nakalimutan mo," her workmate said kaya tumakbo siya para kunin 'yun sa kanya and bid goodbye to her.

Madilim na ang paligid, of course. Only the light of the moon and the street light is her source of light. Mas binilisan niya ang paglalakad. Mahirap na baka may mga gangster dito.

When she got home, it was dark. Bigla siyang kinabahan. Her lola doesn't like dark places. Hindi rin naman brown out.

When she turned the lights on, nakita niya ang rocking chair ng lola niya. Facing its 3'oclock. Her blanket and pillow are on the floor.

Napatingin siya sa dining table and saw a little note. Binasa niya ito and she immediately ran. As fast as she could to the hospital.

Her heart is beating so fast. Her lola, she hopes she's okay.

'Serena, sinugod sa hospital ang lola mo. Inatake na naman'

When she got to the hospital, agad niyang hinanap ang lola niya. She found her, sleeping in one of the hospital beds.

She knows it's uncomfortable. She knows her grandmother cannot sleep well.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa kanya at inayos ang kumot nito. Nagising naman ang lola niya and she is smiling at her.

It's not the end of the day yet. The last person she's smiling at is her lola, after all.

"Lola, okay na po kayo?" she asked

"Oo apo. Kanina ka pa ba diyan? Umuwi ka na sa bahay at matulog na. May klase ka pa bukas---"

"Dito lang po ako. Sasamahan ko po kayo," she said smiling.

She's glad her lola is okay. She's okay for now.

Inayos niya ang kumot ng lola niya at umupo sa bakanteng monobloc katabi ng lola niya.

And she ended her day there, beside her lola.

~*~

"Ena apo, malelate ka na. Gising na," nagising siya sa mahinang boses ng lola niya. Napabangon siya bigla and stretched her back and hands. She twisted her neck kasi nakaramdam siya ng sakit nito.