Gapses Between Minutes

Chapter Four

Caroline's PoV

I am now at my house at Milla Subdivision. One week na din nang mamatay si papa, and I already move on.

Gusto nila sa Korea ipalibing si papa, 'yon daw kasi ang gusto ni papa. But I refused, hassle kasi kung lilipad pa kaming ibang bansa, at the same time hinahanap na ako ng boss ko.

While Erin and Jason didn't knew what really happened to me. I didn't tell them because I think I don't have to.

Sinubsob ko ang sarili ko sa trabaho. 6 am I'll go the office, then I'll leave at 10 pm. Hindi naman na ako kinukulit nang dalawa, good then, they know their place.

Sunday ngayon, wala akong pasok. Mag-isa ako sa bahay dahil may group work daw si Jason while Erin has a shoot. Narinig ko lang na nag-uusap sila kaninang umaga.

Ako na ang naghugas ng pinggan dahil wala naman akong ginagawa. I also clean my room then unting walis lang sa sala. After that I take a bath just to refresh.

Napatitig ako sa bintana na ngayon ay may bagong salamin na. Nabasag daw kasi 'yon sabi nina Jason and Erin one time. Hindi ko na alam ang buong story kasi umiiwas nga ako sa kanila.

I just finish my thing and then wear something descent. I'll go to some cafe here at the subdivision, nakakatamad kasi dito sa bahay, ang init pa.

With my laptop and some gadgets in my backpack I did go outside to my house. Saktuhang nag-aabang din ang bagong kapit-bahay ng taxi.

He's staring at me kaya tinarayan ko lang siya.

"Hey! Where are you going?" He asked. Why do he care?

"Some cafe." I answered shortly. Well, I'm well-mannered enough to answer his question.

"Sakto, I'm going there too." Really? Did he even know kung saang cafe ako pupunta. "Sabay na tayo? Para tipid!"

I rolled my eyes again 'cause he has a point. Need kong magtipid dahil Miss Independent nga ang peg ko diba? Plus the fact na mag-aaral ulit ako. That's my papa's last wish, kahit ano daw course basta makapagtapos daw ako. I'm planning to take Education, though nanghihinayang ako kasi natapos ko na yung political science. I just need to take another 4 years then I'll become one of them, ang kaso hindi ko talaga gusto.

Nagpapadala pa naman si mama, pero kung may sobra agad kong ibinabalik. Matanda na ako, I need to stand on my own.

Later on, nakadating na din kami sa pinakamalapit na cafe sa subdivision, it turns out na two streets away lang pala iyon mula sa bahay ko.

"Wait, how did you know na dito ang punta ko?" I ask him after giving my order to the crew. Nasa iisang table kami dahil reserved daw lahat ng table bukod dito. May early reservation daw pala sila.

I open my laptop and start typing.

"This is the only cafe here at the subdivision, in case you didn't know."
Eh, hindi ko talaga alam. Minsan lang ako mapadpad sa cafe, and it's my first time here at the subdivision.
"By the way, I owned this cafe."

Natahimik ako, I didn't expect that. He looks too young, parang kaedad niya lang ata si Jason.

"Hey!" he waved his hand in my face. Uhh, I didn't know that I already spaced out. "You fine?"

I rolled my eyes again then nodded.

- - -

I'm now comfortably sitting in my coffee table. Nakauwi na ako sa bahay. Tinapos ko na do'n yung isang book, and I'm planning to finish the other one in the office tomorrow. Ipapasa ko na din yung story na ginagawa ko.

The chat with our new neighbor went good. Nilibre niya lahat ng kinain ko, sumama na din siya pagka-uwi ko.

Nandito na si Jason pagkarating ko, while Erin arrived at eight pm. Iniiwasan ko pa din sila at randam nila iyon.

Matutulog na sana ako dahil past 10:30 na at maaga pa ako bukas pero may biglang kumakalabog sa baba.

Shit, what was that?!

I immediately stand up and go down just to see what's happening to my house. Kinuha ko ulit yung dustpan baka kasi mamaya may mga nanghimasok sa amin.

Dumiretso ako sa may sala nang may narinig nanaman akong kalabog. It'ts from our mini library. Tambakan namin nina Jason 'yon ng mga libro na nabibili namin.

I silently open the door, 'yong tipong walang makakarinig.

Then there, I see a boy... covered with light and there's a book under him.

- - -