Our Story

Chapter 1: Interview

MELCHOR

Umayos ako ng upo. Taas noo at saksakan ng confidence sa buong katawan. I need tons of it so I won't mess up this interview. Hindi pwede.

The man in front of me, the human resource manager, has been asking me questions kanina pa as part of my application test. This is the last part, if I pull this out I will be living this office as a new hired secondary teacher.

Mula sa hawak niyang papel binaling niya ang tingin sa akin. "How was it? Your college life?"

I don't know but his questions are a bit random. Kanina ko pa napapansin.

"It was fun." Sagot ko. "Full of learnings and it was immersive."

Lumitaw ang mga mumunting linya sa kanyang noo nang magkasalubong ang makakapal niyang kilay. "Immersive? In what way?"

I smiled. I had a slight walk on the memory lane. "When I was in high school I have read and heard a lot of things about college. They said it was hard, stressful, gave them anxiety, that they wanted to give up and they wanted to cut their guts out. And it was true. Everything they have said it was there. But they forgot to mention some things. Things that are part of college that is beautiful."

"And what are those?"

"Love, friendships, lessons and even realizations. They should not be forgotten for they are part of it too. College life isn't just about relatively giving up situations, it is also about fighting for what you are dreaming of. For your reasons being in college."

"What was it that you were fighting for in college?"

Natigilan ako sa sunod niyang tanong. Lumunok ako ng laway at huminga ng malalim. "A lot of things."

∆∆∆∆∆

Lumabas ako ng office na nakayuko. Nilapitan ko ang kasama ko na nakatalikod at pinagmamasdan ang school ground. Tumayo ako sa tabi niya.

"So? Ano?" Tanong niya nang mapansin ang presensya ko. She's excited.

Ngumiti ako nang hindi nilalabas ang ngipin at tsaka bumuntong hininga. "This is our alma mater at dito ko gustong magturo."

Nakita kong nagbago ang emosyon sa mga mata ni Marie. Kung kanina'y excited ngayon ay may halo na itong pagkadismaya at lungkot.

She rubbed my back. "That's fin--"

"I am hired." Pabalang kong sabi dahilan para bumilog ang mga mata niya sa tuwa. She automatically embrace me into a hug but before that she slap my shoulder so hard. I laughed.

Her arms are wrapped around my belly at ramdam ko ang init ng katawan niya.

"Gosh! I told you they will hire you." She giggled. Kumawala siya mula sa pagyakap sa akin. "Ikaw pa, hindi nila palalagpasin ang pagkakataon nilang ipabilang ka sa mga impleyado nila. Ano pa bang hahanapin nila eh na sayo na lahat, Sir. Angles?"

"Grabe naman." Sabi ko dahil sa hiya. I look at her at nagsimula na kaming maglakad palabas ng building. "Masyado ka yatang bilib sa akin."

"Syempre!" She smiled so wide. "This is your dream since you were a sperm---"

"Not really."

"Shhhh--- and now that you are starting to achieve it--no. Now that you are achieving it...it makes me so proud. At sigurado akong proud rin ang mama mo sayo."

I smiled. "Thank you."

Huminto siya sa paglalakad. Humarang siya sa daan kaya nahinto rin ako. She look at me and smiled. Then she hug me again.

"Don't be sad. "Wherever she is right now she's happy and you should too."

"I am happy." I replied and hugged her back.

"Dapat lang!" She said and let me go. "At ngayong tanggap kana ako naman tulungan mo para maipasok ko rin sa banga iyong interview ko next week. Give me some insights."

"Thanks, Jose Mariechan. Don't worry I will help you. Just like you did to me. At kayang kaya mo iyon. Nakaya ko nga eh."

"Buwesit ka! Huwag mo ngang murderen pangalan ko. At huwag mong gawing biro ang pangalan ni Mr. Chan, sige ka baka bumangon iyon sa hukay."

"Huy!" Tinapik ko siya ng mahina sa balikat. "Hindi pa patay iyong tao. Bastos ka."

"Ay hindi pa ba?" Sabi niya kaya natawa nalang kaming dalawa.

Marie is a graduate of BS in Accountancy course. She's rooting that big merchandising company at the neighboring city. Sabi niya she's up to nothing but that company. Either way I'm her support. Wala naman akong magagawa, pangarap niya iyon. Kahit pa sabihin kong dito nalang siya magtrababo hindi siya papayag.

"ABC Company here I come!" Bigla niyang sigaw habang naka superman pose dahilan para matawa ako. Iba talaga saltik ng isang ito. Habang pinagmasdan ko siyang nagtatakbo sa hallway hindi ko napigilang tanungin ang sarili ko. What I have done so good to deserve someone like her?

∆∆∆∆∆

Sa bahay ko kami dumiretso ni Marie. Umoorder kami ng bucket meal sa Jollibee at walang pasintabing nilantakan naming dalawa iyon. Halos sumabog na sa sobrang kabusugan ang tiyan ko.

Around 4pm ay umalis na siya. Naiwan akong mag-isa.

Napakatahimik ng bahay. Pero sanay na ako. Simula nang mamatay si mama ni minsan wala nang kinaingay itong bahay. Dati pag-umuuwi ako galing sa university ang daming kaibigan ni mama ang nakatambay sa sala. Nag-chichismisan at ang iba ay naghihintay na maibigay ni mama ang mga order nilang processed food.

Para mai-ahon ang pag-aaral ko nagbebenta ng mga processed food si mama at binibenta niya iyon sa mga kakilala niya. Para makatulong, minsan nagdadala ako sa university at ipinagbibili ko sa mga kaklase kong nasa mga dorm nakatira.

Ngayon ni anino o amoy ng mabagsik na perfume ng mga kaibigan ni mama noon hindi ko na maamoy. Wala nang maingay at malaman na chismisan sa sala. Nakakamiss rin pala iyon. Pero kung meron man akong gustong makita ngayon walang iba kundi si mama ko.

"What was it that you were fighting for in college, Mr. Angles?" The human resource manager throw his last question.

"A lot of things. And the most important thing was my mother's sacrifice. I want to fight and win because I know there is someone out there who is also fighting so I could have my fight in college. My mother was a mighty warrior, she fought hard everyday starting on the day she had me. And I don't want those fights to go to waste."

End.