Dancing With Fire

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

"Sera? May pasok ka pa bukas diba?" Ma'am Asunta asked when while I was busy serving the customers.

"Opo, Ma'am." I smiled.

"Uhm, wala ka bang exams?" Aniya, tila nag-aalangang tignan ako habang naglilipat ng order.

"Meron po pero kaya naman," I chuckled.

"Alam mo, ayos lang naman kung hindi ka muna mag-serve. Maraming mga empleyado ngayon tsaka kaunti lang ang customers kasi gabi na." She smiled at me gently. "You can study first if you like."

My eyes widen, shaking my head.

"Hindi na po," I said. "Duty ko ngayon, nakakahiya nga po at minsan lang ako papasok pagkatapos ay magpapahinga pa ako."

"You need it, hija." Malumanay n'ya sambit.

"Salamat po, Ma'am." I smiled. "You're so kind to me even if I don't deserve it."

"Ano ka ba?" She pouted. "Every people needs and deserves kindness and love, mga bagay at pakiramdam na hindi pwedeng makuha sa pera."

I nodded at her, smiling.

"Tama po kayo," Mahinang sabi ko, tila hinahaplos ang puso.

"I really thought money could give you everything but I was wrong. It can give you what you want but never what you need emotionally and mentally."

She smiled, lumapit sa akin at hinawakan ang braso ko.

"Napakabuti mong bata, Sera." Malambing n'yang sabi.

Natawa ako at umiling.

"Naku, Ma'am. Hindi po. Siguro minsan but most of the time I am not, masama po ang ugali ko." I said.

"People share their own fair evil," She shrugged. "Pero may dahilan, diba?"

Natigilan ako pero marahang tumango.

"Sometimes we can't stop ourselves to do something bad for your love ones." I whispered. "That isn't ideal pero minsan hindi talaga mapipigilan."

"I wish you can meet my sister," She said and smiled, staring at me softly.

"Pwede naman po," I chuckled.

"Well, I wish she was still here." She shrugged. "Pakiramdam ko sobrang matutuwa iyon sa'yo, you got a heart of an angel, Sera."

Oh, I don't think so?

'Hindi naman, Ma'am." Natawa ako, napasulyap nang may kumuha sa tray na hawak ko kaya bumaling ako ulit kay Ma'am.

"I really wish she could see you," She sighed.

"Tara na ba, Ma'am?" I joked. "Pwede naman natin bisitahin."

"She's gone," Aniya sa malungkot na boses.

I froze, umawang ang labi ko at napakurap sa sinabi n'ya.

"S-Sorry, I didn't know..."

"It's alright," She smiled. "Matagal na 'yun, Sera."

"Pasensya na, Ma'am, akala ko talaga..."

"Ayos lang," She smiled. "Pero samahan mo ako minsang bisitahin s'ya?"

"O-Opo!" I nodded. "Oo naman po, sasamahan kita."

She nodded, nagitla ako ng bahagya n'ya akong yakapin kaya mabilis ko s'yang niyakap pabalik.

"Salamat, Sera." She whispered.

"Walang-anuman po," I continued the night by serving the customers, nang makuha ko ang trenta minutos kong break ay naroon ako sa staff room at nagbasa ng notes ko para sa exam ko bukas.