Amethyst Died that Saturday

11

11

___

TANYA MAY NOT be aware of this, but I consider her as my best friend.

Well, of course Pierre counts. Pierre and I instantly became friends when we met as classmates back in ninth grade, and I don't even know how. We just began talking and something clicked; like how some friendships begin. That's how it went for Tanya and I.

Kaso noong una, takot na takot ako sa kanya. Paano ba naman kasi, matangkad, tatlo ang kulay ng buhok, may dark eyeshadows, saka dark red lips. Nang makita ko ang karatula niyang kailangan ng helper sa coffee shop habang gumagala ako downtown, kahit wala ni isang experience, pumasok ako agad sa coffee shop na halatang kabubukas pa lang. I saw her on one of the tables, drinking beer, staring into nothingness while her other foot lay on their mahogany table. The wind chimes rang when I opened the door, and she looked straight at me.

The first thing she said?

"This is not an orphanage."

And completely acted like I wasn't there.

But at fourteen, scared but at the very same time determined, I held my stand and told her I need a job. After a few insistence, she still said her strong and firm 'no'.

Then I said, "E di, 'wag!" I said, angry. Mouth running faster than my head. "Para namang may bibisita sa shop mo kung ganyan ka, nakakatakot kaya mukha mo!"

Damn, I didn't even know what the hell I was saying but I was frustrated and exhausted that time. Iyong shop na yata niya ang pang-dalawampu sa napuntahan ko at ni isa talaga, walang tumanggap sa 'kin. Though everything changed when she laughed so hard she stood up from her chair.

Pinuspos niya ang sigarilyo niya sa lamesa niya at nanlaki ang mga mata ko ro'n. At home, Mama used to scold my Papa when he does that. I probably got this pet peeve from her. I walked towards her and took the cigarette from her.

Her eyes widened and laughed. "The hell's wrong with you, kid?"

I looked at her dead in the eyes. "My parents are dead," sabi ko. Her brows raised. "My aunt threw me out," I added, stepping on the cigarette. "And I'm broke."

She patted my head while hysterically laughing, which surprised me. Napatingin ako sa mukha ni Tanya noong oras na 'yon. Despite her scary make-up, if you look really closely . . . you can tell that she's beautiful.

Specially when she smiles.

She even laughed at my tragic backstory.

"Okay, tanggap ka na," sabi niya. Nanlaki nang sobra ang mga mata ko. "You'll start by mopping the floors. Ako na rin magbibigay ng baon mo araw-araw, so make sure to stop by here every morning, huh?"

My jaw almost dropped. What the hell did I just hear?

"S-Sigurado po kayo?"

"Yeah," she said, smiling. "Call me Tanya."