Rescue Me, Stranger

Prologue

Prologue

I have been staring at the screen of my laptop for almost two hours and all I can see is a blank page. I closed my eyes and sighed in frustration. Doomed, I’m on a block again. Ngayon pang bi-bingo na ako kay sir Milky dahil late na naman akong magsusubmit ng chapter entry ko.

I placed my fingers on the keyboard as if I would come up to something if I did that. Napasigaw na lamang ako sa inis at napasabunot sa sarili kong buhok. I should come up with at least something or my editor will kill me. Come on, Mecy, think!

Nagsimula na akong mag-type pero agad ko ring binura ang mga ‘yon. They are lame, for goodness’ sake. How distressing it is to have writer’s block in the middle of your story writing. I glanced at my wristwatch. It’s already half past seven in the evening and I have to submit this chapter before midnight.

“What should you do, Mecy?” I asked myself and leaned against the chair headboard. “You have to kill your writer’s block or that milk will kill you.”

Narinig kong tumunog ‘yong cellphone ko kaya agad ko itong kinuha. Gaya ng inaasahan ko, nabasa ko ang pangalan ni sir Milky sa screen. Siguradong pagagalitan na naman ako nito kaya nagdadalawang isip ako kung sasagutin ko ba ang tawag niya. Pero mas lalo akong mapapagalitan kung hindi kaya sinagot ko na lang.

“You’ve got the nerve to answer my call!” sigaw niya mula sa kabilang linya kaya napapikit ako. Ang sakit no'n sa tainga kaya inilayo ko nang kaunti ang cellphone ko. “Where the hell is your chapter?!”

“I’ll take that as a hello,” biro ko.

“I’m asking you where is your chapter!”

Magbiro ka na sa lasing at bagong gising, ‘wag lang sa editor mong bagot na kahihintay ng chapter mo. Okay, my bad. Anong sasabihin ko? Hindi ko pwedeng aminin na wala pa ‘kong nauumpisahan dahil tatalakan na naman ako nito.

“It’s almost done,” pagsisinungaling ko. Bad, Mecy, bad.

“Really?” pagdududa niya. “You better submit it tonight. You haven’t forgotten that we publish our chapters regularly, right? Argh, Mecy, what should I do with you, huh? Ikaw na naman ang pinakahuling magsu-submit ngayon! Finish that now, I’m hanging up.”

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako nang ibaba niya ang tawag. Don’t worry, sir Milky, I’ll make you proud. But for now, I should get some drink. Matutuyuan na ako ng lalamunan. Hindi pa ‘ko umalis mula rito simula nang maupo ako.

Tumayo ako at pumunta sa kusina. Pagbukas ko ng ref, wala akong nakita kung hindi mga frozen goods at gulay. Naubusan na ako ng chuckie, pati juice o tubig wala na rin! Nakalimutan kong huli na pala ‘yong ininom ko kanina at hindi pa ‘ko nakakabili dahil kailangan ko nang magsulat. I don’t have much time but if I don’t buy now, I’d be dead before I even finish my chapter. I have to step out for a while to buy some drinks and snacks.

Sinuot ko ang jacket ko at binulsa ang wallet. It’s a good thing I live in a neighborhood where there is a convenience store nearby. They’re not open twenty-four-seven but it’s still early.

Kahit gabi na ay hindi masyadong madilim dahil sa ilaw na nanggagaling mula sa mga bahay. Kailangan ko lang maglakad nang kaunti para makarating sa convenience store.

Habang naglalakad, kinuha ko ang cellphone ko para mag-facebook. Napangiti ako dahil pagbukas ko, bumungad sa ’kin ang isang nakakatawang meme. Thanks to the person who invented memes, browsing facebook is funnier now. Naalis naman agad ang ngiti ko nang magpop-up ang chathead ni sir Milky. Hindi ko binuksan pero binasa ko sa notification bar.