Rescue Me, Stranger

Chapter 1: The unlucky one

Chapter 1

The unlucky one

MECY

The rays of sun peeking through the window woke me up. When I sat up, my head almost exploded in so much pain. I guess, I drank too much last night. Geez, hindi na ulit ako iinom! Last na talaga ‘yong kagabi. Kung hindi lang talaga para sa trabaho, hindi ako iinom. Our team dinner ended up as beer party when we heard that Clara’s, one of our writers, story was approved by the company to be published. As much as I’m happy for her, I also envy that girl. She’s obviously good at what she does.

Kinuha ko sa side table ang cellphone ko at binuksan ito para makita ang oras. Quarter to nine. It’s a good thing that today’s Sunday because one more late coming and I’m near to being unemployed. My work is mentally exhausting and I oversleep every day. Kaunting late pa, tatangalin na ako ng kompanya. This is the bad side of living alone. No one’s going to wake you up when you oversleep. Even my alarm clock’s not working anymore.

Napansin kong may nakalagay sa notification bar kaya binuksan ko ‘yon. It says ‘Grocery for tomorrow’. Oh, shoot. Anniversary nga pala naming bukas ni Theo. We decided to have dinner here in my place. Kaya kailangan kong maggrocery para may mailuto ako. Bibili rin ako ng first anniversary gift ko sa kanya.

Anticipating our tomorrow’s dinner, I cannot help but smile. My chest is pounding already. Anong gagawin naming pagkatapos kumain? Manonood ba kami ng movies? O gagawin naming ‘yong—AAAH! Naramdaman kong uminit bigla ‘yong mukha ko. Gagawin ba talaga naming ‘yon?

“What the hell are you thinking, Mecy?” tanong ko sa sarili ko pero hindi maalis ang ngiti sa labi ko. “I should probably get up.”

***

I met Theo two years ago when he came to the company as a writer. We are like other couples. We started off as friends, then before we even realized it, we had feelings for each other. He asked me if we could go out. And of course, tomorrow we’ll be having our first anniversary.

Ting!

I opened my phone and smiled when I saw Theo’s chathead popped up.

Theo my love:

Good morning, love. Sorry, I just woke up.

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko. When I messaged him earlier, he was already online. I thought he was just preparing or having his breakfast. But anyway, maybe he just left his Wi-Fi on.

                                           You:

                            You should take your breakfast.

Theo my love:

Yes, boss.

“Nandito na tayo, miss,” sabi ng taxi driver kaya napatingin ako sa labas. Nasa tapat na nga kami ng Robinsons. Tinanong ko si kuya kung magkano ‘yong metro. “One-ninety.”

Bumaba agad ako pagkaabot ko ng bayad. It has become a habit of mine to listen to music when I am buying groceries or when shopping. Nilabas ko ang earphones ko at sinaksak ‘yon sa cellphone ko. Una kong pinili ang So Sick ni Ne-Yo at pinindot ang shuffle button. Binalik ko ang cellphone ko sa sling bag bago pumasok.