Habang tumatagal ako sa school, lalo kong nararamdaman ang pagtatapos ko ng kolehiyo. At busy narin kami sa pagfinalize ng business plan para sa nakaschedule na defense next month.
Para sa non-business courses, they are known as thesis pero business plan sa amin. 2nd semester of our senior year, we are given 3 months to undergo practicum where we have to conceptualize goods or services needed by our selected market and then provide it to them. Not a prototype ha. Real thing! Afterwards, business plan na ang magdedetalye sa operation both for its feasibility as general and computations ng project.
Moving on.
Habang lunch break pa, I grabbed cinnamon bread and iced tea sa canteen. For those who know me, they would expect it from me. Mahilig ako dun eh and matipid din ba. Ako lang mag-isa kasi umuwi si Aeris sa boarding house, si Sheena naman eh may nilakad sa. Si Celine? May class pa. Di na rin unusual sa college life ang working lunch. I looked outside sa window ng canteen. Gloomy ang panahon at tila may sakit si haring araw. Aside sa mahilig akong mag-isip at maging loner, you can see me playing with my ears, too! Weird ba? Nilalaro ko kasi malamig xa and ganyan din ginagawa ko before matulog. Hobbit, ika nga.
“Mind if I join?” Sabi ng lalaking boses na narecognize ko nung nakaupo na xa.
“Sure pero sa isang kondisyon, wag kang mamabadtrip. Pwede?”
“I can’t promise”
“Di bale nalang”
“Umupo na ako. Ang sama naman siguro kung papaalisin mo pa ako diba? Consider this as a favour.”
“Favor?”
“Yes. Yun bang... makatabi ka ng gwapo.”
“Halleluia! Hambog talaga”
Meron ng akong kasama pero di rin naman umiimik. May binabasa xa while ako naman, ngenga lang. Tingin-tingin sa labas habang may kinakain. It took us a while when I earned the courage to ask him.
“Kilala mo si Mr. Rodriquez?” I said it while finishing my last bite at tila di nga ako narinig. “Fine. Wag mo nalang pansinin. Shocked lang siguro ako nung makita ko kayo last time dito sa canteen. At late na nung narealize kong we’re sitting in the same spot where they were.
He stared at me and walked outside the room. I feel dismayed na nun. Iwanan ba naman ako sa ere?
“Hindi ka lang pala hambog sira ata buong sistema mo. malaking kamalian Mel.” I whispered.
Lumipas ang mga araw at lumipas na din sa isipan ko ang nangyari. Naging busy na ako at idagdag mo pa ang interview kokay Suzayne- a friend who’s taking up BS in Psychology. It’s a 30-minute recorded interview about broken families.
In 1994, bale two years old palang ako nun, when my biological parents departed ways. My father was a gambler and my mom did not agree on his vices. Simula noon, si Mama na ang bumuhay sa amin; strived hard to fill our needs. Luckily, her brothers- my uncles are so generous in helping us out in any way possible especially on hard times. Me and my brother grew in a supportive environment that made us okay..thriving kahit papaano.
When we finished the session, she treated me for a snacks para daw sa tulong. I paid my order, anyway. Hindi din magandang maghangad ng anumang kapalit. Helping others is priceless already.
I’m with Sheena, Aeris and a bunch of classmate in the lobby as I am waiting for Celine to arrive. Celine invited me to come to their house and join them in an exclusive anniversary celebration of her parentsand to my surprise, “Celine and Spencer, together??” Hindi ko namalayang they are asking me napala if available ako Wednesday night para magpizza sa Calda.
“Yes. Sure. Sama ako!”At least naman celebration after long hard days. Excuse me, friends. I have to go. Magpa-5 na din kasi at may pupuntahan pa kami ni Celine. See you tomorrow. Keep me posted, okay?” I left them with a jolly and exciting mood para sa initial plan. Nag-iba nalang bigla nung maconfirm kong hindi nga ako namamalik-mata.
“Best?” I approached her with a serious eye contact.
“Okay, Best, how would I know na siya pala ang best friend ni Kuya?”
I am like ‘Lord? Anong klaseng joke ‘to?’
“Ganun na ba kaliit ang mundo at tila magkakakilala ang lahat ng characters sa story ng buhay ko?”
“Perhaps?”
“Oh well!” Celine interrupted.” Si kuya nasa bahay na pero wala pa sina Mama at Papa dun. We have to help him. Shall we?”
Help him! Tsuhh. Kung di lang... nevermind.
“...gusto”
“what best? Sinong may gusto?”
“best?” inalog-alog pa ako. “ang sabi ko po..” nang may pisil sa mukha “Sa labas sana ang venue, pero di nila gusto. Mas okay nadaw sa bahay.”
“ahhh..”
“iba din timpla mo ngaun, best”
Akala ko naman ako ang may gusto sa mokong na yun.
Napaisip tuloy ako dun ah. Heto na naman ang utak ko. Magulo!!!
BINABASA MO ANG
Into My Twisted Sphere
Teen Fiction*** "What if I fell in love with my own blood?" this question has been bugging me since adolescence.." What if?" *** This is a story of a college girl and her journey into the twisted world of reality. How she conquered the odds with head held high...
