As The Sun Sets (Mi Amore #1)

23

Ayaw ko muna iyon isipin. Heck, I don't even want to go to college anymore. I can't go to school wearing a mask every single time, paniguradong paalisin nila iyon sa akin and they'll immediately recognize me.

I know I can't live my life in hiding...but it scares me a lot.

Like the mere thought of just going to a brand new school with people I don't know about and trying to fit in, everything scares me. Natatakot ako sa posibleng mangyari.

She didn't open the topic while we were eating. Nang matapos kami ay ako na ang nagpresinta na maghugas at ayon lang naman ang alam kong gawin.

If I lived alone, I surely won't survive.

That night, I distracted myself by watching how-to-cook videos. Gusto ko matulungan si Mama sa mga gawaing bahay kahit papaano kaya naman kahit nakakahiya kung may nakakitang iba sa ginagawa ko, I paid attention to every detail and even listed out some important things to take note of.

The next day, we ran out of groceries. Hindi pwedeng sabay kami lumabas na balot na balot para hindi makilala kaya ako na lamang ang pinabili niya.

"Ikaw nalang ang bumili, ramihan mo na para hindi tayo balik ng balik." Utos niya at inilahad sa kamay ko ang pera pati ang lista ng bibilhin. "Wear your mask and cap."

"'Wag na 'yung cap, Ma..." I told her. "Bago naman na ang buhok ko, samahan mo pa ng mask ay hindi naman ako makikilala."

She hesitated for a second before nodding and urging me to go so I could just get back quickly. Nakakatakot man ay tinanggap ko nalang na kailangan kong lumabas at siniguradong naka-mask ako. I even had to change my usual outfit of crop top and high-waisted shorts for no one to recognize me. The store was just a 3-4 minute walk away so I opted for a huge shirt and short along with sandals.

Mabilis akong nakarating doon at gusto ko lamang na makauwi agad. Katabi lang ng supermarket ang isang coffee shop kaya naman balak ko rin sana itong puntahan para bumili lang saglit.

I've never went grocery shopping before and the money I had with me was quite a lot for just groceries so she really meant what she said of buying huge packs of each item she listed so I wouldn't be back here soon.

Most of the items on her list were instant food or easy to cook food like hotdog and eggs. Ayos na rin iyon sa akin.

Somehow shopping here alone made me feel nice. Like I'm actually doing something good for the first time since I got here.

Tirik na tirik ang araw sa labas at dalawang mabibigat na plastic pa ang dala ko palabas at malalaki na ang kinuha ko. I even bought some chips and drinks for myself, good thing the bill wasn't too much.

Hirap na hirap ako at halos kaladkarin ko na ang dalawang plastic sa sobrang bigat papunta sa kabilang shop. I need my coffee today.

Pawis na pawis na rin ako sa loob ng mask ko pero hindi ko naman ito maalis. I was in such an uncomfortable situation because of this mask and all the sweat inside!

Nang makapasok ako sa maliit na coffee shop, konti lang naman ang tao ro'n. I observed they just wore usual house clothes so I assumed this place is the hangout and chill shop of the village.

Mabilis akong bumili nang iced coffee na hindi naman gano'n kamahalan. I was shocked at how cheap they were, actually.

Now, how do I bring all this shit back to my house?

"Pahingi pong paper bag..." Halos pabulong kong saad sa cashier. She smiled before handing me a paper bag.

I sighed. The ice is going to melt. Kailangan kong makabalik agad. Nilagay ko ang paper bag sa loob ng isa sa mga plastic kaya naman mas bumigat iyon.