The Archer's Curse

30

"Hoy babae! May party daw sa sabado para sa birthay ng pinsan kong hilaw, sama ka?" Lia asked while we're eating inside the cafeteria.

This is one of the times na we don't have enough time to go out of our building to eat. Kaya kahit ayaw ni Lia ay napipilitan nalang din siyang kumain dito kung hindi ay tag-gutom siya.

"Got a lot of things to do" I shrugged.

Inirapan niya ako at pinakita sa akin ang invitation. My name was written there and so is the entire squad. Napangiwi ako at tumango dahil wala naman na akong magagawa. Mabuti nalang at medyo luluwag ang schedule namin dahil holiday.

"Cali! Mag-artista kana kaya? Dali na tapos sali ka sa banda namin?" Axel said so I hit him lightly.

"Mukha ba akong may balak mag-artista?" I asked him and he just pouted.

Ax and I had been close since last year at mabuti nalang at hindi kami awkward sa isa't-isa. Hindi naman na niya ako kinukulit about that incident before at mabuti na iyon dahil hindi ko din alam ang isasagot ko.

Should I say, 'hey sorry I was just flirting with you and I got tired'. Or maybe something like, 'I flirt and walk right out if I want to'. Geez that's a no.

I'm not even proud of who I am years ago. Kung iisipin ko ngayon ay parang nakakainis na nakayanan kong gawin iyon just because I want to but I don't want to be committed.

Axel had been very popular kaya nahihirapan siya ngayom. Sab's company is their agency. He would always insist for me to try acting but I really don't want to. Just like what I said before, I belong in hospitals and not somewhere else.

"Ako ba Axel hindi mo pipilitin mag-artista? Ganda ko naman e" Lia said while wiggling her brows.

Napangiwi kami pareho ni Axel at iniwan siyang mag-isa sa cafeteria. We laughed and went to our scheduled post. I smiled as I finished all the works they gave us.

"Ngayon ko lang naramdaman yung pagod ko" I murmured.

Napatango pareho si Lia at Ax sa akin kaya naman minabuti na namin na umuwi agad kahit medyo maaga pa. Alas tres palang at nitong mga nakaraang linggo ay halos 24hours ang mga shift namin.

I opened the unit at bumungad agad sa akin si waffles. He was jumping at me so I carried him and went inside.

Simula noong umuwi si Ynna ay naging malungkot na ang unit. Ako nalang mag-isa at kahit naman anong gawin ko ay hindi ko pwedeng kuhanin si Caleb para dito patirahin.

I still can't support him even if i want to.

"Waffles, hindi pa ako tinatawagan or tinitext ng daddy mo" para akong bata na nagsusumbong habang nasa lap ko si waffles at kumakain ng favorite niyang treats.

Jax had been ignoring all my messages and calls since that incident sa site. Thursday na ngayon at ilang araw na rin siyang walang paramdam sa akin.

I don't get why he suddenly became this distant. Ayokong mag-conclude dahil ako lang din naman ang mahihirapan at masasaktan sa dulo. I never thought this would happen to us. It was like, almost perfect then in just a snap.. everything felt like slipping away.

I get that he's just so busy with work but I can settle with just one reply. Napabuntong-hininga ako at agad na nag-bihis para puntahan siya sa condo niya. I brought waffles with me at agad kaming tumulak paalis.

"Cali!" Matt called out while waving at me.

I waved back and ran towards his car. "Bakit ka nandito?" I asked.

"Napadaan lang" he said "Saan punta mo?" napalingon siya sa akin at agad na hinawakan si waffles.

Good thing my dog is used to people so I'm certain he won't bite anyone.