Love in Bangketa

25

"Yay, you're finally done with your training! I am so happy to spend sleepless nights with you here," Cindy greeted me as she held my hand to congratulate me. Akala ko, hindi na ako tatagal dito. If I could only take back the words I said before- that it was easy to work in the Call Center. Training pa lang, nakakapagod na. 

Josh sipped on his cup. "Feel ko tatalunin na ako ni Xyrish sa dami ng dadalhin niyang kape kapag nag-start na siya,"

I laughed. I wanted to get irritated, pero true rin! I think, naimpluwensyahan nila ako na magdala ng coffee tuwing may training or the coffee's power was really undeniable. Sobrang nakakahelp siya sa'kin kahit na I'm a night person nang slight.

"Mas maririnig ko na nang malapitan yung accent mo! Excited na ako!" Winnie exclaimed.

So far, silang tatlo pa lang ang ka-close ko rito. I wasn't actually expecting for a larger scope of friends, because nah, kaunti lang ang masasabi kong totoo rito. After what happened in the CR the last time, I was contented to have Josh, Cindy, and Winnie. Umuwi na ako mag-isa at dahil pagod na pagod ako, agad akong bumagsak matulog.

After wearing my casual yet formal outfit and ID, feeling ko talaga totoong nagwo-work na ako roon. Kung wala akong maisip na profession, I'll consider this one. Lumabas na ako dala-dala ang aking bag. The cold breeze was hugging my skin. I embraced myself as I waited for Max to fetch me.

Sa labas ay nakita ko siyang kakarating lang kaya lumabas na ako ng gate. Nakahilig siya sa tricycle niya. He was wearing a... varsity jacket? This type of clothing was sooo... early 2010 pa. I couldn't believe that he wasn't aware of what's trend.

"Excited ka ba?" Tanong niya.

"Why do you care?" I raised an eyebrow. Humalakhak siya.

"Curious lang. Sungit mo talaga! Sa susunod, sisiguraduhin kong hindi mo na ako susungitan,"

I chuckled sarcastically. "No freaking way. As long as I could feel your presence,"

The other side of his lip rose. "Mapapagod ka rin magtaray, pramis! Learn from the expert,"

"Expert of what? Expert of Magnakaw?"

He placed his index finger on my lips. I was stunned! Mabuti na lang at waterproof ang suot kong lipstick tonight. "Hep hep! Lagi mo na lang sinasabi 'yan! Wala na bang bago? Hindi nga ako magnanakaw, ang kulit mo,"

"That's how I met you, pake mo ba?"

He grinned. Nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa'kin. But, not too close, I might just slap him. "Magi-iba rin tingin mo sa'kin. I assure you,"

My jaw dropped. Did I just hear him na nag-English?! His accent was... good. To be very honest. Pero, bakit sa Facebook, ang jejemon ng captions niya?!

"Gulat ka sa English ko? 'Yan lang baon ko ngayong gabi. Maga-aral ako sa susunod para mas lalo ka pang ma-amaze," Humalakhak siya. I rolled my eyes at him at sumakay na lang sa loob. He started the engine at pumunta na sa location ng trabaho ko.

"Who fetched you, Xyrish? Boyfriend mo ba 'yun? Ang gwapo!"

"The heck, Winnie? Stop saying nonsense. He isn't," Kinuha ko na ang cup ko from the dispenser at nilagyan ito ng baon kong coffee. Hindi na ako nakapag order sa malapit na coffee shop because of the traffic. Kaya binigay na lang sa'kin 'to ni Max.

Tumawa siya. "Pero, feel ko, crush ka no'n!"

Napatigil ako. If Winnie wasn't just funny, baka nabuhos ko na 'tong hot water sa kaniya. Nagc-cringe ako sa sinasabi niya.

"Stop it, Winnie. Sa ocean ng mga admirers ko, bakit may naligaw na shokoy?" I said bluntly.

"Shokoy ka diyan? Ayusan lang ng kaunti 'yon, ay nako, pwede na mag-artista! Ang tangos ng ilong, yung lips parang pana ni Kupido, yung eyebrows, hay pak na pak! Basta, ang gwapo!"

I sipped on my cup. I shrugged. "I bet, when you see most of my admirers, mas matatameme ka sa kanila,"

Sabay na kaming bumalik sa table namin. Even though Winnie was a professional in this field, I got the chance to sit with her, which is a good thing because mas matatanong ko siya nang maayos. Nang may mag-appear na call sa screen ko, bigla akong kinabahan.

My hands were trembling! Tinignan ako ni Winnie at binigyan niya ako ng thumbs-up. She even mouthed "go, go, go, kaya mo 'yan!"

"Thank you for calling Telenoble. My name is Xyrish Dizon. How may I assist you, Sir?"

The old man over the phone told me the things that he wanted to get assisted with. My thoughts were rumbled, but I just tried to go with the flow and apply the things I've learned during training.

"I do apologize for the inconvenience, Sir. Upon checking the details you provided, I will forward this to our main office so expect an email within this week,"

"I will wait for that. Thank you so much,"

I sighed and stretched my arms after accepting tons of calls. I felt numb. First-day pa lang, omg! I should have thought about this thoroughly bago pa ako maka-agree kay Tito Gerard. Magkaka eyebags pala ako sa work na 'to, edi sana pala natutulog na ako ngayon!

Lumabas na kaming tatlo nina Josh, Winnie, and Cindy. Fortunately, they have their own service kaya nauna na sila sa'kin. I waved at them, and they waved back.

"Ingat ka, Xyrish! You did a good job today!" Josh smiled. I mouthed thank you.

I texted Max's number. Naalala ko na naman kung paano pinakialaman ni Tito Gerard ang phone ko habang natutulog. He invaded my privacy at wala naman akong magawa!

To: Max

Fetch me now. I'm done with my work.

I sent it. I was waiting for him at gabing-gabi na. I yawned and felt my body wanting a bed to rest. I waited for more minutes, pero mas lalo lang akong nainis nang 30 minutes na, wala pa rin siya. I tried calling his number, but cannot be reached.

To: Max

Hey! Where the fuck are you? Are you sleeping?! Fetch me now!

One hour had passed, pero wala pa rin akong makitang Max, riding his tricycle. I called him once again. No response naman!

To: Max

Can you, at least, tell me if you are gonna fetch me or not?! I will wait for 10 minutes pa! Kapag hindi ka dumating, magta-Taxi ako! 

10 minutes, he wasn't here. Kaya naman kumuha na ako ng Taxi. Bago ko pa mabukas ang pinto, nakita ko si Max na kakarating lang.

"Xynnah..."

"Naisipan mo pang dumating?!" I slammed the door at nagpa sorry sa Taxi driver. Napakamot na lang siya ng ulo niya at sinermonan ako. It wasn't my fault naman!

"May nangyari kasi sa Tatay ng kaibigan ko. Hindi ko naman siya puwede pabayaan. At saka, galing din ako sa bangketa,"

I crossed my arms over my chest. "You shouldn't have accepted Tito Gerard's request, then, if you will be this irresponsible! Paano kung bigla akong kidnappin dito?! Will you hold accountable for it?!"

His jaw clenched. "Hindi ko hahayaan na mangyari 'yon,"

"Hindi mo hahayaan? But, you let me wait here for an hour and a half! Nakaka stress ka!" Kumuha ako ng maliit na bato at binato ko sa kaniya. He dodged. Umalis siya sa tricycle niya. His face was painted with something else. Something that I've never seen in a bully Max.

"I'm sorry, Xynnah. Hindi ko lang talaga puwede pabayaan si Tito. Matanda na siya at kami-kami lang magtutulungan doon. Malaking extended family na nga kami sa baryo naming 'yon, kung tutuusin,"

"That wasn't my point! You should have informed me! Hindi naman siguro mahirap na i-accept yung call ko, or magtipa lang ng message, 'di ba?!"

Unlike before, he wouldn't let me win over a conversation. But, after he sighed and looked at me with weary and tired eyes, he still managed to put an apologizing smile.

"Hindi na mauuulit, sungit. Pasensiya ka na, nagkamali ako. Sisiguraduhin kong makakauwi ka na nang maaga para makapagpahinga ka na,"

Nilagay niya ang varsity jacket niya sa shoulder ko at pinapasok na ako sa loob ng tricycle niya. I felt guilty. But, hindi! Kasalanan niya pa rin.