Richard's Standard

Chapter 9 - The Colorful Themes

"Magandang umaga po. Nandito po ba si Dona?" I asked the landlady of Dona's boardinghouse. I had been looking for her everywhere at school since eight in the morning, but I hadn't found her.

"Dona? Nagtrabaho yata iyon," she answered, as she was already familiar with me.

"Saan po?" 

When she gave me the address, I hurriedly went to the place. But it wasn't easy, 'cause I wasn't yet familiar with this city. I kept asking people who I thought knew the exact address, until one guy finally showed me the way. It was a bakery shop.

There were a lot of people buying and eating bread. I searched for Dona and finally spotted her wearing a plain white t-shirt with black jeans and a hairnet. I hid myself so she would not see me. I was planning to follow her today.

While watching her, I saw leche flan girl talking to Dona, and she was shouting at her. She handed Dona a bag of flour and pushed her inside. That leche flan girl is the real bad witch! How could she even treat Dona that way? Is being nice so hard to practice these days? Kahit man lang sana maging mabait siya kahit kaunti kay Dona.

The scorching sun was hitting me, but I'll take it as long as I don't lose sight of Dona. This could also be one of a way for me to find out her real personality.

I've been curious about Dona since the day we spent together at Mabua Pebble Beach. Even I am doubting myself because of what's happening to me recently. I should be making some plans now for Mom and Gilbert. What the heck am I even doing here watching Dona? Arrrgghhh, I just want to.

It was almost noon, and I was about to leave Dona when I saw her go outside and ride a tricycle. I followed her again. Saan na naman kaya siya pupunta? Half-day lang pala siya sa bake shop na pag-aari ng leche flan girl na 'yon.

Dona went inside a fancy restaurant. Maybe, it was her next job. I went inside but kept myself hidden. The waitress approached me and asked for my order. I just ordered desserts so that no one around me would wonder why I was there.

I looked for Dona, and there, I saw her in a different colored shirt. She was now wearing a plain red shirt. I checked my watch, and it was past twelve. For sure, Dona hadn't taken her lunch yet. Shall I ask her to eat with me?

She was now serving food to customers. One guy asked her to bring his order to their table. They were a bunch of bad guys, I think.

When Dona was delivering the food, she suddenly lost her balance, and the dishes were ruined. The guy who ordered them pushed Dona, knocking her down to her knees, while his companions laughed sarcastically.

I was determined to stop them, but the manager stepped in to apologize for what happened. For sure, Dona is messed up today.

After that incident, Dona went back to work but stayed on the serving lane. And I'm still here hiding my face while watching her.

It's past three in the afternoon when I decided to go outside, since the customers were leaving already. I should just wait for her and follow her next destination.

When she came out, she waited for a tricycle. I would have loved to offer her a ride, pero may napara na siyang tricycle. Again, I just followed her.

This time, it was a big house. Naalala kong hindi pa pala nakakapag-lunch si Dona. Hindi ba siya nagugutom? I remembered what she said last time, that sometimes, she didn't eat at all. God, I couldn't take it if I were in her situation. I would die, for sure.

I couldn't clearly watch Dona now because of the gate, at baka mapagkamalan akong magnanakaw. I decided to just stay where I was, and suddenly, I heard a splash of water and the sound of a washing machine. I guessed Dona was doing the laundry. Is she always like this? Ganito nga siguro ang buhay kapag sariling sikap ang paraan para umunlad sa buhay. I was feeling sad. All my life, I've been living a pleasant life, but I realized there are people out there who deserve it more.