Journey With You (Completed)

Chapter 9: Quick Escape

Journey With You
Chapter 9: Quick Escape

The following day was a lazy Saturday. I was just asleep for the most part, so it went by pretty quickly. I thought it would be fun to get away from Sven during the weekend, but from time to time, I caught myself thinking otherwise.

Bibisita sana ako kay Tita Cel nu'ng sumapit ang Linggo. Nagpa-load ako sa convenience store sa kanto para matawagan ko muna siya kung nasa bahay lang ba siya at kung pwede ba akong pumunta.

Habang nakapila ako ay napatanaw ako sa alma mater ni Sven at ng mga kaibigan niya.

I won't lie. When Sven told me about his alma mater and the courses he and his friends took, my heart squeezed with pangs of insecurity. Buong buhay ko homeschooled ako. I can't help but wonder how it's like to interact with other students, face to face.

Should I try to get in? Libre na pa man din ang tuition fee ngayon sa mga State Universities gaya nito.

Nagsimula na ang klase sa kasalukuyang academic year so maybe I should apply for an entrance examination next year? I want to experience the univ life, too. If by the end of the contract, Sven successfully turned me into a less anxious person around large groups of people, then maybe I can give college a shot too.

My phone vibrated and I read the message that came in.

Sven:
Where you at?

Sunday ngayon, ah? What's with that text? Bakit niya ako hinahanap eh rest day ko naman?

Umuwi na ako matapos magload sa kiosk at naglaba na lamang ng mga pinamili ni Mama na ukay ukay kahapon. Apparently, she bought formal blouses for me because well, she believes na officially employed na ang unica hija niyang tinago niya sa mundo ng dalawampu't isang taon. Hindi part-time, kundi full-time and not to mention, a day job.

That doesn't mean na hindi niya ako pinaulanan ng paalala. Hindi raw por que lumalabas na ako at nagtatrabaho ng umaga ay i-eexpose ko na raw ang sarili ko. Hangga't maaari ay wag daw gagawa ng ingay para hindi mahanap. Sadly, that's still a thing. She's only letting me work a day job outside because I settled the debts.

I tied my hair into a very messy bun dahil naglalaba nga ako. Medyo basa rin ang damit ko. I was looking all messy like that when a car parked outside. Napatingin ako sa gate at napabuntong hininga nung bumaba sa sasakyan si Sven.

"Langhiya naman, Sunday na Sunday oh..." I groaned, but there's a part of me that's thrilled. Oh the duality.

"Come on, open the gates. Basic manners."

"Says the guy who crashed here on a Sunday?!"

"Hindi mo ba alam? Walang pinagkaiba ang weekdays sa weekend para sa akin, Hani." Aniya pa, nakangisi ng malapad.

"Which means nagtatrabaho ka rin kahapon kahit Sabado?" I raised a brow.

"Of course. I played golf with some politicians." He replied.

"Trabaho ba yun? Leisure yun eh."

"That's lowkey part of the work, too." He refuted. "You won't know because you're not a top executive."

"Go lang. Rub it on my face some more."

"Paano? Eh ayaw mo nga akong pagbuksan ng gate." Aniya.

Langya talaga. Buti nalang at umalis si Mama para mamalengke. Ayaw kong magkrus ang landas nilang dalawa.

"What are you here for?" I asked. "I'm sure hindi ka nagpunta dito para pintasan ang itsura ko habang naglalaba?" My brows shoot up.