Chapter 6
Nakatulala akong nakaupo sa labas ng Simbahan. I still can’t believe my own mother left me. Masakit ang mata ko kakaiyak. I touch my empty stomach, tumutunog na ‘to sa sobrang gutom. I have no money. Napatingin ako sa mga magpapamilyang sabay pumasok sa loob ng Simbahan, nakangiti. I smiled sadly, sana lahat.
"Hi! Okay ka lang ba?"
Napapitlag ako at napalingon sa humawak sa akin. I look at the girl probably at the age of 20 above. She’s pretty. Wearing a white dress and smiling widely at me. I look at her expensive dress, nakakatakot naman hawakan ‘to at baka madumihan ko pa.
The way she dress, I can already tell that she comes from a wealthy family. Nakakataka ngang nakikipag-usap siya ngayon sa akin. I mean, wealthy people easily get disgusted by like me, punit-punit at madumi ang damit, katawan at mukha. Kaawa-awa. Hindi ko nilalahat pero may ibang tao talagang allergy sa mga mahihirap.
"Po? Ako po ba ang kinakausap n'yo?" Paninigurado ko.
She smiled sweetly. The way she smiled feels like she’s an angel. Anghel na galing sa langit at bumaba sa lupa para tumulong.
"Oo ikaw ang kinakausap ko. Okay ka lang ba?"
"Okay lang po ako." Pagputol ko sa usapan.
I thought she would get annoyed and just passed me pero hindi, instead she sat beside me.
"Gutom ka na ba? Nakita kasi kitang nakahawak sa tiyan mo kanina,"
Nahihiya akong tumingin sa kanya. "Hindi po," pagtatangi ko.
"Oh gosh I’m sorry! I forgot to introduce myself. By the way, I’m Marie Anilencia Villareal but just call me Ate Annie or Ate Ann. Hindi ako masamang tao kung ‘yan ang iniisip mo,"
Bigla akong tinubuan ng hiya. Sa ganda niyang ‘yan? Mapagkakamalang masamang tao? Mapagkakamalan ko pa nga siyang isang sikat na modelo.
"Hindi po. Hindi po masama ang iniisip ko sa inyo. Nahihiya lang po ako kasi mabaho po ako tapos ang bango-bango niyo po...."
Tumawa siya at hinawakan ako sa kamay. "Hindi ako maarte tulad ng ibang tao. What’s your name nga pala?"
"Isha po," maikling sabi ko.
She nod and smiled. Ang ganda niya talaga. Lalong lalo na kapag ngumingiti. She looks like an angel.
"Isha, what a nice name you have there. Alam mo Isha, mabait ako promise! Swear, nasa Simbahan tayo. Gusto mo bang ilibre kita ng pagkain?"
Agad akong umiling kahit ginugutom na. Marunong pa naman akong mahiya at may natirang hiya pa rin sa katawan.
Hinila niya ako patayo. "Kahit tumanggi ka, ililibre pa rin kita."
I woke up hearing the loud ring of my phone. I look at the clock and it’s still six in the morning. Who the heck will call me ng ganito kaaga? I open my right eye and touch my phone to see who disturb my pretty sleep.
"Ate! What’s up?" Tamad kong sabi.
Nakarinig ako ng hagulgol sa kabilang linya kaya napabagon ako agad.
"Ate hello? What’s wrong? What happened? Why are you crying?"
"M-maria..." Humikbing aniya. "M-my dad... My dad is in the hospital and I... I need to go there..."
"Oh ano pang hinihintay mo ate? Pumunta ka na ro’n, ‘wag mo munang isipin ang galit nila sa ‘yo,"
"Umuwi ka na please... I need you here."
I close my eyes. This is maybe the sign for me to leave Cebu and go back to my hometown. Ate Ann needs me at kailangan ko siyang damayan do’n.
"Okay ate, I’ll book a tic—"
"No need. I already book you a ticket. Get your ass of ready, your flight will be at ten am. Have a safe flight Maria, don’t forget to always pray before boarding. Huwag kang dumiretso sa condo mo, sa bahay ka ha!"
I nod kahit ‘di naman niya ako nakikita. "Yes ate, thank you. See you!"
"See you!" She then ended the call.
I sighed. This maybe the end of my vacation. I’m starting to love this place yet kailangan kong umalis kasi kailangan ako ni ate.
I lazily stood up and go to the bathroom to take a refreshing cold shower. Para na rin mawala ang antok ko. After I took a bath, I changed my clothes into tattered jeans and sweatshirt, I also wear my white sneakers and shades. I just tied my hair into a messy bun and put some light make up. Nag-impake na rin ako ng mga gamit ko. After preparing everything, lumabas na ako para puntahan ang mga kaibigan ko.
I knock on their hotel room and waiting for the response. After a few minutes, Ainah open it.
"Hi, pasok ako ha?"
She nod and smiled. She open the door widely so I can enter. I saw Neshie at the couch busy watching Netflix. I smiled at the girls. I’m sure mami-miss ko sila. In the shorter time na magkasama kami, we became close and treat each other as best of friends.
"Isha!" Tiling sabi ni Neshie at niyakap ako. "Wow, why your in a dress? May lakad ka ba at isasama mo kami?"
I laughed and shook my head. "Nope but I have something to tell..."
They raised their eyebrows and waiting for me to finish what I’m saying.
"I’m going back to Leyte, mamayang ten am na ang flight ko,"
They smiled sadly and hug me. Umiiyak na si Neshie sa balikat ko. I guess we are all emotionally attached to each other.
"Huwag kang umiyak ano ba!" Natatawang sambit ko. "Babalik pa naman ako rito soon and you have my number, I’m just one call away. We’re also friends in Facebook, we can video call!"
"Ehh! Akala ko ba the other day pa? Ang daya naman! Nagdadrama pa ako kahapon without knowing last bonding na pala natin ‘yon!"
"May emergency kasi eh pero I promise, babalik ako rito!"
"Bast hulaton ra ka namo, (Basta hihintayin ka namin,)" Ainah said.
"Aba dapat lang ‘no! Pero I promise we’ll never cut our ties. We’ll video call ha! Anyways I came here to treat you breakfast for the last time."
The two smiled at nag-unahan sa pagtayo.
"Wait for us ha, maliligo lang kami. Kapag wala ka na paglabas namin iihawin talaga kita at gagawing lechon at chicken cordon Maria!"
I gasped and throw a dagger look on her.
"Don’t call me Maria you bitch!"
She just laughed and run to the bathroom. Napailing ako, argh ayoko talagang tinatawag na Maria kaso no choice, ‘yan tawag ni Ate Ann sa akin. Kasi parang tingin ko, Maria doesn’t suits me. Maldita at minsan palamura ako lalong lalo na ‘pag nagugulat.
I waited for them for almost ten minutes, matagal na para sa ‘kin ang ten minutes lalong lalo na’t mainipin akong tao.
"What took you so long bitches? Maiiwan ako sa flight ko nito!"
"‘Yon nga para ‘di ka na makauwi." Neshie said and laugh.
"Gaga ka! Tara na, I’ll just wait outside para ipa-ready ‘yong orders natin."
We choose to eat at the seashores since may beach umbrella naman doon. Still in seven thirty in the morning so hindi pa masyadong mainit. Seafoods ‘yong inorder ko since ang sarap naman talaga lalong lalo na ‘yong shrimp. I also order BJ for the three of us.
Kinuha ko ang camera kong nakasabit sa leeg and take a pictures of the food, the ocean and the people. At least I experienced happiness kahit sandali lang.
I’m not saying that I am not happy with Ate Ann because I am so very grateful and happy it’s just nakikita ko lang ang tunay na kasiyahan kapag ako lang mag-isa.
"Tulala ka riyan!"
I glared at her. "Mangugulat? Iwan ko kayo eh!"
"Mingawon ra mi nimo Ish! (Mami-miss ka lang namin Ish!)" Ainah said and hug me. Such a cutie.
"Ako rin naman pero please stop the drama bitches! Kumain na nga tayo kasi nagugutom na ako,"
Akmang kukuha na si Neshie nang pinigilan ko siya. She glared at me.
"Hep hep! Picture muna..." I said and take a picture of the three of us. "Teka lang! Pray muna uy!"
"Gosh! Picture na naman! Hindi na nafu-full ‘yang camera mo sa raming pictures!"
"Huwag kang mareklamo Neshie, mas marami ka pang mukha rito kesa sa akin!"
"Oh ayaw nag pag away, mag ampo na ta. (Oh ‘wag ng mag away, manalangin na tayo.")
"Amen." Sabay naming sabi at agad nilantakan ang pagkain.
I’m gonna forever treasure this moment. I took a video of the three of us, for memories.
"Ang sarap. Nabusog talaga ako."
I agree with Neshie. Masarap talaga.
"Grasya sa diyos." Mahinang sambit ko at tinignan ang wristwatch.
My eyes widened. Bakit nag eight bigla? Nataranta akong tumayo at nagbayad ng bill. Oh my gosh, maiiwan talaga ako nito.
"Oh my gosh. It’s eight already!" I said and run to my hotel room.
I’m aware na nakasunod sila sa ‘kin. Hinila ko na ang maleta ko at tinignan sila. I already book a taxi and it’s waiting outside the hotel. My eyes watered while looking at the two.
"I will miss you two..." Humikbing sabi ko.
They hug me and I hug them back. Sila lang ang naging kaibigan kong nakaka-vibes ko talaga kaya masaya ako sa kanila.
"The taxi’s waiting na, lakad na bago ka pa namin ‘di pauwiin."
Tumawa ako habang pinupunasan ang luha. Hila-hila ang maleta habang kumakaway sa kanila. Pumasok na ako sa taxi at nagpahatid sa airport.
This place will always be a heaven to me. This is my escape from cruel reality and I hope if I will come back here, I will gonna find my haven.