Prologue
Being raised by a loving and caring parents is beyond blessing and grateful so if you have that one, be thankful for it. Believe me, without parents by your side is very difficult to live.
I am always independent and confident in many things. I always fight all struggles. I didn’t give up because I know there’s a better future ahead to me and now I can say that I’m experiencing the better and greater life. I just trust in him, prayed in him and surrender to him.
Sa murang edad pa lang ay kailangan ko ng magtrabaho para mabuhay. I can’t live if I won’t work. Sa lansangan ang bagsak ko kapag hindi ako kikilos.
My parents? I don’t know kung saang lupalop na sila ngayon. In the age of fifteen iniwan nila ako kasi hindi na raw ako kayang buhayin sa sobrang rami naming magkakapatid. Parang tanga ‘di ba? Kasalanan ba namin? Bakit sila nag anak nang nag anak ko hindi naman pala nila kayang buhayin?
"Mikay!"
Napalingon siya sa ‘kin nang tinawag ko.
"Bakit po, ma’am?"
"Paki timpla nga ako ng kape. Pakihatid na lang sa office ko ha and please less sugar, diet ako ngayon and also, don’t forget to knock before you come in, you know I hate people who doesn't know the word ‘privacy’."
She nod at tumalima na para gawin ang utos ko. I remove my jacket and put the aviator in my head. Pumasok na ako sa office ko. I have mini office here in my coffee shop. This office serves as my resting place for the tiring day.
I remember this shop was just small way back when I’m still starting hanggang sa rumami ang customers, naging regular na ‘yong iba, lalong lalo na ‘yong mga studyante at may mga pang night shift. It gloom and gloom ‘til I reach this.
I sat at my swivel chair and put my channel bag down. I massage my temple and close my eyes. I’m so stress right now. Nalaman kong ikakasal na ang isa sa mga classmate ko nung college. They’re all ready to settle down while me? Still NBSB. Parang may sumpa yata sa ‘kin at wala man lang nagbalak manligaw. Nagsisisi na tuloy ako ba’t tutok ako masyado sa pag-aaral dati at hindi sinagot ‘yong mga manliligaw ko noon.
"Nakaka-sanaol sila. May mga jowa, fiance at asawa na while me, manliligaw man lang ay wala." I murmured to myself.
Back then, I was so determined to finish my studies because as like what they said... “Education is the most powerful weapon which we can used to change the world”. And now I’ve already changed my poor world into a new and better one. Aral... Pag-aaral lang talaga ang susi sa tagumpay. At the age of twenty five, I can now say that I’m successful in my own way. Para sa ‘kin ang makatapos ng pag-aaral ay tagumpay na. That was the biggest achievement I’ve achieved.
Already finished studies. Owner of coffee shop. Financially stabled. Single. Diyan lang talaga sumamblay. Lovelife na lang talaga ang kulang sa ‘kin at maayos na. I’m so freaking desperate to find a guy now. Ang boring kasi ng buhay ko. Cycle, gigising ng maaga, maliligo, kakain, papasok sa shop, nakatutok sa monitor buong magdamag o ‘di kaya naghahanap ng bagong recipe para sa cake. Nakakapagod. I want something thrill. I want spice.
I open my computer and started browsing on my social media accounts. I heard a knock. Oh it’s Mikay probably.
"Come in!" I shouted.
Iniluwa nun si Mikay. She’s holding a tray, probably my requested coffee and the cheesecake. How I love blueberry cheesecake.
"Ito na po ‘yong pagkain niyo ma’am. Saan ko po ba ilalagay?"
"Sa coffee table na lang Kay,"
I watch her as she puts the tray at the coffee table. I mouthed thank you and she’s about to leave nang may naisip ako.
"Mikay wait!"
She look at me. "Bakit po?"
I sighed. Napakapormal talaga nitong babaeng ‘to. Pero hinahayaan ko lang siya. Ate Ann teach them how to be responsible and respectful.
I pouted. "Do you know some kind of dating apps? Like may makaka-chat akong guy?" I ask shyly. My god, I’m not used to this! I’m used to be confident pero nahabag yata.
She chuckled at lumapit sa ‘kin. "Try mo omeggle ma’am tapos kung ayaw mag work try litmach, badoo or neargroup!"
There’s one she mention that caught my attention.
"Ahm the last one sounds interesting. How can I try it?" I ask innocently. I haven’t experience any dating app.
"Ganito lang ‘yan ma’am... Open mo po ‘yong Facebook account mo,"
Sinunod ko ang sinabi niya. I opened my Facebook account.
"Then?"
"Tapos mo, search mo sa search box ‘yong “neargroup” then ayan ma’am..." She click the icon then type something.
"Tapos anong gagawin ko?" Gosh! Nakaka-stress pala ‘to!
"Click mo ‘yong nakalagay na “send message”. Hintayin mo ng ilang saglit ma’am."
So we waited for about two minutes. Then may nag pop up na lang bigla.
"Ayan na ma’am, nandiyan na ang information ng guy. If hindi ka comfortable sa kanya, you can type or click the word “end” po tapos ayun matitigil na ang pagcha-chat niyo pero pwede rin pong ulitin ‘yon para makahanap ka ng iba, wait lang ng ilang minutes."
I nodded. "Thank you for teaching me. Please keep this as a secret. Dapat tayong dalawa lang ang maka-alam. No one will know this except you and me or else you’ll get fired, understood?"
She smiled and nodded like an obedient child.
"Okay, you can now go!"
I look at the screen and read the information. He’s name is Ryan. Twenty nine years old and leaving in Cebu.
Ryan: Hi!
I smiled. This is it. This is the beginning of my lovelife. I giggled at the thought.
Me: Hello!
Ryan: Kmsta ang araw mo, bby?
Me: Fine, hbu?
Ryan: Hbu? Ano yn?
Ay bobo. I mentally scolded myself. I’m so judgemental. Ang jejemon naman mag type nito. Gosh I want a guy who is pogi kung mag type.
Me: How ‘bout you? That’s what I mean!
Ryan: Ah yn ba yon bby, hehe sorry ‘ndi ko alam.
I gasped. Ang smooth naman nito. I laughed and continued our conversation. Even if he’s “jeje” he’s also a smooth talker and joker so I continued chatting him. We’ve been chatting for almost three hours. Natigil lang kami ng nagpaalam siya. May gagawin lang daw sa trabaho.
Lumabas ako sa office at tinulungan ang mga kitchen staff ko sa pag prepare ng mga kakailanganin sa kitchen. I remember Ryan, he said he loves girls who knows how to cook. He also loves to eat sabi niya.
"Bakit nangingiti ka riyan ma’am? Okay ka lang po ba?"
Nabitawan ko ang plato sa gulat. I look at Mikay with widened eyes and shock expression.
"Bakit ka nanggugulat ha?!" Singhal ko sa kanya na ikinatawa niya.
She knows that I’m not really mad at her when I shouted. Sanay na silang sinisigawan ko sila kasi alam nilang hindi naman ako seryoso. We treat each other as a family here kaso nga lang ayaw nilang ‘di ako tinatawag na ma’am. Respeto na raw nila ‘yon sa ‘kin bilang amo nila. I’m glad may empleyado akong ganito. Nowadays mahirap ng hagilapin ang mga may respeto.
"Yieee ngiting-ngiti pa si ma’am! Nakabingwit ka sa neargroup ‘no?! Yieeeee kilig-kilig betlog—ay wala ka pala nun!" Tumatawang aniya at sinundot sundot pa ang tagiliran ko.
"Ang kapal mo! That's just nothing!"
"Sige lang, deny mo lang! Diyan ka masaya eh!"
Binatukan ko nga, masyadong mapang-asar. We are like a squad here. I treat them as my real best of friends kasi sila lang ang nakakaintindi at nakakaalam sa tunay na ugali ko. Some people hates me because they see me as an attitude person but I’m not. Ayoko lang talaga sa mga taong walang respeto.
"Letche ka!" Natatawang sabi ko nang makita ang mapang asar na tingin niya. "Babalik na nga ako sa office. Kayo ng bahala sa mga customers natin ha! Be hospitable and be respectful."
Pagbalik ko sa office ay agad akong nahiga sa kama. Yes, I have a bed here. Minsan kasi ‘pag pagod ako ay dito na ako natutulog. I’m comfortable here so nothing’s wrong. I open my cellphone and log in my Facebook account to see kung may reply na ba si Ryan. I smiled with his chat.
Ryan: Tapos na ako sa trabaho ko, ikaw ba?
Me: I’m also done. I just let my staff do the kitchen works and serves the customers.
Ryan: Facebook reveal?
Napanguso ako. Ang bilis naman nito. I think deeply. Wala namang mawawala siguro kapag binigay ko ‘yong fb name ko. I want to see his face and in order to do that, Facebook reveal is the solution.
Me: Okay!
Ryan: I2 lng i type mo “Ryan Castillo”
So I did and stalk him. Gosh, handsome as freak. Matangkad, makapal ang kilay, maputi, matangos ang ilong, mapupula ang labi. He is beyond perfect. I stalk it, hindi naman siguro ‘to poser ano?
I felt floating. Time flies so fast when you’re happy, like what they said and it’s true. Parang kahapon lang natuto akong mag dating app tapos ngayon six months na kaming nagcha-chat ni Ryan. We didn’t video call because he said na gusto niya akong i-surprise. He wants to reveal he’s face personally, that’s what he said.
He is busy with his business that’s why hindi siya makapunta rito sa Leyte so I decided na ako ang pupunta sa kanya. I’m so excited to see him that’s why I book a plane ticket to Cebu. My flight is the day after tomorrow and I’m excited for our meet up.
I packed my clothes because I also decided to take a break from work and to unwind. The perfect place for me to unwind is Cebu. I’ve searched their tourist spots and gosh ang gaganda. Leyte is also a nice place to unwind but I want something new and that is to have a vacation in the Queen City of the South.
I want to go to CarCar City to eat lechon and chicharon. I want to go to Alegria, Moalboal and also Bantayan Island. Gosh rendezvous sounds and booze. I want to party and all. Na-iimagine ko pa nga lang na-eexcite na ako.
"Ano kayang mangyayari sa ‘kin dun?" I ask myself and sighed.
I sat at my bed here in my condo and think what will I do once I saw Ryan. Will I hug him? Kiss him? What would Cebu look like? Will I enjoy there?