I'm currently finishing some paper works when my good friend, Maddie came to my cubicle holding a box of pizza.
"Kumain muna tayo, girl. It's 3:00 p.m. na, everyone's having their break while your here working." Maddie pressed her red lips together while narrowing her eyes at me.
I winced while looking at her annoyed expression. I didn't even noticed the time, si Maddie pa naman ang taong hindi gustong nalilipasan ng gutom. Kailangan talagang kumain ng snack daw para mas ganahang magtrabaho. I want to roll my eyes at that thought, food is life yata ang motto ng isang 'to. Mabuti nalang talaga hindi siya madaling tumaba kaya keri lang kumain ng kumain.
Getting up from my seat, inayos ko muna ang nagusot ko na pencit skirt bago ako lumapit kay Maddie. She was opening the box of pizza and slightly smelling it. Her eyes were twinkling with the sight of the Hawaiian pizza.
"Yummy! Hurry up, girl! I'm hungry na." Maddie blurted out while putting some hot sauce on the pizza.
Taking a seat next to her on the rectangular table. Kumuka ako ng isang slice ng pizza at kumagat. The taste tickled my taste buds and I nearly moaned. Hawaiian pizza is one of our favorite pizza flavor. We just loved the sweet pineapple tidbits, thin crust and not the mention the cheese. Yummy! Truly mouth watering. I didn't even realize that I was hungry and I'm now eating my second slice.
"So, Erica have any plans this evening? We can hangout at the cafe. Medyo nabobore na ako sa apartment na'tin eh. What do you think?" Maddie sounded so hopeful and I didn't want to disappoint her so, I nodded.
"Yes! I'm so excited for us to hangout and chill. It's been a tiring week. We deserve a break." Maddie said looking so happy that I can't help but smile.
She's like a sister I never had, ever since college we've been best of friends but eventhough we're close I still haven't opened up to her fully. I haven't told her about my past that's been holding me back from being genuinely happy. I had a sad childhood and even growing up as a teenager my life wasn't any better. It's been years since all of that unfortunate events happened but it still haunts me. It pains me every time I remember that I'm all alone. I don't have a family to go home to. Sometimes I envy Maddie's family, they might not be rich but at least they're happy and close with one another. I've met her parents and siblings and they were such nice people. I can only dream to have such family.
"Erica, are you okay?" Maddie asked worriedly making me looked up to her.
"Yes. I just remembered something." I tried to compose myself and drank water from my glass.
Maddie heaved a sigh. "Kung may problema ka nandito lang ako handang makinig sa'yo."
Tiningnan ko siya sa mata at bumuntong-hininga, looks like I have to tell her what's been troubling me this days. I just hope I won't cry a river after sharing my story.
"May sasabihin ako sa'yo mamaya." I said in a low voice.
I felt Maddie patted my back before she started walking towards her cubicle. "I'm here to listen, girl." After saying that she left and I just watched her as she sat down on her chair and started typing on her computer.
I took a deep breath and went to sit on my chair. Wanting to clear my mind of things and finish my work before our shift ends. I'm actually anxious of what I'm about to share to my dearest friend but I really need to talk to someone about it. I'm only like this because it's almost my grandmother's death anniversary. I suddenly became teary eyed with the memory of my grandmother who had taken care of me and treated me so well. I missed her.
"I hope your doing well wherever you may be, lola. I love you." I whispered to myself as I looked at the screen of my computer and continued with my work.
My grandmother took care of me when my mother died. I remember the days that we would wake up so early just to go to the market to sell some vegetables. I was just a little girl back then but I had to mature early and help my grandmother earn some money.
I smiled with the memory of how I used to salestalk with people way older than I am just to convice them to buy our vegetables. Despite having to work at an early age, I was happy and got to learn new things while helping my grandmother. I'm happy that I got to experience such hardship in life because of that I became stronger and wiser. But I can't help my tears from falling everytime I remember the two dearest persons in my life. They didn't had the chance to watch me grow, graduate and land a stable job.
Heaving a deep sigh, I wiped my tears with my handkerchief as I tried to smile again. I have to compose myself, this is not the time for me to be weak. I really need to tell Maddie so this heavy feeling inside my chest can hopefully lessen. I glanced at my reflection at my compact mirror and saw my bloodshed eyes. This is not new to me, I sometimes cry myself to sleep and feel so alone.
I patted my cheeks to bring out some color and wet my dry lips. I need to get a hold of myself. I still had to finish my work before stressing myself out with all this drama. With that in thought, I continued reading the papers and started typing on the computer.