Strokes of a Painter

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

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Kinabuksan ay nagfile ng vacation leave si Fej. She was standing in front of Madam Purita's table waiting for her to sign the letter.

She bit her lower lip when Madam Purita leaned back on her swivel chair and folded her arms. The Editor eyed her with dark expression.

"So three months vacation leave?" She arched her eyebrow.

Tumango siya at bahagyang ngumiti.

"That's too much Ms. Osmeña!" Pagalit nitong sambit.

Napaigtad siya at napayuko. She was trying to restrain herself not to talk back. Baka hindi pa ma-approve ang leave niya.

"My grandmother is sick Madam. Kailangan ko pong umuwi," rason niya. 

"I'll approve your leave ..." pabitin nitong sabi. 

Bigla siyang napatingin dito. Nabuhayan siya ng pag-asa pero mukhang may masaklap na kapalit naman. 

"But I want you to do something ..."

Tulalang lumabas ng opisina si Fej. Hindi mawala sa isipan niya ang huling sinabi ni Madam Purita. How in the world would she do it?

Nakasalubong niya si Minzy sa hallway.

"Hoy! Tulala ka diyan Fej! Hindi ba inaprobahan ni Madam ang vacation leave mo?"

Napailing siya at napabuntong-hininga.

"N-o. She has approved my vacation leave."

"O ganun naman pala. Bakit mukhang biyernes santo yang mukha mo?"

"M-asaya lang ako."

"Grabe hindi ko alam na ganyan ka pala kung masaya," sarkastiko nitong sambit.

"Eh, mamimiss ko kayo pati na ang trabaho rito kaya medyo malungkot ako."

She decided to keep it for herself. Ayaw na niyang gambalain pa si Minzy sa  bagong problema niya. 

"Para namang hindi ka na babalik. Vacation lang Fej hindi resignation," natatawa nitong sambit sabay hampas ng mahina sa kanyang braso.

"Tsk, alam ko 'yon no!" She chuckled.

"Kailan ang alis mo?"

"Sa Saturday na."

Wednesday ngayon kaya may dalawang araw pa siya para tapusin ang nakabinbing trabaho.

Fej took an early flight to Cebu. Paglapag niya sa Mactan International Airport ay tumambol ang puso niya sa kaba. After six years of being away, for the first time she felt being home.

She realized that she has been too busy with her life in Manila at may mga bagay na nababaliwala niya, gaya ng pamilya.

Hindi siya lumayo dahil magkagalit sila ng kanyang pamilya. Lumayo siya dahil gusto niyang makalimot sa masalimuot na pangyayari. She thought a change of environment would help her recover. She was doing just fine pero may mga panahon paring hinahabol siya ng madilim na kahapon. Sometimes she was being hunted by her nightmares. 

She didn't tell anyone that she's coming home. She wanted to surprise them.

Sumakay siya ng taxi papuntang Cebu City.

She rested her head on the window and feasted her eyes outside.

The change was minimal. Walang gaanong pinagbago sa mga istruktura. Pero sa tingin niya marami ang nagbago sa kanya. She felt like a whole new different person.