❝ I’ll bet my life. He likes you no cap.❞
❝ Like my ass. Bored lang ‘yon and I just happened to be here. He’ll stop sooner or later. ❞
❝ Sama mo, ❞
Turan nito sabay ang mahinang hampas sa braso.
I already have a lot of burdens. Above all, money is what I am craving for and not a love interest.
And it’s scary. The idea of falling in love, it scares me.
Hinugot ko mula sa bulsa ang cellphone ko nang tumunog ito.
From: Venice
Ate, nandito na ako sa ospital. Ako na ang magbabantay kay mama ngayon. Take a rest.
I smiled after reading the text from my sister. She’s just sixteen but she became so reliable ever since our mom has been diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. It’s a lifetime disease and not curable. Her doctor advised us to let her stay in the hospital for awhile. We’ve been helping each other when it comes to everything since then.
Wala naman kasi kaming aasahan sa mga kamag-anak namin. When our father died parang nawalan na rin sila ng amor sa’min. Si papa lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit pinapakisamahan namin sila noon.
❝ Pa’no ba ‘yan. Ikaw na ang bahala rito. ❞
Tinanguan ko lamang si Athena. Simula tanghali hanggang sa closing time ang shift ko samantalang pang-umaga naman siya.
I am studying while doing various part-time jobs. Isa na ‘yong pagta-trabaho ko rito sa bakery. My life is fully occupied wala nang space para sa ibang bagay.
❝ Ehem. Baka naman, kung ayaw mo ng gwapong blessing sa’kin nalang, ❞
Pang-aalaska niya bago tuluyang lumabas ng bakery.
Napa-iling na lang ako. Kung may darating man, sana pera nalang.
---
❝ Welco--
Nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ko.
❝ Welcome, Sir, ❞
Seryosong bati ko.
Makita ko pa lang ang mukha niya napuputol na agad ang pisi ng pasensya ko.
❝ What should I do to make you wear that smile again? ❞
Naningkit ang mata ko dahil sa sinabi nito. Ang lawak pa ng ngiti niya na para bang walang inaalalang problema sa buhay.
❝ Are you buying the same bread again, Sir? ❞
Pung ng pagtitimping kuwestiyon ko.
❝ Yes please.❞
Agad kong inayos ‘yong cinnamon bread na lagi niyang ino-order.
❝ Are you free after your work? ❞
❝ No. ❞
❝ How about next week— ❞
❝ No. ❞
❝ Then how---
❝ Davian. Screw off, your smile will never caught me off guard. ❞
Ilang segundo siyang natahimik ngunit nagulat ako nang humagalpak ito ng tawa.
❝ Gago ka ba? ❞
Naiinis na turan ko na nagpanguso sakanya.
❝ Nah. I just find it cute. The way you talk...it’s amusing. ❞
Namumula pa ang mga pisngi nito habang nakangiti at nakatingin sa’kin.
❝ Would you like to have a receipt? ❞
Iwas tinging tanong ko.
HELL-BENT
Start from the beginning
