The Calm and the Storm

10

10

It was already dark when I came home. Hindi na muna ako nagbihis at dumiretso sa ref upang maghanap ng pagkain pero wala itong laman.

"Nakalimutan ko palang bumili ng groceries," I muttered to myself.

Nagbuntong-hininga ako at kinuha ang cellphone upang magpa-deliver ng pagkain.

I was drained and I don't know why. Siguro sa trabaho ko ito. Gosh, I wish it's just work. Pero para bang halu-halo ang emosyon ko. From what Jaypee and Annabelle said to me, up to Jeno Emmanuel. Plus, my sister.

Pagkatapos kong magbihis at nag-half bath ay dumating ang pagkain. I set it up on the table. I was about to eat it when I saw something running on the floor!

"Ahhh!"

Napahiyaw ako at umakyat sa inuupuan nang may dagang tumakbo!

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh," sabi ko.

I squealed again when I saw it running! Rats?! In my house?! No freaking way! Mabuti na lang at dinala ko sa mesa ang cellphone ko. I used it to call Aida.

"Please pick it up," dasal ko.

Hindi ako makagalaw. I stayed standing on the chair. Sana ay hindi ito masira. I tried calling my friend twice pero dumiretso ito sa voice mail!

Napahiyaw ulit ako nang tumakbo ulit ito. I badly wanted to gag. Nawalan na ako ng ganang kumain.

I gave up calling Aida and called my sister but she wasn't answering, too! Nasaan na ba ang mga tawo ngayon? I called her office but the secretary said she went home and must be driving right now.

Hindi na ako nagpaliguy-ligoy pa at tinawagan ang management. It took two rings and I did not even miss a beat.

"There's a rat inside my condo! Oh my gosh, this is very disgusting! Wala ako sa bahay always, so it means hindi ko alam kung matagal na itong naninirahan dito!"

"Ma'am, calm down," sabi ng receiver.

"Huwag mo 'kong ma-calm down, calm down! All this time, there's a rat in my condo!"

Tumaas ang mga balahibo ko habang iniisip na natutulog ako sa bed tapos may mga dagang tumatakbo-takbo sa loob ng bahay! Ew!

"What do you want, Ma'am? Tatawag ba kami ng housekeeper or gusto niyo po bang i-sanitize ang buong bahay ninyo?"

"I don't care! Just call everyone! Please, hurry up. Kanina pa ako nakatayo sa upuan. I am so afraid," sabi ko.

"Ma'am, if ever papupuntahin niyo po diyan 'yung magsa-sanitize, medyo mahal po considering that it's late."

"Please." Malapit nang maubos ang pasensiya ko. "Just send anyone here."

"Sige po."

The moment the call ended, I figured I could not stay in the house for hours. I will make sure it will be sanitized because it's so disguting! And my clothes! Pati iyong mga gamit ko!

I squealed when the rat ran again! My hands were shaking as I scrolled through my contact list and stopped when I saw Jeno Emmanuel's name.

Sabi niya ay friends kami, 'di ba?

I did not hesitate and dialed it. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang sinagot niya ito.

"Thank, God, you answered!" I was in hysteria. "There's a rat inside my house and I'm on top of a chair. Kanina pa ako rito. I called anyone but they're not answering."

"Woah, slow down, Trinity," aniya. "What happened?"

"Ahhh!" There are two rats! Two fucking rats! "Come here, please. Please, please, please."