Mistakes We Can't Laugh About (Loser #2)

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

I texted my friends about the sudden changes in my plan. It earned phone calls from Kat and Karsen, and I had no choice but to tell them that Mill ugly cried for me not to leave. Bwisit na bwisit naman ang huli sa akin.

"It's okay, Amari. Guess I'll just send you your certificate of employment, alright?" Ma'am Anne said over a video call when I told her my decision. "Best of luck in your future endeavors."

Wala akong naging problema sa biglaang pagre-resign sa PAI-Ferrara. Ma'am Anne said she saw that coming, so she kind of prepared for it. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung nahalata ba niya sa akin na hindi ako masayang-masaya sa Italy o alam niya lang ang pakiramdam ng isang OFW. She also told me that I'd be more successful here, especially because the need for psychologists was growing. Hindi ko nga lang sigurado kung magandang balita ba 'yon o hindi.

Mayroon kasing hindi masira-sirang paniniwala sa Pilipinas na kapag nagpa-consult ka sa isang mental health professional, awtomatikong "baliw" o may "sayad" ka na.

Most individuals don't understand that having a checkup on their mental health is the same as having one on their physical health. Kapag may ubo, sipon, o lagnat ay normal lang na magpatingin sa physicians. Pero kapag may problema sa ibang aspeto ng buhay at nagpatingin ka sa psychiatrist o psychologist ay biglang iba ang nagiging tingin sa 'yo ng lipunan.

All of a sudden, it wasn't normal . . . as if mental disorders were nothing but a make-believe condition. Parang hindi totoo. Parang gawa-gawa lang.

Shaira Ylane Chavez: omgggg! dito ka na lang?

Amari Sloane Mendoza: Yeah, so your drama last time is uncalled for. Hahaha.

Shaira Ylane Chavez: huh?

Amari Sloane Mendoza: Now you want to forget about it?

Shaira Ylane Chavez: ahhhh oo hahahahaha ano ngang napag-usapan natin no'n?

Amari Sloane Mendoza: Whatever, Shai. I'll just see you with the girls next time.

Shaira Ylane Chavez: oki oki secret muna natin 'to, ha? di ko rin sasabihin kay thaddeus hahahahaha shet excited na 'ko

Amari Sloane Mendoza: You are so weird.

Meg and Zoey were also delighted to know I would stay here for good. Nag-set na kami ng date kung kailan ulit magkikita-kita, at syempre, dahil may kasama kaming buntis ay sa bahay lang din kami maghahang-out.

I let myself rest for at least a week before I told Ms. Lubrica that I would take the job. Tuwang-tuwa siya at agad na in-email sa akin ang syllabus na ituturo sa mga estudyante. Apat na subjects ang ituturo ko — Psychological Assessment, Theories of Personality, Abnormal Psychology, at Industrial Psychology. They were my favorite subjects, and I never stopped reading, so I don't think I'll have any trouble teaching them.

"Mill, uuna na 'ko sa 'yo, ha?" sabi ko sa kaibigan habang isinusuot ang pearl earrings ko. "I have a job interview in VDMH."

"Hindi ka na magpapahatid?"

"Nope." I picked up my white Chanel flap bag before facing her. "How do I look?"

Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. I was dressed in a charcoal gray pencil skirt and blazer with a white polo as the inner material. I completed the look by pairing it with my white pumps and pulling my hair back into a sleek, high ponytail.

"You look intimidating," she said, chuckling.

Napangisi ako. "Then, goal achieved."

Tinanggal ko muna ang blazer ko dahil magco-commute lang ako papuntang VDMH. I was thinking of buying a car, but that would be a long process since I didn't even know how to drive. Wala rin akong lisensya. Ang hirap pa namang kumuha ng lisensya rito nang hindi dumadaan sa fixer. It was almost impossible to pass the tests and get an ID without paying them.