WS1: Where It Started

Chapter 6

At the same time, Ate and I hugged her tightly. "Dapat lang po lola dahil hindi ko pa kayo nabibigyan ng magandang bahay" My sister said, her voice filled with emotion.

Lola faced many challenges while raising both my sister and me, so we truly vowed to do everything in our power to repay all her hardships. We want her to experience comfort and ease in life.

I was overcome with worry, so I hurriedly came here. Lola's blood pressure spiked, and she nearly collapsed in the bathroom. Thankfully, Kakay quickly followed her, preventing a more serious incident. According to Kakay, Lola's blood sugar level also rose. I'm truly grateful that Kakay is different from the other grandchildren whom Lola supported but never bothered to visit or check on.

We left Lola in the room for the night since it was already late, and she needed rest. We had already fed her and given her the maintenance medicine she needed.

My sister and I are here now, just finished eating, so we're in the living room enjoying the leche flan Lola cooked. Her sugar rises because she's quite stubborn and doesn't listen. Ate is also busy with work at the hospital, so the hospital has become her second home. Kakay truly helps us a lot.

"Uuwi ka pa nyan?" I glanced at my sister who was eating the leche flan.

"Ahh, yes, Ate, it's necessary. I didn't get the chance to inform the head, so I just asked Manager El if I could visit Lola quickly," I said with a smile while savoring the leche flan. "Are you and Lola doing okay here?"

" We're okay, although sometimes we have disagreements because of Lola's stubbornness, but when she realizes she's going too far, she's the one who puts a stop to it," Ate Celestine replied with a smile.

"I said goodbye to Lola before she fell asleep. I'll be going home. If you need anything, Ate, or if you need me here, just call me, okay? I should go now; the night is getting deeper," she smiled at me and hugged me tightly.

"Of course, I'll call you right away. Take care on your way home, okay? I won't be able to walk you out; I haven't had any sleep. I've been on duty for 11 hours, and I only have 8 hours of rest now before another 12-hour shift," exhaustion was evident in Ate's eyes.

I hugged Ate tightly before peeking back at Lola and giving them both a kiss on the forehead before finally leaving the house.

Simula nung malaman ko na mapapakinabangan ko ang pangarap ko na pagkanta at pagsayaw si ate celestine na ang nakasama si lola sa bahay. Malaki ang sakripisyo ni ate pero kahit minsan wala akong narinig na masasakit na salita sakanya puros suporta ang pagmamahal ang natanggap ko sakanya. Napakaswerte ko sa pamilya na meron ako ngayon.

Napuwing ka ata," Manager Brielle said, holding a tissue in one hand while the other was on her handbag, her eyes focused on the street. "Put on some foundation on your face. It's really red right now. Just in case there are reporters waiting outside the building, use June's shades there on her seat. Your eyes look swollen," Manager El said in a lengthy manner.

With so many thoughts racing through my mind, I realized I was already inside the car, heading back to the dorm. I followed Manager El's instructions before releasing a deep sigh of relief.

I immediately accepted the tissue from Manager Brielle, which only made me cry even more. If I could see myself, I'm sure I would be completely red.

We had arrived, and just as Manager El suspected, there were reporters waiting outside our building. Even though I wasn't in the mood, I still had to wave and smile at them.

With every step I took towards the bedroom, I felt the heaviness of exhaustion in my body. Upon entering, I couldn't help but notice the chaos at our dining table, as if it welcomed me with a question: What happened here? Despite the turmoil outside, I quickly headed to the bathroom. I turned on the cold water tap, letting it flow over my hands and body. The sensation of relief from each droplet seemed to wash away the fatigue from my system. Slowly, I rid my body of the marks of tiredness and stress, carrying with me the promise that tomorrow would bring a lighter feeling.

The only light in the room came from the bathroom, as I left it on. I saw Junella peacefully sleeping. Truth be told, our single beds were big enough for both of us to lie comfortably. I laid down on my bed, adopting the same position as Junella, facing her, and just watched her as she slept.

She slowly open her eyes and smiled at me "Hi, your here."

"Yeah, Kakarating ko lang din" Ngumiti ako ng tipid.

She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at me. "Hi, you're here."

"Yeah, I just arrived too" I replied with a faint smile.

I just stared at her face, wondering how she managed to be so stern around people like Lorjane. How did she maintain her composure in front of numerous cameras? How did she pull off looking intimidating in front of others? Yet here, in front of me, she smiled so beautifully.

She sat up from her bed and moved beside me where I was lying. I wasn't surprised; it wasn't the first time we shared a bed. When we started training, one of the rules was that every week, we would sleep next to different girls to get to know each other.

The smile faded from her lips when she lay down next to me, and I could clearly see the rapid change in her expression. She brushed some hair away from my forehead. "Your eyes are still swollen. What happened?" She said, her tone serious and eyebrows furrowed. "Eyes don't get that puffy from just a brief cry." Her hand moved to my arm, her index finger tracing a circle there, and suddenly, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. "Why? How's lola? She's okay, right?" She fired off questions one after the other.

"Celine? Answer me" she whispered.

I'm feeling so relaxed right now that even my mouth doesn't want to utter any words. "Lola's okay, just her blood pressure went up due to fatigue," I said with a smile.

"What a relief," she said softly, taking a deep breath.

"You drunk?" I changed the topic.

Junella quickly avoided eye contact. "A little," she said, yawning.

"You smell of alcohol," I said, chuckling.

"Yeah?" she said, grinning. "Why can't that smile of yours disappear, Junella, huh?"

"Yeah," I said, laughing. "You don't smile at me like that unless you're drunk and not talking to me like this. It feels like there's always a big wall blocking us."

I saw Junella's eyes closed, followed by a soft snore, which just made me laugh.

As I gazed at Junella, I reminisced about the times we spent together - the conversations, the laughter, and how she became my companion through thick and thin. She's a true friend, always there in times of need. Through life's ups and downs, Junella has been a constant presence, ready to listen and offer support. In the quiet of the night, I silently expressed my gratitude for having a friend like her.

As I continued to reflect, I felt my eyelids grow heavy, and the worries in my mind started to fade away. Junella's presence felt like a soft pillow, bringing peace and contentment into our small room. Despite all the exhaustion and concerns from the outside world, here under the dim bathroom light, with Junella peacefully asleep, I found the tranquility I had been searching for. Slowly, I drifted into the realm of sleep, carrying the joy of having a loyal friend. As time passed, my dreams enveloped me, bringing a restful sleep and hope for the new day that awaited upon my awakening.