The Rank - Series III

Chapter 1

Metro Manila. 

Ano ba ang maiisip mo kapag sinabing Metro Manila? Mataas na building? Modernong pamumuhay? Mataas na sahod, at syempre yong famous na traffic sa edsa. 

Yong tipo na aalis kang prinsesa at uuwi mukhang nadisgrasya  dahil traffic at pakikipagbuno sa pagsakay makauwi lang ng bahay

 At para sa kagaya kong probinsyana ay talagang naexcite ako, na may kasamang nerbyos at takot na finally — nakatapak na ako Maynila. 

Pero grabe, polusyon agad ang nagwelcome sakin dito. 

Sa totoo lang ayaw akong payagan ng Mama ko na dito magtransfer sa Maynila but I really wanted it. Ate Eve offered me to study in Saint Timothy since i graduated Senior High pero ayaw ni Mama. 

It literally took me 2 years para mapilit si Mama. I can't just disobey her. I love her and i respect my mother so much. Kaya i study hard and prove to my family na kaya ko makipagsabayan sa pamosong Saint Timothy. 

Mind you, i did my research on this school and i have a shock of my life na this kind of privilege really exists. 

"Margarita please." 

Napatingin ako sa babaeng nakaupo sa harapan ko. "Coming up." 

Anyway, i applied for jobs bago here around the school. Sayang ang opportunity, ang dami kasing vacant. 

I'm well financially supported with my family especially Ate Mariska — But do you know how great it is to earn your own money?

"Bago ka?" Tanong ng babae sakin, she is pretty and very drunk. "Ngayon lang kita nakita dito." 

I smile at her. "Two weeks palang." 

Kinuha nya ang inabot kong baso ng Margarita. "That's why." She chuckles. "Welcome to my bar." 

At nanlaki ang mata ko. "Really? You owe this bar?" 

"I am." Walang kayabang yabang nyang sagot sakin. "I established this bar when i was 17."

"Teenager ka pa nyan." I'm amazed. 17? I'm still crying for my first love that time. While this woman is already working hard. She's probably rich. "I'm Stephanie po." 

Sya parin ang boss ko kahit halos same age lang kami. 

The girl laughs. "Oh sweet Jesus, don't po me."

"But you are my boss —"

Ininom nya ng straight ang Margarita. "Scratch that." She quickly dismissed me. "Don't po me, don't call me boss." At nagtitigan kaming dalawa. "Let's be friends."

Well that's smooth. 

At least hindi sya matapobre or whatever. 

"Sure Ms.?"

Tumayo sya. "Ivy." 

Nice name.

"I'm Stephanie." Pakilala ko. "Steffie or stef for short."

"Stef —" 

"Ivy!" May tumawag sa kanya. "Let's go!" 

"I have to go." She give me a smile. "See you later." At Ivy wave me goodbye. 

And my night goes smooth. May mga nagbigay sakin ng tip — trust me, it's more than my salary. 

Ang yayaman at generous ng tao dito sa Timothy Heights. Mukhang makakaipon ako while working here. I can finally buy my dream car. 

I have a car but it's an old honda civic na gift sakin ng family ko kaya mahal na mahal ko si Lala — that's the name of my car. 

"Hey beautiful." Lasing na sabi ng isamg customer na lalaki sakin. I just ignore him. "Ang ganda ganda mo Miss."