every strings

CHAPTER 1

"My child isn't easy to be with. Are you fine with that?"

Napalunok ako sa tanong ni Ma'am Diana sa'kin. I know to myself that I'm not good with kids, especially to those who's hard to handle.

I'm in the coffee shop with Ma'am Diana, the parent of a kid na tuturuan ko.

I decided to push my plan na maging isang tutor. I want to earn my own money. Sapat naman ang binibigay ng parents ko, but I just want to earn and save money for my future business. Besides, my younger brother already has a source of income. He is already earning money on his own, and I'm inspired to do the same thing.

"What do you mean she's not easy to be with po?" nahihiyang sambit ko. Ayaw kong mag isip si Ma'am Diana na I'm unsure, but I just need to know para hindi naman ako ma shock.

"Hmm.. Let's say she's easily get distracted. Will go tantrums if hindi masunod yung gusto niya, " she said.

Those are usual things sa bata, kakayanin ko naman siguro...

"I see. That would not be a problem, Ma'am Diana. I think I can handle her naman, " I said politely and tumango naman siya.

"If that's the case, then you can start next week, " she smiled.

Pinag usapan rin namin ang mga mode of payment, yung location, at kailan. Sa bahay nalang daw nila kami mag tyu-tutor. Nag base rin kami ni Ma'am Diana sa schedule of classes ko and every afternoon nung TTHS lang ako available so we go for it. By the way, the kid's name is Hale. Today is sunday, so I still have two days to prepare myself for that.

After ng pagkikita namin ni Ma'am Diana ay umuwi rin naman na 'ko. Wala naman na 'ko pupuntahan.

I went straight to my room since wala naman akong naabutan na tao sa bahay. Maybe everyone's busy except for me?

Nagbihis lang ako ng komportableng damit and humiga rin naman agad ako sa higaan. I reached for my airpods, and I was stunned because I remember something.

Arghhh! Why is he on my mind again? Ba't ba 'ko nahihiya? Wala naman akong ginawang nakakahiya, ah! Is it because na fe-feel kong nararamdaman niya rin na nahihiya ako sa kaniya? Gosh, why?

I don't know the reason behind my actions!

I was thinking about it the whole hour and parang may sariling buhay ang aking mga kamay-I searched his socials. I saw his Fb.

Cael Guevarra

Hindi naka-lock yung account niya kaya na stalk ko siya. I saw some photos of him with his bandmates. They are all happy. May nakita rin akong video niya na tumutugtug ng keyboard. He's so good with it.

Maybe nahihiya ako sa kaniya kasi he's kind towards me nung sa gig nila. He was kind the whole time. Maybe that's the reason. I shouldn't feel shy. Instead, I'll make friends with him.

Right.

I just rest for a while, and bumaba na rin para tumingin ng makakain.

"Oh, you're here?" I heard Ate Zecka's voice, and I just sigh because I know this will gonna be a long discussion between the two of us.

"Yes po, Ate"

"We went to the mall for a shopping. This day is supposed to be a family day for us, asan ka naman pumunta? Aren't you part of the family, Zehra?"

"Sorry po, ate. May importanteng pinuntahan po kasi ako"

"More important than us? Huh? Zehra?"

Kumuha na lang ako ng tubig and doon ko nalang pinaplanong inumin sa kwarto. This conversation is draining me.