Snippets of Our Future (Commit and Run Series #2)

Chapter 6

I have witnessed some of the students collapsing in front of me because they prioritize anything else first before their own health and I don't want to witness more of it.

"I heard the other staff member was named Loxi I think. I am starving and when I heard that, I just thought of getting food for you. That's it." I said, almost panting. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping. It was unintentional." I smiled a little, then diverted my attention to my phone now.

It was already two in the morning. Hindi ko namamalayan ang oras dahil maraming tumatakbo sa isip ko.

He smiled. "Mabait ka naman pala. Hindi lang halata."

I frowned as soon as I heard his banter. "Ngayon lang 'to. Lubusin mo na, bumili ka kahit ano." Sabi ko, feeling a little offended by his words.

Siguro nga tama siya dahil kahit sila Prezie at mga kaibigan ko, kahit si Lola pa, mukha raw akong masungit kahit naglalakad lang. What could I do? Ganito na ako, eh. Sabi nga nitong kaharap ko, you can't change yourself just because someone doesn't like that. Kung wala kang tinatapakan, walang dapat baguhin doon.

"Sure ka? Pupunuin ko talaga ang isang basket." He laughed, this time it looked like he was really entertained.

Nang titigan ko siya ay doon ko nakita ang kulay brown niyang mga mata. Kagaya rin ng akin pero mas maliwanag nga lang ang kaniya. It wasn't that evident since the light was not enough to reveal the color of his eyes.

Tulad ng kulay ng mata ko, kapag nasisilawan ng araw ay mas lalong nagiging obvious ang kulay. Lola told me that I inherited these brown eyes from my mother. Mas kitang-kita nga lang raw ang kay Mama.

"Well, you can do that. I can pay." I challenged him. "You have five minutes."

"Ang tagal naman no'n! Walang thrill, isang minuto lang naman 'yon sa mga vloggers, eh!" sumimangot siya.

Aba, siya lang 'tong binibigyan ng blessing pero hindi tumatanggap. Nagrereklamo pa kahit pabor naman sa kaniya ang binigay kong kondisyon.

"Joke lang. Alam mo, ang bilis mong mauto." Tumawa siya kaya hindi ko rin mapigilan ang pagguhit ng ngiti sa mga labi ko.

"I have a question," I said when he calmed down. "I noticed a while ago that you became nice to me. What's the reason?" I asked curiously.

"Well, aside from you're one of the owners of this establishment... I don't have time to be rude to you because honestly, just what I have said, hindi naman seryoso ang galit ko... at wala akong oras sa gano'n dahil marami akong ginagawa sa buhay para mabuhay."

He then smiled to probably assure me that it was fine asking those questions because he might have seen how the smile on my lips vanished slowly.

"How long have you been working here?" tanong ko dahil mukhang sabi niya, ayos lang naman na tanungin ko siya. "Kung hindi ka komportableng sabihin, kahit 'wag na, ayos lang."

"Simula first year sa kolehiyo, may iba pa akong trabaho dahil bukod sa kailangan ko ng pera para sa pag-aaral ko, may sinusuportahan rin akong kapatid." Mabilis siyang sumagot.

He's been working here for almost two years. And he was supporting himself just to continue reaching his dream. Isa rin 'yon sa hinahangaan ko sa mga taong kayang pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at pagtatrabaho dahil may sinusuportahan silang iba.

And I also knew the hardship they faced everyday. Hindi ko man naranasan nang ako mismo pero alam ko ang dinadanas nila dahil kahit pagmasdan mo lang sila, mararamdaman mo ang pagod ng mga katawan nila. Mga pagod na mula sa pagbubuhat ng mga responsibilidad na hindi naman sila ang bumuhay. Hindi naman sila ang may gusto na payabungin ang responsibilidad na hindi naman pala kayang gampanan ng mga nagtanim nito.