Saving money isn't as easy as spending it. Often times, kailangan mo pang kunin ang inipon mo for the unending necessities in our life. But in my case, kailangan kong ipunin ito at sa oras na matapos ko na lahat, babalik ako sa pag-aaral hanggang sa makapagtapos ako. I should fight the urge to withdraw some amount for my wants, even my needs.
I'm almost 20 yet hindi pa ako nakasimula ng college. Kailangan kong kumita para masustento ko ang aking sarili without relying to others. Although sa pera na binigay ni Meli, konti na lang ang pag-iipunan ko at konting oras na lang ay matatapos ko na rin ito.
At my age, I learned that fortunate students should take their education seriously. Maraming magsasabi na bakit hindi ko na lang pagsasabayin ang pag-aaral at pagbabayad ng remaining payments ko. It was easy for them to say kasi hindi sila ako. I mean, if I can then probably second year Accounting student na ako but I can't. I still have a 5-digit unpaid balance that my mother and father left me. And if ever nagsimula na ako sa college then it might reach 6 and I don't want that to happen. Although napag-iwanan na ako ng panahon, I'm still young and I still have time to pursue my dreams someday. For now, I need to work to pay for the remaining debt.
"Are you going to ride with me on the way to the university?" Meli asked me while munching a bowl of cereal. Umiling ako. "Alright. I'll go ahead." Nilagay niya ang kinainan niya sa sink saka dumiretso sa gawi ko. She kissed my cheek and hurriedly went out as her keys jingle in her pocket. I sighed.
Hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip sa nangyari kaninang madaling araw. Maniniwala ba ako? Or I'm just too gullible. What if he's really serious of what he said awhile ago? What if he's testing you if you'll fall in his trap? What if he's just messing around?
Right!
He's just messing around.
He's just bored and I'm one of his dolls. Or should I say puppet na kayang-kaya niyang paikutin sa kanyang kamay. And he did that kaninang madaling araw and it won't happen again.
And my answer to his question is, no. I won't give him a chance to toy with my feelings. And I should focus myself in the real world. That the real world is about struggling and striving to have a better life someday and matapos ko rin ang mga naiwang bayarin.
I got up the high chair and went straight to the bathroom. Although kahit isang oras lang ako nakatulog ay kailangan kong kumayod. So far, I'm way too early for my shift sa cafe. Instead of sitting down doing nothing, I'll fix myself para hindi before the call time, nasa cafe na ako.
—
Pagpasok ko pa lang ay ang nakangiting mukha ni Ms. V ang bumati sakin. Napangiti naman agad ako sa kanya at dumiretso na sa loob ng locker at nagbihis ng uniform namin. Bale isang itim na polo ang suot ko na ngayo'y pinatungan ko ng puting apron as a part of our daily uniform. Nakapusod ang buhok kong pinatungan ko ito ng hairnet para mas malinis akong tingnan.
"Uy Coco, dalian mo nga diyan. Maraming studyante ngayon." Sabi sa akin ni Kate. Tumango ako sa kanya at sabay kaming lumabas ng locker. Tumambad sa amin ang mga college student na nag-uusap sa pila while some are silently waiting for their turn.
"Uy Co, isang frappe muna. Venti." Paghingi ng tulong ni Jarrick sakin na nakangiti. Tumango ako sa kanya at sinimulan ang paggawa ng frappe.
Ganito ang eksena araw-araw. Kung marami kaming na-serve beyond the quota for this day, binibigyan kami ni Ms. V ng kaonting tip para may pera kami besides sa monthly na sweldo namin. Booming naman ang aming cafe since affordable naman ang prices at considered yung location namin na malapit sa isang sikat na university. Dagdag pa yung mga mag-aaral na may malalaking allowance.
