Nine Days With Jude [CLAVERIA #1]

DAY 5

FOR the first time after many years, ngayon na lang ulit ako nagising na magaan ang pakiramdam, na para bang I already have the will to live.

Bumangon ako and sumandal sa headboard ng kama. I remembered everything that happened yesterday starting midnight. From the moment I went out Pam's house hanggang sa natapos ang buong Sunday. After so many years, I attended a Sunday mass.

Hindi ko nakita ulit 'yung lalaki when I attended the mass but somehow my heart felt serene. Hindi ko alam if that is because of the gospel or dahil sa mga sinabi niya. Basta I am enjoying this tranquillity, this peace inside me.

Hindi ko namalayang nakangiti na pala akong mag-isa.

I shook my head off. Today is Monday so I have to focus more on my work.

I took a bath already and fixed myself. I don't have plans of eating breakfast pero pagbaba ko ay naamoy ko agad ang pagkain. Damn it nakakagutom.

"Ma'am, kain na po kayo," pag-aaya ng isang maid namin.

Nakakapagtaka, bakit hindi si Mommy ang nag-aaya sa'kin? Bakit hindi niya ko pinipilit kumain ngayon?

Sumabay ako kay Yaya papunta sa dining area and I already saw my mom eating alone. She did not even bother to give me a single glance nang dumating ako. What's up with her?

I gracefully seated on the chair adjacent to hers.

This is unusual of her. Madalas kapag kumakain kami ang ingay ingay niya, but now she's just eating in silent. Binalewala ko na lang at tahimik ding kumain.

But this is bothering me that I can't eat properly. Binitawan ko ang hawak kong fork and knife. Huminga ko nang malalim. "What time is your dialysis?"

She finally faced me. I can tell from her face that she's jittered as if there is something bothering her. "Mamaya pang hapon."

I gave her a single glance at muling kumain. "I'll go with you," I almost whispered but still with authority.

"S-Sasamahan mo ko?"

"Papasok muna ko sa trabaho. Text me if kailangan mo nang pumunta sa hospital, I'll fetch you here."

"Paano ang trabaho mo?"

"Don't mind me."

I looked at her and she's smiling, isang ngiting hindi makapaniwala.

"Busog na ko." Tumayo na ko. "I'll go ahead."

PAGDATING ko sa office, I asked the team Secretary to gather the employee under my department sa available room para pag-usapan ang naisip nilang plan B dahil nga sa pag-back out ni Ms. Javier.

Pagdating ko sa tapat ng room ay rinig na ang usapan nila though it was unclear. Ang dami nilang discussions and murmurs at parang mga squatters kung magtalo. Where's the etiquette of these people?

The moment I open the door and went inside, natahimik silang lahat at umupo nang maayos. Ha! Bunch of shady people pretending to be professionals.

Tumayo ako sa harap at isa-isa silang tinignan. "Are you aware that your voices are audible even if I'm still a meter away from this room?"

"Sorry po," mahina nilang sambit.

"Para kayong nasa palengke!"

This time ay wala na silang nasabi.

"Kaya niyo naman palang tumahimik." Umupo na ko. "Who's going to present the proposal?"

Nagtinginan pa sila at parang nagtuturuan! Ugh! Disgusting! "Don't tell me hindi niyo pa napag-uusapan kung sino ang magsasalita? If diyan pa lang palpak na kayo, what more your proposal is?! Sa tingin niyo magagawa kong pagkatiwalaan 'yang proposal niyo kung ganyan kayo?!"