AN: Sorry for the long delay. This is the last chapter of my Quarantine Serye. This dedicated to all frontliners out there risking their lives to save COVID 19 patients.
In commenting please use the hashtag #MysticAJQuarantineSerye
Next song/story is either Alapaap or Overdrive. This is going to be a different story kasi involved yung issues about friendship and marriage. So mostly it's for married adults pero for singles din kasi you guys would learn a lot about life.
MysticAJ
Ellie's Point of View
Ethan is cool, he is very creative when it comes to creating Tik-tok videos. Grabe ah even a genius and avid reader business owner. I am learning a lot from our convos on Instagram DMs. Ethan is just different from other guys. A lot of guys that hitted me kasi masyadong focus on what they can get from me. Ethan is different because he has something to offer to a girl. Katulad ng golden wisdom and humor.
Hindi lang puro looks iyan. Kailangan din ng utak. Even us girls appreciate guys who has a lot of wisdom and passion on their own fields. Hindi lang naman puro pera and ka gwapuhan. Kaya nga cringe minsan yung mga memes sa Fb about relationships eh.
Instagram DM Conversation:
Ethan: Have you tried reading Think and Grow rich by Napoleon Hill?
Ellie: Hindi pa, puro fiction ako ngayon eh. Parang Rich Dad Poor Dad rin ba iyan ni Robert Kiyosaki?
Ethan: Ah oo! Pero mas straight forward siya. Kaya highly recommended ko iyan for young adults.
FYI wala kaming something ah. Na-enjoy ko lang ang company and conversation since quarantined ang buong mundo for almost 5 weeks na. Ayun halos lahat ata ng entertainment sa social media ginawa ko na. Nag-upload ng vlogs, nag-cover ng song sa IG tv tapos mag-tiktok kasama si Ethan.
Pag nag-s-scroll ako ng Facebook puro death rate and cases ng Corona Virus sa Pinas ang nababasa ko sa news feed. Kahapon 125 new cases tapos this morning naman 75. Kailan ba to matatapos? Miss ko na yung dati kong buhay at nakakamiss na mag-trabaho. Pati yung makipag selfie sa fans pag fans day. Pati na rin yung ma interview sa mga TV shows sa studio. Ano pa ba? Yung mag-taping ng teleserye sa province. Sobrang namiss ko ang regular lifestyle nung wala pang pandemic.
Ano pa itong nababalitaan ko? Pati yung 5k Php na support from the government hinihintay rin ng mga middle class employees. Meron naman yung nakuhang pera from the government pinambili pa ng shabu. Jusko! Ano ba naman iyan!
"Uy Ellie diba kasama mo ito sa gymnastics lessons mo dati!" Tinawag ako ni kuya Charles at hawak niya yung phone niya.
"Ha? Patingin? Hala! Si Fritz? OMG I can't believe she's g-gone..." May Facebook post kasi about sa friend ko back in high school na kasama ko sa gymnast training. Yes! Yung friend ko na nurse just lost her life serving as a front liner.
"Grabe parang kahapon lang Ellie nung kumain tayo ng dinner sa BGC with Fritz." Kuya Charles shared.
"Hindi ako makapaniwala talaga! I mean she's working in Makati med which is a very expensive hospo."
"Ganon talaga ang buhay Ellie. Hindi mo masasabi kung kailan ka kukunin ni Lord." Tama nga naman si kuya Charles. May Corona Virus man o wala hindi mo talaga masasabi if it's time to go na. Kaya nga it's important to pursue things that you love kasi nga life is short and unpredictable.
"Fritz why now? Gosh! We're planning to travel pa sana after quarantine." Unbelievable kasi sa dami pa namang front liner friends siya pa.
I checked my phone nakita ko Ethan messaged me again. Sakto he's there, I need someone to comfort me because of an unexpected death. Hayst! I just can't believe it.
Instagram DM Conversation
Ethan: May feeding program ka ulit?
Ellie: Ako? Nagbabalak. Uy Ethan, namatay yung classmate ko.
Ethan: Ha? Due to Covid 19?
Ellie: Oo, kailan ba to matatapos? 6000+ na yung cases sa Pinas. Katakot na.
Ethan: Alam mo kalma lang. Trust the process! Trust the Universe!
Ellie: Sows ayan ka nanaman sa mga law of attraction quotes mo
Ethan: Haha pinapasaya lang kita.
Ellie: Haha bwiset ka!
Ethan: Daan ka sa cafe after quarantine ah
Ellie: Ayaw! Busy ako Hehe
Is he inviting me? Pupunta naman ako sa cafe niya eh I'm just making fun of him. Ethan talaga oh!
Ethan: Haha sows! Sige lang bahala ka.
Ellie: Ano ba board games mo? Hindi ako ma board games pero interested ako.
Ethan: Madami like Catan,Monopoly,Scythe,Pandemic,Exploding Kittens basta madami. Pili ka lang sa store.
Ellie: Nakita ko nga sa store niyo madami mukhang board game store nga eh.
We'll get along for sure pag-nagkita kami in person. Ethan is a collector of board games ako naman collector ng limited edition Barbie dolls. Napansin ko rin sa IG ni Ethan na he's a closet ML player tapos he plays board games with foreigners through his IG livestreams. Magkakasundo talaga kami ,kaya matapos lang itong quarantine na ito I will set a meeting with him.
Buti pinaalala ni Ethan yung pa feeding ko sa mga homeless. The next day agad naman kami nag-prep ng family ko for another feeding program. As usual kuya Charles will do the cooking and me and my mom will do the packing. This time sa may Quezon city naman kami mamimigay sa mga homeless. Satisfied kasi ako lagi pag-nakakatulong. Basta! Ang sarap lang tumulong regardless of the recognition na makuha ko sa social media.
"Anak ingat ka sa labas ah." Reminder ng mom ko habang nag-p-prepare na kami mag-pack ng food.
"Oo naman mommy, hindi naman ako pabaya sa labas."
"Nako tita si Ellie pa! Maalaga iyan sa trabaho sa sarili niya pa kaya? Hayaan niyo po ako bahala diyan." Sagot ni kuya Charles kay mommy.
"Atsaka kuya Charles buti naman may excess budget tayo. Kaya abot 300 plus na homeless ito."
"Pasalamat ka sa mga sponsors mo Ellie. Ang galing talaga umabot mahigit 100k budget natin. May ilang araw pa tayong lakad nito." Sa tulong ng fund raising ko sa Facebook and Instagram ang dami nating kababayan ang tumulong para may food kami para sa mga homeless.
"Buti nga madaming magagandang loob diyan eh. Sabi nga nila we are all in this together. We will all heal from Corona Virus together."
We went on for our feeding program. Daming tao ang sumalubong sa amin. Katulad ng ibang feeding na ginawa namin madaming homeless ang may gusto ng luto ni kuya Charles. I'm wearing face mask and my protection suit para hindi ako ma infect ng virus habang na sa labas. Kahit mainit ah tiniis ko yun. Kuya Charles is driving and I'm the one giving through the window.
"Thank you ate Ellie."
"Salamat ng madami!"
"Ang dani naman nito. Salamat ate Ellie."
Makita ko lang silang nakangiti masaya na ako. Meron din namang mga garbage collector na nakipag selfie sa akin. Isa pa sa pinagtataka ko dito sa Pilipinas ang liit ng sahod ng mga nangongolekta ng basura. Samantala sa Japan and Australia kasing pantay ng office worker yung sahod ng garbage collector. Unfair diba? What the heck PH! Come on!
"Wew! Finally we're done. Ka pagod." Sobrang pagod ako feeling ko bumibigat ang katawan ko.
"Grabe kuya Charles parang ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko." Parang ang init ng leeg ko tapos my legs are shaking like what?
"Baka pagod lang iyan Ellie."
"Sinsipon pa ako tapos yung lalamunan ko ang sakit."
No! Parang biglaan naman ako nagkasakit. Hindi kaya? No! Wag naman sana! Please God! Don't make me one of the 6,000+ cases here in the Philippines. Agad naman nag-drive si kuya Charles sa Makati Med para mag-pa check up. Nandoon kasi yung personal physician ko na in network sa aking health insurance policy. Ganon talaga pag artista binibigyan ng personal physician ng TV network for my own safety and health.
So ayun check up then Covid 19 test. After a few hours of waiting natagpuan nila I'm COVID 19 positive. For the love of God! Bakit ngayon pa? Sa dami kong ginawang feeding program the previous days sino namang hindi magkakaroon ng Corona Virus sa katawan? Agad naman ako na confined sa Makati med. Like come on! I need to heal up as soon as possible.
I'm 21 years old and na sa hospital bed ako. I'm anxious talaga kasi I could get killed by this Corona Virus lurking in my cells,tissues or anywhere in my body. Ang daming needles na kailangan gamitin,medicine and other stuff na naka-surround sa akin in my hospital room. The nurses recognized me as an actress na nakikita nila sa TV. Yung iba naki small talk ng kamusta and good luck. Kaya ayun nagkakaroon ako ng motivation to get well.
"Ellie! Ok ka lang anak?" Agad naman ako dinalaw ni mommy. She's wearing a face mask tapos alalang-alala.
"H-hay mommy... Sorry hindi ako nag-ingat sa labas."
"Ok lang anak ang importante ay nakatulong ka."
"K-kuya C-Charles.." Nanghihinang sagot ko.
"Yes baby girl?" Kuya Charles approached me and he's wearing face mask na and protective gear.
"T-thank you ah.. F-for being there.." I said my gratitude as if it's my last sentence to say. I'm anxious kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin. Here I am hanging between life and death because of this pandemic. I remembered some lyrics of an Eraserheads song.
In a world where everybody hates a happy ending story
It's a wonder love can make the world go 'round
But don't let it bring you down and turn your face into a frown
You'll get along with a little prayer and a song
It's a song that cured my anxiety. In a world nga naman na people who are focused on bad news instead of the good ones. For sure nababalita na ako sa social media na I'm Covid 19 positive. Nandiyan na iyan eh, I have no choice but to get through this.
"Ellie may dalaw ka, someone you know very well." Kuya Charles called me.
"S-sino? W-what? E-than?" OMG Ethan is here. He's wearing a white shirt tapos black hoodie jacket. He looks presentable na parang guy from GQ magazine.
"Tumingin ka sa akin. Tumingin ka sa akin." Ethan approached me.
"Huh?"
"Titig pa.. Titig pa... Oh? Sa akin ka lang, Wag kang titingin sa iba." Is he joking? He just recited the line from our first tik-tok duet.
"Loko ka t-talaga E-ethan.. Nanghihina na nga ako nagawa mo pang mag-biro!!"
"Ellie naman pinapasaya lang kita. Ikaw talaga hindi ka pa nasanay sa akin." Ethan said with his confident tone. Ibang-iba sa online persona niya.
"Hmpf!!"
Why is he a few feet away from me? Hindi ba siya natatakot baka ma infect ko siya? I have Corona virus in my body he should be distancing from me. Pero grabe he's got the effort and guts to talk to me. Hindi siya katulad ng ibang fans.
"Basta Ellie,kaya mo iyan! For sure after all of this ma I-inspire yung fans mo. Imagine Ellie, it was there for a purpose. And that's to tell a good story for your fans." Ramdam ko sa pep talk niya yung sincerity and authenticity.
"Y-yes E-ethan but it's easier said than done." I tried to talk kahit nanghihina ako.
"Wag mo pilitin Ellie, basta promise me na you will make it" Na pa ngiti na lang ako sa sinabi niya with enthusiasm inside of me.
"W-wait Ethan!"
"Ano yun? Ellie, save your energy wag mo piltin."
"Pag nalaman ko na gusto mo ako... Lalayo na ako... "
"Ha? Saan? Hoy Ellie hindi ito Tik-tok." Ani ni Ethan.
0----0
June 2020
"Ang traffic naman dito sa BGC." I'm alone driving here in Bonifacio Global city. Nandito ako tapat ng St Luke's medical center habang naghihintay gumalaw ang pila ng mga sasakyan.
Nakita ko nanaman ang name ko sa isang news article sa social media. Dami kasi na inspire sa recovery ko when I caught Corona Virus in my body. Oh well that's one story in our history books. Even now I still get phone calls from several news companies for a quick question and answer. Corona Virus survivor ka ba naman syempre super hero ang tingin sayo ng mga tao.
Mas-lalo lang ako nagkaroon ng madaming social media followers even mga artista sa kabilang TV network nag-follow na rin. Ok lang naman kasi regardless of TV network either you're Kapamilya or Kapuso we're friends and supportive to each other's artwork. Mga immature fans lang ang gumagawa ng rivalry sa amin mga performers. We love our jobs and parehas naman kami na nakakapag entertain. Magkaiba lang ang label and brand.
"Wait? 501st gaming? Teka? Looks like I have to stop by to meet someone." Nakita ko yung board game cafe ng one of the people who visited me in the hospital nung nanghihina ako.
So far everything is back to normal. It's just mas health conscious na ang mga tao ngayon. Parang post WW2 ang dating sa akin. Everyone still wash their hands regularly dahil naging habit nila yun nung nag-quarantine from March to May. Madaming job hiring recently dahil kailangan ng manpower sa ibang company. Syempre may companies na nag-mass layoff because of COVID 19. So now they need to rebuild.
"Ganda naman dito sa cafe na ito. Parang board game tournament ang dating." I entered the cafe and I really like the ambiance.
"Hi Ellie pwede mag-pa picture?"
"Ganda mo talaga ate Ellie."
As usual may mga fans na gusto maki selfie. Since tapos na ang social distancing period go lang ako. Tuwang-tuwa naman sila sa mga kuha nilang pictures with me.
"Good afternoon ma'am can I help you?" A very familiar guy approached me. He's just wearing a white shirt tapos black jeans and Addidas superstar sneaks.
"Ethan? " I called him and he smiled at me.
"Ellie? Oh my God! Good to see you here. Bakit na pa daan ka?" He asked with his sparkling smile.
"Diba nag-promise ako sayo once I recovered da-daan ako dito? So are you going to teach me a board game Ethan? Kasi larong-laro na ako and I don'tr know where to start." I asked him playfully and politely.
"Haha! You came to the right place Ellie." I'm looking forward to having fun playing board games. And Ethan? Hindi ako sanay kausapin siya in person kasi puro sa Tik-tok and IG lang kami nag-uusap. For sure I'm going to have fun today.
AN: When I wrote this story last April 2020 I was visualizing by June there would be no more or minimal Covid cases na. Mag Ju-July na we have 75 cases here in Melbourne but zero in other parts of Australia. Tapos back at home in Philippines it's like 50,000+ nationwide? Crap! Mahihirapan ako nito paguwi ng Manila.
Anyway stay safe guys.