CHAPTER 3

“Ah!” Napabangon ako habang hingal na hingal na inabot ang kumot at ipinalibot sa aking katawan.

I scrutinized my room and felt relieved when I saw the lights are on. I wipe my sweats on my forehead and immediately stood up to check my neck on the mirror.

“It’s just a dream. Just a dream,” utal ko sa aking sarili habang hinimas-himas ang aking leeg. I could feel my blood raging inside my body as I fight someone in my dream.

Para iyong totoo. I noticed my wet eyes and saw how my tears flow down to my cheeks. I wipe it away and lay my body on my bed. I didn’t even notice that I was already crying. The dream was too much to bare. The scene was so vivid that I can’t sleep.

I miss ‘Tita Celia. I miss how she sing a song for me at night so that I can sleep peacefully. I miss her scent, I miss her.

I shivered as I started to cry again. Hanggang kalian ako ganito? Even in the smallest thing I saw that’s so unfamiliar to me, I started to shatter, shivering until I passed out. I hate it, i hate it.

Bumangon ako at napagdesisyonang bumaba ng kwarto para uminon ng tubig.

“M-Mom… D-Dad… Timothy. I miss you all. Please, save me,” I sob as I sit in the small space of our living room.

Why are they doing this to me? Am I being bad? Why would they make me suffer like this?

“Lily?” Umangat ang tingin ko kay Shiela habang abalang nag-a-arrange ng mga canned goods sa food section ng supermarket.

“Yes?” sagot ko sa kanya.

“Kilala mo si Duke di’ba?” Napatingin ako sa kanya at tumango.

Tumitiling lumapit ito sa akin. “Kyaaa! Ang gwapo ‘no?”

Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya. I have known Duke since I worked in this supermarket. Anak siya ng may-ari nito at madalang lang itong pumunta dito. He sometimes visits the supermarket to check if everything’s okey. O kaya naman ay inuutusan ng kanyang mga magulang na magpatawag ng meeting sa manager naming.

“Uh, sakto lang,” Napasinghap ito sa aking sinabi at kinurot ang aking pisngi.

“Aw! What are you doing? Hey, stop that!” saway ko sa kanya nang bigla nitong pinupok ang aking ulo ng mahina.

“Jogging your head baka may nawalang turnilyo d’yan o kaya naman ay na misplaced,” sagot nito habang patuloy na pagpukpok ng aking ulo.

Umatras ako habang pinipigilan siyang pupokin ang aking ulo nang maapakan ko lata ng sardinas at nakawala ang aking balanse. I was about to fall when suddenly a strong hand tightly gripped my waist.

I stilled as I inhaled its manly cologne. Tumingala ako para makita ang tao sa aking likuran. I was left dumbfounded when the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fortieza was the one who save me from falling on the floor. Agad akong lumayo sa kanya at yumuko bilang respeto. “S-Sir Duke, I’m so sorry Sir. I-Ito kasing si—”

“You okey?” Napatigil ako ng salita nang bigla itong lumapit sa akin at hinawakan ang aking kaliwang braso habang tumingin sa aking paa.

“H-Ha?” narinig kong tumawa sa aking likuran si Shiela kaya naman ay sinimangutan ko ito at siniko ng patago.

“Okey lang po ‘yang si Lily, Sir. ‘Yang utak lang po ang hindi. Perstaym kasing makakita ng anghel na hulog ng langit,”  Natatawa nitong usal habang ngumingising tumingin sa akin.

“N-No, hindi po ‘yan totoo—” Napatigil kaming dalawa ni Shiela nang tumawa ito ng marahan.

His laugh were so deep that it could drown us in an instant. His voice were soothing yet so low. Not to mention his dark aura that is so intitmidating.

“You both are so funny,” sabi pa nito nang matapos itong tumawa. “Have a nice day to the both of you. Lily, be careful next time,” Tumili ang kasama ko nang makaalis ito sa harapan namin.

“Oh, ano ka ngayon girl?” she teases me as I walk through the crowd to continue my job.

“Ano? Niligtas niya lang naman ako Shi—”

“With a little bit of landi,”  putol niya sa sinabi ko. Tangang to Boss naming ‘yun.

Ngumiwi ako sa kaniya. “Tungeks, Boss natin ‘yun ‘no,” Suminghap ito ng maarte at sinunudan akong magligpit ng mga cart.

“So ibig sabihim kapag hindi siya natin boss jojowain mo?” diretsang tanong nito sa akin.

“Gaga, hindi ‘no! At saka wala akong hilig sa mga ganiyan. Kung gusto mo ikaw nalang jumowa kay Boss,” Napatawa ako nang bigla itong namula at umiwas sa akin ng tingin.

“Oh ano ka ngayon girl? May gusto ka pala kay b—” Bigla nitong tinakpan ang aking bibig habang namumula parin ang pisngi.

“Gago, tumahimik ka kung gusto mo pa ng burger mamaya,” Kinagat ko ang kanyang kamay dahilan ng pagbitaw nito sa akin. Tumawa ako sa kanya habang siya naman ay napipikon na sa akin.

Aside from Ate Sha, Shiela is also a friend of mine. Palagi niya akong nililibre ng burger malapit sa aming pinagtatrabahuan. Like me, she also quit school to help her father support their family needs. Papatapusin niya daw muna ang kanyang bunsong kapatid bago siya mag-aral ulit. I was amazed by her fighting spirit. Alam kung second year high school pa lang ang kanyang kapait na babae at matagal-tagal pa itong gagraduate ng college. But still, bilib ako sa kasipagan niya.

“Hoy, be early tomorrow ha. May meeting daw bukas sabi ni Manager at kasama tayo dun,” I frowned as I sip my slurpee.

“Bakit daw?” Pinitik niya ang noo ko.

“Malay ko ba, baliw ‘to,” Natatawang sagot nito at inubos ang kanyang milktea. Tumayo ito mula sa pagkakaupo ng bench. “Una na ‘ko, Lily. See you tomorrow!” I wave my hand as she walk in the sidewalk.

Hinilot ko ang aking balikat habang naglalakad pauwi sa bahay. This day is torture. Marami kaming bagong stocks na in-arrange para bukas at sa susunod na araw, chineck na stocks sa store room, may pinack na promos, etc. etc.

I opened the door and turned on the lights as I made my way through the kitchen. Uminom ako ng malamig na tubig at pagkatapos ay pumasok na rin sa aking kwarto. Hinubad ko ang aking sapatos at humiga sa kama.

I close my eyes as I think of my entire day working. Then suddenly a big hands covered my nose and mouth with a handkerchief. “Hmph!” Nagpupumiglas akong makawala habang sinusunbukang kunin ang kanyang takip sa mukha.

The smell of the handkerchief makes me nauseous and it makes me weak. The last thing I knew is that, I felt him carry me in his shoulder while making his way outside the house. Wala akong ibang naisip kundi si Tita Celia, si Ate Shallel, at si Shiela bago nagsimulang tumakip ang aking mga talukap.