Prologue

Prologue 

Akira Celeste's POV

"Good evening! May I take your orders?" Sabi ko habang busy sa ginagawa sa counter. 

"Uh, 1 Mocha Top Notch and Strawberry Cheesecake please," I looked up to the customer. Oh, it's him again. It's already my 1 month here and I must say palagi sila dito ng mga kaibigan niya and sometimes dalawa lang sila. They are med students from UPCM, 'yan na chismis ko kay Tasha. 

"310, Sir." I said. He gave me his card. Grabe iba talaga mayayaman. I prepared his orders while he was playing with his phone. 

"Here are your orders, Sir. Thank you!" Sabi ko. He just smiled like usual. He went to his usual spot. And like the usual books agad nilabas pero this time he's alone. 

"Matitig naman ito si ate akala mo walang bukas," napatingin ako kay Tasha. Kakalabas lang niya galing sa pagbibihis. Working hours namin ni Tasha ngayon 6 to 11. We're both working students. She's from PUP while taga UPM naman ako. 

"Luh, tinitignan ko lang kaya." Sagot ko kahit tama naman siya. I don't know why I am always so fascinated with him. He's really attractive at ang gwapo. He has this doe eyes that is really captivating tas dagdag pa ang features niya na sobrang ganda. And I love staring at him sobrang calming niya kasi like he has no interest with the world at laging libro lang kaharap. 

At 'yan lagi kong napapansin when he's with his three friends. Lagi siyang tahimik or maybe depende lang talaga. Kung maka judge ako akala mo naman kilala, hmp. 

"Normal lang magka-crush diyan pero 'wag ma-in love ha," sabi niya sabay tawa. Naging close ko na si Tasha for the past 1 month. Madaldal siya which is opposite sa akin kaya ang dami kong alam tungkol sa kanya. 

"Proven and tested na, Teh," Pang-aasar ko sa kanya. He has had feelings to this guy from ADMU law student for almost 2 years na raw. Tapos kinwento niya pa sa akin na she confessed through giving him a drink tapos ayun she got rejected for I don't know what reason. I honestly feel bad for her pero at the same time proud because confessing your feelings to someone really takes a lot of courage. She took the risk and she's brave for that. Not all can do that. 

"Oo, kaya 'wag kang gagaya sa akin," Sabi niya. Tinawanan ko lang siya and I procced to opening my notes to review.

I'm a nursing student and sinasabi ko sa inyo sobrang hirap pagsabayin ng pag-aaral tsaka pagtatrabaho pero para sa pangarap, laban. I'm still thankful though because I got accepted in this cafe kasi kung hindi baka dun ako sa Jollibee at knowing na busy dun tsaka maingay. 

- 

"Mauna na ako sa 'yo, Aki." Sabi ni Tasha it's already 10: 45 PM and I am still here waiting sa papalit sa amin. There's around 7 people na nandito pa rin. Probably pulling an all-nighter. 

"Okay, ingat ka!" Sagot ko. Sa aming dalawa ako lagi naiiwan kasi mas malayo bahay nila kaysa sa amin kaya I choose na ako magpa-iwan while waiting sa papalit. 

I roamed my eyes around the cafe and I stopped when I saw Atlas, eyes fixed on the book. Sobrang daming gawain ba talaga sa med school. I want to procceed sa med pa naman if kakayanin ko pero I know hindi rin kasi I need to work after I graduate kasi madaming umaasa. I sighed with that reality. 

After minutes of waiting dumating na rin papalit sa akin. I cleaned up my things. "Alis na po ako."

I looked around and wala na si Atlas. Girl why are you looking for him, though? Lumabas nalang ako para makauwi na kasi sobrang late na rin. Hindi naman ganun kalayo bahay namin pero need ko pa rin mag commute. Minsan nakakauwi ako ng ala una pero 'yun na talaga buhay ko. And I can't even sleep pagdating ko sa bahay kasi need ko pang i-check mga gawain ko.

Pagkalabas ko nakita ko si Atlas. He's on a phone call. What a good night. Lumakad na ako papunta sa sakayan ng jeep. And madami pa rin ang nag aabang din na makasakay. 

Bakit nung nakipagpaligsahan ako sa mga sperms, eh ang bilis ko pero bakit pag sa sakayan ang bagal ko? Isang oras na ako rito wala pa rin akong masasakyan kasi lagi akong nauunahan.

I was taken aback when a car stopped in front of me. I know this car! The window went down at iniluwa nito si Finn. He's Atlas friend, med student din. I know him kasi minsan na kami nag-usap dun sa cafe na pinagtatrabahuan ko. 

"Hi Akira. Hatid ka nalang namin isang oras ka na rito," He offered. How did he know though? 

"We saw you kanina papasok pa lang kami sa resto tapos nakalabas na kami nandito ka pa rin." Sinagot niya tanong ko without asking it vocally. Gusto ko sana 'yung offer na iyon, but we're not close at tsaka abala lang dahil baka malayo 'yung samin at sa kanila. 

"Ah, no okay lang ako rito." Sabi ko nalang sabay ngiti. Nakakahiya kaya kung sana makapal lang mukha ko 'di ba? Ay sis may gana ka pa mahiya eh aabutan ka ata ng umaga rito ah. 

"No, we insist. 'Wag mo na problemahin pang gas if that what bothers you, mayaman itong driver ko." Sabi niya. Binatukan siya tuloy ni Atlas.

"Kung palabasin kaya kita rito," Sagot ni Atlas. Finn just rolled his eyes. Atlas then looked at me and nodded, "hop in idadaan ka nalang namin."

"Okay lang talaga?" Tanong ko. Syempre 'di talaga pwedeng magpabebe ako, pagod na rin ako at gusto ko nang matulog. I still have classes tomorrow and may test pa. 

"Yeah," He smiled. Finn opened the backseat. I went inside and an addictive scent welcomed me. It smells like Atlas, well this is his car kaya normal 'yun. 

Sinabi ko sa kanya kung saan ako nakatira. It wouldn't take hour naman para makarating sa amin kasi around taft lang din ako nakatira. I was just listening to the two of them talking while the music is playing on his stereo. 

I just know this guy is kinda a romantic person based on his music preference. Nothing by Bruno Major is playing on the stereo right now. Ah gusto ko matulong but hindi naman pwedeng matulog ako rito. I looked outside nalang and the darkness calms me. 

"Pupunta ka ba bukas?" Narinig kong tanong ni Finn kay Atlas. Hindi ko alam ano pinag-uusapan nila kasi kung saan-saan napupunta topic nila. 

"Hindi, busy ako." Sagot lang ni Atlas. 

"Weh, ayaw mo lang makita, eh." Sagot naman ni Finn. 

"Ikaw ang ayaw ko makita." Pambabara niya and that made me smile. Sobrang seryoso kasi nagka kilala ko sa kanya. Manahimik ka Akira 'di mo naman talaga 'yan kilala, eh. Takot ka ngang i-add siya sa f******k. Kung 'di ko lang talaga siya madalas makita siguro na-add ko na siya sa lahat ng socmed.

"Same." Sagot naman ni Finn. Hindi ko sila maintindihan dalawa kasi seryoso sila nag-uusap tapos biglang magbabangayan. Ganyan ba talaga ang magkakaibigan? I never had a bestfriend kasi or friends kaya 'di ko alam bonding ng magkakaibigan. 

At last nakarating na rin ako. Bumaba na ako and patay na lahat ng ilaw sa bahay. Tulog na silang lahat kaya I had to get my phone for the flashlight.

"Thank you sa paghatid. Ingat kayo!" I said to them. Atlas just smiled while Finn waved his hand at me. I watched his car leave first before I entered the house. 

Nagulat pa ako kasi pagbukas ko ng ilaw nasa sala pa kapatid ko. Aya was doing his homework while using her phone as a flashlight. 

"Anong trip mo ba't ka gumagawa ng assignment ng walang ilaw?" Mahinang tanong ko sa kanya. Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata. Umupo ako sa tabi niya habang tinitignan ginagawa niya.

"Sino 'yung naghatid sa 'yo, ha?" Of course, maririnig niya talaga 'yung sasakyan. 

"'Yung crush ko bakit inggit ka?" Sagot ko sa kanya. She just rolled her eyes on me. She has a lot of works to do. She's already in grade 11. 

"Ako maiinggit? Tss, Kim Taehyung ba 'yun?" Sagot niya naman. Ito talaga lagi niyang sagot when it comes to boys. I support her, though. 

"Sagutin mo muna tanong ko at bakit ka nagpatay ng ilaw?" Balik kong tanong. 

"Malaki bill natin ngayon ate tapos naniningil pa si Ante Lalay," sagot niya. And that made me lost my smile. She knows. Mama tried so hard na hindi ipaalam sa mga nakakabatang kapatid ko 'yung mga problema kasi she wants us to focus on our study pero they are already big enough to understand our situation. "Matulog ka na ate." 

I looked at her with sad eyes. 'Di niya deserve ito. 'Di namin deserve ito. Hindi ko nalang siya sinagot kasi 'di ko rin alam gagawin ko since wala pa akong sweldo. I don't want her to worry too. "'Wag mong patayin ang ilaw, ah. At matulog ka na rin pagkatapos mo riyan." 

She just smiled. I went to my room. I changed my clothes and went to bed. I can't see anything because I turned off the lights. Sanay ako matulog na nakapatay ilaw pero when my ate left hindi na. Natatakot kasi ako mag-isa pag madilim pero after hearing what my sister had said mas okay pala 'yung ganito.

Sometimes I wonder if Ate didn't leave or kung hindi sana nagkasakit si Papa ganito pa rin kaya 'yung college life ko? I just want to pursue my dreams and do the job I love while spoiling myself and my family. Pero siguro nga ganun talaga hindi naman makukuha ang lahat ng hindi ka nahihirapan. Wishing on the stars to guide me with my journey.