Chapter 1: Odd guy in the bus

Lorraine Reyes

     I considered some of the memories from my childhood indelible beyond all attempts the following years  tried to fade them. It stored in my mind until now no matter the effort of trying to forget them. It wasn't a tragedy that happened. It was all those humor I heard from other people with the youngest mind I had. My innocent self wasn't new to the talks I've heard from them. 

     "Naku, mare. Alam mo ba 'yang batang 'yan, bunga iyan ng panggagahasa ng demonyong tatay niya. Nakakaawa naman ang nanay niyan," I heard the mother of one of my classmates tell the other, her face marked with disgust. Ito ang kauna-unahang panahon na narinig ko iyon.

     "Kung totoo man iyan, swerte siya dahil binuhay siya ng kaniyang Ina. May iba kasi na nagpapakamatay o 'di kaya'y nagpapa-abort. Sana naman makulong na ang gumawa noon sa kaniya," sagot naman ng isa.

     "Naaawa rin ako sa asawa ng babae. Kailangan niyang kargahin at palakihin ang batang hindi naman niya kadugo."

     "Baka ganoon niya kamahal ang asawa kaya hindi niya magawang mag-suhestiyon na ipaabort ang bata. At isa pa, masama ang kumitil ng buhay," sagot ng isa habang dinaanan ako at papunta na sila sa gate.

     I sighed and looked at the painting I've made, hesitating on whether I give it to my bestfriend Amanda. Sinabi niya kasi sa akin na gusto niya ito. Hindi ko alam paano niya nagustuhan eh, napunit na ang gitnang bahagi dahil medyo nakapalan ko ng lagay ng watercolor. Hindi rin maayos ang pagkakakulay. Habang nag-iisip ako kung ibibigay ko ito sa kaniya ay nakita ko si Amanda na papunta sa aking direksyon.

     "Oh, nasaan na ang painting na hiningi ko sa'yo? Nakalimutan mo ba?" tanong nito at sumimangot. Natawa ako at ibinigay sa kaniya ang painting. Tinanong ko siya ba't niya iyon nagustuhan. "Lorraine, kahit pangit pa 'yan sa'yo, maganda 'yan para sa'kin. Ilalagay ko ito sa ating box of friendship para 'pag lumaki na tayo ay sabay natin itong bubuksan," masayang tugon niya. Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako dahil mayroon akong kaibigan na masayahin.

     Nang nasa bahay na ako,nadatnan ko si Mama na nanghuhugas ng pinggan at tinanong ko siya kung ano iyong abort. Agad naman niyang ipinahid ang basang kamay sa kaniyang suot at hinaplos ang aking mukha. "Iyon ay pagpapalaglag ng bata habang nasa sinampupunan pa, anak. Bakit mo naitanong?"

     "Kasi sabi ng babae roon buti raw hindi niyo ako pina-abort gayong anak po ako ng demonyong tatay ko." 

     "Huwag mo silang intindihin anak. Hindi ko inisip na ipa-abort ka. You are my sunshine. Kayong pamilya ko. Mahal na mahal kita," sabi ni Mama at hinalikan ako sa pisngi. Dumating naman ang aking kinikilalang tatay, kinamusta, at kinarga ako. Swerte naman ako sa aking pamilya. Only those other people want to hinder my existence. 

     Present time. I am Lorraine Reyes, 21 years of age. I am taking the course of Business Management at Lacrosta University in Manila. I'm working part-time student on a bakery not far from the apartment and school. Yes, after graduating from highschool I transferred to an apartment as I can save more with the fees. I chose to attend college in Lacrosta because I believe it has sufficient learning materials than our town. I have little problems with the university's fees because I applied for scholarship. The university is just a walk away. The bakery is just two blocks away from the place I am living in. Kahit na ganoon ay umuuwi pa rin ako sa amin thrice in a month. And my best friend, well, their family moved to a place kilometer from the same university we both attended but she doesn't have to bother with transportation fees anyways as their family is well-off; they have their own driver. Nevertheless we still stayed in touch with each other. 

     I was on my way to the bakery when the close sign of it from afar surprised me. Tumakbo ako papunta roon. The bakery don't close kaya nagtaka ako. After seconds of looking at the sign, I was frightened by a pat on the shoulder. I turned to see the owner in his sad face. "Hi, Lorraine. Sorry for taking your time with going here. And sorry dahil we have to close this bakery which obviously means we have to remove staffs. Our partner in business decided to quit after seeing signs of bankruptcy. Only the remaining money did we used for paying staffs but we cannot continue the business now." Inabot niya sa akin ang isang sobre. "Sana makatulong ito pansamantala upang makahanap ka ng bago mong malilipatang trabaho. I know how much you and your family need money but this amount won't suffice it. If ever may alam akong nag-h-hire ng trabaho, I would immediately inform you," the owner said. I thanked him and stayed for a moment outside the bakeshop. This day would supposedly turn to be a good one. 

     Moments later I decided to go to our house. I have to save money kaya sumakay lang ako sa bus. It was almost full when I entered 'cept for one seat behind the sleeping guy in a formal attire. After a time, hindi ko namalayang nakaidlip pala ako. I started to roam my eyes outside. Buti naman at hindi pa lumalagpas sa bahay namin.

     A woman probably in her 60's came in. With no other free space left, I chose to stand up from my seat and give it to her. Just when the woman has taken her seat, the bus suddenly brake. Kakagising ko lang kaya na-out of balance ako causing my body to fall with the the seat I'm closest to. Seat with a person on it. Damn. Just great. 

     Ilang segundo mula ako napaupo ay may narinig akong tumikhim sa aking likuran."Would you mind taking your ass away? You can't do that forever, can you?" I felt his breath in my neck. The huskiness sent shivers through my spine. I gulp and stood. Nakakahiya. 

     I turned to apologize, carefully lifting my eyes to meet his which is a wrong move. Now he got to get a closer look at my stupid face. But it was too late to look away. Those were pairs of blue I've never seen in my life. Bihira lang kasi ang foreigner sa amin that's why I was out of breath  when those eyes met mine. Ocean colored. He was wearing a formal attire with an attaché case near him which made him odd in the bus. I turned my eyes and muttered a silent curse, mentally punching myself from being careless. 

     As my mind started to drift away from the world, I felt my phone vibrates. Bestie: it reads. Buti na lang tumawag 'to kundi madadagdagan pa ang awkward moment ko rito sa bus. I swiped the answer button but distanced it from my ear. 

     "BESTIEE. Kumusta ka na? Hinahanap ka na ng 'suitor' mo dito," pambungad nito.  I rolled my eyes as if she could see it. She was pertaining to her neighbor who happened to see me when I was visiting her. Since then, he, according to Amanda, keeps on bothering her with questions on my whereabouts. Not that 'bothering' is of negative meaning to her. If I know, gusto niya rin maging kupido  and hit us to each other. 

     "I told you. I'm not interested with this boy friend stuff. I'm still young. I've dreams and family to support."

     "I understand the dreams and support family part but young? Seriously? You consider yourself as one." Her last sentence was not meant for question but a weak aim to make me realize I am not getting any younger. It's as if being 21 without experience could kill. Or would it?

     "You should get yourself one, Lorraine," seryoso nitong saad. "Any guy out there would be lucky to have a drop-dead gorgeous fellow with and I quote 'loving-heart'. This is  21st Century. Be human naman. Or at least you get a fling instead of serious relationship," she suggested. 

     "Naku,Amanda. Don't include me with your fantasy with hot men. I'm out." She continued her litany on how to properly attract men while I stared outside. Hmm, what should I do to distract this woman? As I looked outside again, malapit na ako sa bahay namin. Great reason. 

     "Got to hung up now, Amanda. I'm visiting my family." I did not wait for her response and signaled the driver to stop. When I got out, I went to pay and thank him. 

     I slowly went to the gate of the house. Hindi naman malaki ang bahay namin but my father insisted to put a gate for obvious reason of privacy. We live in a place where houses are almost close to each other or what they call 'eskwater'. Our town is five kilometers away from the city but the people loved it here because the rent for land is cheaper than other places. From what I have remembered, my family stayed in this place for almost 30 years including the time when my parents are starting it off building the family.

      I knocked and waited for someone to open it. No answer. I tried to peep in the hole. No signs of them. I knocked for the second time and was thankful that Calix heard and the opened the door. 

     Calix is the youngest amongst the three of us siblings. The eldest is Ali, older than me by two years, me older than Calix by a year. Calix's tall figure greeted me.

"Ikaw pala iyan ate. Kumusta?" He led me inside. "Nasa kusina pala sina Mama at Papa.

     " Ang Kuya Ali mo?" I asked when I didn't see him outside. 

     "Ayun. Tulog mantika. Nagulat nga ako nang makita ko siya sa kwarto na nakahilata." Tumawa kaming dalawa. We both know that Ali is not the 'got-to-sleep-early' type of person. What has gotten to him at natulog ito ng maaga? Maybe his girl friend broke up with him? If he has one. 

     When we entered our small kitchen, nadatnan ko si Papa na nagbabasa ng dyaryo at si Mama na nagluluto.

     "Mama, tapos na po akong kumain. Kakain na lang ako ulit pagkatapos kong magpahinga," pagpapaalam ni Calix kay Mama. It appeared that he came from basketball practice. "Bye ate. I got to rest muna at may practice pa kami bukas as preparation for the game with the next school next week."

      I pulled a chair next to Papa. Nagmano muna ako sa kanila before sitting. Mom turned with a smile. 

     "Nagluto ako ng paborito mong pinakbet, anak. Buti at nakadalaw ka," my mom said while transferring the food to a bowl. 

     "Hindi rin ako magtatagal dito Mama. May pasok pa kasi bukas at trabaho," sabi ko sa kaniya. I helped her with the work. Kinamusta ako ni Papa and we talked about things in the university and how my studies went. Hindi rin nagtagal ay nagpaalam na ako sa kanila. Another reason why I chose to return to the apartment early is so I can browse nearby jobs.

     Upon reaching the apartment, I grabbed my phone and tried looking for nearby jobs. There are three opportunities. I'll try to apply tomorrow. Arghh. I slammed my back on the bed and started to sleep.

     "What? Natanggal ka sa trabaho? Oh my gosh. Paano na iyan?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Amanda. Sinabihan ko kasi siya pagkatapos ng klase na wala na akong trabaho. We're inside the cafe near the university.

     "It sounded like you're thinking the owner fired me," I answered. I kept playing with the chiffon cake in front of me. 

     "Either way, the result is the same. You have no job now. You want me to help you? Actually I know someone who knows someone looking for applicant as secretary." I was in my mid-way of drinking my cup of coffee when I spit it because of what she said. 

     "Seriously? You think I would pass as one? In which part? As what I've known they have to have that perfect body image."

     "Well–" she scanned her eyes to me. "Kailangan mo lang mag-ayos ng kaunti but you are beautiful, really. Besides, your job is to take note of meetings, schedules and the likes. Bonus na lang ang itsura." She took a sip of her coffee. "So, this someone I know is Andrius Lacrosta. You probably knew him."

     I shook my head. "No,haven't heard that," I honestly replied.

     "You've got to be kidding. He is the son of the owner of Lacrosta University. Can't believe you don't know him. But anyways, he was a friend of mine. We joined the coalition for artist back then. We have a group page and funny thing was he posted looking for secretary for his boss. So eager. Maybe it was very difficult to deal with his boss."

     "Or maybe he's looking for same gender?" I burst to laughter. Umiling lang si Amanda habang natatawa rin. "If ever I would be interested given there are no other choices but, can you help me?" 

     "Oh, sure. I can contact this guy, Andrius. For the mean time, I'll help you to apply with the nearby jobs you browsed," she said. I handed her my phone. She carefully read the places. Mabuti na lang at alam niya ito. "At Bestie, remember kung hindi ka matanggap ng isa sa mga 'yan, my friend is just a chat away. Aja." Nag-sign pa ito ng 'fighting sign' na parang sa Kdrama. Adik to eh. I mean, yeah I also watch it but I'm still new comoarehd to her. She already has lots of husbands as what she call them and that include Park Seo Joon, Lee Jung Suk,Song Joong Ki, Lee Min Ho and 99 others. 

     I laughed silently but she heard it anyway."I know what you're thinking. You wanna steal my husbands," she accused. 

     "I'm not. They're all yours... in your dreams." I laughed while waiting for a ride. 

     When we reached the first, unfortunately, they just got an applicant before we arrived. The second, we saw queue from the outside. The possibility of getting a new applicant is high so we moved to the other. It's a restaurant. Unfortunately they don't accept applicants. Said they haven't updated their page. 

     We return in the cafe exhausted. Amanda ordered a cold coffee. I go for mango shake. It felt hot. I checked the time and it's almost six. Nagpaalam muna ako kay Amanda para pumunta sandali sa restroom. What would I do now? Well, that leaves Amanda's offer as the last resort.