Chapter 16

"Good morning," bati ko kay manager Cassandra pagkapasok ko sa cafeteria. Maaga akong pumasok dahil ngayon ang unang araw ko rito sa cafeteria at ayoko naman na magkaroon sila ng bad impression sa akin.

"Good morning too. Oh by the way, heto nga pala ang isusuot mo. Magpalit ka na doon sa staff area," wika nito at iniabot sa akin ang hawak nitong damit. Kinuha ko naman iyon at agad na nagtungo sa staff area para magpalit ng damit. Nang tapos na akong magpit ng damit ay lumapit muli ako kay manager para tanungin kung anong gagawin ko.

"You will gonna serve our customer for now, and soon we'll going to teach you how to make our coffee." Napangiti naman ako sa sinambit ni manager at tumango sa kanya. At habang naghihintay kami ng mga customer ay inayos muna namin ang mga dapat ayusin dito sa cafe at unti-unti na rin na nagsisidatingan ang aming mga kasamahan. Pati na rin ang mga customers kaya busy na ang lahat. 

"Diana, can you serve this to the girls over there?" wika ni adel at itinuro ang apat na babae na nakaupo malapit sa may pintuan ng cafeteria. Tumango naman ako sa kanya.

"Sure," wika ko at binuhat ang tray na may lamang mga drinks.

"Here's your drinks ma'ams," wika ko at inilapag ko na isa-isa sa lamesa ang kanilang mga orders. At napatingin naman ako sa mga babaeng magkakasama. Halos manlaki ang aking mga mata ng mapagtanto kung sino sila.

"Diana is that you?" They asked in chorus while giving a glance at each other.

"Yes," I said and I was just about to excuse myself when Princess suddenly spoke. She's my classmates ever since we were in elementary. We used to be rivals for the top rank and we're not close either. People always compare us that made a barrier between us.

"Oh, I never imagined na lalagapak ka sa kinaroroonan mo ngayon. You were always on top but now, look at you. You were like from princess to rags. You shouldn't have turned your back on Eric when you were about to marry him. I can't believe you chose the rag man over a prince. Now, you look like a dethroned princess. Oh well, balita ko itinakwil ka na rin ng mga magulang mo. Oops sorry," wika nito at sa tono nang pananalita niya ay parang iniinsulto niya ako. But I tried to compose myself before I look at her in the eyes. I feel insulted for what she just said. Especially, that she called Allen, a rag. I can just let it pass but no, because she insulted Allen and I won't let anyone insults him. 

"Well, I think what you just heard was a fake news. I didn't chose a rag man over a prince. What I did is that I just chose my happiness over a prince. I choose the man where my heart and happiness does belong. And I think there's nothing wrong that I chose Allen over Eric."

"But sad to say, you just lose your family when you chose your happiness," she said and rolled her eyes on me before she left with her friends. And again, I felt that I got stabbed for a million times because of what princess said. She have a point. I just lose my family when I chose Allen, my happiness that they can never give. But, is it wrong to chose my happiness even just for once? For me, it's a no.

A sudden tear escape from my eyes so, i quickly wipe it and I let out a deep sigh before going back to work. Unang araw ko sa trabaho pero may hindi magandang pangyayari ulit ang nangyari. Bakit tila sinusundan yata ako ni kamalasan at mga negative vibes?

"Diana, are you alright?" 

"Yes, don't mind me." I answered back to Adel and I just continued my work. And just after an hour, I goes to the staff room and rest for a while. Then, my phone suddenly rang. I checked it out and it's Allen.

"Hello"

"Uhm, how are you doing?" He asked.

"Uhm I'm good and i'm at Celestine house." I lied.

"Sunduin kita mamaya diyan kapag pauwi na ako." 

"Uh—Uhm no. Mayamaya lang ay uuwi na rin naman ako agad kaya huwag mo na akong sunduin."

"Sige at babalik na ako sa trabaho. Ingat sa pag-uwi. Love you. " 

"Love you." I said and ended up the call.

For the second time, I let out a deep sigh and leaned my back on the wall. I closed my eyes and rest for a while before going back to work. Time had passed and it's already six o'clock in the evening, so it means that it's time for us to go home. My co-workers and I made sure to closed the cafeteria before going out. 

Kahit na may hindi magandang nangyari kanina ay may ngiti pa rin sa aking labi paglabas ko ng cafeteria dahil ang importante ay may trabaho na ako. Hindi man gaano kalaki ang sweldo ko pero malaking tulong na din iyon para sa amin ni Allen.

"Ah oo nga pala. Kailangan ko pang maghanda para sa dinner namin," pabulong kong wika kaya naman ng may makita akong bakanteng taxi ay pinara ko iyon at agad na sumakay.

                                 ~~~

"Oh Allen mabuti at dumating ka na. Sakto, tapos na akong magluto kaya umupo ka na diyan at ihahanda ko lang 'yong mga pagkain," wika ko kay Allen nang dumating na ito galing trabaho. Mabilis ko rin na inihanda ang mga pagkain at pagkatapos ay umupo na ako sa upuan na kaharap niya. At nagsimulang kumain pero may napansin ako sa kanya. He's not talking and I can sense that there's something wrong with him because he seems dull.

"Are you okay? Is there a problem?" I asked and held his hand. Napatingin naman ito agad sa akin. 

"Uhm I just got fired at my work." My jaw dropped when he said it. Bumalik na kase siya sa dating pinagtatrabahuan niyang restaurant tapos ngayon ay tinanggal na siya sa trabaho. Na siyang nakakagulat dahil alam kong maganda ang image ni Allen sa restaurant na iyon dahil sa maganda nitong pagtatrabaho. Pero nakapagtataka lang na tinanggal siya. May kinalaman na naman ba ang aking mga magulang sa nangyari kay Allen?

"Bakit? Maganda naman ang performance mo doon di ba?"

"I know pero ang sabi sa akin ay kailangan nila akong tanggalin. Pero huwag kang mag-alala dahil bukas na bukas din ay hahanap agad ako ng bagong mapagtatrabahuan. Kaya huwag ka nang mag-alala," dagdag nito kaya naman napangiti ako at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Pero palihim akong nakatingin sa kanya at pinagmamasdan. Do I deserve this man? He's so down to earth and I can't wish for more, but to live my life with him till my last breath.