C2 Her Past

Faye’s Point of View.

Friday na! Unfortunately, may exam pa kami kaya kahit inaantok pa ay bumangon na ako sa kama at dumiretso na kaagad sa banyo. I took a quick bath and got dressed before I went downstairs to eat breakfast.

"Good morning, Mom," bati ko nang maabutan siya sa kusina.

"Good morning, sweetie! Sit down and I'll prepare your breakfast."

"Where's Manang Lucy po?" I asked when I noticed our personal maids weren’t around the house.

"Pinagday-off ko muna tutal ay bukas pa ang balik ko sa company natin."

Nakangiti akong tumango saka umupo at hindi na nagtanong pa. Pagkatapos kong mag-agahan ay ang saktong pagdating ni Manong Raul upang ihatid ako sa West University.

Palapit pa lang kami sa parking lot ng school nang matanaw ko na sina Ella at Hazel mula sa malayuan na nag-aabang sa akin.

"Hi, beb!" pagsalubong sa akin ni Ella pagkababa ko sa kotse.

"Nag-review ka ba?" tanong ni Hazel.

"Of course. Examination day, eh. We can't fail."

"We really can't. Let's go to the cafeteria," yaya ni Ella.

Patungo kami ngayon sa cafeteria ng West University. Mayroon pa naman kaming one hour bago magsimula ang test kaya napag-isipan naming kumain sandali.

Nang matapos sa pagkain ay dumiretso na kami sa room para mag-review ng notes. Naging mabilis lang ang pagrereview ko dahil nabasa ko na ang iba sa bahay.

Hindi rin nagtagal at dumating na ang Professor namin. Nagbigayan na ng test paper at sa amin ang huli dahil tatlo kaming nasa dulo ang pwesto. Ako ang unang natapos, sumunod sa akin si Hazel, then si Ella.

"My gosh! What do you think your score is?" kabadong tanong ni Hazel sa aming dalawa nang matapos ang test.

"I'm not sure, but I'm hoping the result won't be a disappointment," sagot at nagkibit-balikat. "Anyway, una na ako, ha? Nandyan na ang sundo ko," paalam ko sa kanila at kumaway.

"Take care, beb!"

"See you on Monday!"

"See you!"

Patakbo akong tumungo sa parking lot para hanapin ang sundo ko. Nang mahanap ay agaran akong pumasok sa loob ng kotse at hinilot ang sentido ko.

Napabaling ang paningin ko sa labas ng bintana ng kotse nang mapansin kong napahinto kami. Traffic na naman. Wala kaming nagawa kundi maghintay na lang. Inatake rin ako ng boredom so I browsed online. While browsing, may biglang nag pop-up na notification sa screen ng phone ko.

Marco Ramos sent you a friend request.

I don't know who this guy is but based on his profile picture and the mutual friends, I guess he's also a student from West University. To make it short, he's my schoolmate and that's why I accepted his friend request.

30 minutes. 30 minutes na ang nakalipas pero hindi pa rin umuusad ang trapiko. Natuon ang atensyon ko sa phone ko nang bigla na lang nag-chat 'yong inaccept ko sa facebook.

Marco Ramos: Hi.

Faye De Leon: Hello.

Marco Ramos: How was the test? Was it a piece of cake?

Okay? Feeling close now, huh?

Faye De Leon: It went well. It wasn’t easy, though.

Marco Ramos: That's good to hear.

Nangunot ang noo ko sa pagtataka. Nagtipa akong muli ng ire-reply.

Faye De Leon: By the way, do I perhaps know you?

Marco Ramos: Don't you?

My forehead furrowed and I just left his chat on read. He's kind of weird.

Marco Ramos: Seen?

Faye De Leon: What's the matter with you? Why did you message me? Tell me your true intention. I'm uncomfortable talking to a stranger.

Marco Ramos: I have no bad motive. So sungit. See you on Monday.

I logged out immediately as soon as I received his message. When we arrived home, dali-dali akong umakyat sa kwarto ko. Nag-alarm din ako para hindi magtuloy-tuloy ang tulog ko mamaya. I feel so exhausted kahit wala kaming ibang ginawa kundi magsagot ng test papers kaya nagpahinga ako saglit.

After an hour, nagising ako sa tunog na nanggagaling sa ilalim ng unan ko. It was my phone. Pinatay ko 'yon bago ako bumaba upang tingnan kung may dinner na kami para mamaya. Naabutan kong wala so I decided to cook my favorite dish, sinigang!

"Do you need help po, ma'am Faye?" yaya Chay asked.

"Hindi na po, yaya. I can handle na po." I smiled.

"Tawagin niyo na lang po ako kapag may kailangan kayo," sabi niya at iniwan niya na ako sa kusina nang mag-isa.

I honestly want to be a Chef someday but I also want to be a Flight Attendant but I'm learning medical stuff too so I still don't know what course to choose in College. I haven't decided yet what path I should take in the near future.

"Yaya Chay!" I called her. "Tikman mo nga po itong niluto ko."

I handed her the spoon then she tasted it. Naipikit ko ang isang mata, kinakabahan sa magiging reaksyon niya.

"Masarap po ba, yaya?" hindi ko na naiwasan ang magtanong.

"Masarap!" she commented that made my eyes sparkled. "Oh ito, bigyan mo doon ang Mommy mo," aniya pa.

Na-excite ako kaya pumunta kaagad ako sa veranda. Naabutan ko si Mom na nag-aayos ng mga papeles.

"Hi, Mom!" I greeted and kissed her cheeks.

"Oh, sweetie! Why are you here?"

"This..." Sabay bigay ko ng bowl na may sinigang.

"Did you cook this?"

"Yes, Mom." I smilingly nodded. Hinigop niya ang sabaw at maya-maya ay muli niya akong nilingon.

"This is so delicious, sweetie!" she smiled. "I'm going to miss this once I leave the country."

Napawi bigla ang ngiting nakaukit sa labi ko nang dahil sa sinabi niya. She’ll leave the country?

"What do you mean, Mom?" I asked, confused.

"I'm going back to South Korea tomorrow for our company's business trip and the discussion of merging. But don't worry, sweetie. Your Dad and I will come back before your birthday, okay?"

"Mom, October pa lang po. Sa March pa ang birthday ko. Does that mean you're not going to be here on Christmas and New Year?"

"I'm sorry, sweetie. Please, don't be mad. If you want, you can follow us there on your Christmas break."

I let out a burdensome sigh. "I'll think about it first, Mom."

"You know we're doing this for your sake, Faye. I hope you understand."

"I understand, Mom. I'm not mad. Nabigla lang po siguro ako dahil matagal kayong mags-stay doon. Almost five months."

She held my hand and pulled me for a tight hug. My parents wouldn't be with me on Christmas and New Year. I can invite Ella and Hazel to join me but I'm pretty sure they will also be going to celebrate with their families.

Uh-oh. Five months of boredom, can I survive it alone? But it's Korea, my favorite country. Should I fly to Korea?

Yes or No?