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Agad na kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bulsa at tinawagan ang best friend ko. Hindi naman nag tagal ay sinagot niya agad ito. Pero imbes na bati ang bumungad sakin, sigaw niya ang narinig ko, “Damn it! Hindi ba ang sabi ko, ilagay mo yan dyan? Bobo ka ba o bobo?!” I chuckled upon hearing her roaring voice.

“Hey, Kei.” I spoke

“Huh? Who the hell is c-“ I bet tinignan pa niya ang screen ng cellphone niya para malaman na may tumawag sa kaniya. “Omg! Omg! Addi! I’m sorry, hindi ko alam na nasagot ko pala ang call mo! How are you. My pretty best friend?”

Tumawa muna ako bago sumagot, “I’m good. I got another job, thanks to you.” I said, “Sabi ni tita, tawagan daw kita, bakit, ano kailangan mo?”

“Oh yes! Oo nga pala, do you want to go a vacay with me?” aya niya, kaya hindi ako nakasagot agad. “Come on, Addi. It’s been years nang huli tayong magbakasyon.” Here we go again, lagi talaga niya akong kinukulit na magbakasyon, “We can actually go on an exclusive Island! That would be fun!”

“Your invitation is quite tempting, Kei.” I heard her sigh, “Pero alam mo naman gaano kabigat ang responsibilidad ko ngayon diba? Hindi naman pwede na umalis ako at mag enjoy, habang sila maiiwan dito.”

“I understand, I’m sorry. Ang selfish ng invitation ko sa’yo.” I can really feel the sadness in her voice, pero wala naman akong magagawa, dahil hindi naman kasi talaga pwede. “Basta when you need help, don’t hesitate to ask me.”

“I’m sorry rin. Alam ko naman na gusto mo lang akong maisama sa bakasyon, I know you’re always there to help me,” I sighed, “I promise to pay you back.” Sinsero ko na sagot sa kaniya.

“Ewww! The drama, Addi! Yuck!” malakas akong tumawa dahil sa narinig kong sagot niya.

“Whatever, but hey, I might ask you for a job favor again, I’m sorry.”

“Duh! I told you, I can even give you a job! I can even triple your salary, para naman hindi ka na nag iisip araw-araw kung anong raket ang pinapasok mo.’

“Syempre, feeling ko unfair naman yon para sa iba na gusto rin ng trabaho na iyon.” I can’t accept money if I earned it that way.

“What the fuck? Unfair, Addi? Are you actually hearing yourself right now? You graduated with the highest honor, way back in college. Anong masama kung taasan ko ang sahod mo? People like you are not for every day. Kumbaga, rare ka, kakaunti ang katulad mo. I’m a businesswoman too, Addi. I’m hiring you because you have a potential, not just because you are my friend. You are a gem, and I found you.”

“I know,” kahit na hindi ko naman talaga inaasahan nag anon pala ang tingin niya sa akin, nagulat pa ko sa sinabi niya, “and thank you. Expect me one of these days, I’ll drop by.” I said, I heard her giggled.

“You can drop by, every day!” sabi niya, kaya natawa na lang ako.

I bid my goodbye before ending our call. Pumunta ako sa mall at bumili ng ilang prutas sa supermarket. Parehas mahilig sa prutas ang mga kapatid ko, kaya hindi na ko mahihirapan, nung isang araw pa kasi ubos ang mga prutas sa kwarto ni Mama.

I waited for my turn on the cashier, after paying my groceries, I made my way palabas ng mall. I sighed, trying to release my overwhelming emotions. Hanggang kalian kaya ganito? I’m tired.

Kahit pagod, pinilit kong pasiglahin ang pakiramdam ko, pupuntahan ko ang pamilya ko, hindi nila pwedeng makita na ganito ako, sakin na lang sila kumukuha ng lakas ng loob, kaya hindi maaari na pati ako maging malungkot at maging lugmok.

Palabas na sana ako ng mall nang may madaanan akong boutique. This boutique used to be the place where I buy my stuffs, hindi ko inalis ang tingin ko sa naka display na dress sa gitna ng boutique. I wanted to touch it, but I’m afraid I might ruin it, at sa estado ko ngayon, wala akong ibabayad kung sakali na masira ko ito.

“Addi?” nag angat ako ng tingin nang makita ang isang pamilyar na mukha. Purple hair, purple eyelashes, purple lipstick, purple eye shadow, purple neck chains, purple dress, purple denim blazer, purple five inches stilettos, and not to mention her purple branded purse, with her gold loops and five shinning bracelets, “OMG! I knew it! Sabi ko na nga ba at ikaw yan!”

Bahagya akong ngumiti, “Violet.” Bati ko sa kaniya.

“I did not expect to see you here!” ang ngiti ko ay nauwi sa ngiwi. Hindi pa rin sya nagbabago.

“Yeah, ako rin.” Maikling sagot ko.

“Oh, how did you get in here?” nag angat ako ng tingin dahil sa sinabi niya, “I mean, don’t get me wrong, okay?” tumigil siya nang parang may narealized, “Oh! Are you with Keith? I mean, between you too, she’s the only one who can afford to come here and buy stuffs from here. This mall do not have cheap items, that you can actually,” she looked at me from head to toe with a fake smile, plastered in her lips, “Purchase.”

I gave her my most casual smile, ignoring the words she just stabbed in my heart, “Yeah, as you can see,” iniangat ko ang paper bag na hawak ko, na nag lalaman ng mga prutas na binili ko sa mall na ito, “I can actually buy stuffs for me, I mean, I used my talent and skills in singing to earn money to make a living, without using my body as my leverage, I mean, don’t get me wrong, okay? It’s just that, I did not know, your sugar daddies don’t have taste on choosing whom to pampered.”

Gustong gusto ko talaga ilabas ang cellphone ko to take a picture of her, kitang kita ko kung paano pumula ang mukha niya, at lumabas ang mga invisible na usok mula sa ilong at tainga niya. My best friend, Kei, hates her so much, I mean, I don’t have to explain it myself, she just has to talk and prove herself, that she is, indeed, a bitch and a sugar baby.

I mean wala naman masama don, but you can just shut up there, hindi mo kailangan ipagyabang sa lahat na ginagamit ka ng ilang matatanda ng sabay sabay. That’s not something you should be proud of. Your body, in exchange of money.

Jeez.

I hate when I see her purple hair.