Chapter 2

I'm on my way to the department store. Kanina pa ako nag-out sa work ko and now it's nearing 5 PM. Saturday naman ngayon kaya hanggang 4 lang ang work ko. Good thing wala akong pasok ng weekends.

It's already three week since the proposal incident. We don't have our official break-up kaya tinext ko na siya, saying that I'm breaking up with him. Of course, wala naman siyang magagawa dahil siya 'yung nagloko.

Alam na nila mommy na nakipagbreak ako kay Ryan, his name was Ryan by the way. Halos buong tatlong linggo na rin na 'yon ay napuyat ako dahil sa pag-iyak ko. I convinced my self to move on dahil kailangan kong magpahinga para sa trabaho at pag-aaral ko. Hindi ako pwedeng bumagsak dahil graduating ako, although hanggang ngayon ay umiiyak pa rin ako ng konti gabi-gabi and nagstress eating din.

Nakakapagod. Nakakapagod masaktan pero masaya ang ma-inlove. Ang hirap kapag iiyak sa gabi at magkakaroon ng mental breakdown. 

For now, I don't want to be in a relationship again. I'm afraid that I'll stop believing in love.

About Cupid, I didn't saw him again. Hindi pa ako nakakapagpasalamat dahil sa ginawa niya. 

Naghanap ako ng mga stock para sa condo ko like fruits and meats. I'm not into veggies that much kaya kaunti lang ang binili ko.

Having my wallet with me, dumiretso na ako sa counter. Hinanda ko na rin ang pera na pambayad, then someone caught my attention. Nasa unahan ko siya.

May sunog ang kalahati ng mukha niya pero nakikita ko pa rin ang kagandahan niya. Pinagtitinginan siya ng mga tao, dahil siguro sa sunog niya sa mukha. Tss, judgemental people.

"Ma'am kulang po kayo ng five pesos." Narinig kong sabi ng babae sa counter. 

Agad namang naghanap ng limang piso ang babae sa wallet niya at binalik ang tingin sa babae. I think wala na siyang extrang five pesos para sa kulang niya.

"Here." inabot ko ang limang piso na kinuha ko mula sa coin purse ko.

Napalingon ang babae sa harapan ko. I smiled at her. I don't care if I looked 'feeling close' but I badly wanted to help. Iilan nalang ang mga nakikita kong tumutulong sa ibang tao, babawas pa ba ako.

"Thank you," She said.

Pagkatapos kong bumili ay nakita ko ulit ang babae na tinulungan ko. Inaayos niya ang mga pinamili niya sa  compartment ng sasakyan niya.

I walked past on her when she called me. Sinara niya ang compartment.

"Miss, I want to thank you, for being kind, kanina." 

"No problem po." I smiled at her. Tiningnan niya ako, doon ko lang din napansin na medyo may edad na siya. I think she's on her fourties but she was still beautiful.

"Corazon, my name is Corazon." Inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa akin.

"Venice po," I answered. I didn't like people knowing my first name, which is Psyche since I'm getting uncomfortable.

"Salamat, Venice. You're so kind." 

Nahiya naman ako kaya yumuko ako ng kaunti. "Salamat po." Hindi ko napansin na lumihis ang suot kong bag na nasa balikat ko, dahilan para maglaglagan ang gamit ko.

Agad ko namang kinuha ang mga iyon at nakita kong tinulungan niya ako. I saw her holding my ID before she gaved it to me.

"Your surname is Azarcon. Are you perhaps related to Leonard Azarcon?" 

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya. How did she know my dad?

"He's my dad. Did you know him po?" I asked politely. She smiled a little. "Yes, he's an old friend. Kaya pala familiar ka. You looked like him."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. Maraming nagsasabi na mas kamukha ko si dad kaysa kay mom.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

She cleared hee throat. "I should get going. Baka hinahanap na ako ng anak ko. Thank you, again, Venice."

I watched her walking back to her car before going inside. I waved my hand as a sign of good bye.

Hays, what a night. Ang galing lang dahil kaibigan pala ng daddy ko 'yung babaeng tinulungan ko kanina.

I was currently on the elevator when my phone rang. It was Ryan. Seeing his name bringing back the memories and the pain I felt. 

Yes, he did something wrong, he cheated on me. But I did something terrible too, I trusted him.

Sunod-sunod rin ang pag beep ng cellphone ko kaya tiningnan ko ito, it was filled by his text.

From: Ryan

Babe, I'm sorry

From: Ryan

Come on babe, let's talk about this.

From: Ryan

I still love you.

Sumakit ang puso ko dahil sa nabasa ko. Where did he get the guts to say I love you to me? Baka bulok din 'yan gaya ng mga pangako niya.

From: Ryan

I know you still love me. Answer my calls please.

At marami pang iba. I almost laugh at the last. Really? Ang kapal ng mukha niya. Yes, maybe I still do love him pero lilipas din 'yon. I want to move on, ayokong makulong sa pagmamahal sa lalaking gago.

The elevator dings and it's my call to get out. 

Nilabas ko ang card ko para mabuksan ang pinto, sumalubong sa akin ang nakakabinging katahimikan.

I'm living on my own since first year collage, nakiusap ako kila mommy na bumukod although they're the one who bought this condo unit pero ako ang nagbabayad ng mga bills that's why I'm a working student.

In my four years of living here, apat na beses lang akong binisita ni dad, and that's just on my birthdays. Sana makapunta ulit siya before my birthday.

Umupo ako sa couch pagkatapos ilapag ang bag na dala ko, I take out my phone and called my mom.

After three rings, she picked up. "Hi, mom," mahinang bati ko sa kanya.

"Hey baby, how are you?" My mother still calls me baby even though I'm nearing 23. Ako kasi ang pinaka-bata sa aming magkakapatid.

"I'm fine mom, how are you? And dad?" I asked.

She hummed, "we're good, are you taking care of yourself?" 

I rested my foot on the center table even though I still have my shoes on. "Yes, mom..." I paused. "C-Can I perhaps talk to dad?" nag-aalangan pa ako.

"Sorry baby, he's busy. You can call your sisters instead, I'm gonna hang up now." 

Napatango nalang ako kahit hindi naman niya nakikita. I sighed as I heared her ended the call.

---

"What's the commotion all about?" Tanong ko kay Aria paglapit ko sa pwesto niya.

She looked at me. "Naalala mo nung nakaraan? 'Yung may biglang orientation because one of girl student here was kidnapped? Ngayon nagpadala ng militaries si Mayor to protect the whole school, and the tea here? Pogi sila." 

Natawa ako sa last statement ni Aria, kaya pala nagkakagulo na naman ang mga ibang estudyanteng babae.

"Really? Nakita mo na?"

Umiling siya. "Nope, sabi lang sa'kin ni Lei, alam mo naman 'yon, mahilig sa gwapo. Also, sabi sa rumors, kasama daw ng isa sa sundalo 'yung mga pinsan niya as volunteer. Feel ko pogi rin sila." Then she giggled. Ang harot-harot ng kaibigan ko bakit po ganon. 

We're having a nice chit chat about Persephone, the Mayor's daughter. Nalaman namin 'yung pangalan dahil sa mga rumors. Hindi ko alam kung totoong nakidnap or fake news lang. They said, she's been kidnapped since her mother was running in the next election kaya siguro nagawa 'yun.

"Maganda daw, just innocent since Mayor doesn't let her outside their mansion. You know, homeschooled pa." Dagdag na Aria.

I was about to answer when someone called my name.

"Venice, let's talk," ani ng boses galing sa likod ko.

Parehas kaming natigilan ni Aria dahil sa narinig. I know that voice, it's familiar. 

"What are you doing here, asshole?" I heard Aria asked him. I looked at him directly in his eyes, walang pinapakitang emosyon. Galit din 'yan kay Ryan. Sino bang hindi magagalit kung ganon ang ginawa niya 'di ba.

"What? I'm done with you." Sabay walk out. 

Nasira lang ang mood ko dahil kay Ryan, I forgot that he's my school mate. In that one week, I've never seen him, and I think that's good. Unti-unti na akong nasasanay na hindi siya nakikita.

Nag walk out ako sa kanya. I know Aria will understand that. Mabilis ang lakad ko dahilalam kong sinusundan niya ko, I looked back and I'm not wrong.

Dumaan ako sa pagitang ng mga sasakyan na nakaparada, ayokong masundan niya ako dahil ayaw ko na siyang makausap.

My phone suddenly rang. His name was written on the caller's ID kaya hindi ko sinagot. Ganon na ba siya kabagal maglakad at hindi niya ako masundan?

I was busy looking at my phone, hindi ko napansin ang sasakyan na nasa harapan ko. It literally rubbed rhr oxygen from my lungs and I thought I was gonna die that very moment, until I found myself in someone else's arms.

His hand was on my waist while the other was on my hand. He was grabbing my left arm very tight. Nakapikit ako ng mariin. Akala ko huling araw ko na ito.

I opened my eyes and looked up to him. His black eyes met mine and from that very moment, I know I was in dazed just by looking at his eyes.

"C-Cupid."