her pieces

short tagalog story

𝐈 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃

"Kita mo 'yang batang 'yan? Walang patutunguhan sa buhay 'yan!"

"Sa sobrang gala ng babaeng 'yan agad 'yang mabubuntis."

"Pokpok."

"Mana sa mama."

"Malandi."

"Hindi 'yan aangat sa buhay."

Everyday new insults and slut-shames. I'm used to it.

No'ng una pinatulan ko sila 'cause they also insult my mom na wala namang ginagawa kun'di ang maghanap buhay rin.

Isinulpak ko ang earphones ko sa aking tenga habang naglalakad sa kalsada. I don't want to hear their opinion about me.

"You can take everything I have~
You can break everything I am~
Like a made of glass~
Like a made of paper~
Go on and try to tear me down
I would be rising from the ground like a skyscraper~
Like a skyscraper~"

The reason why Demi Lovato is one of my favourite singer because of her songs. They inspired me a lot. Like this song of her 'Skyscraper'.

"I will be rising from the ground like a skyscraper." Sinabayan ko pa ang kanta habang ako'y naglalakad.

Me and my mom is not a 'pay girl' or whatever they called us.

The reason kung bakit gala ako ng gala is because I'm finding a job to support my expenses 'cause my mom can't afford it.

I wanted to help my mom. Kaya naghahanap ako ng trabaho para ako na lang ang gumastos ng iilan sa mga pangangailangan ko.

And about my mom na tinatawag din nila na kung ano ano dahil palagi itong may kasamang ibang lalaki. Those mens are construction workers. The reason why my mom is with them because she is the one who always cooked their lunch and dinner. Pumupunta lang sila sa bahay para buhatin ang mga mabibigat na kalderong naglalaman ng ulam.

Hindi kami bayaran!

May pride at dignidad pa naman kami. Oh, I forgot. Sa Pilipinas nga pala kami nakatira.

"Para!" I said when I saw the jeepney that I will ride.

I'm on my way on school. Hindi ko nga alam kung mapapaaral pa ako ni mama. I have this feeling na ito na ang huling taon ko as a student. Maybe, tutulong na lang ako sa kanya.

"Bayad po," I said.

"You can take everything I have~
You can break everything I am~
Like a made of glass~
Like a made of paper~
Go on and try to tear me down
I would be rising from the ground like a skyscraper~
Like a skyscraper~"

Kanta ko habang nakasakay sa jeep. Mahina lang naman ang boses ko. Yung katabi kong nakaformal attire lang naman ang nakakarinig.

Natapos ang kanta kaya itinago ko na earphones ko. Baka nakawin pa sa'kin.

"Hi miss."

I looked at the man who's wearing a formal attire, parang CEO.

"Ah, hello po."

I'm not good at talking in some stranger in public. Pero wala naman sigurong gagawing masama sa'kin 'to. 'Tsaka maraming tao sa jeep.

"I heard you singing. You're voice is good, huh." I don't know if this one is a compliment or insult.

"Uhh... thanks po," I said, shy.

"Do you know MYD Company?" he asked.

"Uhm. Yung po bang company para sa mga kabataan na gustong maging magaling na mang-aawit?" I asked.

"Yes. Yun nga."

"Hmm. Bakit niyo po naitanong?" I asked while I looked at my sorroundings. Baka kasi malagpasan ko 'ung school. Sayang pamasahe.

"Gusto mo bang pumasok sa company na 'yon at maging singer?"

I was shocked that he offered me that kind of job.

"S-sure po!" I reply without any hesitation.

"Here's my calling card. Call me kung kailan ka free. Manong para!" He said and gaved me his calling card.

"Mauna na 'ko, hija. Hintayin namin ang tawag mo," aniya pa bago bumaba.

Itinago ko ito at nagfocus na lang sa daan. Malapit na ako sa school.

Buomg maghapon ko ata pinag-isipan kung tatawag ba ako sa Sabado or hindi. Nagdadalawang isip ako.

What if niloloko niya lang ako 'diba?

"Take a risk, or lose the chance."

I see on my newsfeed habang ako'y naglilibang slash nagiisip-isip.

Nakapagdesisyon na ako.

"Good afternoon, ma'am or sir. This is Attorney Miranda. How may I help you?"

"Uhm sir, si Chelsea Ann Mendoza po ito 'ung babae po kanina sa jeep."

The line went silent for a while.

"Ah! The one who sang the Skyscraper. Hmm? Are you accepting my job offer now?"

He was straight to the point huh?

"Uhm. Yes po."

"Come to our company then."

--

"Paano kaya niya inakit 'ung may ari ng MYD, 'no?"

"Grabe. Hindi na nahiya pati may-ari ng MYD tinarget."

Promise, hindi ko kayo papatulan ngayon. Si lord na bahala sa inyo. Alam ko namang wala akong ginagawang masama kaya hindi ako magpapakitang guilty sa harapan niyo. Dahil wala naman talaga akong dapat patunayan.

"'Nak..." tawag ni mama sa'kin.

"Hmm?"

"Proud ako sa'yo..." aniya habang naluluha.

"Ma..."

"Anak, ang tapang mo. Proud ako sa'yo. Pinagpapasalamat ko na ikaw ang anak ko. Anak, kung ano man ang magiging kinabukasan mo, laging nandito si mama. Gumagabay at sumusuporta sa'yo. Tandaan mo 'yan."

Tumango ako. "Salamat ma. Proud din ako sa'yo. Salamat..."

-------

"And for my last song I will sing the Skyscraper by Demi Lovato."

"Skies are crying
I am watching
Catching teardrops in my hands
Only silence has its ending like we never had a chance
Do you have to make me feel like there's nothing left of me?"

You can take everything I have~
You can break everything I am~
Like a made of glass~
Like a made of paper~
Go on and try to tear me down
I would be rising from the ground like a skyscraper~
Like a skyscraper~"

"THANK YOU FOR COMING ON MY CONCERT! I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS! THANKYOU FOR THE EFFORT!"

Yes. I'm already on top. I rise like a skycraper.

Sinuportahan ako ni mama, Atty. Miranda at marami pang iba.

Yung mga taong naninira sa akin noon.
Yung mga taong walang ibang ginawa kung hindi i-down ako.
Yung mga taong walang ibang nakikita kung hindi pagkakamali ko.
Yung mga taong puro panghuhusga ang ibinigay sa akin.

Ito sila, tinitingila ako. Nasisilaw sa sobrang taas ko. Nasisilaw sa liwanag na dala ko.

Pero hindi ko kailanman ipinakita sa ibang tao na sobrang taas ko.

I maybe like a skycraper but I'm also a bamboo.

Habang umaangat, yumuyuko.

Because that's my mom told me.

Huwag magmataas. Kahit nasa itaas. Marunong ka paring yumuko. Huwag kang maging mayabang.

I'll end my story with this, I hoped you learn a lot.

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