Collide / [Park Jay]

43

I started my day so early when the weekend comes. I didn't feel any pressure when my friends came over last time but since Nari is also coming today, for some reason, I feel like everything has to be perfect. Alam kong group study lang naman ang gagawin namin pero sa 'di malamang dahilan ay hindi ako mapalagay doon.

"Anong oras kayo pupunta?" I asked Sunhee over the phone. Katatapos ko lang maglinis at mag-ayos ng mga gamit pero pakiramdam ko'y may kulang pa rin habang pinagmamasdan ko ang kabuuan ng unit ko.

"Before lunch sana ang balak namin ni Hana kaso si Nari, nag-request na after lunch na lang daw since napuyat siya kagabi." Sagot naman niya. I can even hear her sighs of frustration.

"Sige. Okay lang naman. I'm still cleaning here." I said as I turned the vacuum cleaner off.

"Girl, masyado kang nagpapakapagod diyan. Wala namang V.I.P na pupunta!" Natatawa niyang sinabi. "And don't mind Nari, okay? I know she's maarte but like.. don't mind her that much! Bisita lang rin naman siya." Dagdag niya pa.

"Hindi naman sa gano'n.." Komento ko at natawa na lang rin.

Ilang sandali pa pagkatapos naming mag-usap ay naghanda na ako. I took a bath, prepare our study materials and such. I also ordered some snacks that we can share together later. Hindi naman iyon gano'n karami dahil nabanggit rin nila na magdadala pa sila ng karagdagan para doon.

Napag-usapan naming sa store kami magkikita kaya nagpunta na ako doon kahit na medyo maaga pa. While waiting for them, I decided to help our manager in arranging some stocks so I won't get bored.

"I'll take my time off today and bukas na lang po ulit ako papasok. May sleepover po kasi kami ng mga friends ko, eh." Sabi ko sa kanya kahit na nakapagpaalam na naman ako sa kanya nitong nakaraan.

"Oo naman. No problem, Yerim. Hindi ba't sinabi ko pa nga sa'yo na you can even take two or three days off.. ikaw ang bahala. Pero parang ayaw mo.." He said as he lifted two boxes at once and moved to another section.

"It's fine with me po. I enjoy working here." Nakangiti kong sinabi. I realized that I'm really lucky with the people I work with. I don't know if it's because I'm the youngest here that's why they're so considerate of me or they're just simply kind.

"Kapag pagod ka sa school or marami kang homeworks, puwede ka namang h'wag munang pumasok. Don't worry. Maiintindihan ko naman 'yon." Paliwanag pa niya.

Being surrounded with people like this is one of the reasons why I'm getting through everyday. I have so many things to worry about in my personal life but regardless, I can still face every single day with a smile.

"Thank you po." Masaya kong sagot.

Ilang sandali pa ang lumipas at nakatanggap na ako ng text mula kay Hana, telling me that they're already on their way here. Lumabas na agad ako ng store para doon na sila hintayin at para madali lang rin nila akong makita.

Later on, a familiar car parked not quite far from me. Una kong nakita ang pagbaba ni Sunhee at Hana sa backseat. They immediately waved their hands after seeing me. Si Nari naman ay lumabas mula sa front seat pero bago pa niya ako lingunin ay kinausap niya muna ang driver niya, tila may iniuutos doon. Eventually, I realize that she was instructing him to help her with her stuff.

"Ang dami niyang biniling pagkain. Ewan ko ba.." Natatawang sabi ni Hana habang sabay-sabay naming pinagmamasdan si Nari na nandoon pa rin sa tabi ng sasakyan, kausap ang kanyang driver.

"Yeah. She ordered too much food and snacks. Parang magpi-picnic tayo instead of group study." Buwelta ni Sunhee doon.

Napailing na lang ako sa dalawa bago salubungin si Nari.