As the Sun Burns the Sky

9

"Let's go, Mori."

I watched my sister twirl around wearing her blue dress in front of the mirror. She seems excited to play with Nanay Lucia.

We walk around the hacienda while holding our hands together. Mori is happy that she would sometimes skip steps. Hinayaan ko na lang ang kapatid ko dahil ayaw kong bawiin ang kaligayahan niya.

If Mori is happy, I am nervous. Hindi ko alam paano haharapin si Helios. After the lunch incident we had, hindi na ako nakipag-usap pa. Nagkausap lang ulit kami tungkol sa schedule ko ngayong may klase na.

I agreed to his proposition that I can work during the weekend. Pabor sa akin 'yon ngunit ang pangamba ko ay ang suweldo ko. Hindi namin napag-usapan kung ka-kaltasan ba ang sahod ko. Impossible namang hindi kasi dalawang araw sa isang linggo lang ako magta-trabaho para sa kaniya.

That's why I won't need to go his house so I could assist him. Ang pangamba ko ngayon ay ang pagkikita namin sa school. I am not sure what section he is in but there are some courses that are held per batch. For sure, magkakatagpo kami ng landas.

"Aece! Dito!"

I was in the middle of a crowded canteen when I heard a familiar calling for my name. Nakita ko ang kamay na kumakaway sa akin.

Claire beamed a smile at me. Kumaway ako pabalik sa kaniya at naglakad sa table kung saan siya nakaupo. She's with her boyfriend, Kian.

"Ang ganda talaga ng diyosa ko!" She scanned me from head to toe like I am a piece of art in a museum.

I scrunched my nose. I am wearing a black square neck long sleeve crop top and flare jeans. I tied my hair in a french twist and paired my fit with a white sneakers that Santi gave me on my last birthday.

Naupo ako sa tabi ni Claire at saka nilabas ang aking cellphone. I am downloading all the syllabus of my subjects so that I can print it later. Kailangan ko iyon papirmahan sa mga professors ko para sa aking portfolio.

"Kamusta nga pala yung amo mo?" Tiningala ko si Claire nang tanungin niya ko.

Last time Claire heard the news about Helios, she was not impressed with his attitude. In fact, she was furious because she heard him cursed at me. Sa akin, wala na 'yon.

Kinuwento ko sa kaniya ang tungkol sa trabaho ko bilang personal maid kay Helios. She seemed delighted that I have a stable job, as of the moment, to sustain for my school needs this entire year. Kian was also interested with my story that he has to stop reading, and listened to my story.

"I heard their family own the largest corporation in the Philippines. They own the Oliveira Biscuit Corporation." Iyon din ang sinabi ni Helios noong piyesta.

"Do you know the reason why they suddenly moved here?" Umiling ako sa tanong ni Claire.

Magpahanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin alam bakit biglang lumipat ang isang Helios Oliveira sa munting bayan namin. His life would be easier if he was in Manila. Tutal ay mayroon naman silang malaking kompanya.

Sabay kaming naglakad ni Claire patungong library. Wala pa kaming mga professor dahil first week pa lang. usually, frosh week ang cine-celebrate buong linggo. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay may frosh night bukas kung saan magpe-perform ang mga banda.

Maraming bumabati sa akin pagdaanan namin sa hallway. Halos lahat ay kakilala ko na. Half of the population wanted to court me, but I politely refused them. Ngayon, kaibigan na ang turing ko sa kanila.

Pagkarating sa library ay nag pa-print ako ng syllabus at binasa ang course outline namin. I grabbed a book related to my subject and peacefully read in advance.