Chasing Hope [HIATUS]

CHAPTER 03

"When are you coming home, Kuya?" Adrian asked Kuya Ashton, who was sitting next to him. Napatingin din kami ni Nathalie kay Kuya Ash, the three of us are waiting for an answer.

"Kapag hindi na ako busy sa school. Med school is so stressing," he just shrugged. I nodded, agree with what he said. Ipu-pursue ko rin ang med school after graduation, matagal pa naman pero maliwanag na ang future ko. Gusto ko lang maging pediatrician, that's it. "How about you, Nads?" Sila namang tatlo ang napatingin sa akin.

"I will spend my weekend at home, 'tapos uuwi na ako sa condo ng Sunday night," hindi kasi ako puwedeng umalis sa bahay ng umaga, I travel almost an hour to school from our house. Kaya nga ako kumuha ng condo para malapit lang ako. Ang mahal na kaya ng gas.

"Really? You will go home?" Hindi makapaniwala si Nathalie sa narinig. Tumango na lang ako bilang sagot, bumagsak ang balikat niya. "We are leaving early tomorrow morning. Hay, sana p'wede pa ako mag-back out. I want to spend my weekend with you," malungkot niyang sabi.

"It's okay. I'll come back next weekend," tumango siya nang matamlay. Dumating na ang food namin kaya we started eating, itinago ko na ang phone ko pero napansin kong may tina-type pa si Kuya Ashton sa phone niya. Mukhang may kausap, eh. "Phone." Sinipa ko ang paa ni Kuya Ashton sa ilalim ng 'mesa. When he looked at me, tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at tinignan nang masama ang phone niya bago ibalik sa mata niya. He just shrugged and started eating, itinago na rin 'yung phone.

It's really rude for me to be busy with a gadget while there's food in front of you. Like, can you eat first? Marami pa namang oras para gumamit niyan. Just respect the food.

We continued talking about Nathalie's upcoming debut, sabi niya sa akin ay sumama ako sa kaniya kapag titignan na niya 'yung venue. Kapag hindi raw okay for me, maghahanap siya ng bago. Why does it have to depend on me? She can just choose where she wants. I want her to choose and do what she wants to be the outcome of her special day. Hindi namang puwede na lahat ay ako.

After eating, Kuya Ashton said goodbye right away because he said he still had a lot to do. He also paid our bill dahil minsan lang naman daw 'to mangyaro, he's right, it's good that he thought of that. Nakatipid pa ako. Nag-aya pang mag-milktea si Nathalie kaya um-oo na lang ako sa kaniya, silang dalawa lang naman ang bibilhan ko dahil ayoko ng milktea sa ngayon. May UTI pa 'ko.

Habang naghihintay kami sa milktea ng dalawa, bigla akong tinawag ni Nathalie kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Is it beautiful?" She turned her phone screen to me and pointed to the necklace there. Tumango naman ako dahil maganda iyon, just by looking at it, it's obvious that it's a diamond necklace. Hindi gaanong malaki, hindi ring gaano kaliit. Round ang shape ng pendant. "I want to buy that and wear it to my debut." Nathalie gave me a sad smile, thinking of the necklace.

"Why don't you buy it?" I asked her.

"Sobrang mahal, eh. Nag-iipon din naman ako, Ate, marami pa namang oras para mabili ko ito. Ayoko rin ipabili kina Mommy at Daddy dahil sobrang laki na nga ng gagastusin nila para sa debut ko," natawa siya nang mahina. "I like it because it's so beautiful. I just feel that this will represent my personality, the whole me. I could see myself in the necklace when I first saw it," nagkibit-balikat siya. Tinandaan ko kung ano ang website, hindi ko rin naman alam kung mayroon ba no'n sa Pilipinas, eh. Online shopping yata? I don't know. I'll check it later.

The three of us walked around again and looked at the branded things. I want to buy it but I don't have anything to do with it, I'll just use it once and then put it away. I have decided to go home because we have nothing to do here. I just bought a box of pizza as a pasalubong to our maids at home. We only have five maids and two drivers, isa para sa parents ko at isa para sa 'ming magkakapatid kung kailangan.