Shooting Star (Completed) [R-18]

10 : N

Martee

Pagkatapos ng kaso, napagdesisyonan ko ng putulin ang anumang namamagitan sa amin ni Santi. I never answer his calls. Pati mga text message niya. I ignored them all and I did it for a long time. But everytime, I see him outside my new house. Nandun lang siya, nakatingin sa bintana ng kuwarto ko.

Paminsan minsan kahit umuulan, nandun parin siya. Many times, I got tempted to open the door for him but my conviction always stops me from doing it.

Not until one faithful night. I watched the news that the governor had an accident which caused him to lose his memories.

I panicked. I almost rushed to the hospital where he was brought to. Kung hindi lang binalita sa telebisyon na maayos na ang kalagayan niya. Sobra akong nag-alala. I wanted to see him but I never did. He doesn't need me any way.

He stayed out of office for a few months. Binalita na under recovery pa ang gobernador. At hindi rin nagtagal ay bumalik din siya sa trabaho. Well, you don't need to have your memory back in order to serve people. You just have to have a good heart and intentions.

Despite everything, I am okay knowing that he is fine. Okay lang sa akin na hindi na niya ako maalala pa. I don't want him to remember me as the daughter of the man who killed his father.

Kanina pa ako palakadlakad pero walang may gustong tumanggap sa akin. I tried applying for a job to fund my studies but I cannot land on a single job.

Halos mag-iisang taon na din. Manang Nancy went home to Cagayan De Oro after I gave her her last salary. I have no choice but to send everyone home. Wala na akong ipapasweldo sa kanila.

Inayos ko iyung bag ko para pumasok na sa school. I am jobless, and I am penniless. Masminabuti ko nalang na maglakad. Dibale, kalahating oras lang naman ang lalakarin ko. Sayang iyung pamasahe ko.

I decided to walk. Ngunit nakakalahati palang ako ng may tumigil na sasakyan. My eyes widened when I saw tita Kristina. Hinarap ko siya at nakita kong may hawak itong bag na mamahalin.

" Martee ikaw ba iyan?" She asked. It has only been almost two years yet she doesn't remember me well enough already.

" Opo" Magalang kong untag sabay tango at yuko.

" Goodness, ba't ka naglalakad." She muttered.

" Anong oras na? Late ka na sa school? Alas dos na" She muttered. Plano ko naman talagang mag-absent muna para maghanap ng trabaho. I badly need to find a job.

" Papunta din naman kami sa kapitolyo, kung gusto mo. Sumama ka nalang. Madadaanan din naman natin iyung universidad" She said. Umiling ako.

" Pasensha na po tita pero sa ibang unibersidad po ako nag-aaral." Magalang kong wika. I was pertaining to the public university in our province. Ang alam siguro kase niya ay sa dating paaralan ako ni Santi nag-aaral. I cannot afford that school. Masyadong mahal ang tuition fee.

Napatingin sa akin si Tita Kristina.

" Call me ma'am. Hindi mo ako tita" I can feel the bitterness in her voice.

" Ma'am Kristina. Pasensha na po" Napahiya ako. Tumingin sa akin iyung isang kasama niya. It must be one of her assistants.

" Oh well, nabalitaan ko nga palang nabenta niyo na pala lahat ng meron kayo." She said it like she was telling a normal conversation. Pero iyung boses niya may halong pang-iinsulto.

Her eyes landed on the transparent envelope that I was holding. Nakita niya iyung resume ko dun.

" You're finding a job? Kaya ka di pumasok dahil naghahanap ka ng trabaho?" She asked. Tumango ako.

" Opo, ma'am" I answered.

" Umalis iyung isang katulong namin. You can take her place if you want. May awa parin naman ako, Martee. Kahit gaano pa kababoy ang ginawa ng papa mo sa pamilya ko" She said. I looked at her. Kung puwede ko lang sana siyang tanggihan, gagawin ko. Pero alam kong wala ng ibang tatanggap sa akin. Kailangang kailangan ko ng pera.

" Maraming salamat po. Kailan po ako puwedeng magsimula?" Tanong ko.

" Bukas. Pumunta ka sa mansion" She answered. Tumango naman ako.

" Salamat po ulit ma'am" Magalang kong wika.

——