All Jokes Aside (Imperfect Series #3)

Chapter 03

I opened the door of my humble apartment, the cold breeze of winter spat inside of my cozy haven. Today was my day off but I'd no intention to take a small walk around the park or even around complex. I just opened the door because I thought I heard my neighbors' loud voice. Living here in this very loud neighborhood didn't help me to scoop the peace I wanted. I just wanted to have a peaceful day off not itchy-bitchies verbalizing f-word to each other. Another thing, my day off was the only day I had to finish a new episode of my manhwa.

Hindi na ako naki-usisa pa kung anong nangyari sa mga kapitbahay ko dahil pumasok na ako sa apartment ko dahil sobrang lamig. It's twenty degree down that's why it's so cold. Kapag malamig talaga sa labas at pauwi na ako galing trabaho ay tumatakbo ako para hindi manigas sa labas. Winter was brutal here, I never thought I could live like this like I was already an Antarctican.

Jajjang was the only meal I ate because there's no need to cook a lot when you're just only living alone in your apartment. I had finished two episodes before three p.m, mabilis akong nakatapos dahil sinalpak ko ang earbuds sa tenga ko para hindi ko marinig ang ingay ng mga kapitbahay sa labas. I unplugged my earbuds from my ears and stretched my arms.

I took my time to meditate a little before I decided to get out from my room. I walked over to the kitchen to have some hot chocolate and bread with Nutella. Mayroon akong kanin, ininit ko lang pati yung jajjang na hindi ko naubos kanina. The snow was active, it was gently showering down like jimmies sprinkled on the top of pastries and there's no way I'd walk and get some fresh but icy air out.

Nakatulog ako ng alas nuebe ng gabi dahil may binasa pa akong manhwa, I needed some inspiration for my own manhwa. I also needed to buy paperbacks in the bookstore to help me to be inspired.

Sinungaling ang isang artist o writer kung hindi siya nagbabasa ng isang libro ng ibang writer, isa sa mga rason kung bakit ang isang writer ay nakakagawa ng storya ay dahil may inspirasyon siyang gumawa ng storya na hindi pa nagagawa ng manunulat. That author who's spitting lies was someone who spat selfishness—it's also the same with those writers who're writing for themselves. They're selfish.

Hindi man pareho ang opinyon ng mga manunulat tungkol sa kung bakit nagsusulat, pero hindi ako makokombensi na hindi nagbabasa ng ibang gawa.

I went to the hotel with freezing hands and feet. I wore thick jackets and thick winter boots for winter but it didn't work out because I was fighting against the weather and weather was the worst enemy of men. Nagpalit ako ng uniporme ko, sinuot ko rin ang banana yellow kong sweater dahil nilamigan parin ako kahit malakas na yung heater sa loob ng hotel. Yung lamig ay nanuot na sa kalamnan ko.

"Grabe ang lamig no, hindi ako makatulog kagabi dahil sa lamig." Reklamo ni Lucinda nang magsabay kaming dalawa papunta sa tenth floor ng hotel.

"Wala ka bang heater sa bahay niyo?" I asked, I hugged myself tightly with my left arm and the other one was pushing the trolley.

"Nasira. Mamaya ay papalitan din agad ng mister ko. Mabuti nalang at may sleeping bag kami kaya nakatulog din agad." she answered as we got out from the lift.

Lucinda was already a Korean citizen as she'd married her Korean husband, she got two kids and they're older. Her husband owned a junk shops. Two branches here in Gwangju and there's a small shop in Busan. But with kids who were in need for financial supports, all of their necessities must be complied that's why she'd to work in this luxurious hotel.

"Papasok na ako dito sa unang room ko. Good luck." she said as she pushed her trolley and knocked the door of her first suite that needed to get cleaned.

"Thank you." I answered back. Kumatok narin ako sa unang hotel room na lilinisin ko. Pagpasok ko ay walang tao, parang walang gumamit.

The suite was left intact, bed was untouched, I hadn't seen any suspicious dirt on the pillowcases. Just a wine glass and a very expensive wine bottle on the coffee table I saw were just the pity evidences someone used this suite. Kahit wala akong nakitang dumi kahit patay na lamok sa sahig ay naglinis parin ako dahil trabaho ko ito. Pero pahapyaw lang na linis kasi sobrang kintab ng tiles at kahit manalamin pa ako ay kitang-kita pati ang hugis ng kilay ko.