Amidst The Vying Psyches

Kabanata 35

Serenity Hiraya

"Is your decision already finalized? Can you stay here for another year? Or wait, stay here forever!"

My friend, Amelia, clung her arms on my body to prevent me from putting my things inside the box.

I chuckled with her cuteness. "I'm sorry. I cannot change my decision anymore because I already thought about this for a year. I already told you about this, right?"

She puffed a breath before fixing her ginger hair. Her milky white skin contrasted with the color of her hair, also making her freckles more visible.

"But I don't want to let you go..." parang naiiyak na sabi niya. "Stay here, please."

Sasagot na sana ako nang dumating ang bagong uupo bilang editor-in-chief.

"That's enough, Amelia. Go back to your desk."

Nakasimangot na lumabas ng opisina ko si Amelia. Natawa ako nang bahagya bago pinagpatuloy ang pag-iimpake ng gamit ko.

"Desidido ka na talagang umalis?" Tanong niya sa akin habang pinapalibot ang kanyang tingin sa kabuuan ng office ko.

I nodded at her. "I am. I just finished the last project I had. Besides, I have no more reason to stay."

She sighed. "Gets ko kung bakit ayaw ka pakawalan ng mga boss. Kahit sila ay bilib sa skills mo, e. Hindi ko nga sure kung kaya kong tapatan 'yung galing mo. Kinakabahan tuloy ako!"

Nanatili akong nakangiti matapos kong pakinggan ang lintaya niya. Tagalog ang pagsalita niya pero rinig pa rin ang Australian accent. Half kasi siya, lumaki rito pero anak ng Filipina.

Nagulat pa ako nung una ko siyang narinig mag-Tagalog. Hindi ko akalain na may makakasama akong may lahing Filipino rito sa trabaho ko.

"I'm sure you can do it. Iba rin kasi ang writing style mo, e."

"I'm literally shaking inside right now. How can I calm down? Baka mag-expect sila na kasing galing kita... hello? Isang taon ka pa lang pero editor-in-chief ka na kaagad?"

Oh my, she's so cute with her accent... especially the "hello" part.

Also, I cannot argue with her. Pagka-graduate ko pa lang ng college ay nakapasok na agad ako sa isang newspaper publishing company. I was one of their best writers despite being a beginner. And after months of working, the boss saw my potential and promoted me as the editor-in-chief after the former resigned.

Sinong mag-aakala na sa loob ng unang taon na pagtatrabaho ko sa kanila ay editor-in-chief agad ako?

And in that one year, naging close ko si Amelia na kasabay ko ring mag-apply noon. Kaya ngayon ay halos ayaw niya na akong paalisin.

"Take care, alright? Say hi to the Philippine soil for me."

I nodded and gave her a hug.

Finally, after five years, I'm going home.

Kumusta na kaya sila? How's my dada? Violet? Marcus and my other friends? How is he?

After I arrived here in Australia, I lost contact with everyone. It was my choice—because I wanted to isolate myself. Si dada lang ang tanging connection ko sa Pilipinas na halos araw-araw ako kumustahin at minsa'y hinahayaan kong makausap si mommy.

I am delighted every time they would talk, even just through the phone. Laging malaki ang ngiti ni mommy na nagpapasaya sa akin.

Of course, I kept it a secret from lola and other people in the mansion. Hindi ako gagawa ng ikakapahamak ni dada or naming dalawa ni mommy.