A Poor Man's Chivalry (Ongoing)

Chapter 1: Presumption

I woke up from the premonition that Papa was dead in real life.

So I immediately called Mama using my phone to find out if it was true. I quickly called Mama so she answered it right away, and I directly asked her about that incident—I didn't hesitate any longer.

"Mama, how are you at home? Where's Papa? I want to ask you both something, I'll get straight to the point, is it true that Papa is dead there, just like what I suspected? Because I had a bad dream, and that dream was exactly what I thought, if Papa was really dead". Mahaba kong linyahan habang kibit-balikat akong kinakabahan sa kung anumang pwede niyang maging sagot.

A few minutes ago, Mama just answered my impending question to her.

But before she could answer, she sighed and said... "Why?! What's happening with you? Your father is not dead yet. He's alive, very alive". Aniya na para bang kinabahan din dahil lang sa mali kong hinala o mali kong pag-aakala na patay at wala na nga si Papa.

She didn't speak again, while I was still nervous and my breath was steady one after the other.

After I sighed, I asked Mama again where Papa was and what he was doing. Kaya naman bumalik sa lahat at naging maayos yung pakiramdam ko nang marinig ang boses ni Papa mula sa tawag.

"I'm fine here son, it's okay and I haven't left the house since you left me to go to the City to work. At simula noong iniwan mo kami ng Mama mo, puro kain at tulog na lang ang ginagawa ko". Aniya sabay hagikgik nang malakas na siyang naging dahilan para mas lalong gumaan ang pakiramdam ko at bumalik sa dati ang lahat.

I admit that I feel better and everything's back to normal, but I can't forget that dream and my suspicion that Papa is dead in real life.

Even though I heard Papa's voice on the call, my brain and thoughts still can't forget it. That dream was bad, and my presumption was bad too, for real!

After I talked to my family on the call, I started working again. Pero ito ako't nananatiling hindi pa rin makalimutan ang bagay na iyon. Hindi ko alam pero naiisip kong isa na kaya iyon na pahiwatig para sa akin?

I don't think I can figure out what that thing really is, but I only feel one thing right now. Perhaps Papa is about to disappear and die so that's just what the dream and my premonition indicate to me.

---

"Cleighford!!" Pagtawag ni Boss Jeffrey sa akin. Ano na naman kayang ipag-uutos sa akin ni Boss Jeffrey? Nakakailan na ito, ah.

I immediately came over and said at the same time... "What is it po, Boss? Do you have anything else for me to do? I haven't finished washing the car yet". Ani ko at saka ngumiti nang matiwasay sa kaniya kahit sa totoo lang at sa loob ko'y naiinis na ako dahil sa sunod-sunod niyang utos kahit 'di ko pa natatapos ang isa.

"Mukhang badtrip ka yata diyan? Isa na lang naman at wala na akong ipapagawa pa, tapusin mo muna yang pinagagawa ko at saka mo naman gawin na linisin yung kalat doon sa bodega. Kailangan malinis lahat yun, ha? I have a guest coming and he will check my bodega to see if it is clean and tidy. Thank you, Cleighford!" Mahaba niyang linyahan at sabay walk out. Napapikit naman ako ng mata dahil sa sobrang inis. 'Di ko mapigilang 'di mainis sa kaniya ngayong araw na 'to. Lunes na lunes, ang dami niyang pinagagawa na pwede namang siya ang gumawa mismo.

Binilisan ko na lang ang paghuhugas sa kotse niya, para matapos ko nang maaga lahat at para makapag-pahinga rin. Kulang pa tulog ko, and still I can't forget what happened to me last night.

Honestly, I want to leave this job. I don't like the salary given. Boss is very stingy. Maybe that's why many people left and didn't stay in this work for long because of what he was doing.

The boss is too ungenerous, I don't know who that man inherited from.

But as long as I can endure it, I will sustain the salary he gives me just so I can save money.

***

At ayon! Natapos ko na nga lahat yung pinapagawa niya, kaya ngayon ako'y malaya nang magpapahinga.

Because I felt so tired, I didn't realize that I fell asleep. But until I fell asleep, my mind and brain still couldn't forget the one thing that gave me fear and trepidation.

Pero sandaling minuto ang lumipas, pagkagising ko nagkakagulo ang lahat. Maski sa labas, magulo rin. I don't know why and what's wrong with them.

Because the only thing I remember is before I finally fell asleep, everything was fine. No mess or anything.

I immediately got up to see the commotion going on outside. Their voices are getting louder as if they are shouting for reasons I don't know why.

When I saw what they were fussing about, I was suddenly annoyed. Kakapiranggot na nga lang kung magbigay ng sahod si Boss Jeffrey sa amin lalo na sa akin tapos nakuha niya pa talagang palitan ako?!

My vision immediately darkened, and then I realized that he was not a deprivation as my Boss.

Because I'm not the one who lost, he was the one who bygone. It's rare to find someone like me who puts up with the wages he pays. Let's see if his newly hired worker can endure it.

I didn't allow myself to talk to Boss Jeffrey for the last time, it was up to him if he would give me my salary or not.

Maybe he did the right thing, replacing me as his worker. Fortunately, I did not complain in front of him about the remuneration he was giving me.

Dahil baka kung hindi ako nagpigil sa sarili ko noon, he would immediately lose a worker like me.

I said goodbye to the maids who were there that I was leaving and would not be in that house for much longer.

They understood it right away, they just took care of me especially since it was already dark on the road.

Fortunately, the maids who are close to me in that house are very understanding. Kaya naman thankful ako sa kanilang apat lalo na sa pag-iintindi sa akin sa isang bagay or sa isang sitwasyon.