Waves Of Her

Prologue

Prologue

For day shift employees working at a company, their typical mornings start at 7 or 8 am, depending on their agreed schedule.

But for me? My working day, or should I say night shift, starts at 10 pm until the sun rise.

Ito na ang kinagisnan kong gising sa loob ng tatlong taong pagtatrabaho ko sa AllRise, isang BPO company, as an intermediate-level data entry clerk.

Ni hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ako na-hire sa trabahong 'to. I only applied for this job position because it was the first thing that peeked my interest when I got fed up of my unemployed ass sitting still, two years after I graduated.

I even graduated with flying colors, mind you. But look where I ended up?

Taga-encode ng data and information sa spreadsheet at database. It's not even slightly related sa tinapos kong kurso.

I took BA in Folklore and Mythology in the United States. I was an exchange student.

I could have been a historian or something highly intellectual, if only luck was on my side.

Naging mataas ang expectations ko para sa future ko. I was aiming for more, but my life went downhill with a snap - like a plane crashing to the ground.

Wala naman akong ibang pwedeng sisihin kundi ang sarili ko.

I made countless bad choices throughout my "could have been" successful journey and this is its consequences. 

Hindi kasi kasama ang batch namin noon sa implementasyon ng K-12 system, and that's why I graduated when I was only 19 years old.

Lucky, some might say, but I want to complain that I was too young, still too naive to face the real world.

Ni hindi ako natutong magluto ng sarili kong pagkain kung hindi lang sa nagsimula akong magboard noong naging exchange student ako sa America.

Mom even scolded me for knowing nothing about household chores, samantalang siya naman mismo ang ayaw akong paggawain ng kahit na ano sa bahay kahit noong dalaga na ako.

It's like blaming me for an egg that she dropped. But no hard feelings, I love my Mom.

Either way, I was able to complete all my remaining tasks earlier than I had expected that I have three more hours left to spare.

Since hindi lang naman ako ang DEC sa department namin, hinahati hati lang lahat ng task equally.

I was done doing my part so I am now free until 10 pm again later.

Nag-inat ako at inabot ang nakahandang baso na nakalagay sa gilid ko.

Palagi akong naghahanda ng maiinom bago ako magsimula sa pagtatrabaho para hindi ako maabala kung sakaling mauhaw man ako.

May variations din ang iniinom ko, depende sa kung anong madampot ko sa ref.

It could be a bottle of water, a beer, a juice or milk.

Pero ngayon, mukhang masyado yata akong na-focus sa ginagawa ko kanina dahil wala man lang bawas ang tubig nang tingnan ko ito.

After sipping some water, I looked at the time from my phone. 3:23 a.m. pa lang. I have nothing to do. Hindi naman ako inaantok kasi sanay na ang body clock ko na manatiling gising sa mga ganitong oras.

"Ano kayang magandang gawin?" tanong ko sa sarili ko.

That's when I heard the calming sound of waves.

Agad akong napangiti.

Dali-dali akong sumilip sa bintana at namangha ako nang makita ko kung gaano kaliwanag ang buwan.

Full moon pala ngayon, the perfect time for me to go outside and take a walk.

°°°

This is really one of the advantages of working remotely from home.

Hindi ko kailangang maghanda at maligo sa gabi para lang pumasok sa opisina. All I need is to wake up and turn on my computer.

It doesn't matter kung meron pa akong panis na laway sa bibig o muta sa mata because nobody can see me in my own room, except me.

I don't have to make an effort to look presentable to anyone else unless if a meeting takes place.

I should look at least half presentable.

I giggled when I felt the cold water tickling my toes as I try to dip it, colliding with every upcoming wave on the seashore.

I made the right choice picking this apartment with a seaside view. I get to attain my daily dose of peace through the comforting breeze of seasalt air.

Although, hindi rin naman kalayuan ang mismong bahay namin dito, mas masaya pa rin sa pakiramdam na tanaw ko lang ang dagat sa may bintana ko.

Sa bahay kasi, kailangan pang bumyahe ng 45 minuto sa bus bago makarating dito.

Isa pa, ang pinaka dahilan naman kaya ako kumuha ng apartment sa Manila ay dahil sa mas malapit ako kung sakaling magkaroon ng lalakarin sa opisina.

May mga pagkakataon kasi na pinapapunta talaga kami doon, sometimes for meetings, important announcements and other purposes.

Napatigil naman ako bigla sa pagtatampisaw ko nang makaamoy ako ng halimuyak ng bulaklak na bumalot sa simoy ng hangin.

It's a kind of enchanting, irresistible scent that makes me want to drool over someone wearing that perfume.

Hindi ko na namalayan na sinusundan na pala ng mga paa ko ang pinanggagalingan ng halimuyak na 'yon.

Tumambad sa akin ang nakatalikod na postura ng isang matangkad na lalaki sa 'di kalayuan na nakasuot ng polo at slacks na nakatupi hanggang sa may tuhod.

Basa ang buong katawan niya, pati na rin ang kanyang mamuti-muting buhok na tila ba kumikislap sa liwanag ng buwan.

Kahit ang kanyang maputing kutis ay kumikislap na para bang nababalot siya sa kakaibang liwanag. Halos nakakasilaw tingnan.

"S-sino ka?" halos nauutal ko pang tanong.

Humarap siya sakin. Napanganga na lang ako.

I couldn't take my eyes off him.

His whole face structure is godly perfect. From his well-defined sharp jaw, bountiful pink lips, perfectly sloped nose, thick brows, and tantalizing golden siren eyes - I felt like I was suffocating in his beauty.

"Would you like to take an adventure with me?" he invited me with his enticing, melodic voice.

I couldn't say no. It felt illegal to say no.

***

This is a work of fiction, inspired by Philippine mythical creatures - a mix of mythology facts and the writer's imagination.

acnuuu