Embrace the Suck (Bad, #1)

Chapter Two

My loving grandparents died when I was nine. When I was eleven, my best friend left me and went to the states with his mother to study. I was nearly twelve when my father died in a car accident. My mother left me to fend for myself and found a new family of her own when I turned sixteen.

I was used to being left behind. I've already accepted that every relationship that I'll built won't last. But I just... really hate being alone.

That is why waking up in the morning and realizing how I'm boyfriendless once again is very depressing. Kahit na ilang beses na itong nangyayari sa akin, kahit na inaasahan ko na, mabigat pa rin iyon sa pakiramdam.

Isang buntong hininga na lang ang tumakas sa akin dahil sa mga naisip. I'm not going to cry, no. There's no use for weeping. Kahit naman kasi anong iyak ang gawin ko ay mag-isa pa rin ako.

I quickly shooed the bad thoughts away and focused on looking forward for this brand new day.

Bago bumangon ng kama ay inabot ko ang phone na nakalagay sa ilalim ng unan. The screen says that it's already seven o'clock in the morning. My body was programmed to wake up early, kaya kahit na sembreak at wala akong masyadong ginagawa ay maaga pa rin akong nagigising.

There were several texts from unknown numbers, greeting me goodmorning and some texts were direct, asking if I was free. I ignored it all for now and checked the texts from Lillian and my friends.

Nina and Oli were reminding me about our plans to enroll today. I just replied a thumbs up emoji. Sunod kong binuksan ang text mula kay Lillian.

Lillian:
Goodmorning po, ma'am Kenna. Anong oras niyo po balak i-pick up si Shadow today?

Lillian is a staff at a Dog Daycare and Hotel. Siya ang laging pinipili ko na mag-alaga kay Shadow sa tuwing iiwan ko ito sa Daycare. Kahapon kasi ay iniwan ko ulit si Shadow sa Daycare bago kami mag-movie marathon dahil allergic si Nina sa mga aso.

Shadow is my almost three years old royalflush havanese. He was a gift given to me by Nina and Oli on my eighteenth birthday. Alam nila na mag-isa lang ako sa bahay kaya aso ang ini-regalo nila sa akin para may makasama ako.

Na-love at first sight agad ako kay Shadow nang makita ko siya. He was a really cute white puppy with big patches of black. Sobrang kulit at malambing pa. At least that's until he grew up and became a snob and extremely lazy. Nevertheless, I still love him because he keeps me company.

Sinagot ko si Lillian kung anong oras ako makakadaan sa Daycare. After lunch ko pa makukuha si Shadow dahil mage-enroll pa kami ngayong umaga at pagkatapos ay paniguradong kakain pa ng lunch.

After sending the text, I summoned all my will power to retract myself from my cozy queen size bed.

I washed my face, brushed my teeth and changed into my jogging clothes. Uminom muna ako ng tubig bago lumabas ng bahay at umpisahan na ang daily stretching routines ko.

I stretched for over five minutes before finally jogging. I always run for thirty minutes straight. Ilang beses kong iniikot ang mula sa block kung nasaan ang bahay ko hanggang sa court ng estate.

It's a daily routine to go out for a morning run except for Wednesdays and Sundays. Sa mga araw na kasi na iyon ay pumupunta naman ako ng gym.