Can't Fight This Feeling 1

CFTF1: 3. The Corner House

(Mackenzie)

I've been here for three days. Gosh, three days?! Nabobored na ako. Hindi naman talaga ako mahilig lumabas pero nabobored pa rin ako. Natatakot naman akong mag-gala kahit sa mall lang kasi I don't know a place here. Nahihiya din ako magpaalam kasi... Ah, basta nahihiya ako. I don't know Manila.

Siguro, I'll just take another nap. Wala na rin naman kasing kwenta yung mga nasa news feeds ko. All they talk about is their woes, nothing is relevant to what is going on today in the world. One would talk crap about her quote-unquote bestfriend who's trying to seduce her boyfriend. And whatever came after those words are very unpleasant and not good to the eye. Don't they know anybody can read it?

One would talk about how unfair the world is because her cell phone fell and broke, what is going to do now that she have a malfunctioning phone. Gosh! They act like it's the end of the world.

One would post selfie picture of her almost naked body to show how curvy it is but the background is messed up bathroom with clothes hanging and all over the place, underwear still rolled up which looked like a used one and the counter top and sink are not even white anymore. Hindi muna naglinis.

Who are these people? Why is it that their problems showed up on my news feed? Why? This is not even Mackenzie wall worthy. It's not even anybody's news feed worthy. All I could do is sighed deeply since my friends are asleep at this time. In New York? It's night time. I got a little startled nang may kumatok sa pinto.

"Ate Mack, gising po ba kayo? Pinapatawag po kayo ni Nanay." Sigaw ni Lena mula sa labas. Tumayo ako para buksan ang pinto.

"Hi, Lena." Bati ko sa kanya. Ngumiti naman kaagad siya sa akin.

"Labas daw po muna kayo sabi ni Nanay." Pag-ulit niyang sabi sa akin.

"Ah, Lena, bakit daw?" Tanong ko.

"Ewan ko rin, Ate Mack. Pero hindi naman galit si Nanay." I don't care kung galit siya di ba? I just shrugged my shoulder.

"Okay, I'll just follow. Thank you, Lena." Yun na lang sabi ko sa kanya. I went back inside to put my slip-on shoes on.

I don't know what she wants but it might help ease my boredom. She looks nice and sweet. She's like a grandma. I think I like staying here in this house. Mukhang homie naman eh.

"Manang Ising, pinapatawag n'yo daw po ako?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ay naku, hija. Yaya na lang itawag mo sa akin." Mabilis niyang sabi na nakangiti pa. Ngumiti na rin ako.

"Okay po, Yaya Ising. May ipagagawa po ba kayo sa akin?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ay wala naman, Mackee, pero uuwi na daw si DJ, yung anak ng Ninong Paul mo." Sabi niya.

"Kelan daw po, Yaya." Tanong ko sa kanya habang nagpuputol ng sitaw.

Yeah, I know what sitaw is, may filipino store naman sa New York. I was watching her as soon as I got to the kitchen. She is fixing lunch. I remembered my Mom cook this before. She would ask me to help her all the time and it is our best bonding moment. She would always make a sitaw dish with shrimp and coconut milk and some long chili called espada, I think she said it's called gatang sitaw, especially when my dad would come over and visit me and would "spend" the night. It was mine and dad's favorite.

"Sabi niya sa makalawa daw." Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Ya, ano po yung makalawa?" Tanong ko. Napatingin siya sa akin at ngumiti, akala ko maiinis siya sa akin.

"Makalawa, ibig sabihin sa ikalawang araw mula ngayon." Sabi niya. Medyo naintindihan ko naman pero parang hindi pa rin.

"In two days, Ate Mack, or in a couple of days." Sagot ni Lena na may kasamang ngiti.