241 - Part 1

This song sang by Rivermaya - 241, and this song really do means a lot to me, one of my favorite song so I decided to connect it to this next story... a girl named Amanda.

I meet her first during my first attempt on applying on a call center company which did not end up well, and I was surprised, to bump her on the same company where I am doing my training. Nagkagulatan kami dahil di naman alam na magkikita kami sa lugar na iyon.

I was completely mesmerized with her looks that day, she was not wearing any make up aside from blush on, plain white t shirt na nasa loob nang white
jacket, skinny jeans and she had a new hair cut as well. She was God damn beautiful, maganda na naman siya dati pa pero mas maganda siya ngayon and she smiled at me

"Bat nandito ka?"

Ang tanung niya sa akin

"Sinubukan ko lang magapply dito, eventually natangap ako"

"Teka... you mean, umalis ka na sa dati mong work"

"Oo, ENDO na ako at di na ako nagrenew pa nang contrata"

Then she was called by one of the agents that time

"Amanda, coach is looking for you, hurry and she said it was urgent"

So nagpaalam siya sa akin at sumama siya sa agent na tumawag sa kanya. Wala kaming pagkakataon noon na magkamustahan at magkwentuhan, that time kasi eh may work siya. So I go ahead and get some coffee sa vending machine, one of the best part of being an agent, you have the privilage to have unlimited source of coffee and take note Nescafe siya and meron siyang iba't ibang timpla nang kape so di ka magsasawa and I guess the company provided this para magsing lage ang mga agents and trainees like me, walangya naman kasi sa oras nang pasok, right now I'm on the training and pumasok ako nang 11pm nang gabi unlike sa una kong pinasukan noon na call center na umaga ang training, well not that I'm that affected, taong gabi naman ako so gising ako hanggang madaling araw.

Pagbalik ko nang training room, kami eh nagkaroon nang briefing reagarding sa aming product na i hahandle, it is a credit card product Discover Card and PTNT isang phone company ata. Our group is devided into 2 groups at napunta ako sa Discover Card. Lucky at di ako naassign sa Out bound, kasi ako yung tatawag eh, mas natripan ko ang In Bound, yung ikaw ang tatawagan nang mga Kano para sa problema nila at concerns. Di nakakaantok ang training namin even it's being done nang madaling araw, paano ba naman kasi, kwela yung trainer namin, at makukulit lahat nang mga kasamahan ko, palibasa puro kami mga lalake, meron naligaw isang babae, tomboy pa so kabarkada talaga ang turing namin sa kanya.Pagmay exam kami regarding sa product, kanya kanya kami nang paraan para mangopya, parang highschool lang kami noon.

At since we're all boys, kung ano anong kabastusan at kalokohan ang pinaguusapan namin which makes the group awake and alive, di ko naman kasi maintindihan pero totoong nakakagising nang diwa pag ang topic eh mga kalokohan at kabastusan. Kanya kanya din sila nang silay sa mga agents na dumadaan. Then habang nasa may sleeping quarters kami, nagugulat kami na minsan puro kami lalake eh may papasok na babaeng agent at makikiupo sa amin, minsan makikitulog pa. Well we treat them with repect and same thing naman ang natatangap namin sa ibang agents. Meron ding smoking area sa building na yun, and since wala pa naman kaming ginagawa noon, nagsigarilyo muna ako and I saw Amanda smoking, standing in the corner and I approached her

"Hi! Kumusta?"

"Oh hi!"

Then inabutan niya ako nang yosi, alam niya kasi na nagsisigarilyo ako

"Anong posisyon na inaplyan mo dito?" tanong ko sa kanya

"Agent lang din, dapat kasi magaaply ako for HR, kaso wala pa sila bakanteng posisyon, anong account hahawakan mo?"

"Discover Card"

"Really?! Inbound o out bound account?"

"Inbound... ang hirap nga eh daming kakabisaduhin"

"Akalain mo parehas tayo nang account"

"Discover Card?"

"Yup!"

Then tinanong ko sa kanya

"Kelan ka pa dito?"

"Mag aapat na buwan na"

"Tagal na din pala noh? Kaya pala di ka na nadadalaw sa tito mo nitong mga nakaraang buwan"

"Uu nga eh, sabi nga ni Tito sa akin, magpakita naman daw ako, teka, bakit ka naman umalis kay Tito?"

"Uhmm... wala lang... siguro nagsawa na ako sa work"

Then she looks at her wrist watch and she throws her cigarette

"Uy! Una na ako sayo ha, baka malate ako eh, 5 minutes na lang pala tapos na break ko"

"Sige sige"

Then umalis na siya at pinagpatuloy ko ang aking pagsisigarilyo mayamaya ay narinig ko ulit siya calling me sa loob at dumungaw siya sandali and asked

"Anong oras uwi mo?"

"Maya pang 7 nang umaga"

"Sabay na tayo ha, kain na din tayo"

Then umalis na siya, nagulat naman ako at biglang nagsisilipan ang mga kumag kong kasamahan sa pinto at wala silang nakitang nagyoyosi kundi ako at yung matabang agent na babae at isa isa nila akong binatukan.

"Tong nina ka El Nunal! Sino yun?! tong nina Chixs ah!" sabi nung isa

"Pakilala mo naman kami!" sabi nilang lahat at meron pang nagsasabing

"Ikaw na ang pogi! Inaya kumain!"

"Ibang kainan gagawin nyan!"

At nagtawanan kami.Mayamaya pa ay bumalik na kami sa training and I don't know, but this is the first time I feel excited about eating together with her, samantalang dati eh parang wala lang. Then after training, nagulat ako at biglang nagsigawan yung mga kasama ko, napagalitan pa nga kami nang trainer namin, kasi sa may labas nang training room, Amanda was there sitting on one of the seats there

"Hoy! Nandito na kadate mo!"

Ang sigaw nila at habang lumalabas ako nang pinto lahat sila ay kinakanta ang sound at ang alam ko eh pangkasal na sound ang gagayahin nila kaso ang ginawa nilang sound eh yung panggraduation at binasagan ko sila

"Ano to gradution mga g*g* hahaha"

At naisip nga nila yun at nagtawanan kami, even Amanda laughs on thier mistake, then nilapitan ko na siya at umalis na kami

"Pasensya na sa mga kasama ko sa training ha, mga loko loko lang talaga yung mga yun eh"

"Ok lang noh, ano ka ba?"

"Saan tayo kakain?" tanong ko sa kanya, and she smiled and told me

"Meron akong kinakainan dito ngaun, ang sarap nang pizza nila at pasta promise!"

Then naalala ko na si Amanda nga pala ay mahilig sa pasta and pizza, I had no idea kung saan kami kakain noon. Sumakay kami nang LRT, and it was so freaking wrong, kasi it's rush hour at sigurado magkakaroon nang siksikan at unahan sa pagpasok, sa pila pa nga lang noong una eh ang haba na pero parang sanay na siya sa mga ganito. Then, nang nasa may loob na kami at naghihintay na lang nang tren, may tumawag sa kanya.

"Sige papunta na, wait mo lang ako diyan ha?"

"I'll bring a friend there ha, oo, sige sige, sandali lang siguro... di naman siguro traffic eh madali lang naman biyahe dyan eh sige"

Then binalik na niya yung phone niya sa bag niya and the train finally arrived. Hinayaan na muna namin lahat nang bumababa at tska kami sumakay. I asked her

"Di ka ba sumasakay sa pangbabae at matatanda? yung bandang harapan?"

"Oo sumasakay ako dun"

"Sana dun ka na lang muna sumakay, baka masiksik ka kasi dito eh"

"Okay lang yun, nandito ka naman ngayon eh"

Then she smiled and ang inakala kong mali ay naging tama, may mga pasahero kasi na bigla na lang nanunulak para lang makapasok, medyo ang pwesto kasi namin ni Amanda eh malapit sa may pintuan, then magkaharap kami, and every time there was someone who is bumping me, medyo napapadikit ako sa kanya at dumidikit sa akin ang kanyang boobs and it feels a bit good, and seriously, I was getting a hard on that time. I guess she doesn't care or di niya lang nararamdaman ang pagdikit nang kanyang dibdib sa aking braso, minsan sa balikat.

After 15 minutes nang biyahe, nakarating din kami nang Crossing,galing kasi kami nang Ayala and mas malaki talaga ang natitipid na oras. Then sumakay kami nang jeep going to Rosario, medyo napapaisip ako kung saan kami pupunta, she have'nt spoken to me since bumaba kami sa LRT, then pagbaba namin nang Rosario, sumakay naman kami nang jeep going to Citibank and now I figure out kung saan kami pupunta, Eastwood. Then nang nasa jeep na kami, she then asks me

"Ang tahimik mo naman, parang di na pa nga ikaw yung kilala kong El Nunal? Sandali lang don't tell me..."

And the way I reacted and look, I guess she already get what she was about to ask.

"Kelan pa?"

"A year and di ko alam kung ilang months na, I don't think about na naman eh"

Then bumaba kami sa harap nang ministop, and we walked and finally, nakarating din kami sa sinasabi niyang kainan SSBARO. Then I saw a good looking man waiting in the corner with 3 big slices of Pizza,then he waved hi akala ko yung tao sa labas ang binabati niya, si Amanda pala and he kissed Amanda on her cheeks and inakbayan siya and Amanda introduced her to me

This Richard guy extended his arm to shake hands with me and I do response on his greeting

"Richard nga pala pre"

"El Nunal..."

Then silently I sat down on the other side while sila eh magkatabi habang nakaakbay siya kay Amanda. The way I see it, she was looking happy with this guy, I don't know but I felt a bit uneasy, siguro dahil dati, kapag lumalabas kami eh kami lang dalawa. Then we started eating, napansin ko sa menu ang bawat price nang pizza at pasta nila at walangya sa presyo, that time, what I'm eating is worth 180php/slice without drinks pa yun ha, di kakayanin basta basta nang budget ko. Then Amanda seems a bit silent that time, then the guys started asking me

"Masarap ba? If you want we can order another?"

"Di pre ang sarap nga eh, napatingin lang kasi ako sa menu nila walangya sa pagkakamahal ah?"

"Well, true, pero since Amanda is a Pizzaholic, what can I do, after all, this is a little price to make your love happy"

Then she kissed her in her cheek at hinataw ni Amanda ang BF niya nang pabiro, at shete nakokornihan ako sa ginagawa niya pero it seems this Richard is a nice guy, well I don't have any reason to be annoyed or mad at him.

"Are you in training right now?" ang tanung niya pa

"Oo, actually this is my first day of training, ay 2nd day na pala mamaya or... wait... hahahaaha nalilito ako, madaling araw pa kasi pasok ko eh"

"Alam mo, hanga pa nga ako sa mga tulad nyo ni Amanda na kayang kaya pang maggala after nang midnight works nyo. Di ba nakakapagod ang magtrabaho diyan? I mean di ba? salita salita at lalabanan nyo pa ang antok"

"Ok lang naman, siguro sanayan lang, teka ano ba work mo?"

Tanong ko sa kanya and he give his ID to me, di ko alam para lang ba makita ko ang work niya o sadyang nagyayabang siya pero well, I admit, he had the right to boast his work, he's a freaking Vice President of a Printing Ad company.

"Ikaw na ang Vice President, so saan located ang company na pinapasukan mo?"

"Muntinlupa"

"Ang layo pala... teka... so you mean bumibyahe ka dito from here to Muntinlupa?"

"Araw araw..."

He said at tinuro niya yung sasakyang maganda, kulay black, civic ata yun, basta, ang alam ko, mahal yung sasakyan na yun, nakita ko na kasi yung kanina pa sa labas before kami pumasok at naastigan ako

"Di naman sa akin problema yung pagpunta eh... pabalik, kasi minsan trapik, kaya ayun, tapos may mga nangongotong pa na mga enforcer sakit sa ulo aba"

He continued and he keeps on saying things about sa work niya and how he manage the company, how to manage the company. Then nagpaalam ako saglit para magsigarilyo, at paglabas ako ay nakahinga din ako, di ko akalain na ganun siya kausap when it comes to business matters. Then I took a look at them while I'm outside and she was talking with hime but alam mo yung itsura niya na parang di siya masaya, or siguro eh puyat lang siya, I don't want to assume anything. Then I checked the time on my cp ang it was already 11am, so pumasok ako sa loob para magpaalam na sa kanila then lumabas ako, I feel sleepy na din that time. Then habang naglalakad na ako, I heard someone's running and when I look it was Amanda and meron siyang dala

"Eto, pakibaon na lang"

It was a piece of pizza and a box of baked mac, she smiled at me and said

"Thank you ha,sige balik na ako doon, papahatid na din ako pauwi"

Then she head back sa kainan, I did not rember ordering anything like this, pero kinuha ko na din, I guess that Richard guy like someone who just listen to his crap and so I continue walking at sumakay na pauwi. Then I saw a note inside the plastik bag

"Alam kong favorite mo yan, enjoy! - Amanda : )"

Actually it makes me smile, and I opened it sa loob nang sasakyan and it really is my favorite flavor, Cheese pizza. After a long drive pauwi sa wakas ay nakarating din ako sa bahay, I gave my sister the bake mac and went straight to my bed, I was so sleepy that I sleep with what I am currently wearng that time. Then I had this dream, me and Amanda talking... then she kissed me and that woke me up,

"What the F?"

Ang sabi ko sa sarili ko, what a freaking dream I had there, and then I realized how soft those cute lips she had, then pagtingin ko oras, it's already 8pm so bumangon na ako at kumain. Then after an hour, naligo na ako at pumasok. Then I recieved a text sa kasamahan ko sa work

"Oi pre may naghahanap sayo dito, yung chixs mo kahapon"

Then naisip ko kaagad na si Amanda yun so I asked him

"Oh? Anong sabi? Bakit daw ako hinahanap?"

"Di nga namin alam eh, pero number niya alam na namin, hahaha kinuha ni Franco g*g* talaga yun, pero binigay din naman"

Then I recieved a business card number and natawa ako sa name Chixs Amanda, and I save it on my cp. Itetext ko na sana si Amanda kaso nawalan ako nang load. Pagdating ko sa may sakayan, I noticed someone familiar, at di nga ako nagkamali, it's my friend Eusha, binati ko siya at nagulat din siya

"Oi!!! Kumusta ka na?!"

"Ok lang naman, ikaw? Saan ka pupunta?"

"Uuwi na ako, bumili lang ako nang pagkain para sa pinsan ko"

"Ahh okay... teka may work ka na ba?"

"Wala pa nga eh... Ikaw?"

"Meron na, kakaaply ko lang dun and it was 2nd day in training"

"Ikaw na... di pa ako nagaaply eh, medyo may mga inaasikaso pa kasi akong mga bagay bagay, daan ka naman sa bahay minsan"

"Pwede ba ako dun eh 2 kayong babae dun eh"

"Oo naman! Isa pa di naman makikielam pinsan ko eh, after all di ka naman masamang tao eh so bakit ako magaalala diba?ano ba number mo nang matext kita, bago na ba number mo?"

"Oo, nagpalit na ako nang number eto oh"

Binigay ko yung number ko sa kanya then may dumaan nang FX na sasakyan niya so sumakay na siya, then, naglakad ako para ako eh makapasok na din sa aking trabaho, sumakay na ako nang LRT papuntang Ayala then sumakay nang jeep papunta sa work ko. Pagdating ko sa work ay nagulat ako kasi lahat eh seryoso sa pgbabasa nang pirasong papel, inabutan ako nang isa sa mga kasamahan ko, reviewer daw kasi may test kami mamaya at pag di daw pumasa sa test eh maliligwak, matatangal sa training. Nagulat ako kasi meron palang ganung pamamalakad sa kanila once you failed an exam, matatangal ka na, well, I guess that's just right kasi naman di naman biro ang laki nang sasahurin mo. So ako din eh nagreview na and the after a while dumating na ang trainer namin and nagsimula na ang test namin and after that, nagbreak muna kami. Lahat kami ay kabado kasi sa totoo lang halos lahat ata kami eh di nagkaroon nang chance na magkopyahan, yung iba eh napapakain ako eh napayosi na lang. Then nilapitan ako nang isa sa mga kasamahan ko sa training

"May naghahanap sayo pre, yung chixs, teka paano ba kayo nagkakilala?"

"Mahabang storya boy, sige"

Then palabas pa lang ako eh nagulat ako kasi nakasalubong ko si Amanda

"Kanina pa kita hinahanap eh..."

"Teka bakit mo nga pala ako hinahanap?"

"Ano... kasi..."

Then nagtataka ako, akala ko noong una eh meron siyang urgent na sasabihin pero parang wala pala so natawa ako and I just asked her

"Tara magyosi tayo"

Then nagyosi kami and then she started talking

"Ok lang ba yung BF ko ngaun?"

"Oo naman, langya tindi nang karisma mo, kung sabagay maganda ka naman, so madali talaga na makita ka nang mga ganung tao, VP nang company hahaha"

Akala ko eh she will laugh pero wala akong nakitang response sa mukha niya and she keeps on puffing cigarette I feel kinda awkward an a bit of confusion as well

"Pwede mo ba akong samahan mamaya magmall?"

"Mall?! Teka diba 10am pa bukas nang mga mall, di ka ba matutulog?"

She was not saying anything matapos ko siyang tanungin so I put my hands on her shoulders and she looked at me and I smiled

She was not responding on my offer so I feel like ang presko ko ata sa pagsabi sa kanya noon, so I slowly removed my hands on her shoulders

"Huy! Tama na pangchichicks! Malapit na matapos break natin"

Sabi nang isa sa kasama ko so inubos ko na ang yosi ko at sumunod sa kanya, then she suddenly holds the top of my polo, ilooked at her and she smiled

"See you at the cafeteria"

And she continued smoking and I followed my colleague. I feel relieved, akala ko eh mapapahiya ako sa alok ko kanina, well, for real, di ko inasahan na papayag siya but I still tried and hope for the best, now it's time for the moment of truth, sino kaya ang maeevict sa amin. Pagpasok namin sa training room namin, nandoon na ang trainer namin, at ang aming test papers, at pinaupo kaming lahat sa upuan. Our trainer saw all of us so damn worried and sobrang kabado kung sino ang pumasa at kung sino ang magpapaalam na sa amin.So I guess just to lessen the tension our trainer act like Big Brother at nagtawanan kami, it's super effective

"Kayo ngayon ay aking tinawag, upang malaman niyo kung sino ang dapat maalis sa training ko"

At medyo nagkakatawanan na kami pero we still keep in mind that once our name was called, either we stay or we go.And then our trainer started calling names at nakakatawa kasi talagang kinacareer nang trainer namin ang pagiging big brother niya lalo na nang tinawag na din niya ang pangalan ko

"Ikaw El Nunal, sa tingin mo ba dapat kang manatili sa training ni Kuya? O dapat ka nang maevict dahil may nunal ka sa mukha?"

At nagtawanan kaming lahat at medyo pinatahimik na kami nang trainer namin at isa isa kaming tinawag, para sa hatol, at lahat nang tinatawag ang pangalan ay pinapatayo at pinapalabas, at nakakapagtaka kasi meron mga hindi tinawag, kasama ako so kabado kaming mga natira siguro mga 9 lang kaming natira at 11 ang nawala sa amin, then, natawa kaming lahat sa sinabi nang trainer namin

"Kayong 9 ang may pinakamataas na score sa training ko, wala talagang bumagsak sa inyo, pinasabik ko lang kayo diba masaya?"

Yung puso noong una eh parang sasabog na dahil sa kaba, pero di lang naman ako ang nakaramdam nang ganun, maging mga kasama ko ay sobra din ang kaba. Then our trainer gave us this cute key chain and some GC's (Gift Certificate) sa starbucks worth 500php and our trainer said

"Sana laging ganyan ang performance nyo kasi magrereflect to sa reports ko so pagnasa floor na kayo, mas madali kayong aangat sa iba, malay nyo one of this days eh kayo na ang pumalit sa akin as trainer or supervisors meron ding ibang positions waiting for you basta like you are doing here in training, gawin nyo din sa floor, sige tawagan nyo na yung nasa labas at baka nagsisiiyakan na yung mga yun, di ko maipinta ang mga mukha nila kanina hahaha"

Medyo may pagkasalbahe ang ginawa sa amin nang trainer namin but it's fun and interesting, he is one cool trainer. Pinapasok na namin ang nasa labas at lahat sila ay nagtatanong

"Ano sino na tangal sa trabaho? Kami ba? O Kayo?"

Then pinauwi na kaming 9 nang trainer namin, well di naman ganun kaaga ang paguwi namin kasi 45 minutes na lang eh out na talaga namin pero to release this fuckin mixed emotions nang kaba at pagaalala, I do smoke. Pagpunta ko sa smoking area, I was surprised that Amanda is there, smoking and calling someone, but it seems she was not answered by the one she was calling and she saw me and checked her wrist watch

"Teka, bat ang aga mo ata?"

"Kasi pinaalis na kami agad nang trainer namin eh"

"Let me guess, you got a high score on one of his tests no?"

"Paano mo nalaman?"

"Well way back when I was training as well, ganyan din siya, tinakot kami tapos meron pa ngang botohang naganap eh, parang sa survivor, meron kaming lalagyan tapos isusulat namin ang pangalan namin tapos ang una daw na limang mabunot eh unang limang sasabihin kung pasado o bagsak"

"Meron bang bumagsak sa inyo?"

"Sadly oo, pero di naman kasi siya seryoso eh, nasanay kasi siya na nangongopya lang sa amin noon, eh that time yung test namin eh hinati by 5 kaya ayun, bumagsak siya"

I noticed her being happy while she was telling this stories and I saw her cute smile again, it's been a while since I saw that smile and napansin niya siguro na grabe ang titig ko sa kanya, and then, parang nagmood sway siya at bigla na naman tumahimik and she lit another stick of cigarette, she throws the box she was holding and she said

"Kumuha ka na dyan, maya maya aalis na tayo"

It was just 7am and kahit magbyahe kami nang matagal or matrapik kami, makakarating pa din kami sa Mega mall na sardo pa din pero di na ako kumontra. After namin maubos ang sinindihan naming yosi, she started putting up make up, lipstick, maskara blush on, and it was a little weird to me, she was not like that, I mean, di naman siya mahilig magmake up noon, pero di naman panget tignan sa kanya, actually from being just cute and maganda, she was maganda ang so damn hot looking, isama mo pa yung suot niya that time na nakasuot siya nang off shoulder na top dress and a miniskirt as well. She was like a total hottie back then. Then, umalis na kami, and she was not speaking sa biyahe namin, so ako ang unang nagsalita, since it was so damn boring at inaantok ako sa ambiance that time kasi kahit yung mga pasahero na kasabay namin eh tahimik tapos yung nasakyan pa namin na jeep eh wala manlang kahit anong sound

"So.. Amanda kumusta naman kayo nang BF mo?"

"Ok lang"

"Ilang taon na kayo?"

"Almost 7 months na..."

"Kelan ba monthsary nyo?"

Then she then told me

"Can we please talk something else, or kung wala ka maisip better keep that mouth shut please?"

Medyo nasaktan ako sa sinabi niya, medyo nagulat din at nabigla, I guess she had a bad day today so di na ako nangulit pa at nanahimik na lang. Then nakarating na din kami sa Ayala station, akala ko eh doon siya sasakay sa girls and oldies section pero nagulat ako nang itulak niya ako papasok at kasunod ko siya, lucky meron pang 2 vacant seats at nakaupo kami. Then along the way, she was still silent and she was not even looking at me, medyo napaisip ako, baka nabadtrip siya sa akin so di na ako nagattempt pa na makipagusap sa kanya,instead, I just play with my CP hanggang makarating kami nang Crossing. Then nakarating na kami doon at bumaba, and like I expected sarado pa ang Megamall, it;s just 9am pa lang so medyo maghihintay pa kami nang isang oras pero I wonder kung saan siya pupunta, sinundan ko na lang siya and then, nakarating kami sa may Starbucks, she then asked me

"Anong gusto mong kape?"

"Kahit ano..."

Ang sagot ko so inaasahan kong mangungulet siya pero she did not asked me again instead she oredered 2 capuccino. While waiting, she lit a cigarette again and she gave me one as well. I did not say a word and just go with the flow of the situation for a while hanggang sa dumating na din ang inorder namin. Then her phone rang but she was not answering the phone, siguro about 4 to 5 times ata yun nagring and she just ignores it ang keeps on drinking coffee while smoking. She suddenly speaks up

"Pasensya na ha... I was just pissed off, that's all, sorry kung medyo nasungitan kita kanina"

I feel happy kasi nagsimula na din siya magsalita so sumagot ako in manner na di siya maasar

"Ayos lang naman, after all it's my fault anyway, pwede ko bang malaman kung anong problema mo?"

"Wag na, wala naman kwenta eh, di ka ba nagugutom?"

She asked

"Nagugutom na nga ako eh, pero coffee will do I guess"

Then she told me

"Dalin mo yang kape mo, sa 711 tayo, gusto ko din kumain eh"

And she holds my hand and we walk papunta 711, di naman kalayuan yun, katapat lang talaga siya nang Starbucks, at pagpasok namin sa 711 she bought a pre cooked meals and she gave it to me and we started eating.

"Kumakain ka na din pala nang rice sa umaga"

She did not respond to that so di na muna ako nagsalita, pero that time I was feeling a bit annoyed and confused, hindi naman siya ganito, ang Amanda na kilala ko ay sweet, palakwento at iyakin na parang bata, but now, di ko na siya kilala. Then her phone rang again and that time she shut her phone. And I am somehow getting the picture of what's happening, I guess it's not work related, I guess it's about her BF, Richard. Di ko namalayan ang oras, 10am na pala, tumayo si Amanda and she asked me

"Tara na, bukas na yun sigurado"

So kahit di ko pa lubusang nakakain yung pagkain eh iniwanan ko na lang at kape na lang ang dinala ko. She walking in a fast phase so medyo naiiwanan ako kasi dahan dahan akong naglalakad. She then turned around and she said to me

"Pwede pakibilisan lang po ang lakad?"

Then she continued walking in the same state of walking so humabol na ako sa kanya hanggang sa magkatapat na kami.And pagdating namin saktong kakabukas lang nang MegaMall. Then sa harap nang mall, I saw a familiar face, at di ako nagkamali sa pagtingin, it was Rose Anne, my classmate dati, sitting sa may hagdan and she was like waiting for someone and she greets me suddenly

""Oi! Kumusta! Ano nang pinagkakaabalahan natin?"

"Eto call center"

Then she saw Amanda and she teased me saying

"Ganda nang kasama mo ah?! is she your girlfriend?"

"No.." I replied and she suddenly hugs me

"Akala ko GF mo baka kasi mapaway na nama ako eh"

Then I remembered that incident a long time ago with Jamaica and I laughed

"Wala na siya wala ka na dapat pang ikatakot noh"

"Weh?! Seryoso?"

"Do you think eh niloloko lang kita?"

"OO!"

Ang sabi niya at natawa ako and natawa din siya and we do our handshake

"Kiss bump naman dyan!"

And we do the fist bump which we call kiss bump. Then I saw Amanda looking at me and asked her

"Bakit may dumi ba mukha ko?"

"Wala.... tara na..."

So nagpaalam ako kay Rose Anne at naglakad na kami papasok sa Megamall.

I'm wondering kung ano ang bibilhin ni Amanda that day sa mall, we walk and umakyat from floor to floor, and then finally she stop by sa isang bilihan nang damit. She was probably looking for something na ibibigay niya sa BF niya kasi ang madalas niyang tignan sa doon ay mga damit panlalake, pantalon and jacket. She then bought some polo, pants and a jacket. We are walking together pero di talaga siya nagsasalita, I'm a bit bored so medyo nagtetext ako kung kanikanino, one of them replied, my friend Eusha. She asked

"Good morning! Nasaan ka ngayon?"

"Nandito sa Megamall, may sinamahan lang"

"Ahh, teka anong oras kaya kayo aalis diyan?"

"Di ko alam, medyo nakakaasar nga tong kasama ko eh, di nagiimik, naboboring ako"

"Ganun? Boy o girl?"

"Girl, moody, nakakayamot hahaha ikaw ganito ka din ba?"

"Pagmeron minsan oo, baka naman meron siya?"

"Ewan ko dito, alangan naman tanungin ko diba?"

"Hahaha tanungin mo makapal naman mukha mo eh, pagnasampal ka di ka tatablan nyan"

"Adik ka gagow hahaha"

"Hahaha mas gagow ka po hahaha gusto ko sana pumunta dyan eh, meron akong bibilhin na damit, meron kasi akong puntahang party mamaya, wanna come?" "Wala akong time eh, may pasok ako mamaya, gabi pa"

"Ay ganun, sige samahan mo na lang ako mamili text kita kung makakapunta ako ha?"

"Sige, teka bakit ako pala? Bat di na lang pinsan mo?"

"Meron pasok yun ngaun eh"

"Sige sige text mo ko, sana kayanin ko pa mabigat na din kasi mata ko eh"

"Nyee! Magkape ka o kaya pasampal ka na nga lang dyan sa kasama mo"
Then suddenly, habang nagtetext ako, Amanda asked me

"Are you bored?"
Tumingin ako sa kanya and I honestly said

"Oo eh..."
She looks at the time on her wrist watch and she said

"Sige, dyan ka na, kita na lang tayo mamaya, go and have some fun..."
She then walks away and I was a bit pissed that time so I grabbed her hands and hinarap ko siya sa akin and told her

"Ano bang problema mo ha? I was here pagod, wala pa din tulog at eto ako sinamahan ka, tapos you won't talk to me nang maayos you're such a moody at ngayon iiwanan mo lang ako? Sige, go... I'm just trying to help but I guess I'm just being an eye sore to you, sorry ha.."
Then binitawan ko ang kamay niya at and naglakad palayo sa kanya, she then suddenly holds my clothes and then she embraced me, and that was a shock, she then said

"I'm sorry... sorry if I'm acting this way... please wag kang umalis... alam kong I was a ignorant for a while there... can we talk... please..."
Then I slowly remove her arms around me

"Ok, let's talk this time, talk as in talk, no more silence no more snubs , tell me what the hell is your problem?"
Then we sat on the bench near by and she started talking

"Yung bespren ko, nagaway kami, dahil hinde ako nakapunta sa birthday niya kahapon, di ako pinayagan ni Richard, then, today is our monthsary and he promised me that the day before our monthsary, he will meet me at the office pero wala pa din siya hanggang sa matpos na shift ko, tapos si Kuya, naaksidente sa motor kanina, tapos, yung customer ko kanina, nakakabwiset pa, nasira yung AHT ko na inaalagaan (Average Handling Time), ilang beses ko na din siyang tinatawagan pero he was not answeringm kahit patext di siya sumasagot, nakakabadtrip sobra, I don't know how to vent things out... "
And as she was saying this, I don't see a drop of tears flow in her eyes but the way she speaks and her eyes eh medyo namumugto. That time I was now completely convinced that she was not the Amanda I know, somehow she was changed.

"Oh my God... I really don't need to.... urgh...."
Then she slowly takes a deep breath, and di ba once we inhale and exhale nakikita natin to, and I do enhoy what I am seeing, hahaha di ko maiwasan na mapatingin sa dibdib nya habang humihinga siya, sadyang malibog talaga ako pero masisisi nyo ba ako, I'm a man, but that time, when I saw her like that, madaling natabunan nang concern ang kalibugan ko and then I hold her shoulder and told her

"Nothings wrong if you cry... babies cry kasi gutom sila o basa na ang lampin, kahit mga hayop umiiyak din especially pagnawala ang mga anak nila at nasaktan, and crying some how cleanse those hurtful feeling, it's a gift that should be used to release and vent out that anger frustration or sadness of yours, so feel free to cry, my shoulders is here just waiting for you"
Then I smiled then all of a sudden a burst of emotions came out of her, she started crying, and shet, bakit ko pakasi ginawa yun, I totally forgot na nasa mall na pala kami and pinagtitinginan ako nang mga tao, siguro inaakala nila na pinapaiyak ko tong babaeng nakayakap sa akin, I can tell, the way they look specially thosebeautiful young students na nagcucuting, damn, but on the contrary, I guess that helped her, a lot, a few minutes later she stoped crying and I saw her makeu kinda ruin, kinuha ko ang panyo sa bulsa ko and started wiping her tears, and her ruined mascara as well and I told her

"Why use this fancy make up, I do know that you also know na maganda ka na without this things, tignan mo ang panget mo tuloy"
I smiled and kumuha siya nang salamin sa bag niya and natawa siya kasi nang tignan niya ang sarili niya, sabog na ang make up niya

"Ikaw kasi eh... pinaiyak mo ko eh... pero alam mo... it's been a while... since I cried"

"Kelan ba ang huli mong pagiyak"

"Noong time that I feel rejected... by you"
And it was like I took an arrow on the chest, stunned and di nakaimik. She then touches my face

"Alam mo ba, I missed you... I missed you soo much... I tried everything I can to forget you, Richard help me do that... but I feel like, something is missing, I don't show up my face to you, hoping that makakalimutan kita, pero para akong t*ng*, yung tipong pupunta pa ako sa office ni tito dati, just to take a glimpse sa yo, then one time na di kita nakita, I ask them kung nasaan ka na... they said umalis ka na... and you know I feel sad, Richard was there for me when I am always sad, kaya siguro, slowly I fall to him, pero now I feel this regret, he prioritize work more than me... he don't even ask me kung kumusta na ako, kung anong ginagawa ko... for the whole 6 months na magkasama kami... never... I wanted to cry it all out, all the feelings of being neglected, yung pakiramdam na ikaw lang ang bigay nang bigay, pero I remember what you have told me, not to waste my tears, kasi baka isang araw, wala nang tumulo, I thought my tears are already dried up, in some occassions na gusto kong umiyak, kahit anong pilit ko ayaw, pero nang makita ulit kita, suddenly, I can cry like this with ease..."
Then she hugs me and asked me a favor, a favor that I could not refuse that time

"Pwede bang wag mo na lang muna ako kausapin or pansinin, just for a week, can we become a total strangers..."
She said while holding face and she was sheding tears. I hold her hands and kissed it and I told her

"I guess I'm the one messing up with you right now, sure, don't worry, simula bukas, I won't talk look or even greet you as well, I will act that it was like nothing is there, sorry if I caused you trouble like this"
Then I let go of her hands and walks away. Then I texted my frien, Eusha

"Eusha, hinatayin na lang kita dito sa may cyberzone, text me if nandito ka na, by the way, dalan mo din ako pagkain, I'm hungry hahaha"
She then replied

"Sige sige on the way na ko dyan"
And habang naglalakad ako I accidentally bumped someone, I'm not paying attention kasi that time sa dinadaanan ko so di ko nakita kung sino yun but I said

"Sorry, my bad, di ko po sadya"
Nagulat ako nang batukan ako nito so napatingin ako at natawa ako kasi si Rose Anne pala yung nakabanga ko

"Adik ka? hahaha teka, saan ka pupunta?"

"Cyberzone, papalipas oras, meron ako hinihintay eh"
Then she holds my hands and she said

"Alam mo halika at samahan mo na lang muna ako at nagugutom ako, kakain tayo!"
Then she dragged me along, well, it's better than watching gamers play then as we walk nasalubong namin si Amanda but like she said, I did not acknowledge her at all, alam ko na sinabi niyang bukas pero why wait, kung pwede naman ngaun na eh gawin ko na ang gusto niya. But I saw her look at me while I'm holding my hands with someone. Then nakarating na din kami sa kakainan namin, Tokyo Tokyo, and Rose Anne asked me

"Anong gusto mong kainin?"

"Ikaw na lang, somehow I lost my appetite along the way"

"Mukha mo! Bahala ka oorder ako at kainin mo yun kung hindi ililipat ko yang nunal mo sa noo mo"
Natawa ako nang bahagya, and she smiled, somehow, she was cute, kahit may braces siya that time, it actually adds up to her beauty. Matapos siyang umorder, she asked me a very frank straight to the point question

"Wanna have sex?"

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya at napangiti

"Di nga?"

She then bites her lips and holds my hands

"Sa tingin mo ba nagbibiro ako?"

She was looking at me in a very sudductive way, and she was kinda leaning to show me her cleavage while holding my hands and the she whispered

"Ang libog mo"

At binatukan ako tawa siya nang tawa, natawa din ako pero I had freaking hard on, the way she speak kasi, ewan ko ba, some how will get you excited then she was teasing me with her cleavage so what would you expect

"Ahahaha kayo talagang mga lalake,di ko alam kung bakit madali kayo mahulog sa mga patibong naming mga babae, pero you know, I do really want to have fun with you"

"G*g* napakaadik mo hahaha friends tayo wag ganun"

"Why not? Friend with benifits, ayaw pa?"

"Well, alam mo, di na ako maniniwala sa mga pinagsasabi mo"

"Bakit naman?!"

"Loka loka, as if di kita kilala noh hahaha"

Then she smiled at me and then dumating na order namin, she ordered, beef ramen, sakuyaki and some tempura as well. Then we start eating. Habang kumakain, kinalabit niya ako and when I look she was somehow eating the tempura in a very erotic way, yung tipong dinidiladilaan niya ito at sinusubo at nilalabas pasok sa bibig niya, parang meron siyang binibigyan nang blow job then I told her

"Yan ba ang tinatawag na TB?"

"Anong TB?" tanong niya while smiling

"Tempura Blow, masarap noh?"

Then she laughed

"Ahahahaha gagu! Titigilan na nga kita sa pantritrip walang hiya, wala bang dating sayo appeal ko?"

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo? Anong apeal?"

"Di ba ako maganda?"

"Hinde!" ang sabi ko at tumawa ako

"Ang yabang mo!"

She said and then she ask me

"Wala ka bang GF ngaun?"

"Wala why ask?"

"Eh sino yung girl na kasama mo kanina? Don't tell me sinasamahan mo lang talaga yung magandang babae na yun?"

"Oo, sinasamahan ko lang"

"Kanina nasalubong natin siya ah, bat di mo manlang inaya na kakain tayo"

"Well, she told me na di naman siya gutom so why bother asking her"

Then she look at me in the eyes and she told me

"You suck at lying you know that?"

"Paano mo naman nasabi?"

"Well obviously, I do have some knowledge acquired with my studies sa course ko in psychology di ba?"

"Ha?"

"Meron kasi kaming naging thesis at ipagmamalaki ko sayo nakakuha ako nang 1.5 on that, kasi it's about body language nang tao, and the way he speak, he moves or react on such situation, you can tell what he was thinking or what he really do feel about certain things, it's like you can read people's mind with just they're movement"

"Really?"

"And don't you lie on me, nalibugan ka kanina sa ginagawa ko kanina"

At natawa na lang ako then habang napapasarap ang usapan namin, I recieved a message from Eusha

"Hoy! Asan ka na?! Nandito na ako sa meeting place natin, aba wala akong makita dito kundi puro bata, nasaan ka ba?"

Then tumayo na ako and thank her for the food

"Saan ka pupunta?"

Rose Anne asked

"Nandito na yung friend ko, ahahaha hinahanap na ako eh, uy salamat talaga sa pagkain ha!"

"El nunal, wait!" she said at lumapit siya sa akin and she hugged me

"Thanks for the company, see ya around, by the way, I'm serious with my offer hahaha"

Then she walks away and natawa ako, as if na seryoso siya then, napaisip ako, what if seryoso nga siya, mahirap na din kasi magtiwala, maybe she was just playing with me so I rather not play a game that I'll definitely loose. Nagmadali akong pumunta sa Cyberzone, and inabutan ko nga siya, and she was playing a shooting game and infairness to her, she was damn good player, nang kakausapin ko siya, inabutan niya ako nang token at pinahulog niya sa akin ito and then 2 na kami naglalaro, I always die while she was just being barely hit with a minumum damage at natatawa ako kasi she was a better gamer than me, well that was the first time playing that game anyway so meron akong excuse for myself. Then after a few boss fight more, what the F! she finished it with just inserting 2 tokens while I spend 9 tokens at niyabangan ako nang loka

"Ang hina mo naman, weak! hahaha"

Natawa ako at nakipagasaran sa kanya

"Ikaw na malakas, malakas din kumain hahaha"

Kinurot niya ako sa bilbil at natawa kaming dalawa then umupo muna kami sa vacant seat sa arcade games and we ate this shawarma she brought, di ko alam pero noon araw na yun, gutom ba gutom ako kaya lamon lang ako nang lamon. Then Eusha asked me

"Wanna go sa Bora with me?"

"Ha? Bora as in Boracay?"

"Yup, malapit lang kasi sa amin yun eh, uuwi ako this saturday sa province namin sa Aklan, meron lang kasi aasikasuhin na mga papeles regarding sa mga appartment and bar na pagaari ni Lola"

"Baki what happened to your lola?"

"Well nothing naman pero she already told us that we should start managing her properties there, after all, she was old and any time she might perish, may sakit din kasi yun, eh ayaw magpaospital, she rather die peacefully in her house of her parents, so di na namin siya pinilit"

"Di ko lang kasi alam kung makakasama ako, meron kasi ako pasok eh, bawal kasi ako umabsent doon kasi 3 consecutive absent eh wala ka na, tanggal ka na sa work unless meron kang medical certificate na ipapakita"

"Ay ganun sayang naman... maiba tayo... kumusta ka naman sa work mo? The way I see it parang may dinidibdib ka"

"Ahh... halata ba?"

"OO, di ka naman ganyan pagmagkasama tayo eh, madalas kwento ka nang kwento eh, madaldal ka kaya pag ok ka, ano ba yang problema mo?"

"Wala to, maliit lang na bagay to"

"Maliit pa eh noh? Wag mong sabihin babae yan? Yan lang naman madalas kong makita noon sayo eh, naalala mo ba yung problema mo kay"

Then tinakpan ko ang bibig niya

"Wag mo na ipaalala ikaw talaga!!!"

At inipit ko ang ulo niya sa pagitan nang aking mga braso at natatawa siya at bigla niya akong kinagat at natawa ako

"Ahahahahaha napaka g*g* mo talaga hahahaha"

"Langya ka ang sakit naman nang kagat mo!"

"Ganun talaga! Eh inipit mo ko eh hahaha may anghit ka pa!"

"Hoy ang kapal mo, kung meron, man, humanda ka!!!"

Tinaas ko ang kilikili ko at dinidikit ko sa mukha niya. This little cute friend of mine is like my bestfriend na babae, and she was just so damn cute, no wonder dami niyang suitors then I asked her

"May boyfriend ka na diba?"

"HA?! Ako?! Gagu! Di uso sa akin yun kayong mga lalake eh g*g* at sakit lang sa ulo"

"Nagsalita! Kayo din kayang mga babae, same din hahaha"

"Pero alam mo iba ka sa kanila eh"

"Bakit naman?!"

"Bakla kasi t*ng* hahahaha"

"Asa ka hahaha"

Then bigla niya akong inaya

"Tara samahan mo ko mamile nang damit ko, pupunta ako nang party mamaya isasama ako nang pinsan ko eh"

"May kakasya ba sayo ang taba mo kaya"

"G*g* ka talaga! Pumayat na nga ako eh!"

"Oo yung ilong mo pumayat na!"

Then hinataw hataw niya ako and she stood up and hinila ako patayo

"Tara na! Nanag makauwi na din ako pati ikaw, malamang di ka pa natutulog"

Then naalala ko, oo nga pala kailangan kong matulog, I forgot na may pasok pa ako mamaya so I need a rest, so sinamahan ko na siya sa bilihan nang damit. Then as she was looking for a dress to wear, I called her

"Bakit ?"

She asked and then tinuro ko siya sa kid section

"Doon ka kaya maghanap sa kid section baka sakali may makita ka?"

Then siniko niya ako at natawa ako then she finally found a dress, then sinukat niya ito sa dressing room and inaasar ko pa siya

"Di makakasya yan! puputok hahaha!"

Then when she came out, tong nina napanganga ako sa itsura niya, never I thought na she will be that beautiful with a simple dress, kumbaga, dinala siya nang damit o magaling siya magdala nang damit or neither way... she was totally beautiful that day. It's looks like an evening gown and damn add up her cute little smile, and then she saw me starring at her and she snaps her fingers in my face

"Huy! parang nakakita ka nang multo ah?! Aha! natameme ka sa ganda ko noh?!"

"Mukha mo! inaalala ko yung damit baka masira mo mapupunit oh hahaha" ang pang aasar ko sa kanya, pero actually she was right, natameme ako sa kanya. Then she bought the dress and we started walking palabas nang mall. Then sa labas nang mall, I did not expected to this thing at ang tangi ko na lang nasabi ay

"Anong klaseng kalokohan to?!"

"Ano ba yun?"

Eusha asked and she also can't believe what I was pointing at...

"Dragon Ball The Movie?!"

At bigla niya akong binatukan

"Akala ko naman kung ano?! Hayop hahaha"

"Aahahaha di lang ako makapaniwala ampota the movie nang isa paborito kong anime? I guess this will be good"

Pero promise hinde... this movie sucks, kung di lang maganda si Chichi, nanapakalayo talaga sa istorya, eh di ko siya panunuorin. Then hinatid ko na si Eusha sa sakayan, and then when nakasakay na siya, ako eh sumakay na din, sa FX na ako sumakay that time kasi I want to sleep with comfort, bukod sa makakapwesto ako nang pagtulog, may aircon pa, and what do you know, pagangat ko nang pinto sa likod nang FX, Rose Anne was there and nagulat din siya and garapalan niyang sinabi sa katabi niya

"Kuya, pwede sa kabila na lang kayo, nandito na kasi yung BF ko eh"

So umalis si manong sa tabi niya at ako ang pinaupo sa tabi niya at niyakap niya ako at natawa ako at binulungan niya ako