Si Samantha.

Isa siya sa mga babaeng nagustuhan ko at nakasama ko nang matagal bago ako na-discover ng kasalukuyang manager ko para pasukin ang mundo ng pag-aartista.

I started working at a young age of 18 when my father has told me that there's a job vacancy on one of the companies that he has worked before.

Katatapos ko lang ng highschool no'n at hindi pa handa ang budget nina mama para pag-aralin ako ng kolehiyo. And I was thinking that maybe, I should work for the meantime, lalo na at wala pang mga universities noon na nag-aalok ng free tuition and my grades were not good enough to pass for a scholarship.

Kaya nang sabihan ako ni papa tungkol sa trabaho na iniaalok sa kaniya ng mga kakilala niya roon ay minabuti ko na lang din na subukan. Noong sabihin ko kina mama na mag-a-apply ako, my mom told me I don't need to work just yet to help them.

Pero dahil alam kong mahihirapan kami dahil na rin sa mga utang nina mama na nagkapatong-patong matapos akong maipadala sa ospital noon, napag-isipan ko na itutuloy ko ang plano kong maghanap at mag-apply sa trabaho.

Walang nagawa si mama lalo at inihanda ko na ang lahat ng dapat asikasuhin. I did ask them for money just to prepare the requirements needed for me to apply successfully for that job.

Nakuha ko naman ang lahat ng kailangan ko. My medical results had shown great as well. Despite having an odd medical background when I was a child, the future is still bright for me. Fortunately, despite my history of having Unitary Track Infection that resulted for me for a month-long confinement, wala namang epekto ito sa naging interview sa akin.

On the long run, I got the job that I prepared myself for.

My first job is being a factory production worker.

At doon sa mismong kumpanyang pinasukan ko ang siyang lugar kung saan nakilala ko si Samantha. She's the only person that I felt different with. Sa lahat kasi ng babaeng nakakasalamuha ko sa workplace namin, Sam was the only one whom I felt comfortable with.

Everytime I see her smiling. Nawawala kaagad ang pagod ko. Yung tipong siya na ang mismong inspirasyon ko sa bawat araw na lumilipas. Like I'm working just to see her smile again and again every time we meet in the hallway or even inside the production floor.

Nakipagkilala ako sa kaniya. I found out that she's one year older than me and she's supposed to be on her second year college this school year, but due to financial problems, she has to work to help her parents. Same with me.

At that moment, I realised. Hindi lang ako ang nag-iisa. There are many people who lives the same way as me.

And one of the common problems we all had encountered are financial issues. The never ending problem with money. I do believe that it's not a sin to be born under a poor household, but it would be a grave sin to die in the same situation.

Sam told me that she's been working in this company for a month already. Marami na rin daw siyang nakilala na kagaya niya. Bata pa, maraming pangarap sa buhay, at dahil sa nangangailangan din ng pera para makapagkolehiyo, ay napilitang magtrabaho dahil hindi kinaya ng kani-kanilang mga magulang na tustusan ang kanilang mga gastusin.

We can't blame our parents though. Specially when we reached this stage of our life with them. They're the reason we survived this long. And we will be the reason why they would live longer.

Dahil sa parehas kaming nakaka-relate sa isa't-isa, mabilis lang din kaming nagkapalagayan ng loob. Everyday, Sam always greets me the moment I enter the workroom.

With that smile, with that voice, and with that appealing beauty that she possessed. I just realized that I was starting to like her.

Hindi lang paghanga ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya. There's this feeling inside my body that keeps my blood pumping whenever I see her. Halos hindi ako makapagsalita sa tuwing nakatingin siya sa aking mga mata.

Hindi ko rin alam kung anong gagawin ko sa tuwing hinahawakan niya ang aking kamay habang tinuturuan niya ako kung pa'no gawin ang mga process sa machines kung saan ako madalas ilipat kapag walang takbo ang linya namin.

For a week or so since I realized that I indeed love her...

...I had slowly become someone she has used to know.

Dahil kasi sa nararamdaman ko sa kaniya ay unti-unti akong lumayo.

I was totally afraid that she might reject me if I told her what I was feeling. Kaya habang maaga pa ay naisipan kong bigyan siya ng space. I didn't talk to her when I feel like I have a lot to share with her.

Hindi na rin ako nagpapaturo sa mga machine na nahahawakan ko dahil halos lahat naman ay naituro na niya sa akin.

Until that night happened.

The moment when a certain Rebecca Magnaye has discovered my existence when I was eating alone by myself in one of the fast-food chain my mother was managing with...