Chapter 18: Drift

Nagmamadali akong pumunta sa Library noong umagang yon. Mahigit isang oras pa bago ang aking unang klase pero maaga akong pumasok sa university dahil sa text na aking natanggap.

Tulad ng dati, maaga pa lang ay may mga estudyante ng makikita sa Library. A lot of them were reviewing for the upcoming quarterly exams. I went straight to the Librarian's desk.

"Good morning, Mrs. Jamieson." Halos hinihingal na bati ko. Nakatalikod siya sa akin habang nagsasalansan ng mga libro sa shelf. Lumingon siya nang marinig ang boses ko. Her face lit up. Inaasahan niya ang pagdating ko.

"Denise, I'm glad you're here. I took the freedom to forward your résumé in the desktop file yesterday since hindi kita macontact. I hope you don't mind."

"It's fine, Mrs. Jamieson. You saved me from a lot of time."

Kahapon nakareceive ako ng text mula kay Mrs. Jaimeson tungkol sa bakanteng position sa shop ng kanyang kapatid. At dahil alam niya na nangangailangan ako ng pera, nirekomenda niya na ako ang ilagay. It's a coffee shop several blocks away from the university. A decent job.

"My sister told me to inform you that you must report today, preferable after class. And hopefully you can start."

Umaliwalas ang aking mukha.

"Marami pong salamat."

--

Matapos ang huli kong klase ay dumerecho ako sa shop ng kapatid ni Mrs. Jamieson. The shop's small yet cozy. The glass walls are adorned with potted plans. Tables outside are shaded by green umbrellas. The comforting smell of brewed coffee was the first thing that would greet you when you enter the place. Karamihan sa mga customers ay mga matatanda o di naman kaya estudyante.

Binati ako ng isa sa mga staff pagpasok ko. Noong tinanong ko kung saan ang owner tinuro niya ako sa isang babaeng nakaupo sa sulok ng shop habang nakaharap sa kanyang laptop. Hindi ko inaasahan na isang babaeng halos kaedad ko lang ang aking makikita. She must be just a few years ahead of me.

Lumapit ako sa kanya. She took a sip of her coffee as she stare at her laptop monitor. Nang maramdaman niya ang aking pagdating tumingala siya upang pagmasdan ako.

"I'm Denise Limerick," sinabi ko. Sa pangalan palang ay bumakas na ang recognition sa mukha niya.

"Oh, hi! I'm Van. It's Vanessa Jamieson." She smiled this bedazzling smile. Straight pearly teeth behind a nude tone lips. A hint of curiosity pricked me. I know this kind of aura.

"And you're my sister's assistant?"

"Yes." Sinabi ko. I tried to shake the previous thought away. I don't want to sound outlandish at our first meeting. Specially if she offers me a job I needed so badly.

"My sister forwarded your resume. It's for formality purposes. You can start today."

I blinked. "Now?"

She stared at me with a intriguing smile. There's something about this lady... something in the aura she gave that was familiar. "May iba ka bang gagawin?"

"I mean no. Yes, I will start today."

Dapat ba akong magpasalamat sa mabilis na proseso?

"Ang papalitan mong staff ay hindi na pumasok pa mula noong nakaraang linggo. He already AWOL-ed with his girlfriend. Kaya kulang kami sa mga oras na ito."

"Naintindihan ko."

"Maureen will teach you the basics of serving. Pero dahil may experience ka na I'm sure you'll do fine. Coffee shop is less hectic than a fast food or restaurant."

Tumango ako.

"Your uniform is on locker eight. And I need you to sign this."

Nilahad niya ang piraso ng papel sa akin. A part time job contract. It says here that my working hours are from 7-12 in the evening during weekdays and ten in the morning until five in the afternoon on weekends. This is one of the coffee shop in the university belt that serves to night owl law students.

"This is all base on your schedule forwarded by my sister. Are there changes you wanna do?"

"It's fine." I needed it. The more working hours, the more I prefer.

I signed the contract. And an hour later I was serving the guest at the coffee shop.

--

Paisa isa ang pasok ng mga customers. They stream on the counter. All I have to do is to sweep the floors for spills, serve what was prepared to corresponding customers. At linisin ang table para sa susunod na customer.

Pagdating ng ten ng gabi dumami ang pumapasok sa shop. Karamihan ay mga estudyante na kailangan ng caffeine para magreview. Be it solo or group study. Tables outside the coffee shop were occupied by older customers on their way home from work.

The hours came by fast and draining. Matapos ang aking shift ng alas dose ng gabi ramdam ko na ang pagod sa bawat parte ng katawan ko.

"Masasanay ka din." Sinabi ng isa sa aking kasama na si Maureen. She has this little face, a bit chubby on the cheeks, but has wide expressive eyes. Nine ng gabi nang umuwi na si Miss Van.

Nag paalam kami sa isa't isa nang maghiwalay kami ng daan. I could tell that the shop is well managed by how approachable the employees are. May ilang bagay akong gustong itanong tungkol kay Miss Van. Alam kong may iba sa kung paano siya tumingin sa akin. Her cat like eyes seem watchful and knowing.

Dumaan ako sa parte ng belt kung saan makikita ang mga restaurants at iba pang mga establishments. Karamihan sa mga ito ay nakasara na. But there was still a few that caters to students of evening classes.

Akmang dadaan ako sa tapat ng isa sa mga restaurant na ito nang isang familiar na tindig ang napansin ko mula sa loob. My feet halted from taking another step. Landon. He's wearing a white v-neck shirt that hugs his toned upper body and the biceps of his arms. Funny how the color choice didn't make him less dangerous. A sly smirk and he's good as wearing black.

Magpapatuloy na sana ako sa paglalakad nang makita ko kung sino ang kasama nito sa loob ng restaurant. I blinked. Miss Van? They're taking casually. Ibang iba sa karaniwan kong nakikita tuwing may kasamang babae si Landon. Landon seem to be telling something, and Miss Van's halfway through a chuckle.

Miss Van is gorgeous without effort. Kahit sino ay mapapatingin lalo na kapag nakangiti siya. And Landon seem to be entertained by the conversation as well. Hindi ko alam magkakilala sila. Should I be bothered? I don't want my deal with Landon to be risking this job for me.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglakad. Pero hindi maalis sa isip ang aking nakita. The fact that Miss Van, a woman slowly gaining my respect, knows a man as manipulative as Landon, was unsettling for me.

--

Nagpatuloy ang pagtatrabaho ko sa coffee shop sa buong linggo. Madali akong nasanay sa bago kong routine. Five ng hapon ang huli kong klase. Matapos nito pupunta ako sa library para maglinis. I was supposed to stay there until eight o'clock in the evening. Pero pumayag si Mrs. Jamieson na maaga akong umalis kesa dati para sa aking trabaho sa coffee shop. The Jamieson's are one of the rare nice people in my reality. I wonder if Mrs. Jamieson knew that her younger sister was somehow connected to the most dangerous student on campus.

After my duties at the Library I'd head straight to the coffee shop. I found myself looking forward to the smell of roasted coffee beans and the calm atmosphere of the place. When you're at a coffee shop, you're not actually paying for the food. You're paying for the ambiance and peace of mind.

I begun to notice Miss Van's routine. Pagdating ko tuwing hapon nandoon na siya. She was always in front of her laptop, checking inventories and other stuff related to managing the shop, with a huge mug of Americano beside her, and sometimes a plate of pastries.

Her words were kind yet firm. She doesn't treat her employees as workers, but co-owners. You often hear the words please and thank you from her even by doing the smallest things like handling her some files from the counter. The intrigue was slowly eating me. An angel like her was in no way related to a devil like Landon.

"Denise?"

Natigil ako sa pagpupunas ng table nang marinig ang boses ni Miss Van. Lumapit ako sa usual table niya sa sulok. The table was not available for customers. Tanging siya lamang ang umuukupa dito.

"Magle-leave si Oliver for the next three days." Isa si Oliver na kasama ko sa paglilinis ng shop. Maureen is stationed at the counter with Joe to prepare the orders.

"I was wondering if you can do the night shift on your own or we could tell one of the day shifts to help."

Kaming apat nina Maureen ang night shift sa shop. Minsan ko lamang nakita ang mga nasa day shift noong minsan napaaga ako ng dating.

"Of course, you'll be compensated doubled. Pero kaya mo ba?"

"I'll take it." Sinabi ko. "Makakaya ko."

Ngumiti siya na tila inaasahan ang sagot ko. In her head she's somehow jotting down notes on me. Acknowledging, amused.

"Okay then. Let's all work together."

After the small talk bumalik ako sa paglilinis. Lumapit sa akin si Maureen.

"Sure ka, 'te? Hindi ba exams niyo na next week?" Tanong niya.

"Nakakapag review naman ako sa madaling araw."

"Natutulog ka pa ba?"

Ngumiti lamang ako. I was actually feeling a bit queasy these past couple of days. Siguro ay dahil halos wala akong tulog. Our exams are fast approaching. Maliban sa aking mga part time jobs hindi ko maaaring pabayaan ang aking pag aaral. Beside Mom, my scholarship is the only thing that fules me to wake up everyday.

--

Sa mga sumunod na araw pilit kong pinagsabay ang klase ko, ang aking trabaho, at ang aking pagrereview. Pag uwi ko ng apartment ng madaling araw halos gusto ng bumagsak ng aking katawan dahil sa pagod. Pero kinakailangan ko parin maglaan ng kahit dalawang oras upang magreview bago ako magising ng alas singko ng umaga para maghanda sa una kong klase.

Teachers and professors started giving requirements and paper works as if their drowning lectures are not punishment enough. Students were stressed and drained. The university was a setting for a zombie apocalypse movie at this time of the semester, with sleep deprived students trudging the pathways, and blood fueled by caffeine.

For several consecutive days a long night sleep is foreign to me. I thought I grew immune from fatigue. Pero sa pagtatapos ng linggong yon doon ko unti unting naramdaman ang pagbawi nito sa aking katawan.

Nasa locker room ako ng gym noong hapon na yon at nagbibihis nang maramdaman ko ang pagkahilo. Sandali akong tumigil sa ginagawa at napahawak sa pinto ng aking locker upang i-steady ang aking sarili. Tahimik akong napamura. Hindi pwede ngayon. We have volleyball game today. It was graded. A practicum exam.

"Guys! May tao pa ba dyan sa loob! Mag start na tayo!"

Binilisan ko ang pagbibihis nang marinig ang tawag ng isa sa mga block mates ko. Nang matapos ako agad kong pinusod ang aking buhok. I jogged out of the locker room and into the connecting gym. Pagdating ko halos handa na ang lahat upang maglaro. We were up against a class from a different course with the same gym teacher. Nagsimula nang mag warm up ang iba kaya sumama ako. Ngunit natigilan ako nang makita kung sino sino ang aming makakalaban. Six of them were already inside the court wearing red jersey shorts. CBA. In the corners of my eyes I saw a familiar stature leaning against a surrounding post at the edge of the court. Hindi siya nakabihis tulad ng mga estuyante na nakapaligid sa kanya. I doubt he's part of the opposing team. Bakit siya nandito?

Nagtama ang paningin namin. Napakurap ako. Even at a distance I could tell that his devilish lips turned into a slight curve as he watched me. Maya maya pa, isang babae mula sa kalaban na team ang lumapit sa kanya at tila hinagkan ang labi nito. A quick kiss seconds before the teacher turned into their direction. The girl blew her another kiss as she marched back towards the court. Ah, no wonder. One of his strings of women is here.

Nagsimula ang aming laro. Kasama ko sa first six sina Justin, Clomil, at Daniela. The one who did the groupings probably assumed we're still in good terms kaya kami ang pinagsama sama. We cheered with each other. Pero nakikita na hindi na ito tulad ng dati. In their eyes I'm just another teammate while I treasure them. Still. Even though I couldn't show it.

Sa unang sampong minuto pa lamang ng laro alam kong magiging intense ito. Malalakas ang palitan ng bawat tira. Every serve is calculated. The spikes left the ball nearly twisted against the floor. Bawat isa ay walang balak magbigay.

Hinihingal ako at pinagpapawisan. Sa gitna ng laro halos wala na akong mamalayan kundi ang bola. Every strike I have to give my outmost strength. I could hear the voice of Justin cheering us up. Dehado kami ng dalawang puntos. Wala ng nagreregister sa aking utak kundi ang lalim ng aking paghinga. Lumingon ako. Daniela was about to serve. Muli kong binalik ang attention sa net. Kailangan namin makabawi. Daniela should kill this strike.

Malakas ang naging palo ni Daniela sa bola. Halos bumulusok ito sa kabilang bahagi ng net. My breathing was suspended. It was risky yet calculated strike. Pinatama niya sa gilid ang bola, halos ilang centimeter mula sa line. Noong akala ko makakalampas na ito sa mga kamay na nag aabang sa ere, isang pares ng palad ang hinabol ito. He hit it back with the same intensity. Mabilis kong sinundan ng tingin ang bola. Napaatras ang isa sa mga kasama ko nang makita kung gaano kalakas ang tira na ito.

I could hear the voice of Justin shouting. Matatalo kami kapag pinalampas namin ito. Bumulusok ito sa direction ni Clomil na nasa upper right corner ng court. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata. Clomil is like Elyse. They were never sporty. Hinarang niya ang kamay sa kanyang mukha, at pilit na umiwas sa halip na tirahin ito. Ngunit sa kanyang pagpapanic at pag iwas hindi na niya namalayan na nakalampas na siya sa line at mababangga na ang umpire sa post nito.

"Clomil!" Sigaw ni Daniela sa kabilang dulo ng court.

Maging ang umpire ay nangamba sa naka-ambang pagbanga nito. Ako ang pinakamalapit kay Clomil kaya ako ang tumakbo. Bago pa tumama ang bola sa payat niyang katawan, tinira ko ito gamit ang kanang kamay ko na pilit kong inihabol. Kinagat ko ang labi ko nang maradaman ang maling pagtama ng bola sa aking wrist. Tinulak ko si Clomil paalis sa tapat ng umpire at dahil sa momentum, ang aking katawan ang tumama sa post.

Nayanig ang post ng umpire. Naramdaman ko ang marahas na paglapat ng matigas na bakal nito sa aking likod. Halos mapaluhod ako.

"Denise!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Clomil. Tinuro niya ang nasa likod ko. Babagsak ang post. Napakurap ako. Tumayo ako sa sahig upang umalis. But my knees were too weak to move. Ramdam ko na ang impact ng pagtama ng bakal sa aking katawan. Napapikit ako.

I waited for the impact. I waited for the sudden jolt of pain to knock the life out of me. Pero nang muli akong tumingala isang tao ang nasa aking harapan. He was towering over me, even on half squat. His broad arms occupied most of my vision as one of his hands was on my shoulder, and the other one was leaning against the post preventing it from toppling over.

"Baby, that's a stupid move," he whispered.

Unti unti niyang itinulak pabalik ang poste na tila wala lang sa kanya ang bigat nito. Hangang sa maging steady ito. Ramdam ko parin ang malalim kong paghinga. Tuluyan akong tumayo. Doon ko napansin ang mga matang nakatingin sa amin. Natigil ang laro dahil sa nangyari.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay babe?" Sigaw ng isang babae sa kabilang dulo ng court.

Kumurap ako. Humahangos na pinuntahan niya si Landon. But Landon faced me. Confusion arises from the crowd.

"Let me see your wrist."

Hinawakan niya ang wrist ko. Halos mapadaing ako dahil dito. Hinigit ko ang kamay ko mula sa kanya. He insisted on checking it.

"Bitawan mo ako, Landon." I whispered.

Nagsisimula ng magtaka ang mga tao. Lumayo ako mula kay Landon. Napansin ko na napatingin sa akin si Clomil. Nakatitig siya sa wrist ko na noong mga oras na yon ay alam kong may bali.

"Denise,"

"Pupunta lang po ako sa clinic." Sinabi ko sa guro na tila nabigla din sa bilis ng mga pangyayari.

Bago pa siya makasagot ay umalis na ako, dahil hindi ko na alam kung gaano ako magtatagal na nakatayo sa kanilang harapan. Dark spots were already clouding my vision. At alam kong ano mang oras ay bibigay na sa panghihina ang aking mga binti.

Naglakad ako ng ilang hakbang. Ngunit hindi pa ako nakakalabas ng tuluyan sa court nang magdilim ang aking paningin. I lost grasp of the floor as my knees gave way.

Out of nowhere a pair of broad arms caught me. I was too out of it to know what was happening. But before I completely drift into nothingness I heard his familiar voice whispered.

"You're really amusing, Denise. But you must learn to protect yourself first before anyone else."

Tuluyang pumikit ang aking mga mata.

"Now, sleep baby."

***