"Vast, clear sky

Armed with its glaring rays

Donned a scenery

Too beautiful to shy away.. "

I was dancing to the song entitled Summer Love when I heard a loud, deafening sound from somewhere.

That was the memory that kept me up everytime. Apart from that, all I can remember were the desperate cries for help of people in the streets while I was covering my ears and watching the walls around me started to crumble.

It was nothing but a tragic memory of that fateful past.

I was born stronger than anyone I know.

My mom told me that I was born prematurely yet I fought to be alive.

I was hugging my backpack as I gently removed my eyeglasses to wipe of the dust accumulated from outside the bus.

I was riding the ordinary bus to save up for my future here in Manila.

After the devastating incident I experienced years ago, my line of sight was affected.

The doctor who checked on me when I was rushed to the hospital said that I suffered from a traumatic brain injury when a debris fell on my head during that fateful day.
Therefore, leading to my vision and hearing instability.

I started the habit of wearing eyeglasses every time.

My family started leaving the place where the tragedy occurred. My older brother moved out when he married my sister in-law who was his girlfriend for more than eight years. My second brother moved out too to build a family with his girlfriend whom he impregnated months ago.

The earthquake became a wake-up call for us to do what needs to be done.

Our parents? Mom went to Manila to finally be with her second husband, our stepfather, Tito Manuel, who was her former senior in the company she was working in.

Our dad passed away. I would like to think so, ever since, I learned how he left mom to be with his mistress when I was around seven years old.

Me? I was left alone to fend for myself. I chose to go on my own since I stepped at the age of twenty.

I was able to graduate from college with a degree in culinary arts. I am confident that I will endure everything on my own.

At least, I'm sure of it. That said, even with some impairment, I consider myself as a survivor.

"Oh, trenta minutos na stop over muna! Yung mga mag-cr dyan, mag-cr na!" Ani ng konduktor ng bus na sinasakyan ko at nagsimulang magsibabaan patungo sa convenience store at restroom ang mga pasahero.

I brought my bag with me and left my scarf on my seat, making sure to save it for later.

I waited for awhile before I was able to go out the bus and went to the restroom. I mentally noted the plate number of our bus and where we were parked as soon as I get out of it.

Thankfully, the line wasn't long and was able to relieve myself in less than fifteen minutes.

Afterwards, I went to the convenience store and bought snickers, piattos barbecue, donuts and bottled water to compensate my stomach later on.

It will take me another hour to reach my apartment and will still have to endure getting stuck on traffic so it's best to be loaded with foods, at the very least.

As soon as I got my change, I returned to the bus I was in awhile ago and took a seat.

At exactly five thirty, we left the stopover and I succumbed to a bite of snickers and sleep as we drove off.

I woke up to a guy, staring at me and I automatically slapped his face.

"Aray! Shit!" The guy wearing a blue cap and leather jacket complained while massaging his cheek which I had slapped. "Bakit ka ba nananampal, ha!"

"Eh bakit ka nandito? Bakit ka nasa tabi ko?" I shot back and fixed my hair and hugged my backpack.

"Nakakaawa ka kaya! Kulang na lang humiga ka sa sahig sa pagkaantok mo! Buti nga sinalo ko pa yang ulo mo eh!" He exclaimed and stood up.

I stared at his back as he stomped out of the bus. I realized that I was the only one left.

"Wow! Salamat ha!" I said with so much sarcasm and followed him outside.

I was greeted with cold breeze and it was then that I realized that it's officially the start of Christmas season.

Aside from the Christmas lights adorning the trees and establishments, I could see everyone in the spirit of the season.

I sighed and held tight to my backpack which was now placed in front of me, afraid I might be a victim of pickpocketers.

Hello, self. You're on your own now.
Are you ready to conquer the world?

💟💟💟

My own composition from my Poetry Compilation, "Whispered Words".