"Maganda ka sa umaga, Aling Fely!"

Sumilay ang biloy niya dahil sa ngiting isinukli niya sa pagbati ko.

"Maganda ka rin sa umaga, Aingeal. Saan ka pupunta at tila bihis na bihis ka?" Tanong nito sa akin na nagtataka. Hindi naman kasi ako mahilig lumabas sa bahay. Minsan lang kapag pupunta ako sa unibersidad o sa grocery store.

"Bibili po ako ng libro, 'Nay. Kailangan ko po kasi para sa darating na finals namin,"

Tila nagkaroon na siya ng ideya sa sinabi ko.

"Oo nga pala! Malapit ka nang grumadweyt. O siya sige na't humayo ka na. Mag-iingat ka sa daan,"

Tanging opo ang siyang naisagot ko dahil parang mas nagmamadali pa si Aling Fely sa akin. Niyakap lamang ako nito at umalis na na siya ko na ring ginawa pagkatapos.

Aling Fely is so good to me since then. It's been five years when they came here and stayed permanently. Their house is just two house away from my abode.

She told me that they were once lived in the province before her daughter bought them home here.

I rode a cab going to bookstore ten minutes away from our village. Hindi crowded ang bookstore na iyon kaya doon ako lagi pumupunta kapag bumibili ako ng mga libro ko.

I don't really rely on internet. I prefer a physical book even though some says I can get more informations through internet. It's because there are websites that has an improved informations or the revised version.

Nang makarating na ako sa bookstore ay saktong naalala ko na kailangan ko rin palang bumili ng mga lapis ko dahil pudpud na ang lagi kong ginagamit tuwing may activity at project na pinapagawa.

Graduating na kami kaya sunod-sunod na ang mga ipinapagawa sa amin. Malala nga lang dahil sinusunod na rin nila ang final exam namin sa huling semestre.

Smell of books welcomed me as soon as I opened the glass door. I went directly to find the book I am looking.

Hindi naman iyon mahirap hanapin dahil academic book naman ang hinahanap ko at tyaka naka-indicate naman na doon.

Pagkatapos makuha ang librong hinahanap ko ay nagtungo na ako sa aisle ng mga ballpen at lapis.

"Have you thought of their offer?" Hindi sinasadyang marinig ko ang usapan ng dalawang lalaki malapit sa akin. They are busy buying pens too.

"Yes,"

"So what's your decision?"

Tumahimik sila at akala ko ay umalis na sila. Pero nagkakamali ako dahil nasa tabi ko na pala silang dalawa at kumukuha ang isa ng mga lapis din. May donation ba sila? Ang dami kasi nilang biniling mga ballpen at lapis pati na mga notebook na nasa cart nila.

"I still have five days to think about it very well, Wry."

Umalis na ako nang makuha ko na ang sapat na lapis na kakailanganin ko. Nabunggo ko pa nga ang isa sa dalawang lalaki dahil may tao pala sa likod ko. Agad naman akong humingi ng paumanhin bago tuluyang umalis.

Naisipan kong bumili ng blueberry cheesecake sa nadaanan kong pastry shop. Sinamahan ko na rin iyon ng latte.

Pagdating sa bahay ay nagligpit muna ako ng mga gamit na hindi nakaayos. Pagkatapos ay nagbihis na ako ng pambahay para masimulan ko na ang gagawin kong project. Sa Lunes na kasi ipapasa iyon at Sabado na ngayon. Kailangan kong matapos ang ipinapagawa sa amin na ancestral house architectural design.

I already ate the food I bought a while ago since I know that I will take many hours to finish my project.

I started sketching at ten in the morning. At nang inangat ko na ang ulo ko ay madilim na labas na sinabayan pa ng pagkulo ng tiyan ko. I overworked again.

Sinulyapan ko ang orasan at nakitang alas sais na pala ng gabi. Natagalan ako sa paggawa ng proyekto ko dahil malaki ang papel na ipinagamit sa amin.

Tumayo na ako at nagtungo na sa kusina para magluto ng kakainin ko ngayong gabi. At dahil gutom na ako ay nagluto nalang ako ng itlog at pancit canton dahil may natira pa akong sinaing. Life of being alone.

Habang kumakain ay napansin kong bukas ang ilaw sa bahay na malapit lamang ng bahay ko. Wala namang naninirahan diyan at wala akong matandaan na may bumili na niyang bahay. Isang taon na rin noong nagawa iyan pero wala pa ring nakakabili. Hindi kaya ay may bumili na?

Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako at tumuloy na sa pagkain.

Dumating ang Lunes kaya madali ako sa pagkilos. I didn't even have the time to eat my breakfast. Thankfully, I manage to assemble my bike yesterday so that I can use it whenever I'm late going to school. Kapag kasi nilakad ko ay mas male-late ako.

I entered in our room just on time. I silently thanked myself for making it.

I went to my seat and started preparing the book we will need and readied my notebook and pen. I have no friends here inside the school and even outside. I don't want to make friends. It's not because I hate them or something. It's just that I feel like I don't deserve someone by my side.

Well, I do smile and cheer other people and it only stays there. I do like sharing a positive vibes to anyone for I know that they deserve to smile even for only a minute each day.

My neighbors may noticed that I am really an introvert. Some may not understand but I really do like spending time alone, being with myself most of the time, and only talks when someone is talking to me.

I spent the whole day attending my class and cleaning the library as my part-time job here in our school.

I often hear the students talking that I am an scholar because of my job but I am not. My parents left a two-storey house and a company when they died and the business was passed down to me.

I was so young back then when bunch of papers were given to me that I need to sign. Thankfully, my parents trusted secretary were there. So the I decided to let him run the company while I am still studying. It's so hard for me but who am I to nag?

I'm in the hallway of our school when my phone rang. I answered it immediately when I saw it's Secretary Kang.

"Greetings, Young Lady. I called to inform you that the day after tomorrow will be the monthly conference with the board of directors. Is that alright?"

I awkwardly scratch my cheeks while my lips was pushed forward.

I still have an exam this week but I must make time to face the company too. I don't want to disappoint my parents to wherever they are.

"It's alright. Tell everyone it will be held at seven in the evening."