The Jerk is a Ghost

18

I was about to think that she was bitter in my love life because she didn’t crush her crush and until now, Daddy still doesn’t like men for her.

But no matter what he says, I will not think of Khalid that way. I trust Khalid so much. I knew he couldn’t do that. I was just really worried about him so I got paranoid like this.

"Why are you in the dump now, Miss Lalaine, looking beautiful? Did your imaginary boyfriend break up with you?" Mathew teased me when I met him on the school soccer field. The friends with it even laughed.

I rolled my eyes at him. I would have answered him when I hit Zaffiro. So instead of hitting Mathew, I passed them and then approached Zaffiro who was playing soccer with his teammates. They were just playing games so I approached him.

"Zaff .." I called hi, we're on our way to talk. We just hear each other’s voices. We both get restless when we can't hear each other's voices.

He immediately turned to me. When he saw me, he looked again at his friends who were also looking at us. He would have said goodbye to them when I stopped him,

"No. There's no need. I'll just ask you something." I said.

"What's that?"

"I-is Khalid ... did he call or message you?" I hesitated to question him.

He thought for a moment, "No. He didn't," he said then his brows arched, "Why?"

I waited a few more hours thinking that maybe he was just busy, because at this time, he was still at school. But just a few hours later, no call really came.

So, I sent him a message on messenger even though he was not online.

Me: I'm worried. Why you didn't call? I just fell asleep waiting for his reply. Until the next day, when I didn’t see a reply from him on the messenger, I was even more worried about him.

I didn’t even see it online on social media when I checked it again when I woke up the next day.

"Maybe there's another woman."

I was offended by what Sabrina said while we were having breakfast when I told them about it because they noticed I was lethargic.

To this day, he is still very annoying to this brother of mine.

"Stop it, Sabrina," Mommy scolded my sister before she turned to me, "Son, Khalid might just be busy. Besides, you might be asleep when he goes online."

"But even though he's busy, he can find a way for us to talk to each other. Also, if he's online, I'll see that. But he didn't, he didn't even reply to my message on messenger. "

"So, do you also think he has a woman?"

I frowned at the brother, "Of course not. I trust my boyfriend. He'll never do that."

"You can't say that, Ate. Men are men. Men will be men."

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at my brother’s poisoning of my brain. "Eh because he didn't even call and message me. He didn't even reply to my message. Ahh never mind," I said and looked at him, "When he contacts you, can you tell me? O ' Otherwise, please tell her I'll wait for her call. "

He nodded, "Sure. No problem."

I smiled, "Thank you. All right. I have to go," I said then I turned to his teammates, "Sorry for the disturbance!"

"Nothing, Miss Lalaine!" They said at once, "It's okay, Miss Lalaine. Even if you disturb us all the time, it's okay. Just you." one of them added so I smiled even more.

I hugged them again and then turned my back on them. Before I could get away, I heard them talking.

"Stop that." I heard Zaffiro. "I was peeping Papay Benson, who was eating sugar-coated pili nuts while on a steady rocking chair. It was evening and I was on the street side. He feels my presence. He stood up and went to my direction. I hurriedly ran away and went to the back of their house. There, I saw Kuya Bambi, who says nothing. Raulito Luna, a neighbour and who had seen me long before I hid, voice out my where-about. I got angry to him. But before Papay Benson came near, I finished the scene.""Near the stairway, I saw Ivan Lee Espinosa and a little boy, playing with a strange tile game. I approached him asking if it is a domino. I then quickly realized that it was not because they or the tiles are colourful. He told me the name but unfortunately I have not clearly heard it. Minutes after, Auntie Vangie and Tito Rey pass by. I thought they were going to a meeting, gathering or important place/venue. They were dressed up. Next things happened were not clear."

Six AM, I was awakened when Jano woke up to watch weather news. Then, I joined him. We found out that Bicol Region was severely affected. Good thing is it changes direction.

Next , I prepared the hot water. After few minutes, I eat breakfast. That then when I remember last night's Andok's lechon manok. I have found a wishbone, which said to be a wishing bone. Thus, I kept it. And now, I was thinking of what best way to do with that. I'll keep it till Mj arrived? Or do it now?

Past eight, while waiting for 'Kabuhayang Swak na Swak' to sign on, Jano came to an idea of making a bench. It irritates me. In spite of it, I still followed him. Thus, I postponed my watching TV and writing.

We immediately started bench-making, though wind's blowing. Good thing, there's no rain.

From eight Am to seven M, I was occupied by the following:

8 AM to 2 PM -Bench-making with a bit of sweeping the clutters due to storm and a bit of garden renovation2 PM to 4 PM - General cleaning in the kitchen4 PM to 7 PM - Washing clothes (mine, Mj's and Hanna's) and fetching water and filling the water containers for Gie' and Jano's bath tomorrow.

I was so tired... Jano asked me if I like to drink beer. I replied "Where?" Thus, he commanded Flor to buy. Actually, he already has drunken one bottle of Colt 45, before he asked me. It's okay. I'm only a moderate drinker. "Awful, 'tol. She's really nice. Are you sure you didn't try to woo her?"

"Nonsense! Stop it. That's my friend's girlfriend."

I was just shaken until I could get away from them completely.

I don’t lose my memory of Khalid. I thought about him all day, especially since he didn't contact me all day. He still doesn't see my message on the messenger.

So when the afternoon class ended, instead of going home, I went straight to their mansion.

Ever since Khalid left, I still go to their mansion. Sometimes, I still sleep there. Daddy isn't so strict with me anymore so I can do what I want. And because of that, I became even closer to Mother Myrna, even to the housemates who were left there.

"Lalaine!"

Mother Myrna greeted me warmly as I entered the mansion.

As before. When I visit here, he takes me straight to the dining area to be fed. Two o'clock, I was awakened by a strong wind. Super Typhoon "Reming" was now felt in Antipolo City. It made me sleepless.

My dreams are:

Tomorrow, Mam will arrive. I hope she would be amazed of what Jano and I have done today, especially my garden renovation. My endeavors were actually dedicated to her.

And, tomorrow is the day when an 'on-the-spot hiring' for call center agents would be held in Commonwealth. I have actually planned to ty despite of my computer illiteracy. But tonight, I changed my mind .. I will still wait for Taiwan. I just don't know till when. I'm willing to anticipate till January but the trouble is the stress it could bring to me. I couldn't accept the fact that Christmas day would be as lonely as before due to pennilessness. However, my life is merrier compared to those who felt the fury of supertyphoon 'Remng'. My fellow Bicolanos were most pitiful victims. Mud flows. Worn-out houses. Destructed properties. Lost hopes. Haay! It's frustrating, while my problem is an iota compared to theirs. "I'm sorry, Lord."

While I was watching TV, I was then tipsy. I remember my friend, my best friend, Epr. I wished we could be together this Yuletide season.

Last Christmas and New Year's Eve, we're both penniless. We're both sad for I just slept while others were making gala and merriment. He, too, has been frustrated that we were together.

The book "A Thought A Day" is my all-time favourite. It is like an "Our Daily Bread", which offers divine wisdom. Thus, since Rodea was requesting from me an inspirational e-mail, I decide to get from the said book. Actually, I started it last Thursday. It's half-done.

Also, I re-started reading one thought per day. And, Dec. 1 is all about 'irritability'. "Irritability is the flaw of character whereby people permit themselves to be unpleasant, curt and ill-mannered with others for no other reason than they do not happen to be feeling just right. It signifies a lack of self-control, inability to subject one's feelings to the demands of charity, woeful immaturity of character."

Now, I must admit that I have been irritated sometimes by someone or something. I often lost control that leads to anger and hatred. I must then be sorry to God. I have been so naïve, immature and childlike without much knowledge about the importance of feelings.

Hence, I resolve to myself to be pleasant all the time as long as I could hold my emotion. I just hope people around stop being irritable to me for they were triggering me to do unpleasant acts. It is addressed to Flor Rhina. She often makes me irritated. She's an irritable human being.

My plan of going to Commonwealth for an 'on-the-spot hiring' would not be realized for two reasons: (1) I have no money, (2) Mama was not yet here as of 7:30 AM. Therefore, God is willing to give me another opportunity. I knew God is the greatest provider. He would not make me drown in hopelessness.

Speaking of Mama, she's been on my dram last night. My dream about her was yucky.

"Mama arrived from Sauyo. We're all gladdened by her arrival. I did not know if Taiwan of Jano or Flor was happy too when she comes home especially when she told us that her only 'pasalubong' was apple, which was quartered. It was actually a big red apple. The trouble is when she announced that the quartered fruit was affected by her 'vomits'. It was obviously sticky. However I get mine, wash it and eat it happily. I also have seen Taiwan and Mama were eating their shares. I didn't see Jano and Flor eat."