Chapter 7 - Can I Ask You?
1149 Words
Chapter 7 - Can I Ask You?
"Let's go" hinila niya ako papuntang parking at nabasa ulit kami kaya binilisan nalang namin ang aming takbo hanggang sa makarating kami sa parking lot na kung saan ay may silong ito, tumungo kami sa kanyang sasakyan at pinatunog niya ito
"Get in"
"Oh, are you sure? not 'get out'?"
"Thanks for reminding me to kick you out of my car when we arrive"
Binuksan ko ang pinto ng backseat at akmang sasakay na sana nang magsalita si Archer
"I am not your fckng driver, missy. Sit in front." He has been calling me 'missy' ever since we met, nakalimutan na kaya nito ang pangalan ko? o hindi lang talaga siya nakikinig nung nagpakilala ako?
I laughed inwardly when I realized that indeed he would look like my driver if I sat at the back. I moved at the passenger seat in front and wore my seatbelt on. Nang makalabas kami sa parking ay napansin kong humina na ang ulan, pero marami paring estudyante ang hindi nakakauwi. I heard my phone ring so I looked at the paper bag where my coffee and sandwich are, at kinuha ang phone ko na hinulog ko kanina nang biglang umulan at mabuti nalang hindi ito nabasa.
"Hello Mom?"
"how was your day anak?"
"It was fine Mom" not to mention that I entered the wrong room and called 'stupid' by an as*hole.
"Thatis good to hear. I hope you did not get lost? Coz I know you are bad at directions sweety" yeah Mom knows me.
"I... actually... got lost Mom." I do not like lying so... Mom just laughed at me.
"Mom, did you ask the two to watch for me?"
"Yes, I told Martha to ask the two since I and your Dad were not able to talk to them before we left"
Napatingin ako kay Archer nang huminto ang sasakyan dahil sa traffic. Tahimik lamang itong nakatingin sa harap, tinignan ko rin ang mga nakahinto na sasakyan, then a realization just hit me, the first time I saw him and Sophia, at the sidewalk it was traffic too.
"I can handle myself, Mom"
"Alam ko naman yun anak, pero para narin naman sa ikakapanatag ng loob namin ng Dad mo na alam naming may nagbabantay sayo." May point naman si Mom pero ba't sila pa.
"Alright, Mom, though you got nothing to worry about. I will be fine."
"Sige anak, magi-ingat ka diyan ha."
"Yes Mom, bye" she then ended the call.
Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana at humalukipkip nang lamigin na ako dahil sa aircon ng sasakyan, medyo basa pa naman ako. Malapit na ang condo ko pero hindi umuusad ang traffic dahil narin sa marami paring estudyante at jeep sa parte na ito ang nagkalat sa daan, naguunahang makasakay at makauwi na.
"Thanks" I uttered when Archer turned off the aircon.
Pinangibabawan ako ng aking kuryosidad kaya napatingin ako kay Archer and he is tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.
"Can I... ask you something?"
"If I say no, are you going to keep it to yourself?" tinikom ko ang aking bibig. Ano bang pumasok sa utak ko at nagtanong pa e alam ko namang hindi rin papayag. I cleared my throat and looked at the window instead, I took his answer as a hint to shut up.
"Spill." Napatingin ako sa kanya at siya ay diretso lang ang tingin sa harap.
"Is Nursing difficult?"
"Why? Are you going to shift if it is?" he effin answered my question with another question, how nice.
But he has a point, so I asked myself the same question. Mag s-shift nga ba ako pag mahirap?
"N-no." I am determined for this course, it was like, it became a dream already, just thinking that I will be able to save lives and help people, and care for them, is already satisfying. In Nursing, I will be witnessing the beginning of a life and the end of it – the birth and the death. I know the situation of nurses and the healthcare system in our country, it is not good, but still, I am willing to go for it. Dad already warned me before how difficult nursing is, but that's what thrills me, I am up for the challenge.
"So does it matter if it is difficult?"
Again, I answered "No."
"Then why bother asking?"
"I... just..." hindi ko alam ang sasabihin, but the inner me had a feeling of the right answer for it, 'I asked because I have doubts and a bit nervous if I indeed chose the right course for me and if I can do it. I needed confirmation. And his questions made me ask myself— and clear all my doubts. I am up for this, I will finish it even if it is difficult' but I kept it to myself since I was the one who needed the answer.
Umusad na ang traffic at tumingin na lamang ako sa aking bintana. I watched his reflection on my window hanggang sa makarating kami sa condo building. Hindi parin tumitila ang mahinang ulan.
I unbuckled the seatbelt and looked at him.
"Thanks for driving me, and... for answering my question." I opened the car door and before I got out, he looked at me and said
"You will make it, Rain." My eyes widen when he uttered my name, it sounds... nice coming from him. And no one calls me Rain. His eyes...looked warmer for a millisecond, though I am not sure, baka namamalikmata lang ako.
"I..." I do not know how to respond.
"Now, get out and close the door." there is his rudeness again, ang bilis magbago ng ugali, mas moody pa kesa sa babaeng may dalaw.
"Has anyone told you already that you are rude?"
"You did."
Argh I can't stand him. Bumaba na ako saka isinarado ang pinto bago mabilis na naglakad patungo sa condo.
Morning came and class discussions started. Good thing nothing unusual happened today, and the next day, and the whole 2 weeks. I have not seen the two, and that is great coz I do not wanna associate myself to them.
During the whole week I tried to socialize with my classmates, because in college you cannot survive if you are alone, you need friends, you need companions, you need your classmates who share the same struggle as yours.
But, just like I have said before, I suck at making and keeping friends, although I got closer to my classmates, there was still a huge gap between us so I can't call them 'friends' but more like companions or colleagues. I sometimes join them at lunch, and most of the time I don not coz I always spend my time in the library to read and review.
Then one day, my monotonous school routine was disturbed…….
- Writer
