241 by El Nunal (Book 2)

241

Part- 1

This song sang by Rivermaya... 241... and this song really do means a
lot to me, one of my favorite song so I decided to connect it to this
next story... a girl named Amanda.

I meet her first during my first attempt on applying on a call center

company which did not end up well, and I was surprised, to bump her
on the same company where I am doing my training. Nagkagulatan
kami dahil di naman alam na magkikita kami sa lugar na iyon.

I was completely mesmerized with her looks that day, she was not
wearing any make up aside from blush on, plain white t shirt na nasa
loob nang white jacket, skinny jeans and she had a new hair cut as
well. She was God damn beautiful, maganda na naman siya dati pa
pero mas maganda siya ngayon and she smiled at me

"Bat nandito ka?"

ang tanung niya sa akin

"Sinubukan ko lang magapply dito, eventually natangap ako"

"Teka... you mean, umalis ka na sa dati mong work"

"Oo, ENDO na ako at di na ako nagrenew pa nang contrata"

then she was called by one of the agents that time

"Amanda, coach is looking for you, hurry and she said it was urgent"

so nagpaalam siya sa akin at sumama siya sa agent na tumawag sa

kanya. Wala kaming pagkakataon noon na magkamustahan at
magkwentuhan, that time kasi eh may work siya. So I go ahead and
get some coffee sa vending machine, one of the best part of being an
agent, you have the privilage to have unlimited source of coffee and
take note Nescafe siya and meron siyang iba;t ibang timpla nang kape
so di ka magsasawa and I guess the company provided this para
magsing lage ang mga agents and trainees like me, walangya naman
kasi sa oras nang pasok, right now I'm on the training and pumasok
ako nang 11pm nang gabi unlike sa una kong pinasukan noon na call
center na umaga ang training, well not that I'm that affected, taong
gabi naman ako so gising ako hanggang madaling araw. Pagbalik ko
nang training room, kami eh nagkaroon nang briefing reagarding sa
aming product na i hahandle, it is a credit card product Discover Card
and PTNT isang phone company ata. Our group is devided into 2
groups at napunta ako sa Discover Card. Lucky at di ako naassign sa
Out bound, kasi ako yung tatawag eh, mas natripan ko ang In Bound,
yung ikaw ang tatawagan nang mga Kano para sa problema nila at
concerns. Di nakakaantok ang training namin even it's being done
nang madaling araw, paano ba naman kasi, kwela yung trainer namin,
at makukulit lahat nang mga kasamahan ko, palibasa puro kami mga
lalake, meron naligaw isang babae, tomboy pa so kabarkada talaga
ang turing namin sa kanya.Pagmay exam kami regarding sa product,
kanya kanya kami nang paraan para mangopya, parang highschool
lang kami noon. At since we're all boys, kung ano anong kabastusan
at kalokohan ang pinaguusapan namin which makes the group awake
and alive, di ko naman kasi maintindihan pero totoong nakakagising
nang diwa pag ang topic eh mga kalokohan at kabastusan. Kanya
kanya din sila nang silay sa mga agents na dumadaan. Then habang
nasa may sleeping quarters kami, nagugulat kami na minsan puro
kami lalake eh may papasok na babaeng agent at makikiupo sa amin,
minsan makikitulog pa. Well we treat them with repect and same thing
naman ang natatangap namin sa ibang agents. Meron ding smoking
area sa building na yun, and since wala pa naman kaming ginagawa
noon, nagsigarilyo muna ako and I saw Amanda smoking, standing in
the corner and I approached her

"Hi! Kumusta?"

"Oh hi!"

then inabutan niya ako nang yosi, alam niya kasi na nagsisigarilyo ako

"Anong posisyon na inaplyan mo dito?" tanong ko sa kanya

"Agent lang din, dapat kasi magaaply ako for HR, kaso wala pa sila
bakanteng posisyon, anong account hahawakan mo?"

"Discover Card"

"Really?! Inbound o out bound account?"

"Inbound... ang hirap nga eh daming kakabisaduhin"

"Akalain mo parehas tayo nang account"

"Discover Card?"

"Yup!"

then tinanong ko sa kanya

"Kelan ka pa dito?"

"Mag aapat na buwan na"

"Tagal na din pala noh? Kaya pala di ka na nadadalaw sa tito mo

nitong mga nakaraang buwan"

"Uu nga eh, sabi nga ni Tito sa akin, magpakita naman daw ako, teka,
bakit ka naman umalis kay Tito?"

"Uhmm... wala lang... siguro nagsawa na ako sa work"

then she looks at her wrist watch and she throws her cigarette

"Uy! Una na ako sayo ha, baka malate ako eh, 5 minutes na lang pala
tapos na break ko"

"Sige sige"

then umalis na siya at pinagpatuloy ko ang aking pagsisigarilyo

mayamaya ay narinig ko ulit siya calling me sa loob at dumungaw siya
sandali and asked

"Anong oras uwi mo?"

"maya pang 7 nang umaga"

"sabay na tayo ha, kain na din tayo" t

hen umalis na siya, nagulat naman ako at biglang nagsisilipan ang

mga kumag kong kasamahan sa pinto at wala silang nakitang
nagyoyosi kundi ako at yung matabang agent na babae at isa isa nila
akong binatukan

"tong nina ka El Nunal! Sino yun?! tong nina Chixs ah!" sabi nung isa

"Pakilala mo naman kami!" sabi nilang lahat at meron pang

nagsasabing

"Ikaw na ang pogi! Inaya kumain!"

"Ibang kainan gagawin nyan!"

at nagtawanan kami.Mayamaya pa ay bumalik na kami sa training and

I don't know, but this is the first time I feel excited about eating
together with her, samantalang dati eh parang wala lang. Then after
training, nagulat ako at biglang nagsigawan yung mga kasama ko,
napagalitan pa nga kami nang trainer namin, kasi sa may labas nang
training room, Amanda was there sitting on one of the seats there

"Hoy! Nandito na kadate mo!"

ang sigaw nila at habang lumalabas ako nang pinto lahat sila ay
kinakanta ang sound at ang alam ko eh pangkasal na sound ang
gagayahin nila kaso ang ginawa nilang sound eh yung
panggraduation at binasagan ko sila

"Ano to gradution mga g*g* hahaha"

at naisip nga nila yun at nagtawanan kami, even Amanda laughs on

thier mistake, then nilapitan ko na siya at umalis na kami

"Pasensya na sa mga kasama ko sa training ha, mga loko loko lang

talaga yung mga yun eh"

"Ok lang noh, ano ka ba?"

"Saan tayo kakain?" tanong ko sa kanya, and she smiled and told me

"Meron akong kinakainan dito ngaun, ang sarap nang pizza nila at
pasta promise!"

then naalala ko na si Amanda nga pala ay mahilig sa pasta and pizza,

I had no idea kung saan kami kakain noon. Sumakay kami nang LRT,
and it was so freaking wrong, kasi it's rush hour at sigurado
magkakaroon nang siksikan at unahan sa pagpasok, sa pila pa nga
lang noong una eh ang haba na pero parang sanay na siya sa mga
ganito. Then, nang nasa may loob na kami at naghihintay na lang
nang tren, may tumawag sa kanya.

"Sige papunta na, wait mo lang ako diyan ha?"

"I'll bring a friend there ha, oo, sige sige, sandali lang siguro... di
naman siguro traffic eh madali lang naman biyahe dyan eh sige"

then binalik na niya yung phone niya sa bag niya and the train finally
arrived. Hinayaan na muna namin lahat nang bumababa at tska kami
sumakay. I asked her

"Di ka ba sumasakay sa pangbabae at matatanda? yung bandang

harapan?"

"Oo sumasakay ako dun"

"Sana dun ka na lang muna sumakay, baka masiksik ka kasi dito eh"

"Okay lang yun, nandito ka naman ngayon eh"

then she smiled and ang inakala kong mali ay naging tama, may mga
pasahero kasi na bigla na lang nanunulak para lang makapasok,
medyo ang pwesto kasi namin ni Amanda eh malapit sa may pintuan,
then magkaharap kami, and every time there was someone who is
bumping me, medyo napapadikit ako sa kanya at dumidikit sa akin
ang kanyang boobs and it feels a bit good, and seriously, I was getting
a hard on that time. I guess she doesn't care or di niya lang
nararamdaman ang pagdikit nang kanyang dibdib sa aking braso,
minsan sa balikat. After 15 minutes nang biyahe, nakarating din kami
nang Crossing,galing kasi kami nang Ayala and mas malaki talaga
ang natitipid na oras. Then sumakay kami nang jeep going to Rosario,
medyo napapaisip ako kung saan kami pupunta, she have'nt spoken
to me since bumaba kami sa LRT, then pagbaba namin nang Rosario,
sumakay naman kami nang jeep going to Citibank and now I figure out
kung saan kami pupunta, Eastwood. Then nang nasa jeep na kami,
she then asks me

"Ang tahimik mo naman, parang di na pa nga ikaw yung kilala kong El

Nunal? Sandali lang don't tell me..."

and the way I reacted and look, I guess she already get what she was
about to ask.

"Kelan pa?"

"A year and di ko alam kung ilang months na, I don't think about na
naman eh"

then bumaba kami sa harap nang ministop, and we walked and finally,
nakarating din kami sa sinasabi niyang kainan SSBARO. Then I saw a
good looking man waiting in the corner with 3 big slices of Pizza,then
he waved hi akala ko yung tao sa labas ang binabati niya, si Amanda
pala and he kissed Amanda on her cheeks and inakbayan siya and
Amanda introduced her to me

"El Nunal, si Richard nga pala, boyfriend ko"

241 by El Nunal (Book 2)
241

Part 2
This Richard guy extended his arm to shake hands with me and I do
response on his greeting

"Richard nga pala pre"

"El Nunal..."

then silently I sat down on the other side while sila eh magkatabi
habang nakaakbay siya kay Amanda. The way I see it, she was
looking happy with this guy, I don't know but I felt a bit uneasy, siguro
dahil dati, kapag lumalabas kami eh kami lang dalawa. Then we
started eating, napansin ko sa menu ang bawat price nang pizza at
pasta nila at walangya sa presyo, that time, what I'm eating is worth
180php/slice without drinks pa yun ha, di kakayanin basta basta nang
budget ko. Then Amanda seems a bit silent that time, then the guys
started asking me

"Masarap ba? If you want we can order another?"

"Di pre ang sarap nga eh, napatingin lang kasi ako sa menu nila
walangya sa pagkakamahal ah?"

"Well, true, pero since Amanda is a Pizzaholic, what can I do, after all,
this is a little price to make your love happy"

then she kissed her in her cheek at hinataw ni Amanda ang BF niya
nang pabiro, at shete nakokornihan ako sa ginagawa niya pero it
seems this Richard is a nice guy, well I don't have any reason to be
annoyed or mad at him.
"Are you in training right now?" ang tanung niya pa

"Oo, actually this is my first day of training, ay 2nd day na pala

mamaya or... wait... hahahaaha nalilito ako, madaling araw pa kasi
pasok ko eh"

"Alam mo, hanga pa nga ako sa mga tulad nyo ni Amanda na kayang
kaya pang maggala after nang midnight works nyo. Di ba
nakakapagod ang magtrabaho diyan? I mean di ba? salita salita at
lalabanan nyo pa ang antok"

"Ok lang naman, siguro sanayan lang, teka ano ba work mo?"

tanong ko sa kanya and he give his ID to me, di ko alam para lang ba

makita ko ang work niya o sadyang nagyayabang siya pero well, I
admit, he had the right to boast his work, he's a freaking Vice
President of a Printing Ad company.

"Ikaw na ang Vice President, so saan located ang company na

pinapasukan mo?"

"Muntinlupa"

"Ang layo pala... teka... so you mean bumibyahe ka dito from here to
Muntinlupa?"

"Araw araw..."

he said at tinuro niya yung sasakyang maganda, kulay black, civic ata
yun, basta, ang alam ko, mahal yung sasakyan na yun, nakita ko na
kasi yung kanina pa sa labas before kami pumasok at naastigan ako

"Di naman sa akin problema yung pagpunta eh... pabalik, kasi minsan
trapik, kaya ayun, tapos may mga nangongotong pa na mga enforcer
sakit sa ulo aba"

he continued and he keeps on saying things about sa work niya and

how he manage the company, how to manage the company. Then
nagpaalam ako saglit para magsigarilyo, at paglabas ako ay
nakahinga din ako, di ko akalain na ganun siya kausap when it comes
to business matters. Then I took a look at them while I'm outside and
she was talking with hime but alam mo yung itsura niya na parang di
siya masaya, or siguro eh puyat lang siya, I don't want to assume
anything. Then I checked the time on my cp ang it was already 11am,
so pumasok ako sa loob para magpaalam na sa kanila then lumabas
ako, I feel sleepy na din that time. Then habang naglalakad na ako, I
heard someone's running and when I look it was Amanda and meron
siyang dala

"Eto, pakibaon na lang"

it was a piece of pizza and a box of baked mac, she smiled at me and
said

"Thank you ha,sige balik na ako doon, papahatid na din ako pauwi"

then she head back sa kainan, I did not rember ordering anything like
this, pero kinuha ko na din, I guess that Richard guy like someone
who just listen to his crap and so I continue walking at sumakay na
pauwi. Then I saw a note inside the plastik bag
"Alam kong favorite mo yan, enjoy! - Amanda : )"

actually it makes me smile, and I opened it sa loob nang sasakyan

and it really is my favorite flavor, Cheese pizza. After a long drive
pauwi sa wakas ay nakarating din ako sa bahay, I gave my sister the
bake mac and went straight to my bed, I was so sleepy that I sleep
with what I am currently wearng that time. Then I had this dream, me
and Amanda talking... then she kissed me and that woke me up,

"What the F?"

ang sabi ko sa sarili ko, what a freaking dream I had there, and then I
realized how soft those cute lips she had, then pagtingin ko oras, it's
already 8pm so bumangon na ako at kumain. Then after an hour,
naligo na ako at pumasok. Then I recieved a text sa kasamahan ko sa
work

"Oi pre may naghahanap sayo dito, yung chixs mo kahapon"

then naisip ko kaagad na si Amanda yun so I asked him

"Oh? Anong sabi? Bakit daw ako hinahanap?"

"Di nga namin alam eh, pero number niya alam na namin, hahaha
kinuha ni Franco g*g* talaga yun, pero binigay din naman"

then I recieved a business card number and natawa ako sa name

Chixs Amanda, and I save it on my cp. Itetext ko na sana si Amanda
kaso nawalan ako nang load. Pagdating ko sa may sakayan, I noticed
someone familiar, at di nga ako nagkamali, it's my friend Eusha, binati
ko siya at nagulat din siya

"Oi!!! Kumusta ka na?!"

"Ok lang naman, ikaw? Saan ka pupunta?"

"Uuwi na ako, bumili lang ako nang pagkain para sa pinsan ko"

"Ahh okay... teka may work ka na ba?"

"Wala pa nga eh... Ikaw?"

"Meron na, kakaaply ko lang dun and it was 2nd day in training"

"Ikaw na... di pa ako nagaaply eh, medyo may mga inaasikaso pa kasi
akong mga bagay bagay, daan ka naman sa bahay minsan"

"pwede ba ako dun eh 2 kayong babae dun eh"

"Oo naman! Isa pa di naman makikielam pinsan ko eh, after all di ka

naman masamang tao eh so bakit ako magaalala diba?ano ba
number mo nang matext kita, bago na ba number mo?"

"Oo, nagpalit na ako nang number eto oh"

binigay ko yung number ko sa kanya then may dumaan nang FX na

sasakyan niya so sumakay na siya, then, naglakad ako para ako eh
makapasok na din sa aking trabaho, sumakay na ako nang LRT
papuntang Ayala then sumakay nang jeep papunta sa work ko.
Pagdating ko sa work ay nagulat ako kasi lahat eh seryoso sa
pgbabasa nang pirasong papel, inabutan ako nang isa sa mga
kasamahan ko, reviewer daw kasi may test kami mamaya at pag di
daw pumasa sa test eh maliligwak, matatangal sa training. Nagulat
ako kasi meron palang ganung pamamalakad sa kanila once you
failed an exam, matatangal ka na, well, I guess that's just right kasi
naman di naman biro ang laki nang sasahurin mo. So ako din eh
nagreview na and the after a while dumating na ang trainer namin and
nagsimula na ang test namin and after that, nagbreak muna kami.
Lahat kami ay kabado kasi sa totoo lang halos lahat ata kami eh di
nagkaroon nang chance na magkopyahan, yung iba eh napapakain
ako eh napayosi na lang. Then nilapitan ako nang isa sa mga
kasamahan ko sa training

"May naghahanap sayo pre, yung chixs, teka paano ba kayo

nagkakilala?"

"Mahabang storya boy, sige"

then palabas pa lang ako eh nagulat ako kasi nakasalubong ko si

Amanda

"Kanina pa kita hinahanap eh..."

"Teka bakit mo nga pala ako hinahanap?"

"Ano... kasi..."

then nagtataka ako, akala ko noong una eh meron siyang urgent na

sasabihin pero parang wala pala so natawa ako and I just asked her
"Tara magyosi tayo"

then nagyosi kami and then she started talking

"Ok lang ba yung BF ko ngaun?"

"Oo naman, langya tindi nang karisma mo, kung sabagay maganda ka
naman, so madali talaga na makita ka nang mga ganung tao, VP
nang company hahaha"

akala ko eh she will laugh pero wala akong nakitang response sa

mukha niya and she keeps on puffing cigarette I feel kinda awkward
an a bit of confusion as well

"Pwede mo ba akong samahan mamaya magmall?"

"Mall?! Teka diba 10am pa bukas nang mga mall, di ka ba

matutulog?"

she was not saying anything matapos ko siyang tanungin so I put my

hands on her shoulders and she looked at me and I smiled

"Sige.. hintayin mo na lang ako sa cafeteria"

241 by El Nunal (Book 2)

241

Part 3

She was not responding on my offer so I feel like ang presko ko ata sa pagsabi sa
kanya noon, so I slowly removed my hands on her shoulders

"Huy! Tama na pangchichicks! Malapit na matapos break natin"

sabi nang isa sa kasama ko so inubos ko na ang yosi ko at sumunod sa kanya, then
she suddenly holds the top of my polo, ilooked at her and she smiled

"See you at the cafeteria"

and she continued smoking and I followed my colleague. I feel relieved, akala ko eh
mapapahiya ako sa alok ko kanina, well, for real, di ko inasahan na papayag siya but I
still tried and hope for the best, now it's time for the moment of truth, sino kaya ang
maeevict sa amin. Pagpasok namin sa training room namin, nandoon na ang trainer
namin, at ang aming test papers, at pinaupo kaming lahat sa upuan. Our trainer saw all
of us so damn worried and sobrang kabado kung sino ang pumasa at kung sino ang
magpapaalam na sa amin.So I guess just to lessen the tension our trainer act like Big
Brother at nagtawanan kami, it's super effective

"Kayo ngayon ay aking tinawag, upang malaman niyo kung sino ang dapat maalis sa
training ko"

at medyo nagkakatawanan na kami pero we still keep in mind that once our name was
called, either we stay or we go.And then our trainer started calling names at
nakakatawa kasi talagang kinacareer nang trainer namin ang pagiging big brother niya
lalo na nang tinawag na din niya ang pangalan ko

"Ikaw El Nunal, sa tingin mo ba dapat kang manatili sa training ni Kuya? O dapat ka

nang maevict dahil may nunal ka sa mukha?"

at nagtawanan kaming lahat at medyo pinatahimik na kami nang trainer namin at isa isa
kaming tinawag, para sa hatol, at lahat nang tinatawag ang pangalan ay pinapatayo at
pinapalabas, at nakakapagtaka kasi meron mga hindi tinawag, kasama ako so kabado
kaming mga natira siguro mga 9 lang kaming natira at 11 ang nawala sa amin, then,
natawa kaming lahat sa sinabi nang trainer namin

"Kayong 9 ang may pinakamataas na score sa training ko, wala talagang bumagsak sa
inyo, pinasabik ko lang kayo diba masaya?"

yung puso noong una eh parang sasabog na dahil sa kaba, pero di lang naman ako ang
nakaramdam nang ganun, maging mga kasama ko ay sobra din ang kaba. Then our
trainer gave us this cute key chain and some GC's (Gift Certificate) sa starbucks worth
500php and our trainer said

"Sana laging ganyan ang performance nyo kasi magrereflect to sa reports ko so

pagnasa floor na kayo, mas madali kayong aangat sa iba, malay nyo one of this days
eh kayo na ang pumalit sa akin as trainer or supervisors meron ding ibang positions
waiting for you basta like you are doing here in training, gawin nyo din sa floor, sige
tawagan nyo na yung nasa labas at baka nagsisiiyakan na yung mga yun, di ko
maipinta ang mga mukha nila kanina hahaha"

medyo may pagkasalbahe ang ginawa sa amin nang trainer namin but it's fun and
interesting, he is one cool trainer. Pinapasok na namin ang nasa labas at lahat sila ay
nagtatanong

"Ano sino na tangal sa trabaho? Kami ba? O Kayo?"

then pinauwi na kaming 9 nang trainer namin, well di naman ganun kaaga ang paguwi
namin kasi 45 minutes na lang eh out na talaga namin pero to release this fuckin mixed
emotions nang kaba at pagaalala, I do smoke. Pagpunta ko sa smoking area, I was
surprised that Amanda is there, smoking and calling someone, but it seems she was not
answered by the one she was calling and she saw me and checked her wrist watch
"Teka, bat ang aga mo ata?"

"Kasi pinaalis na kami agad nang trainer namin eh"

"Let me guess, you got a high score on one of his tests no?"

"Paano mo nalaman?"

"Well way back when I was training as well, ganyan din siya, tinakot kami tapos meron
pa ngang botohang naganap eh, parang sa survivor, meron kaming lalagyan tapos
isusulat namin ang pangalan namin tapos ang una daw na limang mabunot eh unang
limang sasabihin kung pasado o bagsak"

"Meron bang bumagsak sa inyo?"

"Sadly oo, pero di naman kasi siya seryoso eh, nasanay kasi siya na nangongopya lang
sa amin noon, eh that time yung test namin eh hinati by 5 kaya ayun, bumagsak siya"

I noticed her being happy while she was telling this stories and I saw her cute smile
again, it's been a while since I saw that smile and napansin niya siguro na grabe ang
titig ko sa kanya, and then, parang nagmood sway siya at bigla na naman tumahimik
and she lit another stick of cigarette, she throws the box she was holding and she said

"Kumuha ka na dyan, maya maya aalis na tayo"

it was just 7am and kahit magbyahe kami nang matagal or matrapik kami, makakarating
pa din kami sa Mega mall na sardo pa din pero di na ako kumontra. After namin
maubos ang sinindihan naming yosi, she started putting up make up, lipstick, maskara
blush on, and it was a little weird to me, she was not like that, I mean, di naman siya
mahilig magmake up noon, pero di naman panget tignan sa kanya, actually from being
just cute and maganda, she was maganda ang so damn hot looking, isama mo pa yung
suot niya that time na nakasuot siya nang off shoulder na top dress and a miniskirt as
well. She was like a total hottie back then. Then, umalis na kami, and she was not
speaking sa biyahe namin, so ako ang unang nagsalita, since it was so damn boring at
inaantok ako sa ambiance that time kasi kahit yung mga pasahero na kasabay namin
eh tahimik tapos yung nasakyan pa namin na jeep eh wala manlang kahit anong sound

"So.. Amanda kumusta naman kayo nang BF mo?"

"Ok lang"

"Ilang taon na kayo?"

"Almost 7 months na..."

"Kelan ba monthsary nyo?"

then she then told me

"Can we please talk something else, or kung wala ka maisip better keep that mouth shut
please?"

medyo nasaktan ako sa sinabi niya, medyo nagulat din at nabigla, I guess she had a
bad day today so di na ako nangulit pa at nanahimik na lang. Then nakarating na din
kami sa Ayala station, akala ko eh doon siya sasakay sa girls and oldies section pero
nagulat ako nang itulak niya ako papasok at kasunod ko siya, lucky meron pang 2
vacant seats at nakaupo kami. Then along the way, she was still silent and she was not
even looking at me, medyo napaisip ako, baka nabadtrip siya sa akin so di na ako
nagattempt pa na makipagusap sa kanya,instead, I just play with my CP hanggang
makarating kami nang Crossing. Then nakarating na kami doon at bumaba, and like I
expected sarado pa ang Megamall, it;s just 9am pa lang so medyo maghihintay pa kami
nang isang oras pero I wonder kung saan siya pupunta, sinundan ko na lang siya and
then, nakarating kami sa may Starbucks, she then asked me

"Anong gusto mong kape?"

"Kahit ano..."

ang sagot ko so inaasahan kong mangungulet siya pero she did not asked me again
instead she oredered 2 capuccino. While waiting, she lit a cigarette again and she gave
me one as well. I did not say a word and just go with the flow of the situation for a while
hanggang sa dumating na din ang inorder namin. Then her phone rang but she was not
answering the phone, siguro about 4 to 5 times ata yun nagring and she just ignores it
ang keeps on drinking coffee while smoking. She suddenly speaks up

"Pasensya na ha... I was just pissed off, that's all, sorry kung medyo nasungitan kita
kanina"
I feel happy kasi nagsimula na din siya magsalita so sumagot ako in manner na di siya
maasar

"Ayos lang naman, after all it's my fault anyway, pwede ko bang malaman kung anong
problema mo?"

"Wag na, wala naman kwenta eh, di ka ba nagugutom?"

she asked

"Nagugutom na nga ako eh, pero coffee will do I guess"

then she told me

"Dalin mo yang kape mo, sa 711 tayo, gusto ko din kumain eh"

and she holds my hand and we walk papunta 711, di naman kalayuan yun, katapat lang
talaga siya nang Starbucks, at pagpasok namin sa 711 she bought a pre cooked meals
and she gave it to me and we started eating.

"Kumakain ka na din pala nang rice sa umaga"

she did not respond to that so di na muna ako nagsalita, pero that time I was feeling a
bit annoyed and confused, hindi naman siya ganito, ang Amanda na kilala ko ay sweet,
palakwento at iyakin na parang bata, but now, di ko na siya kilala. Then her phone rang
again and that time she shut her phone. And I am somehow getting the picture of what's
happening, I guess it's not work related, I guess it's about her BF, Richard. Di ko
namalayan ang oras, 10am na pala, tumayo si Amanda and she asked me

"Tara na, bukas na yun sigurado"

so kahit di ko pa lubusang nakakain yung pagkain eh iniwanan ko na lang at kape na

lang ang dinala ko. She walking in a fast phase so medyo naiiwanan ako kasi dahan
dahan akong naglalakad. She then turned around and she said to me

"Pwede pakibilisan lang po ang lakad?"

then she continued walking in the same state of walking so humabol na ako sa kanya
hanggang sa magkatapat na kami.And pagdating namin saktong kakabukas lang nang
MegaMall. Then sa harap nang mall, I saw a familiar face, at di ako nagkamali sa
pagtingin, it was Rose Anne, my classmate dati, sitting sa may hagdan and she was like
waiting for someone and she greets me suddenly

""Oi! Kumusta! Ano nang pinagkakaabalahan natin?"

"Eto call center"

then she saw Amanda and she teased me saying

"Ganda nang kasama mo ah?! is she your girlfriend?"

"No.." I replied and she suddenly hugs me

"Akala ko GF mo baka kasi mapaway na nama ako eh"

then I remembered that incident a long time ago with Jamaica and I laughed

"Wala na siya wala ka na dapat pang ikatakot noh"

"Weh?! Seryoso?"

"Do you think eh niloloko lang kita?"

"OO!"

ang sabi niya at natawa ako and natawa din siya and we do our handshake

"Kiss bump naman dyan!"

and we do the fist bump which we call kiss bump. Then I saw Amanda looking at me
and asked her

"Bakit may dumi ba mukha ko?"

"Wala.... tara na..."

so nagpaalam ako kay Rose Anne at naglakad na kami papasok sa Megamall.

241 by El Nunal (Book 2)

241

Part 4

I'm wondering kung ano ang bibilhin ni Amanda that day sa mall, we
walk and umakyat from floor to floor, and then finally she stop by sa
isang bilihan nang damit. She was probably looking for something na
ibibigay niya sa BF niya kasi ang madalas niyang tignan sa doon ay
mga damit panlalake, pantalon and jacket. She then bought some
polo, pants and a jacket. We are walking together pero di talaga siya
nagsasalita, I'm a bit bored so medyo nagtetext ako kung kanikanino,
one of them replied, my friend Eusha. She asked
"Good morning! Nasaan ka ngayon?"
"Nandito sa Megamall, may sinamahan lang"
"Ahh, teka anong oras kaya kayo aalis diyan?"
"Di ko alam, medyo nakakaasar nga tong kasama ko eh, di nagiimik,
naboboring ako"
"Ganun? Boy o girl?"
"Girl, moody, nakakayamot hahaha ikaw ganito ka din ba?"
"Pagmeron minsan oo, baka naman meron siya?"
"Ewan ko dito, alangan naman tanungin ko diba?"
"Hahaha tanungin mo makapal naman mukha mo eh, pagnasampal
ka di ka tatablan nyan"
"Adik ka gagow hahaha"
"hahaha mas gagow ka po hahaha gusto ko sana pumunta dyan eh,
meron akong bibilhin na damit, meron kasi akong puntahang party
mamaya, wanna come?" "Wala akong time eh, may pasok ako
mamaya, gabi pa"
"Ay ganun, sige samahan mo na lang ako mamili text kita kung
makakapunta ako ha?"
"Sige, teka bakit ako pala? Bat di na lang pinsan mo?"
"Meron pasok yun ngaun eh"
"Sige sige text mo ko, sana kayanin ko pa mabigat na din kasi mata
ko eh"
"Nyee! Magkape ka o kaya pasampal ka na nga lang dyan sa kasama
mo"
then suddenly, habang nagtetext ako, Amanda asked me
"Are you bored?"
tumingin ako sa kanya and I honestly said
"Oo eh..."
she looks at the time on her wrist watch and she said
"Sige, dyan ka na, kita na lang tayo mamaya, go and have some
fun..."
she then walks away and I was a bit pissed that time so I grabbed her
hands and hinarap ko siya sa akin and told her
"Ano bang problema mo ha? I was here pagod, wala pa din tulog at
eto ako sinamahan ka, tapos you won't talk to me nang maayos you're
such a moody at ngayon iiwanan mo lang ako? Sige, go... I'm just
trying to help but I guess I'm just being an eye sore to you, sorry ha.."
then binitawan ko ang kamay niya at and naglakad palayo sa kanya,
she then suddenly holds my clothes and then she embraced me, and
that was a shock, she then said
"I'm sorry... sorry if I'm acting this way... please wag kang umalis...
alam kong I was a ignorant for a while there... can we talk... please..."
then I slowly remove her arms around me
"Ok, let's talk this time, talk as in talk, no more silence no more snubs ,
tell me what the hell is your problem?"
then we sat on the bench near by and she started talking
"Yung bespren ko, nagaway kami, dahil hinde ako nakapunta sa
birthday niya kahapon, di ako pinayagan ni Richard, then, today is our
monthsary and he promised me that the day before our monthsary, he
will meet me at the office pero wala pa din siya hanggang sa matpos
na shift ko, tapos si Kuya, naaksidente sa motor kanina, tapos, yung
customer ko kanina, nakakabwiset pa, nasira yung AHT ko na
inaalagaan (Average Handling Time), ilang beses ko na din siyang
tinatawagan pero he was not answeringm kahit patext di siya
sumasagot, nakakabadtrip sobra, I don't know how to vent things
out... "
and as she was saying this, I don't see a drop of tears flow in her eyes
but the way she speaks and her eyes eh medyo namumugto. That
time I was now completely convinced that she was not the Amanda I
know, somehow she was changed.
"Oh my God... I really don't need to.... urgh...."
then she slowly takes a deep breath, and di ba once we inhale and
exhale nakikita natin to, and I do enhoy what I am seeing, hahaha di
ko maiwasan na mapatingin sa dibdib nya habang humihinga siya,
sadyang malibog talaga ako pero masisisi nyo ba ako, I'm a man, but
that time, when I saw her like that, madaling natabunan nang concern
ang kalibugan ko and then I hold her shoulder and told her
"Nothings wrong if you cry... babies cry kasi gutom sila o basa na ang
lampin, kahit mga hayop umiiyak din especially pagnawala ang mga
anak nila at nasaktan, and crying some how cleanse those hurtful
feeling, it's a gift that should be used to release and vent out that
anger frustration or sadness of yours, so feel free to cry, my shoulders
is here just waiting for you"
then I smiled then all of a sudden a burst of emotions came out of her,
she started crying, and shet, bakit ko pakasi ginawa yun, I totally
forgot na nasa mall na pala kami and pinagtitinginan ako nang mga
tao, siguro inaakala nila na pinapaiyak ko tong babaeng nakayakap sa
akin, I can tell, the way they look specially thosebeautiful young
students na nagcucuting, damn, but on the contrary, I guess that
helped her, a lot, a few minutes later she stoped crying and I saw her
makeu kinda ruin, kinuha ko ang panyo sa bulsa ko and started wiping
her tears, and her ruined mascara as well and I told her
"Why use this fancy make up, I do know that you also know na
maganda ka na without this things, tignan mo ang panget mo tuloy"
I smiled and kumuha siya nang salamin sa bag niya and natawa siya
kasi nang tignan niya ang sarili niya, sabog na ang make up niya
"Ikaw kasi eh... pinaiyak mo ko eh... pero alam mo... it's been a
while... since I cried"
"Kelan ba ang huli mong pagiyak"
"Noong time that I feel rejected... by you"
and it was like I took an arrow on the chest, stunned and di nakaimik.
She then touches my face
"Alam mo ba, I missed you... I missed you soo much... I tried
everything I can to forget you, Richard help me do that... but I feel like,
something is missing, I don't show up my face to you, hoping that
makakalimutan kita, pero para akong t*ng*, yung tipong pupunta pa
ako sa office ni tito dati, just to take a glimpse sa yo, then one time na
di kita nakita, I ask them kung nasaan ka na... they said umalis ka
na... and you know I feel sad, Richard was there for me when I am
always sad, kaya siguro, slowly I fall to him, pero now I feel this regret,
he prioritize work more than me... he don't even ask me kung kumusta
na ako, kung anong ginagawa ko... for the whole 6 months na
magkasama kami... never... I wanted to cry it all out, all the feelings of
being neglected, yung pakiramdam na ikaw lang ang bigay nang
bigay, pero I remember what you have told me, not to waste my tears,
kasi baka isang araw, wala nang tumulo, I thought my tears are
already dried up, in some occassions na gusto kong umiyak, kahit
anong pilit ko ayaw, pero nang makita ulit kita, suddenly, I can cry like
this with ease..."
then she hugs me and asked me a favor, a favor that I could not
refuse that time
"Pwede bang wag mo na lang muna ako kausapin or pansinin, just for
a week, can we become a total strangers..."
she said while holding face and she was sheding tears. I hold her
hands and kissed it and I told her
"I guess I'm the one messing up with you right now, sure, don't worry,
simula bukas, I won't talk look or even greet you as well, I will act that
it was like nothing is there, sorry if I caused you trouble like this"
then I let go of her hands and walks away. Then I texted my frien,
Eusha
"Eusha, hinatayin na lang kita dito sa may cyberzone, text me if
nandito ka na, by the way, dalan mo din ako pagkain, I'm hungry
hahaha"
she then replied
"Sige sige on the way na ko dyan"
and habang naglalakad ako I accidentally bumped someone, I'm not
paying attention kasi that time sa dinadaanan ko so di ko nakita kung
sino yun but I said
"Sorry, my bad, di ko po sadya"
nagulat ako nang batukan ako nito so napatingin ako at natawa ako
kasi si Rose Anne pala yung nakabanga ko
"Adik ka? hahaha teka, saan ka pupunta?"
"Cyberzone, papalipas oras, meron ako hinihintay eh"
then she holds my hands and she said
"Alam mo halika at samahan mo na lang muna ako at nagugutom ako,
kakain tayo!"
then she dragged me along, well, it's better than watching gamers
play then as we walk nasalubong namin si Amanda but like she said, I
did not acknowledge her at all, alam ko na sinabi niyang bukas pero
why wait, kung pwede naman ngaun na eh gawin ko na ang gusto
niya. But I saw her look at me while I'm holding my hands with
someone. Then nakarating na din kami sa kakainan namin, Tokyo
Tokyo, and Rose Anne asked me
"Anong gusto mong kainin?"
"Ikaw na lang, somehow I lost my appetite along the way"
"Mukha mo! Bahala ka oorder ako at kainin mo yun kung hindi ililipat
ko yang nunal mo sa noo mo"
natawa ako nang bahagya, and she smiled, somehow, she was cute,
kahit may braces siya that time, it actually adds up to her beauty.
Matapos siyang umorder, she asked me a very frank straight to the
point question
"Wanna have sex?"
241 by El Nunal (Book 2)
241

Part 5

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya at napangiti

"Di nga?"

she then bites her lips and holds my hands

"Sa tingin mo ba nagbibiro ako?"

she was looking at me in a very sudductive way, and she was kinda
leaning to show me her cleavage while holding my hands and the she
whispered

"Ang libog mo"

at binatukan ako tawa siya nang tawa, natawa din ako pero I had
freaking hard on, the way she speak kasi, ewan ko ba, some how will
get you excited then she was teasing me with her cleavage so what
would you expect

"Ahahaha kayo talagang mga lalake,di ko alam kung bakit madali

kayo mahulog sa mga patibong naming mga babae, pero you know, I
do really want to have fun with you"

"g*g* napakaadik mo hahaha friends tayo wag ganun"

"why not? Friend with benifits, ayaw pa?"

"Well, alam mo, di na ako maniniwala sa mga pinagsasabi mo"

"Bakit naman?!"

"Loka loka, as if di kita kilala noh hahaha"

then she smiled at me and then dumating na order namin, she

ordered, beef ramen, sakuyaki and some tempura as well. Then we
start eating. Habang kumakain, kinalabit niya ako and when I look she
was somehow eating the tempura in a very erotic way, yung tipong
dinidiladilaan niya ito at sinusubo at nilalabas pasok sa bibig niya,
parang meron siyang binibigyan nang blow job then I told her

"Yan ba ang tinatawag na TB?"

"anong TB?" tanong niya while smiling

"Tempura Blow, masarap noh?"

then she laughed

"Ahahahaha gagu! Titigilan na nga kita sa pantritrip walang hiya, wala

bang dating sayo appeal ko?"

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo? Anong apeal?"

"Di ba ako maganda?"

"hinde!" ang sabi ko at tumawa ako

"Ang yabang mo!"

she said and then she ask me

"Wala ka bang GF ngaun?"

"Wala why ask?"

"Eh sino yung girl na kasama mo kanina? Don't tell me sinasamahan

mo lang talaga yung magandang babae na yun?"

"oo, sinasamahan ko lang"

"Kanina nasalubong natin siya ah, bat di mo manlang inaya na kakain

tayo"

"Well, she told me na di naman siya gutom so why bother asking her"

then she look at me in the eyes and she told me

"You suck at lying you know that?"

"Paano mo naman nasabi?"

"Well obviously, I do have some knowledge acquired with my studies

sa course ko in psychology di ba?"

"ha?"

"Meron kasi kaming naging thesis at ipagmamalaki ko sayo nakakuha

ako nang 1.5 on that, kasi it's about body language nang tao, and the
way he speak, he moves or react on such situation, you can tell what
he was thinking or what he really do feel about certain things, it's like
you can read people's mind with just they're movement"

"Really?"

"And don't you lie on me, nalibugan ka kanina sa ginagawa ko kanina"

at natawa na lang ako then habang napapasarap ang usapan namin, I

recieved a message from Eusha

"Hoy! Asan ka na?! Nandito na ako sa meeting place natin, aba wala
akong makita dito kundi puro bata, nasaan ka ba?"

then tumayo na ako and thank her for the food

"Saan ka pupunta?"
Rose Anne asked

"Nandito na yung friend ko, ahahaha hinahanap na ako eh, uy

salamat talaga sa pagkain ha!"

"El nunal, wait!" she said at lumapit siya sa akin and she hugged me

"Thanks for the company, see ya around, by the way, I'm serious with
my offer hahaha"

then she walks away and natawa ako, as if na seryoso siya then,
napaisip ako, what if seryoso nga siya, mahirap na din kasi magtiwala,
maybe she was just playing with me so I rather not play a game that
I'll definitely loose. Nagmadali akong pumunta sa Cyberzone, and
inabutan ko nga siya, and she was playing a shooting game and
infairness to her, she was damn good player, nang kakausapin ko
siya, inabutan niya ako nang token at pinahulog niya sa akin ito and
then 2 na kami naglalaro, I always die while she was just being barely
hit with a minumum damage at natatawa ako kasi she was a better
gamer than me, well that was the first time playing that game anyway
so meron akong excuse for myself. Then after a few boss fight more,
what the F! she finished it with just inserting 2 tokens while I spend 9
tokens at niyabangan ako nang loka

"Ang hina mo naman, weak! hahaha"

natawa ako at nakipagasaran sa kanya

"Ikaw na malakas, malakas din kumain hahaha"

kinurot niya ako sa bilbil at natawa kaming dalawa then umupo muna
kami sa vacant seat sa arcade games and we ate this shawarma she
brought, di ko alam pero noon araw na yun, gutom ba gutom ako kaya
lamon lang ako nang lamon. Then Eusha asked me

"Wanna go sa Bora with me?"

"Ha? Bora as in Boracay?"

"Yup, malapit lang kasi sa amin yun eh, uuwi ako this saturday sa
province namin sa Aklan, meron lang kasi aasikasuhin na mga
papeles regarding sa mga appartment and bar na pagaari ni Lola"

"Baki what happened to your lola?"

"Well nothing naman pero she already told us that we should start
managing her properties there, after all, she was old and any time she
might perish, may sakit din kasi yun, eh ayaw magpaospital, she
rather die peacefully in her house of her parents, so di na namin siya
pinilit"

"Di ko lang kasi alam kung makakasama ako, meron kasi ako pasok
eh, bawal kasi ako umabsent doon kasi 3 consecutive absent eh wala
ka na, tanggal ka na sa work unless meron kang medical certificate na
ipapakita"

"Ay ganun sayang naman... maiba tayo... kumusta ka naman sa work

mo? The way I see it parang may dinidibdib ka"

"Ahh... halata ba?"

"OO, di ka naman ganyan pagmagkasama tayo eh, madalas kwento
ka nang kwento eh, madaldal ka kaya pag ok ka, ano ba yang
problema mo?"

"Wala to, maliit lang na bagay to"

"Maliit pa eh noh? Wag mong sabihin babae yan? Yan lang naman
madalas kong makita noon sayo eh, naalala mo ba yung problema mo
kay"

then tinakpan ko ang bibig niya

"Wag mo na ipaalala ikaw talaga!!!"

at inipit ko ang ulo niya sa pagitan nang aking mga braso at natatawa
siya at bigla niya akong kinagat at natawa ako

"Ahahahahaha napaka g*g* mo talaga hahahaha"

"Langya ka ang sakit naman nang kagat mo!"

"Ganun talaga! Eh inipit mo ko eh hahaha may anghit ka pa!"

"Hoy ang kapal mo, kung meron, man, humanda ka!!!"

tinaas ko ang kilikili ko at dinidikit ko sa mukha niya. This little cute

friend of mine is like my bestfriend na babae, and she was just so
damn cute, no wonder dami niyang suitors then I asked her
"May boyfriend ka na diba?"

"HA?! Ako?! Gagu! Di uso sa akin yun kayong mga lalake eh g*g* at
sakit lang sa ulo"

"Nagsalita! Kayo din kayang mga babae, same din hahaha"

"Pero alam mo iba ka sa kanila eh"

"Bakit naman?!"

"Bakla kasi t*ng* hahahaha"

"Asa ka hahaha"

then bigla niya akong inaya

"Tara samahan mo ko mamile nang damit ko, pupunta ako nang party
mamaya isasama ako nang pinsan ko eh"

"May kakasya ba sayo ang taba mo kaya"

"g*g* ka talaga! Pumayat na nga ako eh!"

"Oo yung ilong mo pumayat na!"

then hinataw hataw niya ako and she stood up and hinila ako patayo

"Tara na! Nanag makauwi na din ako pati ikaw, malamang di ka pa

natutulog"
then naalala ko, oo nga pala kailangan kong matulog, I forgot na may
pasok pa ako mamaya so I need a rest, so sinamahan ko na siya sa
bilihan nang damit. Then as she was looking for a dress to wear, I
called her

"Bakit ?"

she asked and then tinuro ko siya sa kid section

"Doon ka kaya maghanap sa kid section baka sakali may makita ka?"

then siniko niya ako at natawa ako then she finally found a dress, then
sinukat niya ito sa dressing room and inaasar ko pa siya

"Di makakasya yan! puputok hahaha!"

then when she came out, tong nina napanganga ako sa itsura niya,
never I thought na she will be that beautiful with a simple dress,
kumbaga, dinala siya nang damit o magaling siya magdala nang damit
or neither way... she was totally beautiful that day. It's looks like an
evening gown and damn add up her cute little smile, and then she saw
me starring at her and she snaps her fingers in my face

"Huy! parang nakakita ka nang multo ah?! Aha! natameme ka sa

ganda ko noh?!"

"Mukha mo! inaalala ko yung damit baka masira mo mapupunit oh

hahaha" ang pang aasar ko sa kanya, pero actually she was right,
natameme ako sa kanya. Then she bought the dress and we started
walking palabas nang mall. Then sa labas nang mall, I did not
expected to this thing at ang tangi ko na lang nasabi ay

"Anong klaseng kalokohan to?!"