February 1, 2016 | Tublay, Benguet

Your POV

It's already night time when we finally arrived at the place where we will be staying at.

I still need to wake up early for tomorrow since I'll be representing the nurses from our hospital.

"Mauuna na akong matulog ah, tulog na din kayo." I said to my juniors.

[T: I'll go to sleep first, you guys should also sleep early.]

"Ate Luz, 7 pm palang. Ang aga mo naman matulog." A junior of mine said.

[T: Luz, it's still 7 pm. You sleep too early.]

"Napagod ako sa malayong biyahe at mayroon pa tayong ceremony bukas." I said and yawned.

[T: I got tired from the long ride and besides, we still have a ceremony to attend to tomorrow.]

We all said goodnight as I went to the girls' room. I chose the spot near the wall and window because I hate being in the middle.

Magalaw ako matulog.

[T: I move a lot when I sleep]

After I got ready for the night, I picked up my phone and messaged Cia.

...

[ 𝙲𝚒𝚊 💖 ]

Hoy, nakarating na kami sa Tublay. Share ko lang para di ka magalit.
[Hey, we just arrived in Tublay. Just sharing so you won't get angry]

(7:02 PM)

Hoy ka den, ingat ka jan ah. Wag mo kalimutan yung pasalubong ko.
[Hey to you too, you take care of yourself over there. Don't forget about my souvenirs.]

(7:05 PM)

Ano gusto mo? Walis Tambo or Walis tingting? HAHAHAH
[What do you want? A soft broom or a broomstick? HAHAHAH]

(7:06 PM)

Sige bumili ka para ihampas ko sa ex mong pumunta dito kanina.
[Yeah, buy that so I can use it to hit your ex who came here earlier.]

(7:06 PM)

Dustpan na bakal yung kailangan para sa mga mukhang tae na kagaya niya.
[A metal dust pan is needed for someone who has shit for a face.]

(7:07 PM)

Pinatulan mo naman so ano ka? Langaw?
[But you dated him anyways, so what are you? A fly?]

(7:07 PM)

Tanginang yan. Kaibigan ba talaga kita? Kung langaw ako edi ikaw yung lamok.
[What the fuck. Are you really my friend? If I'm a fly then your the mosquito.]

(7:08 PM)

HAHAHA joke lang yun uy. Basta bilhan mo ko pasalubong na hindi walis or daspan.
[HAHAHA it was just a joke. Just don't forget about my souvenir, not a broom or a dustpan.]

(7:08 PM)

Oo na. Matutulog na ako. Good night.
[Alright alright. I'm going to sleep now. Good night.]

(7:08 PM)

Good night ❤︎

(7:09 PM)

_________________

[ 𝙶𝚠𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝙷𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗 𝚗𝚊 𝙳𝚊𝚐𝚊 ✨🇯🇵 ]

Lulu-chin, I hope you get there safe. Text me back if you already arrived.

(6:01 PM)

Hey Mikey, we just arrived earlier and I'm about to sleep because I have a long day tomorrow.

(7:10 PM)

Thant's good to know, rest well and good luck tomorrow. Good night

(7:10 PM)

Thanks and good night too <3

(7:11 PM)

...

I was impressed about him responding immediately to my text. I thought it would take at least a minute or so but it was only in seconds.

I told him about my work when he picked me up from the hospital last week.

He hang out with me for the rest of the days until we came here.

He's actually quite a funny guy and we taught each other some words from our native language.

With a small smile on my lips I drifted off to sleep.

.
.
.

The next day

"UMAYGHAD!" I exclaimed as I took a bath at 5:30 AM.

Tangina yung tubig parang galing sa ref. Sobrang lamig.

[T: Fuck, the water is like coming from a refridgerator. It's so cold]

I always take a bath with cold water back in Manila because the temperature is warmer but the water they have here is on a whole different level.

I washed myself as fast as I could so I can get out of here as soon as possible.

I have to buy a water heater. I feel like I'm going to have hypothermia.

Shivering, I quickly dried myself and changed into warmer clothes.

"Huy, gising na kayo jan. Ligo na kayo bago tayo kumain ng pang-umagahan." I said to my fellow nurses as they began to wake up one by one.

[Oi, you guys should wake up. Take a bath before we eat breakfast.]

Not too long later, I heard screams and curses coming from the bathrooms.

"Ay oo nga pala, malamig tubig kaya wag pagbagal bagal." I said and laughed before I went to the kitchento prepare breakfast.

[Oh wait, the water is cold so don't be a slow poke.]

I'll cook rice and scrambled eggs and hotdogs.

We are only ten nurses in total with 6 ladies and 4 men, the doctors stay in another building.

I feel like a single mom that's cooking for her kids on a Monday.

"A single mom who works two jobs~" I began to sing while I was cooking the eggs.

I was interupted when my phone starts to ring.

Mikey was calling so I answer and put my phone between my shoulder and ear.

"Mahgandan Umahgah, Luz!" He said. I know he was still struggling to pronounce some words so I feel proud when he tries.

[T: Good morning, Luz!]

"Magandang umaga din sayo Mikey." I greeted as I smiled.

[T: Good morning to you too, Mikey.]

"You doing something?" He asked.

"I'm making breakfast. You?" I asked.

"Just coffee" he said.

"You should eat breakfast too." I said as I checked the rice if it's cooked.

"Later, I go to Mcdonald" he said.

The way he said mcdonalds is cute.

"What you cooking?" He asked.

"Just rice, hotdogs and eggs." I replied

"Oh, tamago. Oishi!" he said.

"Yup!" I just said in response while I began to fry the hotdogs.

"Why'd you call early?" I asked.

"I know you'll be busy. I want to hear your voice." He said as my cheeks began to feel warm.

"Hahaha, really?" I said

"Hmm! Lulu's voice is beautiful." He said as I felt my heart beat faster while I only chuckled in response.

"Let's call again later after your work. Good luck, Lulu-chin." He said

"Okay, I'll call later. Enjoy your day too. Goodbye." I said.

"Bye-bye." He said and ended the call.

I put the phone away and continue to cook. Soon after, my fellows arrived and helped with setting the table.

"Ganda ng gising ni ate Luz." One of my junior said.

[T: Luz's having a great morning.]

"Oo nga eh, nakangiti kahit na nilalamig." They said.

[T: You're right, she's smiling even if she's cold.]

"Narinig ko na may katawag kanina." another said.

[T: I heard her speaking to someone on the phone earlier.]

"Uuyyy, May bago?" They asked

[T: The're someone new?]

"Baka si Doc Nathan. Yung surgeon." They said

[T: Maybe it's Doc Nathan, the surgeon.]

"Gaga may jowa na yun." Another answered.

[T: Bitch, that guys already have a girlfriend.]

"Si sir Paul? Yung pharmacist." Another one guessed.

[How about Sir Paul? The pharmacist.]

"Bakla daw yun beh." They said.

[T: They said he's gay.]

"Malay mo naging straight, tignan mo naman yung itsura ni ate Luz. Pang Miss Universe." They said

[T: You won't know, maybe he became straight. Look at Luz's face, for miss universe.]

"Oo nga pero yung height na bitin." One said.

[T: Yeah but the height is a bit lacking.]

"Ah ganun?" I said with a smile

[T: Is that so?]

"Uy lagot, bat mo sinabi yun?!" They whispered.

[T: Oh no, why did you say that?!]

"Pano kung ikaw yung ibitin ko sa puno?" I asked

[T: What if I hang you on a tree instead?]

"S-sorry po." they said while I calmed my self.

[Po/ Opo= a polite way to address someone]

"Kilala ko kung sino yung nagpangiti kay ate Luz." one said.

[T: I know who made her smile.]

"Sino?" they all asked.

[T: Who?]

"Naalala niyo yung naghahatid sundo sa kanya sa ospital?" they said.

"Yung naka-Milo?" one asked.

[T: The one who have a Milo?]

"Anong Milo?" their seatmate replied.

[T: What Milo?]

"Yung type ng motor galing sa Yamaha." they replied

[T: The type of a motorbike from Yamaha.]

"Buang, Mio yun!" The other said and smacked their shoulder.

[T: Dumbass, it's Mio!]

"Ay sorry" they replied shyly.

[T: Oh, sorry]

"Hindi yun Mio, mukha bang scooter para sa inyo yun? Nakita ko yun parang galing sa Honda." One said.

[It's not Mio, does it look like a scooter to you guys? I saw that and I think it's from Honda.]

How did the conversation get from guessing men to motocycle brands?

*not sponsored btw pero beke nemen char*

"Tama na nga yan at kumain na kayo." I said.

[T: That's enough and finish eating.]

"Pero ate Luz, ano pangalan nung manliligaw mo?" my seatmate asked.

[T: But Luz, what's the name of your suitor?]

"Anong manliligaw? Kaibigan ko lang yun."

[T: What suitor? He's just a friend.]

"Ay akala ko manliligaw mo, pero ano nga pangalan?" They asked.

[T: Oh, I thought he's your suitor, but what's his name?]

"Mikey" I simply said and sipped my coffee.

"Yun lang?"

[T: That's it?]

"Oo yun lang kaya kumain ka na bago tayo malate." I said

[T: Yeah that's all, so keep eating before we'll be late.]

Pfft, manliligaw daw. Hanggang sana lang yan.

[T: Pfft, suitor? If only.]

.
.
.

Mikey's POV

As I wait for the street light turn to green. The voice of Luz that I heard this morning kept repeating over and over in my head.

I want to hear her voice face to face but  she have work somewhere else.

I crossed the pedestrian lane when it was okay to cross and went to a local coffee shop to meet someone.

I miss our little coffee dates and language study sessions but I can't bother her when she's working.

If I become too possessive she'll try to escape. I don't want her to go away.

Not yet, so I hid my real name from her.

She doesn't need to know what I've done. If she did, she might get scared and push me away.

I can't have that.

Not my Luz.

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