30 Days with Fina by JellOfAllTrades

Chapter 4

I walked silently to the seaside playground where Fina and I have decided to meet again. Looking around, I watched as little children ran around playing tag, some of them playing on the swing set, it's rusty gears squeaking loudly. Fina is nowhere in sight. I must have come too early.

"And obviously too eager," I muttered as I sat on the edge of the seawall, my feet dangling above the crashing waves.

Yesterday I had so much fun with Fina we didn't notice that we've been talking for so long that the sun has set on us. Only when my phone beeped up when Kier called me asking if I'm going to have dinner in the house that Fina and I decided to call it a day. We promised to see each other again today and here I am, too early in our meeting place.

I played with my phone as I waited but immediately got bored with it. So I slipped it back in my pocket and looked out into the sea. The golden rays of sunlight reflecting on the waves look incredibly beautiful that it made me think of taking a picture of it and sending it to Jaime when someone tapped my shoulder.

"Hello,"

I smiled. "Hello,"

"Kanina ka pa?" Fina sat beside me. I noticed her distance; not too close but not too far.

"Hindi naman,"

We watched a seabird dive into the sea like an arrow falling from the sky. It resurfaced after a split second, a small fish in its beak.

"So, ano na palang balita mo sa Manila?" Fina said, breaking the silence.

"Wala masyado, nagbatian lang kami ni Jaime ng goodmorning kanina sa text tapos ayun na, hindi na sya nagreply. Kanina nga habang naghihintay ako sayo binabalak kong picturan yung dagat tapos isesend ko sakanya."

"Nasend mo na?"

I shook my head. "Di ko pa nga napipicturan eh."

"Picturan mo na, bilis!"

I laughed at how enthusiastic Fina is today. I took out my phone and held it in front of me, taking several pictures of the view.

"Patingin!" Fina leaned over my shoulder, looking at my phone. Slightly conscious of her warm breathing on my neck, I showed her the pictures.

"Mas maganda yung pangalawa," Fina commented, leaning away from me.

"Sige," I selected the picture and sent it to Jaime.

I was about to close the camera program when I thought of something. Changing the settings to the front camera, I saw myself on the screen, grinning like an idiot.

"Picture tayo!" I said to Fina, moving closer to her side.

"Hala! Ayoko!" Fina covered her face with her hands but I pried it away.

"Sige na, isa lang!"

She was shy at first but eventually gave in. Holding the camera in front of us, I took a picture.

"Ayan, may picture na tayong dalawa." I said, looking at our smiling faces on the screen.

Fina said nothing so I looked at her and saw her watching the sea again. Captured by how beautiful she looks, I sneakily took a picture of her and quickly hid my phone away. Fina didn't seem to notice because when she looked at me, she smiled sweetly.

"Uwi na ako,"

"Ha? Agad?" I panicked, wanting her to stay longer.

Fina stood up so I stood up too.

"Bakit ang aga naman?" I asked.

"Nagalit kasi si mama sakin kahapon." Fina dusted her shorts. "Late na daw ako umuwi."

"Bakit?? Kahapon ka lang ba late umuwi?"

"Hindi naman," She shook her head. "Pero ayaw nya kasing late ako kumakain. Gusto nya palaging on time."

I checked my wristwatch, it's only 3:39 pm.

"Eh maaga pa naman para mag dinner ka."

Fina chuckled. "Maaga pa nga, pero nagugutom na ako, hindi pa ako nagmemerienda."

"Eh yun lang pala eh!" I put an arm around her shoulder and steered her on the way. "Eh di papakainin kita."

"Hala! Wag na! Uuwi nalang ako!" Fina protested but I held her firm.

"Wag ka nang umangal, libre na kita. Di parin ako nagmemerienda eh."

As we walked I thought of how foreign Calauag seems to me now. I haven't been here for five years and a lot has changed. The old sari-sari store we used to buy soft drinks at after we played in the playground is now closed, replaced by a large and creepy looking copra storehouse.

"San nga pala tayo?" I asked Fina. "San mo gusto magmerienda?"

"Jollibea nalang kaya tayo?"

I frowned, the name Jollibea unknown to me. Fina must have noticed my confused look because she chuckled.

"Di mo alam yun noh?"

I shook my head. "Sabi ko nga sayo limang taon na akong di nakakapunta dito. I've never heard of Jollibea before."

Fina's head tilted to one side. "Hindi ka pa ba dinadala dun ng mga pinsan mo? Kasi ang alam ko matagal na yung Jollibea. May dalawang branch na nga sila eh."

"Talaga?"

She nodded. "Dun nalang tayo sa malapit. Yung una nilang branch."

We walked silently for a few minutes.

"Bakit nga pala Jollibea yung pangalan nila?" I chimed up. "Sounds like Jollibee."

"Dun ata nila nakuha yun eh. 'Jolli' kasi, jolly and 'bea' kasi yun yung pangalan ng anak ng may ari."

"Well, that's a slightly good marketing strategy, riding on the popularity of an already established company. Kahit papano kapag sinabi ng tao na Jollibee, they can also think of Jollibea."

Fina gave me a weirded out look.

"What? May dumi ba sa mukha ko?"

"Marketing strategy? Established company?" She repeated. "San mo nakuha yan?"

I frowned and then smiled, understanding her confusion. I've baffled a lot of people before because of how I look. Just because I have multiple ear piercings, a spiky hairstyle and a look that is completely untrustworthy, doesn't mean I'm dumb. Although it does hurt me once in a while, I try and get used to it. After all, it's my choice to look this way.

"I'm not as dumb as I look, okay?" I said. "In fact, I'm a lot smarter than you think I am."

"Talaga lang ha?"

"Psh. Minamaliit mo naman ako eh."

We arrived in front of a small store. It almost looks like the average sari sari stores around except this one has menu boards hanging above the counter and a few plastic chair and tables to one side for dine ins.

Jollibea it said on the large sign up front. The place looks beaten down with age and use.

"Ayos noh?" Fina said beside me. "They have the best chicken burger in town!"

"Chicken burger?"

"Yep, dun sila nakilala. Ano? Order na tayo?"

I went to the girl in front and placed our orders.

"Mapapagalitan ako neto.." I heard Fina mutter to herself as we watch the lady fry the chicken burgers.

"Ba't ka naman mapapagalitan?" I asked Fina.

"Ha? Uhh...ehh...kasi..."

"Kasi?" I pushed, curious to why she suddenly looks scared and worried.

"Bawal kasi ako nyan."

"Oh? Eh ba't di ka umorder ng iba?"

"Yan yung gusto ko eh." She shyly said. "Saka ang tagal ko nang hindi nakakakain ng chicken burger. Nakakamiss kaya."

I smiled. "Oh well, masarap ang bawal. Saka isa pa, ngayon lang naman eh."

Fina smiled at me, her fear subsiding. "Oo, masarap ang bawal."

We sat on one table as we waited for our orders. I got myself a soda and Fina a bottle of water since she's not allowed to drink softdrinks too.

"May dapat pa ba akong malaman na bawal sayo?" I asked when our chicken burgers finally came.

"Sobrang dami." Fina chuckled and grabbed her burger.

The chicken burger looks like a normal burger to me, but it smelled somewhat different, like there are herbs or spices in it. Shrugging, I just took a bite and smiled at how wonderfully delicious it is.

"Wow, this is great!" I said after swallowing.

"Sabi ko sayo masarap eh."

"I can't believe hindi pa kami dinadala dito ng mga pinsan namin."

"Baka di pa nila nasusubukan?"

"Psh. Etong masarap na burger na 'to di pa nila nasusubukan?" I snorted. "They should know about this."

"Grabe ka naman sa mga pinsan mo, baka naman dadalhin ka palang nila tapos naunahan ko lang?"

I just shrugged and we continued eating. After finishing we sat there contented.

"Lakad lakad tayo?" I suggested, getting bored.

"San naman tayo pupunta?"

"Ewan, ikot lang tayo? Matagal na din kasi eh, ang dami nang nagbago dito."

Fina nodded and we started walking.

"Alam mo, matagal ko nang pangarap makapunta ng Manila," Fina said. "Pero kasi hindi ako pwede sa mahahabang biyahe."

"Bakit naman?"

"Mabilis akong mahilo. Yun ngang pagpunta lang namin sa Lucena dati nagsusuka na ako, eh kalahati lang yun ng biyahe papuntang Manila."

"Mahiluhin ka pala,"

"Hindi ba halata?"

"You look strong to me," I shrugged, which is true. Despite her small frame, Fina emits a strong aura of independence. So when most girls her size would act so needy that you would want to take care of them, Fina on the other hand makes me feel like she can handle things on her own.

Fina laughed. "Ako? Malakas? Talaga lang ha."

"Bakit, hindi ba?"

"Hindi ako malakas, lampa kaya ako." Fina chuckled. "Ikaw nga mukha kang atleta eh, anong sports nilalaro mo?"

It was my turn to laugh. "Ako, mukhang atleta? Seryoso ka?"

"Oo. Matangkad ka at mukhang maliksi. Bakit, hindi ka ba naglalaro?"

I chuckled again. Oh, if you only know what I play.

"Hindi ako naglalaro. Tamad ako eh, saka isa pa, ayokong masyadong pinapawisan."

"Sayang naman height mo."

"Bakit, ganoon na ba ka-required ang height sa sports?"

Fina shook her head. "Hindi naman, pero advantage sya kapag matangkad ka."

We turned left on the next intersection, bringing us to the front of a large green warehouse, the first floor occupied by a merchandise store. My mom told us that this large warehouse used to be a cinema in her younger days.

"So, ano pang iba mong pangarap aside sa makatapak ng Manila?" I asked, turning my attention back to where I'm walking.

"Gusto ko sanang makatapos ng pagaaral."

"That's a common dream."

"Gusto kong maging teacher. Makapagturo ng mga bata at maimpluwensyahan sila, kahit onti lang."

"Talaga? My grandma used to be a teacher here." I said. "Science teacher ata sya? Ewan ko na. Matagal na kasi syang retired. Ikaw ba, anong subject ituturo mo in the future?"

Fina chuckled. "Science din sana,"

"Sana?"

"Hindi na kasi ako nagaaral." She shrugged like it was no big thing. "Hindi na ako magiging teacher."

I was surprised. Fina looks to be around my age, maybe even a year younger. What would she be doing if not attending school?

"Ba't naman hindi na?"

"Hindi na kasi namin kaya,"

"Pero nakapagaral ka naman diba? Kahit highschool lang?"

Fina chuckled. "Oo naman. Nitong nakaraang taon lang naman ako tumigil eh kaya ayos na rin. Atleast naranasan ko kahit dalawang taon ng college."

I wanted to ask her what was their problem that made her stop going to school but stopped myself, thinking that it may be offending. After all, not everybody is well off as us.

"Ikaw? Anong pangarap mo?" Fina asked, breaking the silence.

"Gusto ko din makatapos." I just said.

"Tapos?"

"Ewan ko."

"Wala ka pang plano?"

"Eh hindi ko pa naman alam kung anong gusto kong gawin sa buhay ko eh." I just shrugged. "Pag gagraduate na ako saka ko pagiisipan."

"Bilisan mo magplano, mabilis lang ang panahon, the next thing you know paakyat ka na pala ng stage," Fina said, stopping. "Sige na, Jell. Dito nalang ako."

I looked at where we stopped; in front of the black iron gates of a powder blue, two-story house. I frowned, expecting a house more run down.

"Jan ka nakatira?"

"Ha? Hindi!" Fina laughed, shaking her head. "Dun pa yung bahay namin pero kasi baka mapalayo ka pa. Kailangan ko na kasing umuwi eh."

I looked at the street where she pointed. It goes a long way and I'm not sure where her house is.

"Sige na Jellane, kailangan ko na talagang umuwi." Fina said with finality. "Salamat sa libre, at kung may magtatanong, secret lang natin yun dalawa."

I laughed. "Of course, your secret is safe with me."

"Bukas nalang ulit?"

"Hatid na kita sainyo?"

Fina just shook her head. "Hindi na. So bukas ulit?"

"Sa playground ulit tayo?"

"Sure."

I smiled and she waved off goodbye, going to the street she pointed at. I watched her go until she turned around a corner and disappeared.

Smiling like an idiot, I started my way back home.